Kirtanananda Swami Wiki, Age, Death, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Kirtanananda Swami (1937-2011) aka Swami Bhaktipada (Bhaktipāda) was a religious chief and creator. He was the co-founder of the New Vrindaban, a Hare Krishna group in Marshall County, West Virginia. He was a Gaudiya Vaishnava guru, who served as a religious chief from 1968 to 1994. In 2011, he died of kidney failure.

Wiki/Biography

Kirtanananda Swami aka Keith Gordon Ham was born on Monday, 6 September 1937 (age 74 years; on the time of demise) in Peekskill, New York, USA. His zodiac signal is Virgo.

In 1952, he accomplished his class 9 at Drum Hill Junior Excessive College. Thereafter, he attended Bob Jones Academy in Greenville, South Carolina, however he contracted hepatitis and dropped out of faculty. In 1953, his dad and mom enrolled him at Keith attends Stony Brook College in Lengthy Island, New York, however he was once more detected with hepatitis and polio. In 1955, he accomplished his highschool at Peekskill Excessive College, New York.

On 20 Might 1959, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Historical past at Maryville School, Maryville, United States, and stood first in his class. There, he obtained a three-year Woodrow Wilson fellowship to check American historical past on the College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States. Later, he attended Columbia College in New York to pursue PhD, however he couldn’t full the diploma.

Bodily Look

Peak (approx.): 5′ 6″

Hair Color: Gray (half bald)

Eye Color: Hazel Brown

Sexual Orientation

Kirtanananda Swami was a gay.

Household

Mother and father & Siblings

His father, Francis Gordon Ham, labored as a conservative Baptist minister. His mom’s identify is Marjorie. He had 4 elder siblings named Shirley, Gerald, Joan, and Roberta. His elder brother Gerald was an archivist.

Spouse & Kids

He was single and didn’t have any kids.

Relationships/Affairs

Whereas he was learning on the College of North Carolina, he met Howard Morton Wheeler, who was pursuing commencement in English from the College. Initially, they grew to become mates, and later, fell in love with one another. The couple was in a gay relationship for a really very long time. Within the 1996 documentary ‘Holy Cow, Swami,’ he accepted that he was concerned in a gay relationship. Nonetheless, he stated that after turning into a Hare Krishna Swami, he didn’t have a gay relationship together with his associate.

Faith/Spiritual Views

He belonged to a Christian household, and later, he adopted Hinduism. He adopted the Brahma-Madhva-Gauḍīya Sampradāya lineage of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism sect.

From Keith Gordon Ham to Swami Kirtanananda

In June 1966, Keith (Swami Kirtanananda) went to India for a brief journey, and after coming back from there, he met the Bengali Gaudiya Vaishnava guru A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York. At the moment, Bhaktivedanta had based the Worldwide Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON; also referred to as Hare Krishnas within the west) and was working a storefront mission in New York. There, Keith attended Bhagavad-Gita lessons in a temple at 26 Second Avenue within the Decrease East Facet of Manhattan. He accepted Prabhupada as his Swami, and on 23 September 1966, he obtained the title ‘Kīrtanānanda Dāsa.’

Prabhupada used to name him Kitchen-ānanda as his cooking expertise had been good. Keith’s associate Howard Wheeler additionally joined the religious organisation and obtained the identify Hayagriva Dāsa on 9 September 1966. Kirtanananda had shaved his head and have become the primary Swami of western disciples to take action. In March 1967, on the recommendation of Swami Prabhupada, Kirtanananda, together with Janus Dambergs (member of the Hare Krishna group as Janardana Dāsa) established a Hare Krishna temple in Montreal. On 28 August 1967, he grew to become the primary disciple to provoke the Vaishnava order of renunciation (a vow of lifelong celibacy), and thereafter, he obtained the title Kīrtanānanda Swāmi.

A couple of days after receiving the title, Kirtanananda returned to New York from India in opposition to Prabhupada’s will and began including a couple of cultural components of Christianity to Prabhupāda’s devotional bhakti system. Steadily, he began eliminating a couple of conventional components and chanting prayers in English with out consulting his Swami.

Different followers of Prabhupāda believed that he was attempting to take over the Hare Krishna group. When Prabhupāda (who was dwelling in India) received to learn about this, he banned Kirtanananda from preaching at any ISKCON temple. Thereafter, he left New York. In July 1968, Kirtanananda, together with Hayagriva, visited Swami Prabhupada’s place and apologised for his or her actions.

Establishing The New Vrindaban Neighborhood

In 1968, whereas Kirtanananda was studying a newspaper named San Francisco Oracle, he noticed an commercial from Richard Rose Jr., who was on the lookout for somebody who could make an ashram on his land in Marshall County, West Virginia. The letter reads,

The conception is one in all a non-profit, non-interfering, non-denominational retreat or refuge, the place philosophers may come to work communally collectively, or independently, the place a library and different amenities is perhaps developed.”

Kirtanananda and his associate Hayagriva then visited the properties of Rose, and Kirtanananda determined to dwell in Rose’s backwoods farmhouse for a couple of months in isolation. In 1968, Kirtanananda and Hayagriva took a plot on a 99-year lease from Rose for $4,000 (with an choice to buy for $10 when the lease expired). Hayagriva gave $1,500 as deposit cash to Rose. Thereafter, Kirtanananda and Hayagriva began the religious organisation named New Vrindaban organisation in West Virginia below the steerage of Prabhupada. Later, Swami Prabhupada wrote letters by which he defined the aim of building the New Vrindaban Neighborhood and a suggestion for the working of the organisation. Prabhupada even visited the organisation 4 instances i. e. in 1969, 1972, 1974, and 1976. In accordance with Prabhupada New Vrindaban was established to focus on 5 key components for ISKCON i. e. Easy dwelling, holy pilgrimage, religious schooling, and loving Krishna. Steadily, Kirtanananda began establishing himself as the only real authority and chief of the organisation. Within the publications of New Vrindaban, he was titled the Founder-Acharya of New Vrindaban. Steadily, the organisation began increasing and the premises of the organisation acquired over 2500 acres. Within the early Nineteen Seventies, the group had greater than 600 members and was visited by 1000’s of ISKCON guests yearly. In 1972, Kirtanananda determined to construct a house for Swami Prabhupada. By the point, his house was accomplished Prabhupada handed away and it grew to become the memorial shrine of marble, gold, and carved teak wooden of Swami Prabhupada. It grew to become a centre of attraction for guests and was named the Palace of Gold.

The opposite essential points of interest of the New Vrindaban had been the theme parks “Land of Krishna” and “Temple of Understanding” which make the place a ‘Non secular Disneyland.’ On 14 November 197, after Prabhupada’s demise, Kirtanananda, together with the opposite ten ISKCON leaders, grew to become the successors of Swami Prabhupada. In March 1979, Kirtanananda was given the honorary title ‘Bhaktipāda.’

New Vrindaban Metropolis of God

On 27 October 1985, New Vrindaban organised a bricklaying marathon. Instantly, one of many devotees there hit Kirtanananda on the top with a heavy metal tamping device. Kirtanananda was badly injured and was in a coma for 10 days. After the incident, Kirtanananda’s behaviour began altering. A few of his shut associates began leaving the group because of his modified behaviour. In 1986, Kirtanananda began an interfaith experiment group named New Vrindaban Metropolis of God. With the group, he began eliminating the unique ideas of the ISKCON and including a western contact to it; repeating the identical which he had achieved earlier in 1967. The devotees at New Vrindaban began sporting robes as an alternative of dhotis and sarees, began chanting prayers in English, utilizing western musical devices in bhajans, and began preserving beards as an alternative of being clean-shaven. A few of the devotees didn’t like this follow and left the group.

Writer

Kirtanananda Swami was an creator too. He authored round 24 books on spirituality. A few of his books had been translated into completely different languages like Gujarati, German, French, and Spanish. A couple of religious books revealed by Kirtanananda are ‘The Tune of God: A Abstract Research of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is’ (1984), ‘On His Order (1987),’ ‘Pleasure of No Intercourse (1988),’ ‘A Devotee’s Handbook for Pure Devotion (2004),’ and ‘Humbler than a Blade of Grass’ (2008).

Kirtanananda additionally wrote a couple of articles and poems on spirituality. A few of his poems are “Man’s Hyperlink to God” (1969), “Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra” (1970), “Sankhya-yoga: Absorption within the Supreme” (1970), “Turning Our Love Towards Krishna” (1974), and “The Issues Christ Needed to Maintain Secret” (1977).

Downfall of Kirtanananda

In 1987, his downfall began. The previous members of the Hare Krishna group accused Kirtanananda of operating a group as a cult. On 16 March 1987, he was expelled by the governing physique of ISKCON for ethical and theological deviations. Nonetheless, he refused to step down from the put up of ‘Head of New Vrindaban.’ He then began his personal organisation named The Everlasting Order of the League of Devotees Worldwide. By the tip of 1988, New Vrindaban had 13 satellite tv for pc centres in the US and Canada. Later, on his former devotees’ complaints, his premises had been raided by the FBI and took all his paperwork and pc tools into their custody.

Life After Imprisonment

In a couple of molestation and mail fraud circumstances, he was sentenced to an imprisonment of 4 years. After 4 years in jail, he began residing on the Radha Murlidhara Temple at 25 First Avenue in New York Metropolis. In 1990, the premises of Radha Murlidhara Temple was bought by the followers of Swami Kirtanananda. On 7 March 2008, he left the US and relocated to India. In accordance with some sources, on leaving the US, Kirtanananda stated,

There isn’t any sense in staying the place I’m not needed.”

Even after he was convicted of a number of expenses, he had followers in India and Pakistan at the moment. He continued working as a preacher. He used to say,

Fundamentalism is without doubt one of the most harmful belief-systems on the planet as we speak. Fundamentalism doesn’t promote unity; it causes separatism. It creates enmity between folks of religion. Take a look at the Muslims; Mohammed by no means supposed that his followers ought to unfold their faith by the sword. It’s extra essential as we speak than at another time to evangelise concerning the unity of all religions.”

In 2010, Kirtanananda visited numerous Hindu temples like Gokulananda temple, Radha-Ramana temples, and Sri Temple on Varshana Hill.

Controversies

Accused of Felony Actions

In 1990, Kirtanananda was accused of six counts of mail fraud. He was even alleged to be concerned within the homicide of Stephen Bryant and Charles St. Denis, who had been his opponents within the Hare Krishna motion. He was accused of illegally amassing a revenue of greater than $10.5 million over 4 years. He was accused of killing the individuals who had threatened him to disclose that Kirtanananda was sexually abusing the minors. On 29 March 1991, he was discovered responsible of 9 of the 11 expenses filed in opposition to him. Nonetheless, the homicide expenses in opposition to him weren’t confirmed. After that, he remained below home arrest for nearly two years in a rented residence within the Wheeling neighbourhood of Warwood. On 16 August 1993, he was launched from home arrest, and he returned to New Vrindaban. In 1996, he pleaded responsible in a mail fraud case and was sentenced to twenty years in jail. Nonetheless, on 16 June 2004, he was launched from jail on the account of his poor well being.

Winnebago Incident

As soon as, Kirtanananda was travelling to completely different locations within the US to attend interfaith conferences. At the moment, he used to journey round in his Winnebago van. In the future, after attending a convention in Chicago at evening, he was travelling in his van. In an interview, the motive force of the van made a stunning revelation about Kirtanananda. The driving force stated that whereas he was travelling with Kirtanananda in a van, he noticed Kirtanananda in an intimate place with one in all his male devotees from Malaysia. Nonetheless, the motive force was requested to maintain mum and never unfold the rumours about Kirtanananda. A couple of leaders of the New Vrindaban together with Radhanatha confronted Kirtanananda for a similar. Kirtanananda confessed that he was a gay and pleaded them to stay silent about the identical till the puja was over. Earlier than the pooja ceremony, when a few of his Malaysian disciples received to learn about his gay relationship, they confronted Kirtanananda, however he stated that these had been solely rumours. His devotees believed him and requested Radhanatha to depart New Vrindaban. In an interview, one in all his former devotees talked about his gay relationship. She stated,

To say, as an illustration, that they [NV residents] didn’t learn about Kirtanananda’s gay actions when everybody else within the motion knew about them, is simply complete denial. Kirtanananda had been sleeping with Hayagriva’s younger son, in the identical sleeping bag, for years. To say you didn’t learn about that’s only a complete phantasm or mendacity. This had been going for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, when Srila Prabhupada was right here, not to mention happening throughout the entire ten-year stretch of the Zonal Acarya interval.”

Later, many different younger boys complained in opposition to Kirtanananda for bodily molesting them. On 10 September 2000, he was based responsible of molestation case by the ISKCON Baby Safety Workplace. He was even prohibited from visiting any ISKCON properties for 5 years. A couple of situations imposed on him for his reinstatement on the premises of ISKCON had been:

• A contribution of a minimum of $10,000 to the organisations that are working for the welfare of Vaishnava youth. A few of such organisations embrace Kids of Krishna, the Affiliation for the Safety of Vaishnava Kids, or a Gurukula accredited by the Affiliation for the Safety of Vaishnava Kids (APVC).

• Written apology letters should be handover to the victims by which he must confess that he was concerned in little one abuse. The letters ought to be despatched by means of APVC and never on to the victims.

• He should undergo a psychological analysis by a licensed skilled accredited by the APVC.

• He should adjust to all the federal government proceedings implacable on him.

Nonetheless, Kirtanananda by no means fulfilled these situations.

Demise

On 24 October 2011, Kirtanananda took his final breath at a hospital in Thane, close to Mumbai. His lungs collapsed, and he died of kidney failure.

Details/Trivia

• Throughout his college days, he used to take part in numerous debate competitions.

• In his teenagers, he developed a fame for being a heavy drinker.

• In 1953, amid the rise of polio circumstances within the US, he grew to become the primary contributor to the Moms March on Polio donation camp.
  

  Kirtanananda Swami donating cash for polio victims

• On 3 February 1961, Kirtanananda and his associate Howard Morton left the college the place they had been learning as a result of they had been threatened with an investigation of their intercourse scandal. They then moved to New York Metropolis. Later, Kirtanananda began selling using LSD medication and even labored as an unemployment claims reviewer.

• On 1 September 1986, he obtained a golden crown and mace on the Palace of Gold as a birthday reward.
  

  Kirtanananda holding his mace and sporting a golden crown which he obtained as a birthday reward on 1 September 1986

• In 1988, the American authors John Hubner and Lindsey Gruson revealed a guide on Kirtanananda Swami titled ‘Monkey on a Stick: Homicide, Insanity and the Hare Krishnas.’
  

  Monkey on a Stick- Homicide, Insanity and the Hare Krishnas

• In 1990, Kirtanananda Swami appeared on a dwell English podcast present ‘Larry King Stay.’

• An English documentary movie titled ‘Holy Cow Swami’ (1996) was launched by the American actor and producer Jacob Younger.
  

  Holy Cow Swami (1996)

• An English TV film ‘Religion & Worry: The Kids of Krishna’ (2001) was launched. The film depicted the story of Kirtanananda Swami.
  

  Religion & Worry- The Kids of Krishna (2001)

• An English TV sequence ‘Lethal Devotion’ (2013) was launched by which the story of Kirtanananda Swami was depicted.
  

  Lethal Devotion (2013)

• In 2017, a documentary titled Hare Krishna! was launched, primarily based on the lifetime of Kirtanananda Swami.
  

  Hare Krishna! 2017

• Considered one of his former followers Henry Doktorski revealed a biography on Kirtanananda Swami titled Gold, Weapons and God.
  

  Henry Doktorski holding the completely different volumes of the Gold, Weapons and God Kirtanananda, an autobiography of Swami Swami Bhaktipada 

• After his demise, Madhusudan Das (popularly often called ‘Bapuji’), of Anand Vrindavan Dham in Ulhasnagar, Mumbai grew to become his successor.