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New Vrindaban
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Farm community, temple and pilgrimage sitePlace P-003

New Vrindaban

Moundsville, West Virginia (Marshall County), United States

Founded
1968
Status
Active

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39.96, -80.60 · open map →

Recorded at this place

17 entries at this place — 4 admissions, 4 ISKCON findings, 2 convictions, 1 settled, 1 lawsuit, 1 charge pending, 4 allegations.

Last reviewed
Admitted2005 · International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)Admitted2001 · James A. PrinsISKCON finding2000 · Kirtanananda SwamiISKCON finding2000 · Sri Galima DasaISKCON finding1999 · Radha Vrindaban Chandra SwamiISKCON finding1999 · Radha Vrindaban Chandra SwamiAdmitted1997 · Jagadananda DasAdmitted1996 · Kirtanananda SwamiConvicted1987 · DarukaConvicted1986 · Tirtha DasSettled2005 · International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)Lawsuit filed2001 · Kirtanananda SwamiCharged1990 · Dharmatma DasDocumented allegation2019 · Kuladri DasDocumented allegation2019 · Radhanath SwamiReported allegation2016 · Radhanath SwamiDocumented allegation1983 · Kirtanananda Swami

History

New Vrindaban is a Hare Krishna farm community in Marshall County, West Virginia, east of Moundsville. It began in 1968, when Kirtanananda Swami (Keith Ham) and Hayagriva Dasa (Howard Wheeler) leased about 130 acres there (e-WV; National Register nomination). Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, built by residents, was dedicated in 1979 (National Register nomination). By the 1980s the community had over 500 residents and more than 3,000 acres (Fourth Circuit).

ISKCON’s governing body expelled Kirtanananda in 1987 and in 1988 declared New Vrindaban and its satellite temples not associated with ISKCON (GBC). Two devotees, Charles St. Denis (1983) and Steven Bryant (1986), were murdered; resident Thomas Drescher was convicted of both killings (UPI). In 1990 Kirtanananda was indicted on federal racketeering and mail-fraud charges, including alleged murder conspiracies; his 1991 conviction was vacated in 1993, and in 1996 he pleaded guilty to one racketeering count (Fourth Circuit; NYT). He was ousted from the community in 1994 (e-WV). New Vrindaban was readmitted to ISKCON in 1998 (ISKCON News) and remains an active community and pilgrimage site (e-WV; ISKCON News, 2026).

The 1968 land agreement. According to a 2006 federal court opinion, the first 132 acres came from Richard Rose Jr. and Phyllis E. Rose, who in 1968 transferred them to Howard Wheeler under a 99-year agreement titled a “lease”, for $4,000 in total plus the property taxes. Wheeler assigned it to New Vrindaban Community, Inc. on 1 February 1974. When the New Vrindaban corporations filed for Chapter 11 in April 2002, while the former pupils’ abuse suit was pending (lead case In re JAGA, Inc., No. 5:02-bk-51295), Betty C. Rose, trustee of a Rose family trust, objected to their plan. She argued that the agreement had ended as an unassumed lease under bankruptcy law, that the 1974 assignment was improper, and that the agreement was forfeited for breach of the covenant against “illegal or immoral activities”. The opinion does not say which activities she relied on. The bankruptcy court ruled for the corporations in August 2005. On 25 July 2006 the district court agreed that the assignment was valid and that forfeiture “is not available for the alleged breach of an implied covenant in this particular case”, but vacated the judgment and sent the case back to decide, under West Virginia law, whether the agreement was a true lease (Rose v. JAGA, Inc., hosted here). How the dispute ended is not known.

Sources (17)
  1. [1]e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia (West Virginia Humanities Council), New Vrindaban (Gordon L. Swartz III), Jun 19, 2024
  2. [2]e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia (West Virginia Humanities Council), Swami Bhaktipada, Feb 8, 2024
  3. [3]US National Park Service (NPGallery), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Prabhupada's Palace of Gold — ref. 100002852; prepared by Paula McClain and Jeffrey S. Smith, Mills Group, July 2019
  4. [4]Opinion, United States v. Ham, 998 F.2d 1247 (4th Cir. 1993), Nos. 91-5350, 91-5430 and 91-5870 (appeals of Keith Gordon Ham, Steven Fitzpatrick and Terry Sheldon), Jul 1, 1993 (document)
  5. [5]ISKCON GBC, GBC Resolutions 1987 — Resolution 8 (expulsion of Kirtanananda Swami), March 1987 · copy on this site
  6. [6]ISKCON GBC, GBC Resolutions 1988 — Resolution 45 (New Vrndavan and its satellite temples "not officially associated with ISKCON"), 1988 · copy on this site
  7. [7]ISKCON GBC, GBC Resolutions 1995 — Resolution 60 (New Vrindaban / ISKCON; Bhakti Tirtha Swami and Radhanath Swami co-GBC for West Virginia), 1995 · copy on this site
  8. [8]ISKCON GBC, GBC Resolutions 2001 — zonal assignments: West Virginia, 2001 · copy on this site
  9. [9]The New York Times, Swami Bhaktipada, Ex-Hare Krishna Leader, Dies at 74 (Margalit Fox) — reprinted by WWRN, Oct 24, 2011
  10. [10]UPI, Hare Krishna hit man convicted, Aug 20, 1991
  11. [11]West Virginia University Libraries, Henry Doktorski, Compiler, Records regarding Kirtanananda Bhaktipada Swami and the New Vrindaban Commune, A&M 4646 — finding aid, Apr 17, 2025
  12. [12]ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection, Official Decision on the case of Sri Galima dasa — not published officially; copy in a private collection, not linked because it describes identifiable children, Feb 1, 2000
  13. [13]ISKCON News, New Vrindaban Amid "Transformation of a Spiritual Community" (Madhava Smullen), Jan 31, 2014
  14. [14]ISKCON News, ISKCON New Vrindaban Seeks Three New Executive Directors (Madhava Smullen), Oct 5, 2018
  15. [15]Rose v. JAGA, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 5:05CV166 (N.D. W.Va.), appeal in Bankruptcy No. 02-51295: Memorandum Opinion and Order vacating in part summary judgment and remanding (25 July 2006, Doc. 8), Jul 25, 2006 (document)
  16. [16]US Bankruptcy Court, N.D. West Virginia, In re JAGA, Inc. and Cathedral of Healing, Inc., No. 5:02-bk-51295 (Bankr. N.D. W.Va.) — docket; lead case, jointly administered; filed 16 April 2002; via CourtListener RECAP
  17. [17]ISKCON News, New Vrindaban Opens Its Doors for ISKCON's 60th Anniversary (Anuradha Dasi) — ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications, Sep 1, 2026

Scandals at this place

17 entries · 3 cases
CASEChildren of ISKCON v. ISKCON: the gurukula abuse lawsuitsinvolves 9 people →
Admitted2005

Physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children in ISKCON's boarding schools (1970s–1980s)

Criminal · Child sexual abuse, Child physical abuse, Institutional negligence · c. 1971–1990
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)No profile · entry kept on this page
Settled2005

Negligence and concealment of child abuse in its boarding schools (Children of ISKCON v. ISKCON)

Conduct · Institutional negligence, Cover-up / enabling · c. 1972–1990
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)No profile · entry kept on this page
CASEThe murder of Steven Bryant (Sulocana dasa), Los Angeles, 1986involves 5 people →
CASEThe killing of Charles St. Denis (Chakradhari dasa), New Vrindaban, 1983involves 2 people →
STANDALONENot part of a case
Admitted1996

Federal racketeering and mail fraud, including alleged murder conspiracies

Criminal · Fraud / embezzlement, Misappropriation of donations or temple funds, Murder / conspiracy to murder · c. 1980–1986
Kirtanananda SwamiFull entry on profile →

Leadership over time

Who held which role, 1968–2026. Shaded columns mark the periods of the incidents recorded below.

PERSON · ROLE
APhysical, sexual and emotional abuse of children in ISKCON's boarding schools (1970s–1980s) 1971–1990
BViolence against children in his care as a gurukula teacher and headmaster (admitted) 1972–1977
CNegligence and concealment of child abuse in its boarding schools (Children of ISKCON v. ISKCON) 1972–1990
DBeating boys 1976–1983
ESexual abuse of boys 1976–1995
FAllegations of sexual abuse of boys 1979–1980
GSexual and physical abuse of students 1980–1986
HFederal racketeering and mail fraud, including alleged murder conspiracies 1980–1986
IAlleged failure to act on abuse 1980–1989
JMail fraud — illegal fundraising solicitations 1980–1989
KKilling of Charles St. Denis (1983) 1983–1984
LMurder of Charles St. Denis (1983) 1983–1984
MRefusing to discipline Gopinath after a father reported that he had molested his son (1983) 1983–1984
NAlleged role in the 1986 conspiracy to murder Steven Bryant (Sulocana dasa) 1986–1987
Kirtanananda SwamiFounder and leader of the community
1968–1994
TapahpunjaCo-director of sankirtan (fundraising), with Dennis Gorrick, "until around 1977 or 1978"
1973–1977
Dharmatma DasCo-director, then director of sankirtan (fundraising)
1973–?
Kuladri DasPresident of New Vrindaban
1976–1986
Sri Galima DasaHeadmaster, New Vrindaban gurukula (removed May 1983)
1978–1983
Sri Galima DasaHeadmaster again, for a few months from late 1986
1986–?
Radhanath SwamiCo-GBC for West Virginia with Bhakti Tirtha Swami; liaison between the GBC and New Vrindaban during its return to ISKCON (listed in GBC zonal assignments 1995–2001; later years not checked)
1995–2001
Bhakti Tirtha Swami no profileCo-GBC for West Virginia with Radhanath Swami (listed in GBC zonal assignments 1995–2001; later years not checked)
1995–2001
Jaya Krsna Das no profileTemple president
2011–2018
Jaya Krsna Das no profileTemple president (so described in September 2026; start of current term not confirmed)
2026
1968
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2026
APhysical, sexual and emotional abuse of children in ISKCON's boarding schools (1970s–1980s) 1971–1990
BViolence against children in his care as a gurukula teacher and headmaster (admitted) 1972–1977
CNegligence and concealment of child abuse in its boarding schools (Children of ISKCON v. ISKCON) 1972–1990
DBeating boys 1976–1983
ESexual abuse of boys 1976–1995
FAllegations of sexual abuse of boys 1979–1980
GSexual and physical abuse of students 1980–1986
HFederal racketeering and mail fraud, including alleged murder conspiracies 1980–1986
IAlleged failure to act on abuse 1980–1989
JMail fraud — illegal fundraising solicitations 1980–1989
KKilling of Charles St. Denis (1983) 1983–1984
LMurder of Charles St. Denis (1983) 1983–1984
MRefusing to discipline Gopinath after a father reported that he had molested his son (1983) 1983–1984
NAlleged role in the 1986 conspiracy to murder Steven Bryant (Sulocana dasa) 1986–1987
  1. 1968–1994
    Kirtanananda SwamiFounder and leader of the communityIn role during A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N
  2. 1973–1977
    TapahpunjaCo-director of sankirtan (fundraising), with Dennis Gorrick, "until around 1977 or 1978"In role during A, B, C, D, E
  3. 1973–?
    Dharmatma DasCo-director, then director of sankirtan (fundraising)In role during A, B, C
  4. 1976–1986
    Kuladri DasPresident of New VrindabanIn role during A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M
  5. 1978–1983
    Sri Galima DasaHeadmaster, New Vrindaban gurukula (removed May 1983)In role during A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J
  6. 1986–?
    Sri Galima DasaHeadmaster again, for a few months from late 1986In role during A, C, E, I, J, N
  7. 1995–2001
    Radhanath SwamiCo-GBC for West Virginia with Bhakti Tirtha Swami; liaison between the GBC and New Vrindaban during its return to ISKCON (listed in GBC zonal assignments 1995–2001; later years not checked)
  8. 1995–2001
    Bhakti Tirtha SwamiCo-GBC for West Virginia with Radhanath Swami (listed in GBC zonal assignments 1995–2001; later years not checked)
  9. 2011–2018
    Jaya Krsna DasTemple president
  10. 2026
    Jaya Krsna DasTemple president (so described in September 2026; start of current term not confirmed)
Holding a role is a fact, not an accusation. Sources for each role are listed below.

People affected here

9 people affected · 0 died
  • Former pupils of ISKCON's boarding schools who brought claims, 1972–1990Former pupils who sued ISKCON over abuse in its boarding schools, alleged to have taken place primarily between 1972 and 1990: 44 in federal court in 2000 and 91 in Texas state court in 2001. The 2005 bankruptcy settlement paid them and about 450 other former pupils who came forward. Abused.
    ConnectionSettledAdmitted
  • Pupils at ISKCON schools in New Vrindaban, Dallas and Mayapur, 1972–1977In a signed letter of 1997 Jagadananda Das begged forgiveness for "acts of violence towards innocent children" in his care as a teacher and headmaster, especially at New Vrindaban in 1974, and asked forgiveness of four boys by name. Abused.
    ConnectionAdmitted
  • A boy aged nine, 1979Evidence at Kirtanananda Swami's 1991 federal trial included that in 1979 he hid the boy from sheriffs executing a court order for a medical examination, amid allegations that he had been molesting him. The appeals court held the evidence unfairly prejudicial and made no finding on whether the allegation was true. Abused.
    ConnectionDocumented allegation
  • A boy aged 15 to 17, Malaysia, 1989–1991ISKCON's child-protection office found in 2000, on his written first-hand testimony, that Kirtanananda Swami sexually abused him in 1989 and 1991. He also said that as a boy he was made to undress and was watched while showering. Abused.
    ConnectionISKCON finding
  • Boys at the Nandagram school, New Vrindaban, 1976–1995ISKCON's child-protection office reportedly found in 1999 that the school's headmaster, Gopinath (Radha Vrindaban Chandra Swami), physically abused and sexually molested boys. Former pupils describe being beaten, one of them at the age of four, and in 1983 a family left the community after his abuse of their young son went undisciplined. Abused.
    ConnectionISKCON findingDocumented allegation
  • A girl aged 11, New VrindabanThe Associated Press reported in 2001 that James A. Prins pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree sexual abuse involving her, a 9-year-old girl and a 39-year-old woman at New Vrindaban in the late 1980s, and was ordered to pay the victims' medical costs. Abused.
    ConnectionAdmitted
  • A girl aged 9, New VrindabanThe Associated Press reported in 2001 that James A. Prins pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree sexual abuse involving her, an 11-year-old girl and a 39-year-old woman at New Vrindaban in the late 1980s, and was ordered to pay the victims' medical costs. Abused.
    ConnectionAdmitted
  • A woman aged 39, New VrindabanThe Associated Press reported in 2001 that James A. Prins pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree sexual abuse involving her and two girls aged 9 and 11 at New Vrindaban in the late 1980s, and was ordered to pay the victims' medical costs. Abused.
    ConnectionAdmitted
  • Five boys at the New Vrindaban gurukula, 1980–1986ISKCON's child-protection office found in 2000 that Sri Galima Dasa, as teacher and headmaster, sexually abused two of them and physically abused three, including with a wooden paddle. Child-molestation charges brought against him in West Virginia were dismissed before trial in 1989. Abused.
    ConnectionISKCON finding

Documents

16
Official Decision of the Association for the Protection of Vaisnava Children (ISKCON child protection office) on the case of Kirtanananda dasa (Keith Ham), decided 25 October 2000 (retyped copy, 2016; unsigned, item 5 missing)PDF · 5 ppOpinion, United States v. Ham, 998 F.2d 1247 (4th Cir. 1993), Nos. 91-5350, 91-5430 and 91-5870 (appeals of Keith Gordon Ham, Steven Fitzpatrick and Terry Sheldon)PDF · 11 ppOpinion, United States v. Ham, 58 F.3d 78 (4th Cir. 1995), No. 94-5507 (double jeopardy; retrial of the forfeiture count and the murder predicate acts)PDF · 8 ppOfficial Decision of the ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection on the case of Sri Galima dasa (Gary Gardner), decided 1 February 2000PDF · 8 ppBrief for the United States in Opposition, Ham v. United States, Supreme Court No. 95-278 (October Term 1995)PDF · 16 ppGeneral dockets, United States v. Ham, Fourth Circuit No. 91-5350, and the consolidated appeal United States v. Fitzpatrick, No. 91-5430 (appeals from conviction)PDF · 9 ppGeneral docket, United States v. Ham, Fourth Circuit No. 91-5336 (government appeal of release pending appeal)PDF · 4 ppFourth Circuit case selection table for party "Bhaktipada" (Keith Gordon Ham): Nos. 91-5336, 91-5350 and 94-5507PDF · 1 ppDrescher v. Ballard, No. 2:16-cv-09517 (S.D. W.Va.): Proposed Findings and Recommendation (17 May 2017, Doc. 5) and Order dismissing the petition (16 June 2017, Doc. 7)PDF · 8 ppPlaintiffs' Original Petition, Children of ISKCON et al. v. ISKCON et al., District Court of Dallas County, Texas, 192nd Judicial District, No. 01-09282PDF · 51 ppTrial transcript, United States v. Ham et al., CR 90-87 (N.D. W.Va.), Day IV, 14 March 1991: title page, index and pp. 831, 833, 835 (testimony of Dennis Gorrick)PDF · 5 ppPlaintiffs' Original Complaint (Doc. 1), Children of ISKCON et al. v. ISKCON et al., No. 3:00-cv-01254 (N.D. Tex.), filed 12 June 2000PDF · 42 ppOrder Prohibiting Destruction or Spoliation of Evidence (Doc. 4), Children of ISKCON et al. v. ISKCON et al., No. 3:00-cv-01254 (N.D. Tex.), signed and entered 15 June 2000PDF · 2 ppOrder (Doc. 135) granting the motions to dismiss, Children of ISKCON et al. v. ISKCON et al., No. 3:00-CV-1254-L (N.D. Tex.), 28 September 2001PDF · 15 ppRose v. JAGA, Inc. et al., Civil Action No. 5:05CV166 (N.D. W.Va.), appeal in Bankruptcy No. 02-51295: Memorandum Opinion and Order vacating in part summary judgment and remanding (25 July 2006, Doc. 8)PDF · 10 pp
Photos
Two stills from 1980s television footage of human remains being recovered at New Vrindaban, identified by the 2007 uploader as those of Charles St. Denis (Chakradhari dasa)2 photos

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