Ramesvara
Legal name Robert Grant
Ramesvara SwamiRamesvara dasRameswara das
Removed as gbc member — March 1987
- Zonal guru for Los Angeles / Southern California and Mid-West temples
- Sannyasi
- GBC member
Record summary
1 entry — 1 allegation.
Last reviewedBio
Ramesvara (Robert Grant) was a sannyasi in ISKCON. After Prabhupada’s death in 1977 he became one of ISKCON’s initiating gurus, based in Los Angeles; Hinduism Today described his zone in 1986 as the Southern California and Mid-West temples. He was also a member of the Governing Body Commission (GBC). He renounced sannyasa in 1986, and in March 1987 the GBC removed him as a member and suspended his status as an ISKCON guru. In a letter written later that month from Great Neck, New York, he said he was working in real estate to build an endowment fund for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. He has since appeared at ISKCON events, including the New Vrindaban Festival of Inspiration in 2015 and in Los Angeles in 2018.
Sources (4)
- [1]ISKCON GBC, GBC Resolutions 1987 — res. 1 and 96, 1987 · copy on this site
- [2]Hinduism Today, Murder Quickens Wider Crisis in Krishna Sect, Oct 1, 1986
- [3]Henry Doktorski, Eleven Naked Emperors: The Crisis of Charismatic Succession in the Hare Krishna Movement (1977–1987) (Henry Doktorski) — chapter "Aftermath"; excerpt on the author's site
- [4]Letter from Ramesvara, Great Neck, NY, 26 March 1987 (copy in Nori Muster's Betrayal Files), Mar 26, 1987
Record
1 entry · most established firstRelationship with an underage girl from an ISKCON school
A published history of ISKCON says that Ramesvara left the movement in 1986 "after he was discovered having an amorous relationship with an underage gurukula girl". Hinduism Today reported in October 1986 that he had renounced sannyasa and been removed from his guru and GBC posts over a sexual liaison, and that he planned to marry a devotee. In March 1987 the GBC removed him from the GBC and suspended him as a guru, without stating reasons in the resolutions.
The girl is not named in this record. Her exact age has not been confirmed from a primary source; the sources cited here describe her only as underage.
- 1986Reported allegationHinduism Today reported that he and another guru had been 'formally removed from their guru status and GBCommissioner office' and that both 'were indicted for sexual liasions'. 'Indicted' is the magazine's word and does not refer to any criminal charge. The report gives no age.
- 2019Documented allegationA published history of ISKCON says that he 'resigned from ISKCON in 1986 after he was discovered having an amorous relationship with an underage gurukula girl'.
Renounced sannyasa and left his leadership roles in 1986; removed from the GBC and suspended as an ISKCON guru in March 1987 (GBC res. 1 and 96, which state no reason).
No specific public response to the allegation has been found. In a letter of 26 March 1987 he wrote that his work left him "no interest or time in any type of personal social relationship" and that "By Krsna's grace, I can push my problem behind me." [4]
Sources (4)
- [1]Hinduism Today, Murder Quickens Wider Crisis in Krishna Sect, Oct 1, 1986 original
- [2]ISKCON GBC, GBC Resolutions 1987 — res. 1 and 96, 1987 originalcopy on this site
- [3]Henry Doktorski, Eleven Naked Emperors: The Crisis of Charismatic Succession in the Hare Krishna Movement (1977–1987) (Henry Doktorski) — chapter "Aftermath"; excerpt on the author's site original
- [4]Letter from Ramesvara, Great Neck, NY, 26 March 1987 (copy in Nori Muster's Betrayal Files), Mar 26, 1987 original
People affected
1 people affected · 0 diedTimeline
Each status change in this record, on one axis, with the periods of the cases Ramesvara is involved in.
- 1986
- Reported allegationOctober 1986 Relationship with an underage girl from an ISKCON school Hinduism Today reported that he and another guru had been 'formally removed from their guru status and GBCommissioner office' and that both 'were indicted for sexual liasions'. 'Indicted' is the magazine's word and does not refer to any criminal charge. The report gives no age.
- 2000
- Case period2000–2005 Children of ISKCON v. ISKCON: the gurukula abuse lawsuits
- 2019
- Documented allegation2019 Relationship with an underage girl from an ISKCON school A published history of ISKCON says that he 'resigned from ISKCON in 1986 after he was discovered having an amorous relationship with an underage gurukula girl'.