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Foreword to Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 3, by Chand Prasad

July 2023 Update to Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 3

READER’S LETTERS

October 7, 2020:

Henry, I’m enjoying reading this first volume (or rather Vol. 3) of Gold, Guns, and God on my Kindle reader. Your work is tremendously relevant and the historical value is immeasurable. I appreciate you so much and all the hard work that you are putting into this project. I’m looking forward to writing another stellar review for Amazon when finished.

In gratitude,

Pedro Ramos
Atlanta, Georgia

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December 13, 2020:

I have just finished reading Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 3: Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. You have presented so much valuable history about New Vrindaban! Others will also think it valuable too. More valuable as time goes on. The people immediately involved rarely see the value. It’s future generations, who have no direct connection with the history, that will value your books more than the current generations.

Chaitanya Mangala dasa
Former Kirtanananda disciple, resident and board member of New Vrindaban

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January 10, 2021:

Hrish, I have just finished reading Gold, Guns and God, Vol. 3: Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. This is a good service you are doing. Eventually many people will read these books. Except, of course, those who are desperate to forget the past. Enclosed is $40. Please send me volumes 1 and 5.

Former disciple of Kirtanananda Swami
New Vrindaban, West Virginia

SUMMARY: Volume 3—Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold

Volume 3 of Gold, Guns and God covers a ten-year span from 1973 until 1983. During this period, due to the construction and completion of Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, the New Vrindaban community was dramatically transformed from a primitive, often unsanitary, rural farm village of a few dozen people who used horses and oxen for plowing and hauling firewood, into a bustling, wealthy and popular center of Hindu pilgrimage inhabited by several hundred devotees who used automobiles, tractors, bulldozers, dump trucks and computers. Hundreds of thousands of tourists reportedly visited the Palace each year, and this helped bring about an increase in revenue and renown.

Despite the inexorable progress of the community during this decade-long period, there were several unfortunate and serious setbacks. In June 1973, the temple was attacked by a small posse of men armed with a shotgun (some claimed the men also carried pistols and automatic weapons) who stormed the temple, wounded four residents with buckshot, and desecrated the deities in an effort to frighten the devotees into revealing the whereabouts of their leader’s underage runaway daughter who, they believed, had been hidden on the property. Two men were soon apprehended by law enforcement agents, but they never went to trial. The reason why justice was never served may be a surprise to many. After this incident, New Vrindaban management established a Ksatriya-training program to teach able-bodied residents the arts of fighting and shooting guns.

Another complication occurred when fifteen Marshall County residents sued New Vrindaban for $500,000 on charges ranging from trespassing on private property, to other “unlawful and despicable acts, including cutting trees, destroying fences, making threats of bodily harm, littering, urinating and defecating in full view of the plaintiffs.” The community was found guilty on one charge.

The community was inconvenienced also in 1976, when a West Virginia college professor died from a virolent strain of hepatitis contracted at the community, and the state governor ordered the community quarantined to contain the spread of the infection. State police set up roadblocks which prevented travel to and from the community. In addition, when a dozen cows died after a severe winter snowstorm in February 1977, Kirtanananda Swami was arrested by Marshall County sheriff’s deputies on a charge of cruelty to animals and he spent some time in jail.

High points, on the other hand, during this period include the third and fourth visits of the ISKCON Founder/Acharya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to the community, in 1974 and 1976 respectively. These visits were a source of great inspiration and pleasure for the Brijabasis (residents, or inmates) of New Vrindaban. During these visits Prabhupada encouraged the New Vrindaban inmates and expressed his approval regarding the progress of the construction of his Palace. He also bestowed liberal praise on his first sannyasi disciple, Kirtanananda Swami, saying “Just follow Kirtanananda Swami. He will take you back to Godhead.” Especially surprising during Prabhupada’s fourth visit were his instructions regarding eating meat and making wine from grapes. In addition, he claimed that a potent Ayurvedic medicine to cure tuberculosis could be made by putting a live goat into a vat of boiling ghee with other ingredients. The goat is boiled alive, he explained, in order to cure hundreds of people.

A very sad and depressing time for all ISKCON devotees was the terminal illness during the summer of 1977 and the death in Vrindaban, India, on November 14^th, of their beloved spiritual master, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Kirtanananda Swami played an especially important role in the final pastimes of the ISKCON Founder/Acharya, during which his affection and love for his spiritual mater was revealed to all. After Prabhupada’s passing, the pace of Palace construction increased. For eight consecutive months, beginning in January 1979, the Brijabasis performed great austerities and sacrifices in order to more quickly complete Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in time for the opening festival in September. Some residents willingly suffered the austerities, while others, such as the children and cows, suffered unwillingly.

The September 2^nd dedication of Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, an incredibly joyous event for all the Brijabasis, is described in detail, and the remainder of this volume delineates the rapid growth of the community and the establishment of a veritable Hindu place of pilgrimage complete with a guest house, restaurant, gift store, rose garden, and parks. The community hosted cultural events for Hindu pilgrims, such as theater, Indian classical music and traditional bhajans, bharat-nayyam dance, and film.

The coronation of the statue of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada at his Palace of Gold as a king is discussed in Vol. 3, as well as the pressure from Bhaktipada’s ISKCON godbrothers who criticized the crown and successfully lobbied to have the crown removed three years later. The preaching activities of the “Glory Days” of New Vrindaban are described, including Bhaktipada’s weekly radio show, Vrindaban Village estates (the timeshare cabin rental program for pilgrims), the summer camp for Indian children, Palace Press and the various publications (New Vrindaban Newsletter, Cintamani, Brijabasi Spirit, etc.) which promoted the community, and the Palace Charities food distribution program which delivered vegetarian meals to Marshall and Ohio County senior citizens.

The hasty departure from the community in 1983 of New Vrindaban’s preeminent architect, designer and sculptor, Bhagavatananda (Joseph Cappelletti), because of Bhaktipada’s refusal to discipline a former school headmaster who had sexually molested Bhagavatananda’s young son is also noted, with great regret. Finally, the posthumous revision of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is by the editors of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) is discussed, Bhaktipada’s condemnation of same, and his thundering (yet in retrospect, ironic) admonition, “I want to become known as the acharya who didn’t change anything!”

On the surface, Swami Bhaktipada’s leadership at New Vrindaban seemed remarkably successful, but underneath something was eating at its roots, and this would be exposed in due course.

TABLE OF CONTENTS—VOLUME 3: PRABHUPADA’S PALACE OF GOLD

Chapter 25: The Shooting Affair

Five fire sacrifices in one weekend
Devotees meet a runaway Kentucky girl
The girl asks to come to New Vrindaban
The girl’s father comes to New Vrindaban in search of his daughter
The girl’s father searches the community with State Police
Did the girl come to New Vrindaban?
The girl’s father comes to New Vrindaban a third time
The attack
A shotgun discharges
Devotees terrorized
Kirtanananda and Dharmatma ordered to climb the hill and dig their own graves
Deities desecrated
The gunmen depart
Wounded devotees taken to hospital
Police arrive
Kirtanananda Swami television interview
Devotees’ reports inconsistent

Chapter 26: Our Men Should Be Trained to Kill

Arsenal, shooting range established
Devotees depressed
Deities repaired and returned to the altar
Brijabasis rejoice
Two men arrested, jailed for five months and released
Demons vs. devotees
Why the men were relased: Kirtanananda refused to cooperate
The “Cult of Kirtanananda” deepens
Who were the“demons” and who were the “devotees”
Devotees: above the law
Kirtanananda propagates “self-serving baloney”
Kirtanananda accidentally reveals the truth?

Chapter 27: These Devotees Are My Jewels

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s house evolves into a palace
Palace construction begins
New Vrindaban residents celebrate Kirtanananda’s birthday
New Vrindaban sued for 1/2 million dollars
The case is closed
Vrindaban farm property transferred to New Vrindaban, Inc.
Make New Vrindaban like Tirupati, India
Palace construction grinds on
First Palace lotus arch cast
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s third visit: “These devotees are my jewels”
Kirtanananda stuns devotees with electric cattle prod
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada displays confidence in Kirtanananda
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada becomes ill
1974 Janmastami festival
A turning point
GBC members criticize “Kirtanananda’s Folly”

Chapter 28: A Labor of Love

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada inquires about his Palace-under-construction
The first Christmas marathon
Depression
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada chastises Kirtanananda Swami
Only a “great fool” would not like the Palace
Pace of Palace construction quickens
Maharaja orders Radhanath dasa Brahmachari to never leave the Vrindaban farm
Marble cutting machine
Prabhupada’s Palace: a labor of love
Accidents happen
The Vrindaban farm
Kirtanananda visits Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in India

Chapter 29: New Vrindaban Under Lockdown

College professor dies from hepatitis contracted at New Vrindaban
Kirtanananda minimizes the seriousness of the situation
State police enforce the quarantine
Disobedient devotee severely beaten
Kirtanananda protests “religious persecution”
New Vrindaban daily life little changed by quarantine

Chapter 30: I Am Already Living Here

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s fourth visit to New Vrindaban
Animal eating
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visits the Vrindaban farm
Palace construction continues
Pace of construction increases
The first community-wide Christmas marathon
Kirtanananda arrested and jailed
Shalagram-Shilas appear at New Vrindaban

Chapter 31: The Passing of Prabhupada

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada becomes seriously ill
Kirtanananda offers his youth to his master
Who will carry on when Prabhupada passes away?
Disunity in ISKCON widespread
United we stand; divided we fall
Disciples discuss future initations with Prabhupada
Prabhupada appoints eleven ritvik priests to initiate on his behalf
Prabhupada enjoys reading the Brijabasi Spirit
Prabhupada decides to depart; Kirtanananda begs his master to stay
Prabhupada leaves the planet
Prabhupada’s Palace becomes a memorial shrine

Chapter 32: The Palace Marathon

Mexican laborers arrive
Talented artists arrive
Nectar from Maharaja
The author arrives at New Vrindaban
Gopashtami festival
Kirtanananda Maharaja becomes “Bhaktipada”
Unconventional sources of funding for Prabhupada’s Palace
Passing counterfeit notes
Burglary of “Moonie” van
Recreational drug sales
Quaalude manufacturing laboratory established
Other smugglers for New Vrindaban
“We may take money for Krishna using any method of beg, borrow and steal”
Cheating on the concrete
Devotees sacrificed to build the Palace
Working conditions unsafe
Children and cows also sacrificed to build the Palace

Chapter 33: We Had Been Waiting For Such a Long, Long Time

Building Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s throne
The Palace dedication
Ten prominent people who built the Palace
Palace publicity
Funding for the Palace: the official explanation
Legacy of Prabhupada’s Palace

Chapter 34: The “Spiritual Master”

Representative of Vyasa
Bhaktipada praised daily in song at temple services
The Bhaktipadastakam Prayers

Chapter 35: A Tourist Magnet

Palace rose garden
Guest lodge, Palace restaurant, gift store open
Palace marketing
Palace book distribution
Dignitaries visit Palace
“They’re always talking about the Krishnas”
Fine arts at New Vrindaban
Theater
Film
Music
Classical Indian dance
Painting
Scupture
Bhagavatananda leaves New Vrindaban

Chapter 36: Prabhupada Rex

“There is no restriction in worship”
The Royal Prabhupada
Bhaktipada visits Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
The crown is removed

Chapter 37: Spend Your Summer In Heaven

Bhaktipada’s radio show
New Vrindaban: Mecca for Indians
Vrindaban Village Estates
Camp Gopal
The Brijabasi Spirit
Palace Charities
The BBT revises Bhagavad-gita

Images

U. S. Geological Survey topographic map of McCreary Ridge showing location of principle sites of New Vrindaban.

Map of the Bahulaban farm, showing location of the temple, the old barn, the new barn, Kirtanananda Swami’s cabin, and the site of the proposed Govindaji temple.

The presiding deities of New Vrindaban: Radha-Vrindaban Chandra, on their altar at Bahulaban.

The presiding deities of the Madhuban farm: Radha-Madhava.

The presiding deities of the Vrindaban farm: Radha-Vrindaban Nath.

Weatherbeaten wooden sign outside the Bahulaban temple welcoming visitors: “New Vrindaban, Ashram of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada” (June 1973).

Shoulder patch used by members of the Sons of Silence motorcycle club.

Marshall County Sheriff Department cruiser parked below Bahulaban temple on the day of the “Shooting Affair“ (June 5, 1973).

Sergeant Thomas Westfall at the Sheriff’s office conducting a briefing with officers prior to serving a search warrant at a farm in Marshall County a couple ridges over from McCreary Ridge (1973-1974). Photo courtesy Thomas Westfall.

Kirtanananda Swami speaking to a news reporter at New Vrindaban several hours after the “Shooting Affair.” At times during the interview he appeared on the verge of breaking into tears (June 5, 1973).

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, with his secretary Brahmananda Swami, Kirtanananda Swami, and other disciples outside the Bahulaban temple at New Vrindaban (July 1974). Bhakta Alfred Tarantino (later known as Ajeya dasa), at Prabhupada's right, carries a billy club and a revolver in a holster supported by a belt around his waist, to protect his spiritual master, if the need should arise.

Early drawing of the proposed palace for Prabhupada by Mahabuddhi dasa (Donald Ferry) (August 1974).

A more detailed drawing of the proposed Palace at a later date.

Karusha (Kerry Roth) in the marble shop.

Prabhupada’s Palace under construction.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada—with his servant Hari-Sari and Kirtanananda Swami, and other disciples—visits his Palace-under-construction (June 1976).

Newspaper cartoon poking fun at the New Vrindaban Santas fundraising on the streets and in the subways of New York City (December 1976).

Hare Krishna Santas being booked at a police station (newspaper photo, December 1976).

Shalagram Shila, known as Hiranyagarbha, seated on his throne, wearing crown and flower garland (c. 1980s).

Kirtanananda Swami, Brihat-Shloka, Jalakolahali and Atmabhu at the Palace-under-construction (undated).

Bhagavatananda and Kirtanananda Swami (undated).

Prshadhra (Phil Gere) polishing marble at the Palace.

Kirtanananda Swami and New Vrindaban temple president Kuladri (Arthur Villa), at Bahulaban (c. 1977).

Kirtanananda Swami dressing as Krishna’s father, Nanda-Maharaja, at the New Vrindaban Gopashtami festival at the Bahulaban barn (undated).

Bhaktipada and Shyamakunda (Gregory Detamore), who figured prominently in raising funds for Palace construction by unconventional means (photo c. 1988).

Bhaktipada and Advaitacharya (Emil “Eddie” Sofsky), who figured prominently in raising funds for Palace construction by unconventional means.

Dharmatma (Dennis Gorrick) figured prominently in the “Shooting Affair,” as well as fundraising by unconventional means to help build Prabhupada’s Palace. Image from Brijabasi Spirit (January-February 1977).

The author working on the Palace domes (Spring 1979).

Kuladri applying gold leaf to the main dome (Spring 1979).

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada (on crutches, flanked by ISKCON zonal acharya Jayatirtha dasa Tirthapada and GBC representative Brahmananda Maharaja) offering a yak-tail whisk to the murti of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada during the outdoor aroti after Prabhupada’s arrival in procession at the Palace (September 2, 1979).

ISKCON zonal acharya Jayatirtha dasa Tirthapada offers flowers to the murti of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada while Radhanath dasa Brahmachari and Kirtanananda Swami look on (September 2, 1979).

Four ISKCON zonal acharyas sit on vyasasanas, along with godbrothers and disciples, behind Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold during the Palace Dedication Festival (September 2, 1979).

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada (on crutches) speaking to newspaper and television reporters at the dedication of Prabhupada’s Palace (September 2, 1979).

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada (on crutches) speaking to newspaper and television reporters at the dedication of Prabhupada’s Palace (September 2, 1979).

The Palace main dome, framed by roses in the Garden of Time (undated).

Prabhupada’s Palace illuminated at night (undated).

Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, detail (undated).

The Palace dome, flag of Hanuman, and upper portion of gold-leaf tilak (undated).

Prabhupada’s Garden of Time (undated).

Palace hallway (undated).

Bedspread on Prabhupada’s bed.

One of four peacock stained-glass windows at Prabhupada’s Palace (undated).

Palace exterior, elephant-head waterspout (undated).

Ceiling of the kirtan hall (undated).

Kirtan hall, from the main entrance, looking towards the murti of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the altar room (undated).

Section of the ceiling which circles around the kirtan hall outside the interior columns. Creating this was the author’s service at Prabhupada’s Palace from October 1978 until March 1979

The murti of Prabhupada on his altar (c. 1980).

The murti of Prabhupada in his study. Many tourists, upon entering this room, stop talking because, upon first glance, they think the murti is a living Hindu monk, and they don’t want to disturb his writing.

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada enjoying a palanquin ride on his 41^st birthday (September 1978). Front row: The author (Bhakta Hank), Kasyapa dasa Adhikari (Jack Mowen), unidentified devotee, and Vrindapati (Walt Parry). In the background can be seen Advaitacharya, Gopinath and Taru.

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada enjoying a palanquin ride on his 43^rd appearance day (September 1980). Pictured: Lilamrita devi dasi (Louisa Kay Mathers), Kalpavriksha dasa (Keith Weber), Buddhi-Yoga dasa (Brook Brody), unidentified, Jaya-Rishi dasa (Jonathan Rhodes), Marudeva dasa (Jeffrey Forster), unidentified devotee, Rupa-Ramesvari dasi (Rebecca Strowger), Damayanti devi dasi (D. A. Cunningham, wife of Kanina from Canada)

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, publicity photo, sitting on his backyard deck at his house across from the Palace (1982).

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada and his buddy Hayagriva sit at Bhaktipada’s breakfast table while personal servant Jambu watches from the kitchen (c. 1982). At this time the two were neighbors; Bhaktipada lived in a house across the street from Prabhupada’s Palace, and Hayagriva lived in a tiny house on the same driveway.

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, surrounded by disciples and followers chanting the Holy Names (c. Summer 1982).

The Palace from the ridge to the south.

The Palace became a success partly due to the marketing efforts of Palace Manager Mahabuddhi dasa (Randy Stein) (undated).

Tour buses at the Palace (undated).

Tourists visiting the Palace (undated).

Three members of the Brijabasi Players, Lokamangala (Leonard Jones), Sankirtan (Andy Frankel), Ganendra (Gerald Monge).

Bhajan quartet at the Palace: Ajamila (Ajit Kumar Dey), Sri-Bhajan (Shappean), Brihan-Naradiya-Purana (Bernice Nieto-Roberto), and Maheshvara (Manuel Roberto).

Visiting ISKCON kirtan singer Vaiyasaki dasa leads the gurukula boys—Garbhodaksayi, Bhakti, Kumar, Jayananda, Parthasarati and Svargaloka—in chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra at Prabhupada’s Palace, along with teachers Manihar and Haridhama.

Crowned Prabhupada at his Palace (c. December 1980).

Crowned Prabhupada at his Palace (c. December 1981).

Crowned Prabhupada at his Palace (c. December 1981).

Crowned Prabhupada at his Palace (c. December 1981).

At Prabhupada’s Palace. From left to right: The author, Marudeva, Ambarish, Bhaktipada, Ramachandra, Tapahpunja, Rishi-Kumar, Jagannath-Mishra, Ajeya, Shikshastaka (undated).

Kumar (Scott Hebel) and Tapahpunja (Terry Sheldon) (c. February 1983).

Sundarakar (Stephen Fitzpatrick) at Palace Press (undated).

Devotees at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold (c. summer 1982)

The author holds a copy of Gold, Guns and God, by his marble Radha-Krishna deities. (November 2020)

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