ISKCON Timeline

   ISKCON Timeline

1965 – Srila Prabhupada sails to America to establish ISKCON, Aug. 27 to October 1.

1966 – ISKCON corporation founded Aug. 5. First centers open in New York and Height Ashbury.

1967 – Mantra-rock dance and first U.S. Ratha-yatra festival held in San Francisco, July 26.

1968 – Disciples establish ISKCON in England with the help of the Beatles.

1969 – Disciples open dozens of new temples, including New Vrindaban, Toronto, and Los Angeles.

1970 – Srila Prabhupada establishes the GBC, Governing Body Commission, with the Direction of Management, July 28. | Evidence that child abuse taking place in ISKCON, see VNN.org document [Vnn.org now offline] | Bhavananda (later one of the eleven gurus) begins abusing ISKCON devotees’ children in New York.

1971 – First gurukula established in Dallas.

1972 – According to Prabhupada’s letters, by this time he was aware of temple presidents beating their wives and child abuse in gurukula (Rochford, 1998, p. 49 ).

1973 – ISKCON increasingly depends on panhandling to raise money. | After only a few years, ISKCON-arranged marriages are ending in divorce (Rochford, 1998, p. 49). | Motorcycle gang attacks New Vrindaban, June 5.

1974 – By this time, the gurukula basically functions as childcare so mothers can go on sankirtan (Rochford, 1998, pp. 51-53, 61). | Prabhupada refuses to sanction any further marriages (Rochford, 1998, p. 49). | Hamsadutta convicted of weapons possession charges in Germany (three years later he will become one of the eleven gurus). | ISKCON-wide standards set for gurukula behavior modification program. (Proposed List of Standards for Boys, public relations files, circa 1974)

1975 – Gurukulas established in Los Angeles and New Vrindaban. | Los Angeles BBT publishes Caitanya-caritamrta. | National media criticize ISKCON’s airport soliciting. | Chicago media report Prabhupada’s statement about women’s brain size, July 24. | Disciples fear World War Three after Srila Prabhupada describes tensions between India and Pakistan, morning walk tape, April 4. | ISKCON sannyasis launch a campaign against householders and women, Srila Prabhupada calls it a “fratricidal war” (Rochford, 1998, p. 49). | Father sues ISKCON over custody of his son, Joey Yanoff, November.

1976 – State authorities close Dallas gurukula, which had approximately a hundred students, the majority of whom were between the ages of four and eight (Rochford, 1998, p. 46). | Jagadish appointed minister of primary education. | Bhaktivedanta Swami International Gurukulas open in Vrindavana and Mayapur, India. | Bhavananda begins abusing devotees’ children in India. | National media criticize Hare Krishnas soliciting as Santa Claus. Santa suits and resulting negative publicity continue each year through December 1978.

1977 – More than a hundred worldwide ISKCON temples listed in Back to Godhead magazine. | New York State Supreme Court judge dismisses Ed Shapiro brainwashing case, March. | Susan Murphy, eighteen, who became a devotee at thirteen, and her mother file suit against ISKCON of New England, April. | Hare Krishna Land temple and guest house open in Juhu Beach (Mumbai), India. | Shooting incident at ISKCON’s property in Mayapur, India, July. Bhavananda arrested (his name added to the list of eleven gurus one day after the appointment tape). | Appointment tape recorded in Vrindavana, India, July 8. | Tamal Krishna writes letter listing eleven gurus, July 9. | First Venice Beach Ratha-yatra festival. | Robin George and her mother file suit for kidnapping and other charges, Oct. 14. | Steven Bovan murdered; ISKCON holds press conference in Laguna Beach temple, Nov. 7. | Srila Prabhupada enters samadhi at the ISKCON temple in Vrindavana, India, Nov. 14. Link to information about Srila Prabhupada’s passing: blowback links.

 

1978 – Newsweek magazine publishes “Krishna-by-the-Sea,” on the Juhu temple opening, Jan. 30. | GBC institutionalizes zonal guru system, March. | A total of eleven gurukula schools in North America. | Famous actor murdered at Hare Krishna Land, Juhu Beach, July. | Jonestown tragedy, Nov. 18. | U.S. Airport and street soliciting reach the highest point. In some airports, travelers face a gauntlet of a dozen or more ISKCON devotees at a time. | Devotee punches Western Airlines Employee, Dec. 28.

1979 – Krishna kids garland Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana at the Childrens Fair in London. | Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publishes Prabhupada Lilamrita, Srila Prabhupada’s official biography, by Satsvarupa. | New gurukula opens in Dallas. | Airport clickers, August. | Media cover Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold grand opening, New Vrindaban, Labor Day weekend. | “Krishna Hash Bust” reported in Orange County Register, Nov. 6. ISKCON holds press conference in Los Angeles, Nov. 7. | Dr. Burke Rochford begins to study the gurukula. (Rochford, 1998, p. 64)

1980 – Life magazine publishes cover story about the New Vrindaban gurukula, “Children of a Harsh Bliss,” April. | Life readers vote the children of Krishna cover one of the year’s best. The cover also appears on a Bombay billboard advertising Life magazine. | Life prints three letters to the editor in the December issue. (Letter to the editor, Life magazine, Dec. 1980) | Australian “60 Minutes” features the children of Krishna. | Gurukula opens in Lake Huntington, New York.| The number of married and unmarried devotees evens out; about one-quarter of devotees have children (Rochford, 1998, p. 50). | Hamsadutta’s Mt. Kailash farm raided, ISKCON issues press release, April 1. | Hamsadutta arrested for illegal submachine gun, ISKCON holds press conference in Berkeley, June 11. | GBC holds three “full extraordinary special” meetings to deal with guru deviations. Hamsadutta, Jayatirtha and Tamal Krishna are suspended for a year. | Ramesvara removes his vyasasana and writes an essay on guru reform, July 1. The GBC rejects Ramesvara’s conclusions, Aug. 17. | ISKCON Public Affairs holds first international communications conference in Bombay, November. | Pyramid House Talks take place in Topanga Canyon, Dec. 3.

1981 – Los Angeles Times publishes “Krishna: a Kingdom in Disarray,” Feb. 15. | Mayapur meeting: GBC rejects conclusions of the Pyramid House Talks; Hamsadutta and Tamal Krishna endorse the zonal guru system and are reinstated as gurus. | Steve Allen visits L.A. temple while researching his book Beloved Son, Aug. 31. | Grove Press publishes Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, edited by Steve Gelberg (Subhananda). | Children of Krishna pictured on the cover of the Australian BBT’s The Wonderful World of Hare Krishna in Australia. | Bhaktivedanta Village gurukula opens in central California. | ISKCON World Review begins publication. | IWR cites twenty-four gurukulas running in eighteen countries, with approximately seven hundred students. | IWR features an interview with Jagadish, minister of education. (Gurukula: School for the soul–An interview with Jagadish dasa, ISKCON’s minister of education, IWR, Vol. 1, No. 6, p. 1, Oct. 1981)

1982 – IWR cites more than thirty gurukulas worldwide. | Children of Krishna Prahalad and Dhanvantari give books and a garland to Princess Diana in Brisbane. | New gurukulas in France, Australia, South Africa, England, Sweden; Manipur, Tirupati and Assam, India. Detroit starts ISKCON’s first dayschool, breaking the trend of the boarding school system. | Lake Huntington gurukula offers summer camp for life members’ children. | The level of airport and street soliciting in America is less than half its 1978 peak. With revenues down, parents are pushed outside of ISKCON’s communities to find employment in support of themselves and their families (Rochford, 1998, p. 55). | Mayapur meeting: three new gurus added to original eleven (Pancadravida, Bhaktisvarupa Damodara and Gopal Krishna). | Jayatirtha leaves ISKCON; Bhagavan inherits his zone, March. | The New York Times publishes a story about ISKCON’s influence in the Soviet Union, April 15. | ISKCON holds Ratha-yatra in Washington D.C., Aug. 21. Mayor Marion Barry proclaims official Ratha-yatra Day; Washington Post covers the parade, Aug. 22; | The Public Affairs department and BBT publish Who Are they? magazine, Chant and Be Happy, and Coming Back. | Two year old boy in New Vrindaban dies from battering, October.

1983 – Children of Krishna appear on the cover of Hare Krishna Today, published by the Australian BBT. | Bombay announces plans to build a gurukula building on Juhu property. Day classes begin at the school. | The New York Times publishes a second story about ISKCON’s influence in the Soviet Union, April 18. | The Public Affairs department and BBT publish A Higher Taste cookbook.| Media cover Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center (Fisher Mansion) grand opening in Detroit, May 25. State senators Kelly and Vaughn, and Secretary of State Kondler issue a Senate Resolution recognizing Ratha-yatra and Fisher Mansion grand opening. | The GBC expels Hamsadutta at an emergency meeting in Miami Beach; the Miami Herald, New York Daily News, Associated Press, and other media report the story, July 11. | Charles St. Denis (Chakradari) murdered in New Vrindaban. | Food For Life begins. | ISKCON ordered to pay $32.5 million in George vs. ISKCON case, June 17; ISKCON appeals the case. | Hamsadutta disciples picket San Diego temple, San Diego Union-Tribune publishes story, June 20. | French government cracks down on sankirtan; Bhagavan’s summer festivals moved to Italy.

1984 – Mayapur meeting: GBC ratifies Hamsadutta’s expulsion. | Croome Court sold. | Imprisoned devotee Ujjvala lights Charles Manson on fire; ISKCON issues press release, Sept. 26. | Child abuse exposed at L.A. temple nursery school; Santa Monica Evening Outlook, Oct. 11, and the L.A. Daily News, Nov. 19, report the story. | Two boys, four and five years old, die in an abandoned refrigerator in New Vrindaban. | IWR reports benign nature of gurukula (ISKCON children win poetry writing awards, IWR 3.9, p. 2, Jan. 1984) | IWR article about Mayapur ignores rumors of abuse in Indian schools. (Spiritual city rising in Sri Mayapur, IWR 4.1, p. 7, May 1984) | IWR covers Los Angeles gurukula board meeting. (ISKCON’s educational leaders plan secondary school studies, IWR 3.10, p. 4, Feb. 1984) | IWR reports that six boys travel in U.S. with Muralivadaka. (Krsna kids touring America, IWR 4.5, p. 7, July 1984) | Gostabhihari prosecuted and imprisoned for abusing children in Dallas

1985 – Bhaktidayal files charges against Harikesh with the GBC, Jan. 6. | Children of Krishna perform peace dance at Gita Forum, Dallas. | Nirmal candra’s art recognized in magazine. | Lake Huntington gurukula girls meet New York congressman in Washington, D.C. | Sulochan begins distributing copies of The Guru Business to ISKCON disciples. | GBC names Minister of Education Jagadish a guru. (Four new gurus appointed, IWR 5.1, p. 3, May 1985) | Anonymous letter to the GBC describes Bhavananda’s sexual deviations, including child abuse, March. | ISKCON leaders complain that children are turning out to be like “karmies” (Rochford, 1998, p. 50) | Dignitaries attend grand opening of South African temple. | GBC holds an emergency meeting in Los Angeles to examine Bhaktidayal’s evidence against Harikesh (one of the eleven gurus); they pardon him. | New Vrindaban announces $60 million, ten-year temple construction project, media report the story, May 31 (never built). | Ravindra-svarupa writes “Under My Order,” describing the need for guru reform, June 6. | Prabhupada disciples meet in New Vrindaban to discuss guru reform, September. | The GBC votes to excommunicate Sulochan after he locks himself in protective custody during GBC meeting. | Rutgers University Press publishes Hare Krishna in America, by Burke Rochford. | Kirtanananda assaulted and sent to the hospital in a coma, Oct. 27. While recovering, he begins openly molesting children. | Persuaders documentary by Anna Raphael (Ritasya dasi), exposing Bhagavan’s arrogance, airs on BBC TV, December. | Dr. Lawrence Liliston publishes academic papers praising Lake Huntington gurukula. (Hare Krsna kids rate high in general awareness test, IWR 5.7, p. 2, Nov. 1985)

1986 – Mayapur meeting: GBC accepts list of twenty new gurus. Ravindra svarupa, author of the guru reform movement, becomes a GBC and guru. | Prahlad and the Krishna Kids (of Australia) record an EMI album, including a plea to Mikheil Gorbachev to free the Soviet Krishnas. | Lake Huntington gurukula closes. | Children of Krishna in Vancouver demonstrate to free Soviet Hare Krishnas. | Year-long observance of the five-hundredth anniversary of the appearance of Lord Chaitanya, including Pada-yatra pilgrimage to Chaitanya’s birthplace in India. | Forty children of Krishna walk with Pada-yatra. | Governor Sir Walter Campbell meets ailing devotee child Trishandhya in her hospital room in Brisbane. | Children of Krishna meet Queen Elizabeth in Auckland. | Children of Krishna ride float in Penn State University Homecoming Parade. | Nirmal-candra, son of Minister of Education Jagadish and a gurukula headmistress Laxmimoni, is left quadriplegic after an accident at the Gita Nagari gurukula. He begins writing about his gurukula experiences. | The last two regionally based ashram gurukulas close in North America; Indian boarding schools continue. | Ramesvara caught with minor-aged girl in Santa Monica mall, report given to GBC, May 7. | Sulochan murdered in Los Angeles, May 22. | GBC holds an emergency meeting in San Diego, Aug. 18-19, to discuss Kirtanananda, Bhavananda and Ramesvara. Kirtanananda agrees (by telephone) that he will resign if indicted for the murders of Sulochan or Chakradhari. Public Affairs office issues a news release denouncing Kirtanananda’s presence in the media. | Grand jury convenes to study New Vrindaban , Sept. 5. | Bhavananda agrees to quit initiating disciples while he is suspended, Sept. 8; when he goes through with an initiation ceremony, the GBC expels him. | The GBC holds an emergency meeting at the Pyramid House in Topanga Canyon to discuss Ramesvara. | Ramesvara, Bhagavan resign and leave ISKCON; L.A. Times covers story, Oct. 5. | BBT Council cuts off funding for all Ramesvara’s projects, October. | Hamsadutta followers finally vacate ISKCON Berkeley property, October. | Sulochan’s son drowns at New Vrindaban, Dec. 7. Grandparents obtain court order to take five year old brother away from the farm. | Kirtanananda embarks on “Freedom Tour” to distance himself from alleged crimes, December.

1987 – FBI raids New Vrindaban, exhumes St. Denis’ remains and collects evidence of copyright infringement and racketeering, Jan. 5. | New Vrindaban former school principal Larry Gardner (Sri Galim) and teacher’s assistant Frederick de Francisco (Lalita Madhava) arrested for child abuse; story reported in Wheeling News Register, Feb. 11, 17, and 18. | Mayapur meeting: GBC excommunicates Kirtanananda and all of his temples, and accepts the resignations of Ramesvara and Bhagavan. They issue a letter to all New Vrindaban residents asking them to leave Kirtanananda and be re-initiated in ISKCON, March 16. | Ananta-santi (Prabhupada’s Soviet disciple) finally freed from Soviet forensic hospital. | Westminster Press publishes Dr. Larry Shinn’s The Dark Lord. | Rolling Stone magazine publishes “Dial Om for Murder,” by John Hubner and Lindsey Grueson, April 9. | Time magazine publishes “Troubled Karma for the Krishnas,” Sept. 1. | Jayatirtha murdered in England. | California superior court hears George vs. ISKCON appeal. | Bhaktivedanta Archives publishes Srila Prabhupada’s letters in a five-volume set. | Satsvarupa resigns his position on the GBC, removes his vyasasana, writes an essay on guru reform, and grants an interview to IWR. | Temple presidents of Ramesvara’s former zone form an alliance called the Western Zonal Council. The council elects Badrinarayan as their GBC representative. | New Vrindaban holds “Religious Freedom Gathering,” Nov. 21-22.

1988 – A mother writes to Minister of Education Jagadish about child abuse at the Gita Nagari [Pennsylvania] gurukula, Jan. 26. (Dear Jagadish Maharaja, anonymous letter from a mother, 1988) | Mayapur meeting: The GBC admits Badrinarayana as a GBC to manage the Western Zone, including all of Ramesvara’s former territory. Within the GBC, he advocates gurukula reform (but favors keeping the matter a GBC secret). | Former member Christina Mills accuses New Vrindaban of abusing her as a child, March 3. | Harcourt Brace Javanovich publishes Monkey on a Stick, by Hubner and Grueson, including a statement about gurukula abuse in New Vrindaban. (Monkey on a Stick excerpt, Hubner & Grueson, p. 347) | GBC orders an interview of former gurukula students. (The Results, ISKCON Youth Veterans newsletter, 1988) | Jagadish resigns; GBC dissolves the Ministry of Education and forms the Board of Education. Jagadish becomes a member of the board. (GBC Resolution, 1988) | IWR interviews Drista Dasa, head of the Dallas gurukula, and Sri Rama Dasa, secretary of the ISKCON-wide GBC Board of Education. (IWR interview: Gurukula Today in Dallas, IWR 8.4, pp. 6-7, Nov. 1988) and IWR interviews Sri Rama Dasa, IWR 8.5, pp. 6-7, Nov. 1988)

1989 – Princeton University publishes The Hare Krishnas in India, Charles R. Brooks. | Detroit opens new gurukula schoolhouse.

1990 – ISKCON Youth Veterans newsletter publishes “Children of the Ashram,” by Raghunatha. (Children of the Ashram, by Raghunatha, ISKCON Youth Veterans newsletter, Vol IV, Aug. 1990, supplement, pp. 28-49) | Gurukula alumni hold their first reunion, Los Angeles. | Southern California-based Public Affairs office closes; ISKCON Communications opens in Potomac, Maryland. | A minor aged bride from New Vrindaban tells her story in the ISKCON Youth Veterans newsletter, January-May issue. (Gurukula, by D.D., ISKCON Youth Veterans newsletter, Vol II, Jan.-May, 1990, p. 1) | GBC passes a series of resolutions dealing with child abuse. (GBC Resolutions, 1990)

1991 – Householders outnumber renounced members. Seventy percent of devotees have at least one child (Rochford, 1998, p. 50 ). | Kirtanananda sentenced to thirty years in prison for using murder, kidnapping and fraud to protect an illegal, multimillion dollar enterprise; Associated Press reports story, March 30. | Thomas Drescher (Tirtha) convicted of first degree murder in Los Angeles for killing Steve Bryant (Sulochan); United Press International and Associated Press report the story, Aug. 21. The Washington Post follows with a feature story on New Vrindaban, Sept. 8. | Thomas Drescher found guilty in the murder of Sulochan, Aug. 20; Los Angeles jury recommends life in prison, Oct. 10. | U.S. Supreme Court finds ISKCON not liable for brainwashing Susan Murphy; case remanded to lower court on other issues; Associated Press and United Press International cover the story, Oct 7.

1992 – Gurukula alumni hold their third reunion in Los Angeles. Annual summer reunions continue in Los Angeles through the nineties.

1993 – Gurukula Alumni, Inc., publishes three issues of their color magazine, As It Is: The Voice of the Second Generation. | Hamsadutta asks to be accepted back into ISKCON. | Burke Rochford, in conjunction with ISKCON, begins “Project Future Hope,” designed to match members of the second generation to compatible jobs.

1994 – Gandhari studies the history of gurukula in her UCLA World Arts and Cultures Senior Colloquium. | A panel of former gurukula students, including Gandhari, addresses the Devotee Relationship Conference in Topanga Canyon about abuse they suffered in gurukula. | George vs. ISKCON settled for an undisclosed amount. | Gurukula alumni Jivananda commits suicide, he was eighteen. He grew up in the Pyramid House in Topanga Canyon. | As It Is, the Voice of the Vaisnava Youth interviews a former gurukula teacher. (From a Teacher, by Krsna-kumari, As It Is, the Voice of the Vaisnava Youth, No. 5, Summer 1994, p. 12)

1995 – Gurukula alumni Gaura-vani appears in three summer movies: “The Brady Bunch,” “Dangerous Minds,” and “Virtuosity.” | Manu appointed GBC Youth Minister. (ISKCON Youth Ministry Mission Statement, author’s collection)

1996 – An eight year old is molested in New Vrindaban; the girl’s father and other men beat up the perpetrator and pull out his ponytail (sikha). These incidents were never reported to authorities. | Former students from the Vrindavana, India, gurukula confront Dhanurdar, the former school principal who directed the abusive school in Vrindavana. The meeting takes place in the Los Angeles temple, arranged and facilitated by GBC member Badrinarayan. After the confrontation, Dhanurdara continues in his position as guru, sannyasi, and member in good standing. | A Los Angeles gurukula teacher resigns after she receives death threats for reporting incidents of child abuse to the proper authorities. ISKCON’s new Women’s Ministry learns of the incident, but is powerless to do anything. | The first lawsuit filed against any ISKCON and/or ISKCON entity alleging child abuse filed against Frederic DeFrancisco, Larry Gardiner, Keith Ham (AKA Kirtananda) and other New Vrindavan and Vrindavan gurukula leaders. Originally filed in 1996 in Marshall County Circuit Court. The local newspapers (Wheeling Register-Intelligencer reported on the event). | ISKCON World Review changes its name to Hare Krishna World. | V.O.I.C.E. (Violations of ISKCON Children Exposed) website by Nirmal-chandra Hickey and Maya Charnell posted, including personal accounts of abuse and a statement about Srila Prabhupada’s responsibility for gurukula. (Janmastami Nightmare: One Account of Child Abuse, anonymous, posted at the V.O.I.C.E. website, 1996). (Prabupada’s Responsibility, by Nirmal-chandra and Maya Devi, posted at the V.O.I.C.E. website, 1996) Nirmal-chandra also wrote an account of Vrindavana gurukula, which spoke for many victims of that school. (Vrindavana Gurukula, by Nirmal-chandra, author’s collection, 1996) | Ten gurukula alumni give three hours of moving testimony about child abuse in gurukula at the North American GBC meeting in Alachua, Florida, May 17-18. Children of Krishna, Inc., formed to help abuse victims and other children raised in the movement. (Excerpt from Priti-laksanam, by Kunti, 1996). (The Children of Krishna, Inc., Strategic Guidelines, author’s collection) | Srimad Bhagavan writes his autobiography to help effort to gather information about what happened to the children in ISKCON. “My Life Story,” by S.B. McKee, (author’s collection, 1996) | Maria Ekstrand (Madhusudani Radha dasi) starts an online conference called “Child Abuse Prevention” (CAP).

1997 – Manu persuades the GBC to pass two resolutions favoring the second generation, Mayapur Meeting, March. (GBC resolutions, 1997) | Guru B.V. Madhava leaves ISKCON after admitting that he touched a male follower inappropriately. | Muralivadaka resigns Board of Education and Children of Krishna, Inc., board of directors when confronted with evidence that he abused children. | University of Illinois Press publishes Betrayal of the Spirit, including one chapter about gurukula abuses. | Children of Krishna, Inc., report in their newsletter that in their first ten months of operation they had granted four individuals a total of $2,000. | Accounts of guru Bhavananda’s child abuse were gathered and published by Dr. Maria Ekstrand at chakra.org, a GBC-approved forum for discussing controversy. The Past is Not Done With, statements about Bhavananda’s acts of child abuse, (posted at chakra.org, by Dr. Maria Ekstrand, 1998)

1998 – Raghunatha revives his old newsletter on the Internet. Gurukula Veterans Journal website posted. | Gurukula alumni Manjari Devi performs with Madonna on the international MTV Video Awards. | Dhira Govinda (David Wolf, Ph.D.) establishes Child Protection Office (CPO), along with Yashoda Devi. (Child Protection Office interview with Dhira Govinda at Culver City Park, author’s collection, 1998). (Child Protection in ISKCON, a task force report, 1998) | Dhira Govinda (David Wolf, Ph.D.) also establishes the APVC, Association for the Protection of Vaishnava Children, to oversee ISKCON child protection efforts, “creating and maintaining safe environments for children in ISKCON communities around the world.” Malini Dasi is assistant director. The establish the website apvc.org. | Harikesh resigns and leaves ISKCON. | ISKCON Communications Journal, based in Sweden, publishes Burke Rochford’s “Child Abuse in the Hare Krishna Movement: 1971-1986.” (click here to read a synopsis of this paper) When the article is published in their October issue, ISKCON Communications issues a press release. Media cover the story (click here to see articles): the front page of The New York Times; Associated Press, Religious News Service, Dallas Morning News, India Express, Deccan Herald, and numerous local radio, TV and news stories. | ISKCON Communications issues press release about the child abuse media coverage, along with confidential media guidelines to all ISKCON centers, Oct. 13. (Media Release: Hare Krishnas Investigate Past Abuse at Boarding School, Oct. 13, 1998) | Gurukula alumni Nimai Bhakti Pralad Dasa commits suicide, Dec. 13, he was twenty-six. | Gurukula alumni survey conducted, see results [formerly posted at Chakra.org] (Manu Dasa made the results public through chakra.org in April 2000).

1999 – Mayapur meeting: gurukula alumni address the GBC, Feb. 13. (Can We Mend the Shattered Fragments of ISKCON?, by Krsna-devata and Shakuntala, author’s collection, 1999) | Bhakta-Visvareta loses his cool in Mayapur, beats former Vrindavan gurukula principal Dhanurdara. (Hi everyone, by Bhakta Visvareta, author’s collection, 1999) | ISKCON’s Office of Child Protection issues its first newsletter, April 6, including their findings against two child abusers: Srutadeva dasa (Robert Kaufman) and Muralivadaka dasa (Michael Mager). (Cases Resolved by the Child Protection Office, vnn.org, April 6, 1999) | ISKCON’s Office of Child Protection begins to look for evidence that Kirtanananda and Bhavananda abused and molested children, April 23. | Dr. Michael Langone, Executive Directory of the American Family Foundation, an cult information organization, defends ISKCON’s reform movement at the AFF Annual Conference, May 14. | Windle Turley, P.C., of Dallas prepares to file a class action suit on behalf of several former gurukula students. | Associated Press publishes “Hare Krishnas Threatened by Lawsuit,” by Julia Lieblich, June 6; Jean Sonmor of the Toronto Sun follows with “Hare Krishnas on the hotseat,” June 14, and “Dark Side of Krishna Looming Class-Action Suit Alleges Physical and Sexual Abuse of Kids,” July 6. | ISKCON Communications pledges that the organization will donate $1 million to child abuse prevention efforts (Media Release: Krishnas Pledge One Million Dollars to Child Protection, April 29, 1999)

 

Children of ISKCON vs. ISKCON

2000 – Children of ISKCON vs. ISKCON filed in a federal court in Dallas, by attorney Windle Turley, 12 June.

Documentation:
ISKCON documents
media accounts

2001 – Federal Judge Hon Lindsay rejects complaint that ISKCON violated RICO statutes, 28 Sept. | Windle Turley refiles complaint in a state court in Dallas, 25 Oct.

Documentation:
ISKCON documents
media accounts

2002 – in February, ISKCON announces that it will go bankrupt in response to Children of ISKCON vs. ISKCON.

Documentation:
ISKCON documents
media accounts

2003 – ISKCON works with bankruptcy courts and attorneys to draft an acceptable bankrutpcy reorganization plan.

Documentation:
ISKCON documents
media accounts
bankruptcy articles
bankruptcy articles

2004 – ISKCON attorney David Liberman issues a 27 February press release stating that ISKCON has filed a bankruptcy plan. | April: On the order of the bankruptcy court, ISKCON seeks additional parties who may have a claim against ISKCON. Liberman’s office posts notices on the Internet and in various publications. The deadline to file a claim is 30 June, 2004. | ISKCON receives approximately 400 additional claims for child abuse. | Liberman’s office issues a notice extending the deadline to 15 August. | Nov.: ISKCON attorney Joseph Fedorowsky (Gupta) issues a notice to claimants to update their mailing address with the bankruptcy courts and attorneys. | Joseph Fedorowsky sends out a request for information packet, 29 Nov.

Documentation:
ISKCON documents
media accounts

2005 – The court approves ISKCON’s disclosure statement on 11 February. | Joseph Fedorowsky’s office sends out ballots for claimants and plaintiffs to vote on the bankruptcy case. Voting begins in March. | On the cutoff date for voting, 29 April, Joseph Fedorowsky issues a statement that the claimants and plaintiffs have voted to accept the bankruptcy plan. | In May, the court approves ISKCON’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. | ISKCON offered a court ordered apology to victims 05 Aug. (click here for a description of the event by Naranarayan).

Documentation:
ISKCON documents
media accounts

2008 – Dallas attorney Windle Turley announces November 9 that all claims are now settled with ISKCON entities and their insurance companies. The total for all settlements was $15 million (including legal fees).

Click here for 1965 – 1999 Timeline.
Click here for more ISKCON gurukula information.
Click here for an index of all child abuse information available through this site.
Click here for the Lawsuit Timeline, 2000 – present.
Click here for more ISKCON gurukula information.
Click here for an index of all child abuse information available through this site.

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ISKCON’S “GLORIOUS” HISTORY
Brief Account by PADA

1976:
– Vishnujana disappears….
– 1976 Bhavananda caught in homosexual acts, suppressed by Tamal…
– You are just wating for Srila Prabhupada to die so you can sit in his seat…

1977:
– 1977 Disappointed with sannyasis, suspends order.. 50% of my work undone…
– May 27, vigilant management to make sure the GBC do not pose as gurus
– May 28th, rtviks will initiate after my departure…
– May 30, we are going to divide up the world (Sudama)
– July 9th, ritvik letter…
– July 10th, Tamal: they will be ritviks…
– All of my disciples must come to India…
– November 3, do not torture me and put me to death…
– November 10th, someone is giving me poison…
– December, eleven of us were appointed as gurus…

1978:
– March, 1978, we have to go to the Gaudiya Matha…
– Pradyumna letter rejected…

The March, 1978 “GBC Report” is created in conjunction with the GBC’s newly-acquired “Navadvipa advisor.” The March report declares that the GBC’s gurus have “assumed the position of assisting the gopis (conjugal lovers of Krishna).” Allegedly, all of the GBC’s eleven gurus are now completely “pure lovers of God.” Indeed, the “gurus” were now to be worshipped as direct assistants to God’s conjugal lovers. The GBC report also boldly states that it has been “made in consultation with higher authorities.”

Of course, we now know that their alleged “higher authority” is their controversial “Navadvipa advisor.” Apparently the “Navadvip advisor” did not take the time to find out of the GBC’s alleged gurus really were “appointed as gurus,” nor did he take the time to see if they were indeed qualified to take the position of pure devotee gurus. Others doubted the qualifications of the eleven gurus. Yet the Navadvip advisor boldly advised that the eleven gurus must “wear the (guru’s) uniform and the uniform will show you what to do.” Read: cheat others that you are qualified to be gurus, although we know you are not qualified.

BISEXUAL GURU LINEAGE LINK

Yet Srila Prabhupada had oftentimes expressed various doubts about this exact same “Navadvip advisor,” even branding his group as the “severe offender’s party” in 1977. The same “Navadvip advisor” previously helped start a bisexual “guru successor” fiasco in India, which had destroyed the earlier (1930s) Krishna movement. In that vicious imbroglio, dissenters to “the advisor’s” false guru project in the 1930s and 1940s were also vilified, banned, excommunicated, beaten and some were murdered.

CHILD MURDERED

The “Navadvip advsior’s” bisexual so-called guru later on had a prostitute wife. When their ten-year-old son discovered she was a prostitute, he was poisoned by the “wife” in a cover-up attempt. After this, the advisor’s so-called guru drank the same poison and died. Amazingly, this history was described in detail to the GBC by Srila Prabhupada. They were told to avoid any connection with this so-called lineage. Yet, in 1978 the GBC boldly declared this false lineage’s founder, namely their new “Navadvip advisor,” to be their new “living guide.” Why would the GBC want to duplicate these types of problems? Worse, at this time the GBC made a militantly clear policy: Anyone who would not accept the “advisor” had to leave ISKCON. Now.
Death threats and massive purges begin.

1979:
– Kirtanananda’s drug smuggling reported.
– March 1979, death threats….
– 1979 PDI busted by police…
– 1979 New Vrindavana drug mules busted by police…
– 1979, Berkeley temple raided by police…

1980:
– January 1980, Vichi gives me appointment tape hatchet job transcript…
– May (?) 1980, Jayatirtha exposed in sex and drugs scandal…
– ? Jayatirtha says Puranjana now the GBC for Ireland, and will maybe later be the guru…
– June (?) 1980, Ramesvara resigns saying he is only a ritvik..
– June, Jadurani beaten up…
– November 1980, Hansadutta suspended from guru…
– December, 1980, Tamal, we were only made ritviks… (Topanga talks)
– Sridhara says vote in those who are envious as gurus….

–Simultaneous arrests made by police in drug operations.
–Woman was beaten nearly to death at New Vrindavana.
–Other beatings were reported in various places.
–New York Sate Court condemned GBC’s money-collection tactics.
–Jayatirtha’s illicit sex and drugs is covered up by GBC. “Navadvip advisor” helps keep Jayatirth in his role as “pure devotee guru.”
–Bhagavan begins lavish life-style while his temple is in shambles.
–Ramesvara admits that the GBC guru appointment is a hoax. “Navadvipa advisor” orders him to resume “deceiving the disciples.”
–Harikesha becomes famous for his ruthless purge tactics.

RATIONALIZATIONS BEGIN

In an August 1980 “position paper” the “Mahajanas” (actual Krishna gurus) were attacked by GBC gurus such as Satsvarupa, Jayapataka Swami, and others. The report tries to rationalize the GBC’s “guru” falldowns as comparable to the activities of actual (mahajanas or) bona fide gurus.

Tamal Krishna also claims to have special “guru shakti” powers above all the other gurus and he is “suspended by the GBC from his guru duties.” He then admits that the whole “guru appointment” is a hoax: “Prabhupada only made us (priests) ritviks” (on the so-called May 28th, 1977 appointment tape), he admits.

Taru dasa disappears from New Vrindavana never to be seen again (he was later discovered to have been murdered).

3) In the early 1980s TRIPURARI swami was trying to get voted in as guru by the GBC’s homosexual pedophile lineage. When they refused he threatened them that he would get rubber stamped as guru by the FOUNDER of the 1930s HOMOSEXUAL guru imbroglio.

4) TRIPURARI was then made a guru in Sridhara Maharaja’s mission, despite knowing that this was the 1930s HOMOSEXUAL guru lineage’s founder father.

1981:
– January 1981, Sridhara Maharaja re-affirms GBC as gurus…
– Jadurani’s “The Bona Fide Spiritual Master” distributed…
– Santa Cruz refugee camp…
– Navadvipa advisor “saves” Tamal Krishna and Hansadutta from GBC censure. Indeed, the “Navadvip advisor”insists that they remain being worshipped as a bona fide gurus. Simultaneously, Satsvarupa declares that the Navadvip advisor is “senior-most Vaishnava on the planet.”

Dissenter (Chakradhari) is murdered at New Vrindavana, and his body is buried on property.

1982:
– 1982, Sridhara Maharaja says GBC are like army tanks killing their own troops…
– 1982, March, GBC says Sridhara is an envious person trying to take over ISKCON…
– 1982, Sridhara Maharaja tells Hansadutta to go back and be a guru…
– 1982, Sulochana sends me Kirtananda’s tape “the real Jayatirtha is still pure, this is the maya Sita version of Jayatirtha….”

“Navadvip Advisor” suddenly declared to be a demon by the GBC. GBC assassination and bombing plots on the advisorsurface. Advisor’s followers physically assaulted. Devotee admits that Tamal Krishna had tried to recruit him to “beat up” the advisor’s followers. Some of them were beaten up, one was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver. Ex-Kirtanananda followers complain of violent mood from guru’s “enforcers”

5) The GBC made a so-called break with Sridhara Maharaja in 1982, stating that he was bogus, a sahajiya, and that it was better to eat hamburgers than listen to Sridhara Maharaja. The fact that they NOW de facto endorse Tripurari (Sridhara’s successor) shows that they never rejected their original homosexual guru lineage “advisor.”

1983:
Jayatirtha writes book complaining of death threats from other GBC gurus. GBC forbids publication of Prabhupada’s letters (with death threats). Sannyasi commits suicide after talk with Tamal Krishna. Ramesvara’s followers issue death threats to dissenters.

BHAVANANDA REPORT IGNORED

Bhavananda’s pedophile homosexual nests further revealed. A woman complains that she had a nervous breakdown after discovering her five-year-old son was massaging Bhavananda. The GBC ignores her plea for help. Police officer’s house blasted by shotgun fire after he makes “guru” inquiries.

1984:
– 1984? Hansadutta visits me in Mt. Shasta…
– 1984 First draft of “Our Living Guru” circulated by me…
– 1984 Voodoo hexes on dissidents…
– 1984 Sulochana steals letters / Ramesvara threatens Sulochana will be “dead meat”…
– 1984 Sulochana draft of “Guru Business”
– 1984 Guru reform suggested…

– Satsvarupa says his daily struggle is to “reduce his pill intake by one.”
– Ghost-busting and tantric (black magic) among gurus revealed.
– Hridayananda admits that “appointment tape” is flawed.
– He is also exposed in what would become a routine expose, his “private talks with and sometimes massages from women.”
– Hansadutta admits to “guru appointment” hoax.
– Sulochana’s marriage is broken up by Kirtanananda, he tries to get help from GBC and they simply criticize and railroad him out.
– Sulochana obtains microfilm of Prabhupada’s letters and Ramesvara threatens to make him, “dead meat.”
– Dallas guru changes his story back to the appointed guru dogma.

1985:
– Buying percodan for the guru….
– Hansadutta shoots at occupied buildings
– Big Jagganatha tells of Voodoo…
– Haripada on Voodoo….
– Psychic: SDG needs to start spiritual life…
– October? “Reformers” meeting in New Vrindavana…
– 1985 Kirtanananda beaten by guru wanna-be “Michael Shockman”…
– October 1985, meetings in New Vrindavana

– December 1985, Hansadutta officially backs Kirtanananda and moves to New Vrindavana.
– BTG: our death certicfate
– Pedophile reinstatement
– Satsvarupa compares his headaches to “the sufferings of Lord Jesus.”
– Some “reformers” complain of death threats.
– 72 felony arrests are counted at one temple.
– Ravindra Swarupa dasa gets “another version” of the appointment tape.

MOLESTATION REPORT IGNORED

Sulochana dasa informs the GBC of massive molestation and corruption at New Vrindavana, they ignore his report. Balavanta (a GBC) admits to Sulochana that the GBC is run by “Machiavellian tactics,” which all stems from Tamal Krishna.

1986:
– Atreya says “They are stabbing Srila Prabhupada in the back”…
– January, 1986, GBC re-affirms Kirtanananda (i.e. a homosexual pedophile) is like Jesus…
– March, 1986 GBC re-affirms another known homosexual pedophile as guru..
– Atreya makes alliance with Tamal….
– April, 1986, Hansadutta makes alliance with Kirtanananda…
– May 22, 1986 Sulochana asassinated…
– May 24, 1986 Berkeley Police officer says I am next on their hit list… must call police…
– June, 1986 Berkely Police handcuff three thugs who are chasing me…
– July 1986, J Stillson Judah tells me to watch my back…
– August 1986, Jane Wallace astounded at pedophile worship…
– 1986 Jane Wallace CBS’s West 57th Street
– November 1986 Son Of Murdered Krishna Drowns (Detroit Free Press Novomber24th, 1986)
– December 15th, 1986 Tirtha (Thomas Drescher) sentencend to life in prison for the earlier murder of Chakradara (Charles St. Denis)

– Nitaipada murdered in Nepal
– VVR founded…?
– VVR ended…?

Jane Wallace (CBS news: daughter of Mike Wallace) She asked me, “This Kirtanananda, he’s a homosexual, right? When I said, “Yes, and he is not supposed to be worshipped like that, and he’s being covered with these little boys because he likes them,” she said, “Thank goodness I met you, I thought the whole lot of you worshipped homosexuals.” (Jane Wallace)

Joeseph Sanchez (Berkeley Police) “There was Srila Prabhupada, and then there were those who thought they were Srila Prabhupada.”

(Made a record 73 felony arrests from the Berkeley ISKCON temple in the late 1970s).

J. Stillson Judah PHD. Told the pada editor (1986): “Removing falsely appointed successors is, historically, very dangerous work.
Watch your back.”

– GBC makes “molester nest kings” to be “co-managers” of school.
– Satsvarupa’s writing compares Kirtanananda to Lord Jesus Christ.
– Sulochana predicts this article will get him killed.
– San Francisco devotee (Vipra dasa) asked to assassinate Sulochana.
– Ramesvara asks devotee to assassinate Sulochana.
– Sulochana is assassinated (May).
– GBC recertifies known pedophile molester to be as good as Jesus.
– Dr. J. Stillson Judah wards this paper’s author to “watch your back, your life is in danger.”
– Jane Wallace (CBS News) asks us why so many of New Vrindavana’s mothers have children from all different fathers?
– And, why is Kirtanananda being massaged by 50 boys in public everyday?
– Sulochana’s son found drowned (December) in New Vrindavana pond.
– Satsvarupa says perfect gurus need “reform.”
– Scholars identify this as a “political ploy” to appease the growing wave of dissidents.

6.a) In 1986, BHAVANANDA’s HOMOSEXUAL pedophile regime was “reinstated” by the GBC.

Simultaneously, those who protested the homosexual PEDOPHILE lineage were banned, beaten and one was assassinated on May 22, 1986.

Just after these atrocities were being spread all over the world media, NARAYANA MAHARAJA emerged as the GBC’s next consulting advisor. He DEFENDED the GBC’s guru regime, or in sum he defended the post-1977 HOMOSEXUAL PEDOPHILE guru regime.

6.b) Virabahu is the local Los Angeles guru and he was voted in at the 1986 HOMOSEXUAL PEDOPHILE recoronation, and that is why SURA says he is a bona fide guru, because he was voted in at a known homosexual pedophile’s recoronation. And Sridhara Maharaja is the original person who suggested the GBC vote in more gurus….

1987:
– 1987? Murderer of Sulochana glorified in prison by Umapati…
– Kirtanananda starts brown robes religion…
– January 5th 1987, fifty state police officers accompanied by FBI and IRS agents raided New Vrindavana.
– March, 1987 Kirtanananda expelled
– May, 1987 Jayatirtha gives up wife for younger woman
– August, 1987 Umapati, Wally Sheffy, goes to prison to award sannyasa to Tirtha (reported by Wheeling News Register).
– November (December?) 13th, 1987 Jayatirtha killed and decapitated by his disciple Navanita Cora dasa

– Bhavananda leaves with a substantial amount of money.
– Bhagavan leaves with all the money in the French temple’s safe.
– Ramesvara leaves with a considerable amount of cash. No effort is made to recover any of these funds.
– New Vrindavana raided by Federal Marshalls. Molesters given tickets to fly out of country.
– Fifty women report being beaten at New Vrindavana.

SOME SANITY

– “Advisor” admits Prabhupada made officiating ritviks.
– Jayatirtha’s head hacked off by follower.
– Jayapataka and Harikesha Swamis start guru ghost-busting program.
– Hridayananda “Swami” caught (again) being massaged by a woman.
– GBC rewards him with a Cadillac and college education fund.

1988:
July 20th 1988: Evening Standard reports on last years killing of Jayathirtha (James Immel) by Navanita Cora dasa (John Tiernan, Irishman) who was sent to a secure mental hospital after admitting decapitating his guru.

1988 GBC paper: Gurus become demons… Virabahu dasa writes GBC guru’s “Apologist’s Bible.” Claims that homosexual pedophile relations are “the same experience you would get from a bona fide guru.” Creates considerable laughter.

1989:
New York temple Haitian disco starts, simultaneously they ban the pro-Prabhupada worshippers from entering there. Jayapataka almost killed in knife attack by disgruntled follower. Satsvarupa’s “Life Of Prayer,” declared “madness” by some GBCs. Ravindra Swarupa writes in defense of marriage-breaking preaching tactics.

1990:
– 1990 Gurus are full of ghosts… March, VVR debates in San Diego…
– Rigged debate held. GBC refuses to discuss their history or qualifications.
– GBC later declares entire meeting invalid.

7) In 1990, NARAYAN MAHARAJA jointly stated with the GBC that TIRTHA (the 1930s guru poisoner); MADHAVA (the guru insulter); and SRIDHARA MAHARAJA (supporter of both the 1930s and 1970s HOMOSEXUAL guru lineages) are their examples of acharyas like Srila Prabhupada.

COCKROACH GURUS EXALTED

GBC tries to cover up their losses from the debate by openly declaring that three dubious persons are “gurus like Prabhupada.” Prabhupada himself had called one of them “an envious black snake, who killed his guru.” Another one insulted and threatened Prabhupada, and was often thought to be plotting to kill him. Prabhupada said that two of them were the Founding Fathers of a deviant bisexual guru and were “severe offenders.” All of these men were once branded as “cockroaches” by Srila Prabhupada.

1991:
Ghost-busting fiasco. GBC declares its gurus are full of ghosts. Gurus, temples, children, businesses “ghostbusted.” Businessman shot to death at Vrindavana temple. Locals disturbed. GBC bails out and verbally defends a molester.

1992:
Homosexual rape at a temple reported. Non-molester guru supporters receive death threat from San Diego. Trivrikrama threatens to call police on non-molester supporters. Hridayananda caught giving private lessons to “Sally.” Sannyasi caught watching triple-x videos.

8) In 1992 the GBC tried to get rid of Narayan Maharaja saying he was a bogus SAHAJIYA, who was POLLUTING the GBC’s gurus with Rasika instructions.

1993:
– Triple-x video sannyasi made a guru.
– Ex-gurukula students told they need to “work with Jayapataka,” a molestation nest Founding Father, in order to be accepted in ISKCON.
– Molester sympathizer made GBC’s “Justices leader.”
– Cow protection program exposed as abusive.
– Death threat issued from “Satsvarupa disciple.”
– Another unresolved San Diego death threat reported to FBI.
– Woman snubbed for investigating molestation pattern.
– ISKCON authority investigated for affairs with minors.
– A GBC kicks out 16-year-old daughter – resulting in her being raped.
– GBC orders AIDS tests for all ISKCON members.
– Kirtanananda caught in homosexual act.
– Four girls molested at Mayapura.
– Man investigated for sex with daughter.
– ISKCON leader linked as Bhavananda’s past “associate.”
– Non-molester lineage promoters banned from England’s temples.
– Guru’s “homosex on train” incident revealed.
– Treasurer goes berserk at temple. Sent to insane asylum.
– Counselling on molestation offered by GBC, hoping they will pacify people and not get sued?
– Woman is raped on a temple’s property.
– Prabhupada’s Godbrother says ISKCON is full of thieves and rogues.

1996:
– ? Hrdayananda says two homosexuals are acharyas in his Bhagavatam…
– 1996 Gurus have sex with men, women and possibly children as well…
– ? Tirtha turns against Kirtanananda and is almost murdered in prison…

1997:
– 1997 Poison issue becomes public…
– poison audio tape made and distributed by us…
– LA temple leaders refuse to sign homosexual guru disclaimer…

1998:
– 1998 Poison issue on Houston radio show…
– 1998? IRM starts lawsuit in Calcutta…

9) In 1998 Los Angeles temple authority SURA DASA and others refused to sign a document which states that HOMOSEXUAL PEDOPHILES are not part of a chain of Jesus like gurus. Moreover, SURA DASA sated that anyone who would agree with such as document (such as us) are “SHIT MORONS.”

1999:
10) In 1999, NARAYAN MAHARAJA told Gauridasa Pandit that BON MAHARAJA was the first person to preach in the West, despite that BON is a HOMOSEXUAL and de facto PEDOPHILE, who is also a thief, embezzler, and was said to be “a black snake” by Srila Prabhupada.

11) In 1999, various GBC gurus such as Prithu dasa criticized TRIPURARI as a sahajiya, a GAUDIYA MATHA compromizer, and as a person who was alleged to be dating his secretary. Immediately after this, JAYADVAITA SWAMI and the Los Angeles temple authorities invited TRIPURARI to visit Los Angeles and help with their BBT meetings, and to lecture in the temple about his “higher realizations.”