12/27/97 - 1433

Bhavananda Back In Guru Business

Australia (VNN) - VNN has learned that Bhavananda das has taken up part time residency in the ISKCON Sydney temple. This was confirmed by the Sydney ISKCON temple yesterday. Bhavananda das, one of the original 11 ISKCON gurus, whose homosexual transgressions as well as child abuse involvement led to the so-called ISKCON guru reform in 1985, in which the monopoly of the original 11 gurus was broken by force, in a general istaghosti in New Vrindaban.

Bhavanada is apparently now offered a room in the ISKCON Sydney temple where he resides 3 days a week. There he is said to receive disciples and possibly guru dakshine. He is also said to give the Sunday Class frequently. The remaining days of the week he apparently is following his "other interests".

VNN has also learned that Bhavananda recently was received by ISKCON leaders in Mayapur, where he offered his services to the Mayapur project, for an adequate fee.

Bhavananda's homosexual falldown with his own disciple in the holy dhama of Vrindavan, was the final stroke that caused the ground swell of protest in 1985, which later led to the istaghosti in New Vrindaban. He is also accused to have placed several other persons in key positions in other temples of his zone that later reported child abuse.

Attempts by the GBC to prevent any news of Bhavananda's transgressions going out and other attempts by some GBC members to downplay the severity of the falldowns by explaining that the "substance had not been consumed" by Bhavananda and therefore the sinful act was not completely performed, turned out not to be effective, but instead deepened the rift between the rank and file devotees and the GBC.

Despite the revelations of this falldown the GBC voted Bhavananda into the GBC and ordered ISKCON devotees to continue his worship.

The history of this case goes back to 1974, where Bhavananda was caught by (name removed) das in a Mayapur goshala (barn) having sex with a child. According to reports, after informing the GBC this devotee was threatened by GBC members to keep quite. Based on these reports the GBC was in full knowledge of Bhavananda's notorious problems as early as 1974.

While numerous victims of child abuse in ISKCON are largely neglected and remain unsupported, it seems that one of the most notorious perpetrator is given the royal treatment by ISKCON.