Bhaktipada's Palace of Love
BY: GOPAGOPISVARA DASA
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Kirtanananda and young attendant outside his new 'Palace of Love'
'Bhaktipada Newsletter', Nov 2009
Jan 12, USA (SUN) — An appeal to my godbrothers who as minors were molested by Kirtanananda "Swami".
It is especially ironic that Kirtanananda's devoted Indian disciples publicly christened their spiritual master's luxurious new residence on the top floor of the Radha-Vrindaban Candra Temple in Ulhasnagar the "Palace of Love," as seen by the photos in the Sun article "Bhaktipada 2010, which were originally published in 'Bhaktipada Newsletter' (November 2009).
I remember the "love" which Kirtanananda enjoyed at New Vrindaban (1) in his cabin at Bahulaban during the late 1970s and early 1980s, (2) at his new residence on the road from McCreary's Ridge to the Vrindaban farm—which conveniently housed a "boys ashram"—during the mid-to early 1990s, (3) in his personal Winnebago motor home, and (4) at his "retreat" at Silent Mountain, where he retired after his long-overdue eviction from New Vrindaban in 1993. Dozens of trusting boys and teenagers were initiated into the cult of Kirtanananda by giving and receiving sexual acts with their "pure devotee jagad-guru spiritual master."
In 1996, after several trials, Kirtanananda reluctantly pleaded guilty to mail fraud and served eight years in prison. Kirtanananda's American followers abandoned him in droves, except for a small contingency at his Radha-Murlidhara Interfaith Sanctuary Temple at 25 First Avenue in New York City. During his incarceration, ISKCON's Child Protection Office conducted an investigation and determined on September 10, 2000 that "Kirtanananda dasa committed sexual child abuse" based on testimony from two victims. I can assure you there were dozens and dozens of victims, beginning as early as the late 1970s.
Even in prison, Kirtanananda was unable to control his insatiable lust for young men. Kirtanananda's cell mate accused him of making sexual advances and slugged him in the jaw. After a hearing, prison officials decided that Kirtanananda should be "locked down" in his own private cell. Kirtanananda made light of it and told his disciples in 'Srila Bhaktipada Newsletter' (January 10, 1997), "Actually, it's Krishna's mercy, too. Now I have a private cell, in a section that has no TV blaring away every day. The only drawback is that I can only be allowed out into the Big Room for one hour a day, and that is the only time I can make phone calls."
When Kirtanananda was released from prison on June 16, 2004 he went to live with his disciples in New York City. During this time he was accused of molesting the son of a visiting devotee (she confronted Kirtanananda about the abuse, became angry, grabbed a small brass deity off the altar and smashed him in the head), and steps were taken by temple management (including some of his own disciples) to evict him. Finally on March 7, 2008, he admitted defeat and moved to India with his faithful servant and fellow boy molester Radha-Vrindaban Candra Swami (formerly the New Vrindaban pujari known as Gopinath dasa). "I don't expect to return to the States," Kirtanananda said. He was warmly received by his still-faithful and adoring disciples in India and Pakistan, who have now built a luxurious residence for their spiritual master in Ulhasnagar which they proudly call Bhaktipada's "Palace of Love."
We do not know what Kirtanananda is preaching to his Indian disciples, but we can reasonably assume that he is still up to his old tricks. He is living out the remainder of his life in luxury and undoubtedly continues to delude others away from real spirituality. Innocent people are being cheated by this deviant and calculating homosexual pedophile. It is imperative that he be stopped.
If only one person who was abused by him when underage would swear out a complaint against him he could be extradited from India to stand trial in the United States. There is no statute of limitations for sexual offenses. Won't someone stand up and do the right thing? This is an important service to Krishna and all the world. If you do not stand up and speak, by your silence you condone and insure the pollution of yet another generation of innocent boys and young men and thereby condemn them to the same pain and suffering that we've had to endure. We shouldn't tolerate this arrogant deviant. He should be stopped before other lives are ruined.
My dear godbrothers, won't you please come forward? If you write to me, c/o the Sampradaya Sun, I will help find an attorney who will be willing to file the suit. This is the least we can do to help insure that these heinous crimes will not be repeated again.
Your humble servant,
Gopagopisvara dasa
a former Kirtanananda "Swami" disciple
