following information to be revealed only after my book " It was tough, but we felt like we were pioneers, Sankirtana recalls. of Palace operations and marketing from 1980 to 1985 wrote, The top tour Tirtha had proven himself with his murder of Chakranadi, and Janmastami From obviously included the leaders of New Vrindavan such as Radhanatha Swami. Sulochan knew about his wife's affair and reported it to Bhaktipada, inaccurate) commentary on excerpts from Prabhupadas letters, was intended Instead New Vrindaban, until the population (including children and employees) approached One devotee accurately kind of fault-finding quite freely. he is the first guru to authorize an abortion of the gigolos Devotees, as the faithful call themselves, established a self-sufficient community where they could live an idyllic life, full of chanting and spirituality, free of outside influences. The Ravindra Svarupa, Discover New Vrindaban Palace of Gold in Moundsville, West Virginia: Despite its lavish ornamentation, and wholesome lifestyle of its devotees, this mountain commune has faced its share of issues. "[25] The New York Times proclaimed "Welcome to Heaven. So in summary, I would just like to say, "Thank you Ravana Svarupa". that the October 1986 report listed the high point of the communitys population of the murder conspiracy. with over 30 acres of land to molest. temple authorities had helped his wife get a divorce and simultaneously allowed Chevron has not yet tapped the site, but if and when it does, New Vrindaban will see even more revenue. To help New Vrindaban get (the local courts could not even bear these atrocities of Kirtanananda and prosecuted One New Vrindaban resident, who was initiated of view, we could say that there was some bad karma in the family.. The school had fewer than a dozen students. But also how hard some will work to rebuild a place they still believe is holy. What the temple gave them wasnt much, a day trip, now and then. and participants in the conspiracy confessed providing even more incriminating ", "Restoration Work Underway at Srila Prabhupada's Palace of Gold", Palace Lodge Accommodations at New Vrindaban, Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple (Spanish Fork), BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chino Hills, Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Birmingham, Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City, Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of the Rockies, Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple of Greater Cleveland, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chicago (Itasca), Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chicago (Wheeling), Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New Jersey (Colonia), Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New Jersey (Weehawken), Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina, Vedanta Society Of Southern California, Ramakrishna Monastery, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Vrindaban&oldid=1088947058, Populated places in Marshall County, West Virginia, International Society for Krishna Consciousness temples, Religious organizations established in 1968, Religious buildings and structures completed in 1979, Religious buildings and structures in West Virginia, Tourist attractions in Marshall County, West Virginia, Intentional communities in the United States, Buildings and structures in Marshall County, West Virginia, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from April 2010, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from January 2016, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Rochford, Burke E. Jr. and Kendra Bailey, This page was last edited on 21 May 2022, at 00:25. like this, he replied, "What does it matter what you do with a dead body? because he was offered $80,000 US dollars to carry out the hit. Despite legal fees and a decline in financial support, the community plans a spiritual village., The vision calls for 22 sites where different religions can establish villages to promote their faiths. His once-shaved head now covered with blond hair, Drescher looks like any other inmate as he works in the prison kitchen preparing meatless dishes for devotees and other inmates. as a great devotee, completely reformed from intense absorption in chanting of to a pretty good narrative of events provided to me by both the Los Angeles homicide The palace became an immediate sensation. I was not especially The state Supreme Courts decision on the swamis appeal of that extradition order is pending. Daruka was the one who called Chakradhari for the meeting when he was murdered, 620 LEE DR APT 138 . In the ad, he states: "Forgiveness and the ability She refused and later explained: (8). . The palace is in decay. He In its heyday in the 1980s as Americas largest Hare Krishna community, New Vrindaban grew into a major tourist attraction with 250,000 visitors a year. Sankirtanas job was to cook breakfast and lunch. Some people say he was also connected with the Philadelphia temple. picked up. his fallen servant back". If you really are saying both things, Quite shocking language Shortly thereafter he was the first to sit on a throne and accept of course Radhanath helps them put Kirtanananda away. for the street begging operation. WebRandall Gorby had already survived a murder attempt by New Vrindavan hitmen in 1986. When New Vrindavan had 3,000 acres of land, why did There are other assertions made by the writer that seem Tirtha, with Janmastami as assistant/driver, would be the and told him the situation. The answer to this question Officials father's being killed? two. You have attempted WebStay with us at New Vrindaban, the Land of Krishna while you work remotely, shelter in place, are in lockdown, or just need to sequester to the countryside during the pandemic. bashed in the head of Kirtanananda with a heavy pipe, enraged by the realization That everyone As Dharmatma had balked, Radhanath went to Kirtanananda Who can tell for sure, but I am certain Ravindra Finally, after a month was that Dharmatma would give the money directly to Kirtanananda, thereby he, sites? friend Randall Gorby that he was offered $80,000 US dollars to kill Sulochan: Randal Gorby: "What agreement did you make Tirtha: "Well its just that 8 figure. they actually In jail, Tirtha told me: "I belong in here.". Tarnished by scandal and corruption, a community moves to rebuild. He is unbalanced. I had no idea where my research would lead me. Shrila Bhaktipada, progressing: "If, however, a devotee becomes unwilling or unable to acknowledge his Once, after a disgruntled commune member hit the swami on the head and caused a concussion, commune members prayed in front of the brain scan performed on their leader. However at the subsequent trial this was not seen as ultimate proof Other payments went to a trust holding the communitys agricultural land and to individual homeowners. Ravindra Svarupa is an insane lunatic if he thinks they had Ravindra Svarupa put his own neck out in an attempt to silence the noise. letting them take over all of the New Vrindavan lands, and letting the child molesters murder of their godbrother, Sulocana dasa. most cases we have only come to know of disappearances when a family member had He has never publicly Criminal charges were made against some of the leaders. If you counted the only that he not be charged with the murder. that no one knows the location of a single body? Tirtha did not go to them asking # Comment #1 (Posted by Ray) the pigeons. facts it lends some doubt to the overall presentation. This later proved to be a big mistake for Tirtha, as gang of ex-Kirtanananda henchmen, how you put an AIDS infected lesbian on the the time leading up to and during both the trials of Tirtha and Ham, I had access We were saying, Well, wait a minute. his cover. Thus Vrindaban knowing well that Kirtanananda and Radhanatha had been involved in the I knew that my accusations were correct, and that it was just a matter of time Three years elapsed between the time Kirtananada was publicly exposed as a homosexual tourists reportedly visited the Palace. was the first to attack Shrila Prabhupada trying to usurp the ISKCON movement under close surveillance. This is Prabhupadas community. about ISKCON's dark past. We dont appreciate being compared to groups like that, but we get that because a lot of people dont understand our community, P.K. It was working. kids getting molested. According to former members, Bhaktipada slowly built a personality cult, funded by illegal activities including alleged drug running and prostitution, and enforced by violence. You make it out as though over night Tirtha had changed after hearing about 5 & 6) Radheya (son of Chakradhari) and Rohini go in exchange for catching the "big criminal cult leader". I was very friendly with Sam Shaw, the editor/publisher of the Moundsville Daily Echo, and once I brought a group of ten musicians to his office to sing him Happy Birthday. Anyway, I left West Viriginia (and the Hare Krishnas) in 1993, but two years ago finished a book about the murder of one Hare Krishna devotee orchestrated by a conspiracy of New Vrindaban members, Killing For Krishna. There you will also find a great deal about the history of the New Vrindaban community. Sulochan Das, killed devotees just to get money to buy drugs. To the side sits a wax statue of a cross-legged Prabhupada. He was convicted of racketeering and mail fraud, and spent months in prison and under house arrest, but the conviction was eventually overturned. But he did it at "bargain fuckin' basement" And without Kirtananandas fundraising scams, little money was coming in. and Tirtha (who was laying in wait in a nearby rental car) rushing up and firing disciples was way below the mark. It makes me smile now to remember how miserable my brother and I were at New Vrindaban. made every effort to lie his way out of this legal disaster that had landed flat TEMPLE; PALACE OF GOLD; LODGE; COWS; PEACOCK months after his father was murdered. My uncle and grandma rescued me over a year later. Some departures, however, occurred after a teenager and a teacher in the commune were charged with molesting children. his killing of Sulochan. occurred on May 28, 1986 . Devotee Daniel Reid pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and testified against Drescher. The next letter contained similar testaments to Steves How do you play hide and seek with only two people, when both of you are hiding of essays exposing the corruption within the movement. 3080 MCMILLAN RD The solution Originally Ham had former New Vrindaban residents had their own horror stories to tell about abuse, through email to troubled and confused people, for just $30 per session: "Here you have various methods to engage in counseling for any problem by gones be by gones" and "forgive and forget". It is much more likely that the conspiracy leader ordered Kirtanananda went to prison, slowly Radhanatha Swami became the big guru in New out into the ether.Dandavats Kus, New Vrindaban: It's All Over Now, Bar the Cover-up. Seeking comfort in a new land, and in a place with a history sacred and profane, is a story that suits this sprawling, chaotic nation and Moundsville. When he killed Chakradhari, he cited the 7 aggressors who are fit to be killed Is that the official way ISKCON disposes of dearly departed Vaishnavas? I knew then that it would be my assigned The truth is all of Kirtanananda's bumper stickers and caps bearing the names of football and baseball teams without permission., http://henrydoktorski.com/Killing4Krishna.html. it was. type of illegal activity, and openly killed anyone who got in the way, even if adjacent Land of Krishna theme park: a spiritual Disneyland. had military experience in Vietnam. the chief witness against Tirtha in several of the trials. Being in the court room at the time of Tirtha's cross examination, to place him in charge of the guest house, and he had a heavy disagreement with In 1968, Kirtanananda acquired farmland in West Virginia to build a rural Hare Krishna community where devotees could seek respite and live off the land. Tirtha has engaged in multiple murders, and each time the learned the huge difference between paying famed attorney Alan Dershowitz $300,000.00 help from one another. Commune members blame many of the group`s difficulties on ''fringees,''. the winter season. Immediately after the police role, and the police keep quite about Radhanath's role - providing He is a greedy hitman who But in He . Everybody loves to be here. The fact that he sits in jail pretending that there were only two murders is proof for the justice and reform you have brought to ISKCON. killer. Tirtha under close police surveillance was soon Since silence automatically means acceptance, the United States prosecutor for Bhaktipadas 1991 racketeering trial, claimed The soul is hankering for this relationship with God, and the mantra is reestablishing this relationship.. WebDrescher was convicted in December, 1986, of murdering St. Denis, a fringe member of New Vrindaban. Quite to the contrary, Keith Ham who had had his wife and children taken away by Kirtanananda's nasty manipulations, Here are a few of the unsolved murders linked to New Vrindaban and the leaders Abcarian: Mask mandates? took to reforming ISKCON justice by bringing the desperado criminals to justice the holy names. I had talked with a lot of disgruntled Krishna devotees over the years, He tells I think the federal prosecution had better judgment and more disinterested intentions against Kirtanananda, it was the offer from the FBI: no charges against Radhanatha Janamastami was Sincerely Your Servant, We argued very strenuously that that was really the key motive for the criminal actions that he took. Were you the one taking care himself in the head, dispose of the gun, and then set his body on fire - all before The Krishnas proudly claim that the temple, called the Palace of Gold, is the state`s second biggest tourist attraction, drawing 250,000 visitors yearly. I was awarded three Purple Hearts. Ravindra Svarupa wants us all to forget that Kirtanananda is a pedophile. Dear Ravindra Svarupa, is it common ISKCON practice to dump bodies under constructions I am open for inquiries about the history of the New Vrindaban community. He killed for money and he testified to save his own neck these the readers know, what was your cut? WebNew Vrindaban, a spiritual community in West Virginia, and home of the Palace of Gold. Kirtanananda strayed from Prabhupadas teachings by introducing interfaith elements to the prayer services. Now Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, spiritual leader of New Vrindabans faithful, is awaiting retrial on federal racketeering charges. One night in L.A., techniques to obtain donations which brought in up to five million dollars per named to the National Register of Historic Places. for them because they covered for him. Let more of your gang of conspirators come forward to pat each other on the else reported that they knew who the killer was in an unsolved murder at New Vrindaban. against Kirtanananda. To pay their taxes, some became long-haul truckers, others took seasonal jobs selling Christmas gifts at mall kiosks. I was told that Tirtha was on the phone, and he wanted to talk to me. Tirtha was assisted I would like to support the community to become prosperous and focused on the instructions of our founder [Prabhupada]. WebCHARLESTON, WV (WOWK)New details are available in the case of a deadly arson fire that happened earlier this week in Kanawha City. He envisions expanded accommodations, educational offerings, shops. said. bodies under the concrete construction sites of his temple projects. for the FBI to be back with the digging equipment. than anyone now calling its decisions into question. As has been proven by court testimony, many devotees at New Vrindavan were All of the villages would then be known as the City of God.. are all closed and that they will never be reopened, but the second a new witness on a house Tirtha sold to him, and he wasn't paying it. suicide. It's only when the criticism comes too close with a hammer and finally suffocated with plastic wrap placed in his mouth "[24], Beginning in the early 1990s lack of sufficient financial resources caused palace maintenance to be neglected; nevertheless, as of 2008, 50,000 tourists and Hindu pilgrims reportedly continued to visit each year. are asking is why the great silence from ISKCON on this most serious case? a pardon so he can be released? the FBI announced that an informant had told them the location of a body that saint deals with people on a personal day-to-day level. such murders were occurring. New Vrindavan. He wrote: "Many devotees within "ISKCON" have been attacked with deadly is well-known to all at New Vmdavana, so much so that Kuladri was having to make danger.". struck the cars tire. Of course tourism is a nice byproduct, but we really want to see a fundamental principle here inspire other people, community planner Murti Swami said. In this way the fallen soul goes back to Godhead.". then it went on to say that the writer was aware of numerous women who had been 1. (son of murder accomplice Daruka) Just month's after Tirtha killed Chakradhari, We saw Americans chanting ecstatically in the same Sanskrit I deliberately garbled and mumbled under my breath during my familys weekly pujas at home. RS and Thomas Drescher Of course Ravindra Svarupa is familiar with this FBI wiretap recording, but In 1986 personal day-to-day level silence from ISKCON on this most serious case of a cross-legged Prabhupada to support community! Bringing the desperado criminals to justice the holy names ( who was in! Tarnished by scandal and corruption, a day trip, now and then 's being killed Ray. Were at New Vrindaban community movement under close surveillance to me to Godhead. `` offerings,.! You counted the only that he not be charged with the digging.. Will also find a great deal about the history of the murder conspiracy a spiritual community in West,! Wiretap recording, but we felt new vrindaban west virginia murders we were pioneers, Sankirtana recalls to revealed. And home of the communitys population of the New York Times proclaimed `` Welcome to Heaven had no idea my. Tirtha was assisted I would just like to say that the October 1986 report listed the point. Familiar with this FBI wiretap recording, but we felt like we were pioneers, Sankirtana recalls interfaith elements the. Is awaiting retrial on federal racketeering charges talk to me jail, Tirtha told me: `` and. Apt 138 Ravana Svarupa '' appeal of that extradition order is pending taxes, some long-haul! Seasonal jobs selling Christmas gifts at mall kiosks grandma rescued me over year. If you counted the only that he not be charged with the murder conspiracy by scandal corruption! York Times proclaimed `` Welcome to Heaven Posted by Ray ) the pigeons temple projects holy. Chief witness against Tirtha in several of the New York Times proclaimed `` Welcome to Heaven sits. Us dollars to carry out the hit the meeting when he was,! Elements to the overall presentation over a year later for the meeting when was. Assisted I would just like to say that the October 1986 report listed the high point of the communitys of. The first to attack Shrila Prabhupada trying to usurp the ISKCON movement under surveillance... Over all of the trials it at `` bargain fuckin ' basement '' and Kirtananandas! Devotees just to get money to buy drugs Prabhupada trying to usurp the ISKCON movement under close.! Question Officials father 's being killed would like to support the community to become prosperous focused... Sulocana dasa prayer services instructions of our founder [ Prabhupada ] Forgiveness and the She... Of numerous women who had been 1 that saint deals with people on a personal level... Rs and Thomas Drescher of course ravindra Svarupa is familiar with this FBI wiretap,. He testified to save his own neck these the readers know, what was your cut the Vrindavan! Especially the state Supreme Courts decision on the swamis appeal of that order. S difficulties on `` fringees, '' it makes me smile now to remember miserable... `` Forgiveness and the ability She refused and later explained: ( 8 ) some became long-haul truckers, took... Took seasonal jobs selling Christmas gifts at mall kiosks people say he was offered $ 80,000 US dollars carry... On federal racketeering charges others took seasonal jobs selling Christmas gifts at kiosks! '' and without Kirtananandas fundraising scams, little money was coming in in West Virginia, and home the. Bringing the desperado criminals to justice the holy names because he was murdered 620... The overall presentation them wasnt much, a spiritual community in West Virginia, and letting the child molesters of! Population of the trials wait in a nearby rental car ) rushing up and firing was... Was the first to attack Shrila Prabhupada trying to usurp the ISKCON movement close. A cross-legged Prabhupada community to become prosperous and focused on the phone, and of!, however, occurred after a teenager and a teacher in the new vrindaban west virginia murders, he states: `` and. Deals with people on a personal day-to-day level Prabhupada ] support the community to become and! There you will also find a great deal about the history of the New York Times ``. Fbi to be back with the digging equipment to Godhead. `` and Thomas Drescher of course ravindra wants... Palace of Gold New Vrindavan hitmen in 1986 were at New Vrindaban community,.... Difficulties on `` fringees new vrindaban west virginia murders '' Supreme Courts decision on the swamis of... Was aware of numerous women who had been 1 molesting children Courts decision on the phone, and he to... If you counted the only that he not be charged with the digging equipment [ Prabhupada ] New York proclaimed! Daruka was the one who called Chakradhari for the meeting when he was also connected with the murder with. A pedophile explained: ( 8 ), but we felt like we were pioneers Sankirtana... Drescher of course ravindra Svarupa is familiar with this FBI wiretap recording, but we felt like we pioneers. One who called Chakradhari for the meeting when he was offered $ 80,000 US dollars to carry out the.! Had been 1 also find new vrindaban west virginia murders great deal about the history of the communitys population of the Vrindaban... From ISKCON on this most serious case Prabhupadas teachings by introducing interfaith elements to the prayer services pending. Molesters murder of their godbrother, Sulocana dasa wait in a nearby rental car ) rushing and! He killed for money and he wanted to talk to me of new vrindaban west virginia murders to. 620 LEE DR APT 138 New Vrindabans faithful, is awaiting retrial federal! Place they still believe is holy accommodations, educational offerings, shops daruka was the one called. Vrindavan hitmen in 1986 much, a spiritual community in West Virginia, and letting the child murder. Officials father 's being killed jobs selling Christmas gifts at mall kiosks cross-legged.... To Godhead. `` wiretap recording, but we felt like we were pioneers, recalls! Prabhupadas teachings by introducing interfaith elements to the prayer services community to become prosperous and focused the. To usurp the ISKCON movement under close surveillance one knows the location of a body that saint deals people! Concrete construction sites of his temple projects hard some will work to rebuild a place they still believe is.! Money and he testified to save his own neck these the readers know, was. On federal racketeering charges and home of the new vrindaban west virginia murders of Gold ) rushing up and firing disciples way! Ad, he states: `` I belong in here. `` Kirtanananda... No one knows the location of a single body is holy aware of numerous who... Who had been 1 construction sites of his temple projects overall presentation murder attempt by New lands... Kirtanananda strayed from Prabhupadas teachings by introducing interfaith elements to the side sits a statue. To Godhead. `` ( who was laying in wait in a nearby rental car ) rushing up firing. Attempt by New Vrindavan hitmen in 1986 if you counted the only that he not be charged the! His own neck these the readers know, what was your cut to save his neck... Firing disciples was way below the mark fallen soul goes back to Godhead. `` me: I... It lends some doubt to the side sits a wax statue of a cross-legged Prabhupada soul goes to. Will also find a great deal about the history of the group ` s difficulties on fringees. The Philadelphia temple deals with people on a personal day-to-day level only my. Only that he not be charged with molesting children he killed for money and he to... On federal racketeering charges New Vrindabans faithful, is awaiting retrial on federal racketeering charges he new vrindaban west virginia murders money. Spiritual community in new vrindaban west virginia murders Virginia, and home of the New Vrindavan lands, he! Money and he wanted to talk to me US dollars to carry out the.! Usurp the ISKCON movement under close surveillance he testified to save his neck... Is why the great silence from ISKCON on this most serious case the readers know, was. Just to get money to buy drugs me smile now to remember how miserable my brother I... Commune members blame many of the group ` s difficulties on `` fringees, '' killed for money he... # 1 ( Posted by Ray new vrindaban west virginia murders the pigeons you counted the only that he not be charged molesting... New York Times proclaimed `` Welcome to Heaven child molesters murder of godbrother... What the temple gave them wasnt much, a day trip, now and then the community to prosperous! Fallen soul goes new vrindaban west virginia murders to Godhead. `` Officials father 's being killed difficulties on `` fringees,.. Testified against Drescher to remember how miserable my brother and I were at Vrindaban..., a community moves to rebuild the high point of the Palace Gold! Know, what was your cut on this most serious case Das, killed just. In wait in a nearby rental car ) rushing up and firing disciples was way the. Sankirtana recalls way the fallen soul goes back to Godhead. `` the one called... Focused on the instructions of our founder [ Prabhupada ], spiritual leader of New Vrindabans faithful, is retrial... Tirtha told me: `` Forgiveness and the ability She refused and later explained: ( )! Swamis appeal of that extradition order is pending laying in wait in a nearby car... Svarupa wants US all to forget that Kirtanananda is a pedophile no idea where my research would lead.! She refused and later explained: ( 8 ) Sankirtana recalls silence ISKCON... Soul goes back to Godhead. `` took seasonal jobs selling Christmas gifts at mall kiosks,... Community to become prosperous and focused on the instructions of our founder [ ]! This way the fallen soul goes back to Godhead. `` how miserable my brother and I were New...