We ask the leadership of the Hare Krishna movement to set a clear and strong precedent for, and priority of, zero tolerance for child abuse – by handing Lokanath Swami’s child molestation case over to the ISKCON Child Protection Office.
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Read articles and watch videos about the events and investigations in and around Lokanath Swami’s child molestation case.
ISKCON Europe Upholds Ban on Lokanath
May 19, 2023Euro RGB Statement Regarding Lokanath Swami Status in EuropeHaving received feedback and requests from some members of our European devotee community, the Euro RGB body set forth to review and discuss the previous resolution made regarding Lokanath Swami...
Lokanath’s Lawsuit Against Child Protection Advocates
Since April 2021, Damodara dasa (Australia) and Saraswati dasi (North America) have asked the ISKCON GBC to follow their child protection laws and remove confessed child molester Lokanath "Swami" from leadership within ISKCON. On November 24, 2022, Lokanath's lawyer...
Lokanath Loophole
The ISKCON Child Protection Office (CPO) offers a service that when a devotee comes to a temple, that temple can contact the CPO and say “Hey, x is planning to come to our temple. Do they have any CPO restrictions?” And the CPO can respond “X is clear” or “X has a...
ISKCON North America Bans Lokanath
North American Council NA GBC and Regional LeadersInternational Society for Krishna ConsciousnessFounder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada24 October 2022Statement:As per the recent GBC resolution stating "Lokanath Swami shall not initiate...
ISKCON Europe Bans Lokanath
Dear European Leaders,Please accept our humble obeisances.All glories to Srila Prabhupada!With this message, we like to inform you about the decision on H.H. Lokanatha Swami that was taken by the Euro RGB during the recent meeting in Radhadesha.Resolution...
Lokanath’s Admissions of Molesting a Child
These are a dozen confirmed instances between 1993 and 2017 when Lokanath admitted to his sexual abuse of a child. This is a partial list as there have been other in-person conversations, phone calls, and correspondence where Lokanath talked about his sexual abuse of...
2022 GBC Resolution: Refraining from Interfering in Investigations
REFRAINING THE GBC FROM INTERVENING IN THE WORK OF VARIOUS ISKCON AGENCIES, OFFICES AND COMMITTEES Approved 20th JULY 2022WHEREAS the GBC Body (“GBC”) has created various ISKCON agencies, offices and committees to which it has delegated authority to deal with abuse of...
ISKCON Communications Q & A
Questions and Answers Regarding the Decision on Lokanatha SwamiSeptember 7, 2022 Is Lokanath Swami still allowed to initiate disciples?Yes, in those parts of the world that welcome him to do so. North America has already determined he is not welcome to initiate or...
2022 GBC Decision
GBC DECISION REGARDING LOKANATH SWAMIApproved 20th July, 2022WHEREAS, in 1990, a devotee invited Lokanath Swami to stay with his family for several days while recovering from a serious injury. The host also “requested Lokanath Swami to train and impart Indian culture...
GBC Keeps Lokanath as Initiating Guru
GBC Releases Decision on Lokanath SwamiBy ISKCON Communications Ministry | Sep 08, 2022 From the ISKCON Communications MinistrySeptember 7, 2022Dear Devotees,Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.The ISKCON Governing Body Commission...
Discrepancies Between Radha Raman’s Letters: 1998 & 2021
Much of Lokanath Swami's defense hinges on a very recent letter that Radharaman Swami sent to Bhakti Chaitanya Swami.Radharaman Swami (Radharaman das at the time) was Lokanath Swami's servant during the time the abuse happened, and it is for this reason that we should...
Navin Shyam Jani Voted to Keep Lokanath as Initiating Guru
In 2021-2022, Navin Shyam Jani, Director of ISKCON's North American Leadership Sexual Misconduct Office, was part of a GBC Ad Hoc Panel that reviewed an ISKCON leader's sexual misconduct in North America: Lokanath Swami.As a member of that GBC Ad Hoc Panel, Navin...
Praghosa Resigned from GBC to Protest Lokanath Decision
On July 20, 2022, Praghosa Prabhu explained his resignation as longstanding GBC member from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). His resignation was in protest of the GBC's decision to keep child molester Lokanath as an ISKCON guru.Praghosa...
Lokanath Swami Child Molestation Coverup Summary
SUMMARY In 1990, ISKCON (Hare Krishna) leader Lokanath Swami molested a child in New Jersey. The Hare Krishna leadership found out in 1992, investigated in 1993, and decided to keep it a secret for 29 years. A grossly minimized version of the abuse was shared with a...
Lokanath Swami Child Molestation Admission Letter
2010 Dear Devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. With this letter I would like to bring the following distressing and unfortunate matter to your attention. In 1990 I was in the United States, staying at...
Satya’s Statements
July 11th, 2010 Hari bol I am the girl that Lokanatha touched inappropriately. It did NOT just happen one time in the living room, on the sofa, but rather throughout the week that he stayed he touched me various times inappropriately. I am...
Interview with Satya and her Mother
Confidential Message from Bir Krishna Goswami to GBC Conference
1997 From: Bir Krishna Goswami RE: Copy of message to GBC conference Dear GBC members, It is my duty to inform you of the actions of a special GBC subcommittee that dealt with a confidential investigation of Lokanatha Maharaja. The members of the subcommittee...
GBC Told Dhira Govinda Not to Handle Lokanath Case
Letter written by Dhira Govinda das, CPO Director 1998-2004 August 11, 1998 RE: To pursue a case or not Dear Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu and Badrinarayana Prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Devotees are beginning to approach me,...
Emails Showing GBC Members Blocked CPO Investigation of Lokanath in 1998
[From Aug. 12, 1998]Dear Ravindra prabhu:Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad.What a mess. What do you suggest about this? What does the family want todo? Of course we may have institutional obligations beyond that.Your servant,...
GBC’s Untruthful “Account of Incident”
Brief Account of a 1990 Incident Involving H. H. Lokanath Swami the GBC Decision Feb. 25, 1999 In 1993, a fourteen-year-old girl of Indian background lodged a complaint concerning H. H. Lokanath Swami before some members of the GBC. (The girl is a daughter of...
GBC Minimized Details in Official Report
Letter COM:2134385 (14 lines) From: Yasoda (dd) BKG (USA) Date: 04-Mar-99 01:37 To: Bir Krishna das Goswami [10942] Subject: 1990 Incident Report: Final Version ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Srila Gurudeva: PAMO AGTYDG AGTSP The...
Mental Health Professional Fraud
In 1993, a GBC Committee, consisting of Bir Krsna Goswami, Badrinarayana, Mukunda Maharaja, Sridara Swami, Virabahu, and Ravindra Swarup, investigated Lokanath Swami's child sexual abuse case, which was first reported that year. As part of their process, they hired...
Can a child abuser live in ISKCON?
Bhagavat das (now Maharaja) with white bead bag. August 3, 2006My name is Bhagavat Das. I am twice initiated by Srila Prabhupada and I have been around since 1970. My wife Radha and I were licensed foster parents for 9 years. We took care of close to 70 children in...
Tamohara Corrects Lokanath Case Details
PICTURE: Bhagavat das (now Maharaja) with white bead bag. 2011Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.As the former CPO Director, I naturally had access to the complete files on the Lokanatha Swami case. As it is...
2011 GBC Meeting Minutes SUMMARY
(l to r) Badrinarayan, Praghosh, Lokanath. In 2010, Lokanath’s victim Satya wrote a series of public statements aggrieved at Lokanath’s prominent position in ISKCON. The GBC took notice and in their 2010 Meeting they discussed how to handle Lokanath’s child...
2011 GBC Meeting Minutes FULL
(l to r) Badrinarayan, Praghosh, Lokanath. Appendix G from Panel Report AppendicesOctober 2011 GBC Midterm Meeting Minutes, pg. 4, 14, 15, and 41 LOKANATH SWAMIHcd: bcais will introduce, sesa will give ppt. then questions and answers.Bcais: attention. Read proposal...
2012 Secret GBC Resolution
In 2012 the GBC continued to cover up Lokanath’s sexual abuse of a child by secretly voting on a resolution restricting him from initiating disciples outside of India. Until now, only a few select people in the world have seen this unpublished GBC Resolution.This...
Bir Krishna Goswami Tells Disciple to Stay Silent about Lokanath, 2015-2021
In 2015, one of Bir Krishna Goswami’s female disciples read Satya’s 2010 public statements. This female disciple then asked Bir Krishna Goswami about the Lokanath child molestation case and his involvement in it, and he confirmed to his disciple that “yes, Satya’s...
Abhay Charan and Lokanath Swami Emails
Abhay Charan Das’ Facebook post from June 8, 2021.Further background to this matter that might help devotees trying to understand the circumstances of the incident. I have inserted correspondence between Lokanath Swami and myself from 2017, which may help to...
Lokanath Swami Initiates Child in ISKCON Alachua Temple Room
August 2019This is a video of child molester Lokanath Swami initiating a child at the Alachua ISKCON temple (largest ISKCON community in North America) in 2019, while the community cheers him on. In the video, Lokanath says to the temple president Mukhya before she...
Vedic Inquirer Interview with Krsna Devata and Saraswati
May 2, 2021 Damodara interviewed Krsna Devata and Saraswati about the Lokanath child molestation case. https://youtu.be/aiLYMxNu0nQ Krsna Devata (KD McComb), Saraswati, and Damodara discuss the issues surrounding the GBC's handling of the Lokanath Swami child...
Krsna Devata’s Report
May 1, 2021The GBC's Mad Elephant Offense & How It Has Harmed Everyone“To blaspheme pure Vaisnavas is an offense, but even blaspheming other jivas is a sin. Vaisnavas have no interest in performing such a sinful act. However, provided one has the right motive,...
ISKCON North American Leadership Council Statement
From: kuladridas@gmail.comDate: Sat, May 8, 2021 at 11:30 AMSubject: Lokanath Swami case to ICPOTo: naleadergroup@googlegroups.comDear North American Devotee Community,Please accept our respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila PrabhupadaThere has been a great deal...
2021 GBC Resolutions
May 12, 2021 Dear Devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The following resolutions were passed yesterday in relation to the International CPO's review of Lokanath Swami's case: Lokanath Swami's authorization to initiate is...
Letter from Rupanuga ACBSP ’66
June 20, 2021Thank you for this opportunity to give my response in this matter. My humble obeisances to you for this service to Srila Prabhupada by defending those children he saw as the flowers of his Movement and its future. I have examined your enclosure.In my...
Why were the GBC Resolutions not followed with Lokanath Swami?
Listed below are GBC Resolutions that were not followed in the Lokanath Swami case, or are relevant to the Lokanath Swami case. In 1989 the GBC RESOLVED:"74. That incidents of child molestation within ISKCON or ISKCON related organizations must be reported by the...
Krishna Dharma’s Statement
June 22, 2021Statement by Krishna Dharma Prabhu on the Lokanath Swami case:Listening to the testimonies of our second generation regarding the abuse they received at the hands of older devotees brings tears to my eyes. I am literally shocked to the core by some...
Bhakti Caitanya Swami Blocked Lokanath Swami CPO Investigation
On May 12, 2021, the GBC Executive Committee stated that Lokanath Swami would be suspended, pending a Child Protection Office investigation.In this video, recorded on June 26, 2021, Bhakti Caitanya Swami who is the GBC Chairman spoke with Devakinandana, ISKCON lawyer...
Shanti’s Letter to the GBC
Shanti Day's Facebook post on August 1, 2021:This is a letter that I wrote to the GBC email list a few weeks ago (I received replies from two people). It has taken me over a month to gather the courage to post this on Facebook; can you imagine how difficult it is for...
Indian Continental Committee Discussing Lokanath
On July 9, 2021, members of ISKCON's India leadership, including representatives from the ISKCON Indian Continental Committee (ICC) and ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC), met to discuss Lokanath's child molestation case.In this leaked recording of their meeting,...
GBC letter to ICC/Indian Bureau
July 9, 2021The ICC is the Indian Continental Committee which is comprised of ISKCON temple presidents from India. They are under the ISKCON Indian Bureau, which is under the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC).In this letter, the GBC Executive Committee asked the...
Haribhakti’s “Loving Plea to Lokanath Swami”
July 16, 2021 Bhima-Karma's comment on this video: "Words can't say it all. It will remain in me as an example of how to speak in a respectful, caring and yet forthcoming way."
Visvambhar’s Letter to the GBC
Visvambhar Sheth said in his letter below, "Placing more restrictions on Maharaj in an attempt to placate the situation is a band-aid solution that will not resolve the deep rooted and festering anger felt by many in my generation."Actually, all that is being asked...
Vedic Inquirer Interview with Praghosa (GBC)
Praghosa Prabhu (GBC Member) was interviewed by Damodara Prabhu of Vedic Inquirer on July 17, 2021.https://youtu.be/JpZ6f8b_PJE?t=1216Topic of child protection starts at 20:16. Video cued to that mark.Key ExcerptsDamodara: A lot of people would see you’ve got all the...
Lokanath’s Vyasa Puja
July 20, 2021 This Vyasa Puja worship of Lokanath Swami is proof that a man can molest a child and keep being worshipped with no repercussions. This is what Lokanath Swami replied to his former disciple who questioned Lokanath Swami on both the child molestation and...
GBC Panel to Examine Lokanath Swami Case
"GBC Announces Panel to Examine Lokanath Swami Issue and its Own Past Decision Making"By: ISKCON Governing Body Commission on July 21, 2021Today, the GBC Executive Committee released a statement regarding a recent GBC decision on how to proceed with the controversy...
Letter from Sanaka Rsi
Sanaka Rsi in front center. Picture taken by Kurma Rupa Prabhu.July 21, 2021Dear Vaishnava community,Please accept my respectful obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.I had hoped to disengage from any involvement with the important, complex and all too often...
ISKCON Family, Nimai
July 27, 2021 There is a current discussion going on within ISKCON that I can no longer ignore in regards to Lokanatha Swami. It's actually a moral conversation that is much bigger than him or his disciples or even the survivor. Who am I and why do I care? I was born...
Child Abuse and Accountability, Chandrasekhar
August 1, 2021 This is a message from Chandrasekhar das to all the devotees, especially the Millennial second generation, on the topic of child abuse, leadership, and accountability.
Letter to the GBC from Titiksa ACBSP
Titiksa is a Prabhupada disciple that has worked with Gurukulas for roughly 10 years. She co-founded the first Day School model that is still flourishing in Alachua.August 1, 2021Dear Esteemed Members of Srila Prabhupada’s GBCI offer my humble obeisances. All glories...
Natesvari’s Letter to the GBC
August 2, 2021 Hare Krishna dear GBC members, Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada and the Guru Parampara! My name Is Natesvari Yogini Devi Dasi, my initiating spiritual master is HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja and I have been an active...
Cardinal McCarrick v. Lokanath Swami
The Hare Krishna movement is currently wrestling with a 30-year-old case of one of its leaders, Lokanath Swami, molesting a child.The Catholic Church has recently handled a 50-year-old case of one of their leaders, Cardinal McCarrick, molesting a minor.There are...
Hridayananda Swami and Krsna Devata on Child Protection
August 8, 2021Hridayananda das Goswami and Krsna Devata spoke with Damodara on the subject of child abuse in ISKCON."Child abuse is Asura Dharma, it's demonic." - Hridayananda das GoswamiHridayananda das Goswami:“I think there is a lot of hypocrisy if I can just be...
Jitarati Speaks Out on the Lokanath Case
Jitarati das, top rightAugust 15, 2021The principles we all know.You should never be alone with a girl or women, except your wife.The proper protocol would have been to have his servant in the room and to sit on different seats.Completely unnecessary was the holding...
Analyzing the GBC-appointed Panel on the Lokanath Swami Case
August 20, 2021Discussion between:Damodara das of Vedic Inquirer (podcast and online group focused on child protection in ISKCON)Dhira Govinda das, Director of the ISKCON Child Protection Office from 1998-2004Sanaka Rsi das, produced Cost of Silence documentary about...
Bhakti Caitanya Swami’s Involvement in the Lokanath Case
In July 2010, Lokanath's victim Satya wrote a series of compelling statements about her abuse, the 20 years of disregard given to the case, and lack of accountability for Lokanath.Responding to Satya's public statements in 2010, the GBC Second Vice-Chairman Bhakti...
The Arjuna Syndrome, Garuda
September 11, 2021 DO YOU HAVE "THE ARJUNA SYNDROME"? My Dear Vaishnava Sisters and Brothers, I offer all of you my affectionate praṇāmas. Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda! All our relationships in this life, according to our Bhakti tradition, are meant to teach us how to love,...
Thoughts on the Lokanath Swami Case, Amber
September 17, 2021My personal view, shared by many, just so it has been expressed clearly for the record... I understand that 30 odd years have passed since Lokanath Swami touched a child between the legs, and in other inappropriate ways over the course of several...
“No children matter to ISKCON, until the voice of one girl matters” | KD
September 23, 2021Dear Members of the GBC,Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.In May 2021, you publicly announced that you would give the Lokanath child abuse case to the International Child Protection Office, after the GBC has...
The Controversy, Rukmini
October 7, 2021 I write in despair regarding the recent resurgence of extremely serious allegations on a leader within the movement. While my intention is not to publicly shame anyone and I will not be using any names here; I also don’t want my silence to be...
ISKCON’s Code of Ethical Behavior
Yogesavara das (Joshua Greene) October 10, 2021 Dear Mahaman, Bhaktarupa, Tamohara, Navin Shyam, Champakalata, As the GBC Executive Committee intentionally chose not to include any of the child protection advocates from the Lokanath campaign, we thought we'd share...
Patita Pavana’s Letter to Lokanath Swami
Patita Pavana joined ISKCON in 1967 at 26 Second Avenue. In the first couple years within the movement, he served in NYC, San Francisco, New Mexico, Los Angeles, NYC again, Boston, New Vrindavan, and ISKCON Press. October 19, 2021 Dear Lokanatha Maharaja, Please...
Namarasa’s Biased Interview of Lokanath Supporter
October 20, 2021 Dear Namarasa, Please consider these notes on your interview with Sanaka Sanatana: “Ep. #087 | Lokanath Swami's Representation Speaks Out | feat. Sanaka Sanatana Das” In the future, when you do an interview on an active child abuse case, allow someone...
Swarup’s Statement on the Lokanath Swami Case
Swarup Das joined ISKCON in the summer of 1969 and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada December 26, 1969. Swarup Das on far left, giving Srila Prabhupada a tour of ISKCON Press in Brooklyn (July 1971).October 25, 2021The fact that so many children in ISKCON were abused,...
Attorney’s Advice SUMMARY
In July 2021 the GBC voted for a GBC-appointed ad hoc panel to review Lokanath’s child molestation case. In March 2022, this panel submitted their report to the GBC. During their review, the panel sought legal counsel from a third party who advised how ISKCON...
Attorney’s Advice FULL
Appendix X from Panel Report AppendicesOpinion Letter, Clarification Letter, and Email from Kirton McConkie Sivakumar RajagopalSkandan Law LLCSuite 02-02, Nagarathar Building5 Tank RoadSingapore 238061c/o George W. Pratt170 South Main Street, Suite 1500Salt Lake City,...
Reflections on the Lokanath Swami Case, Padmapani
Padmapani (l), and Tribhuvanath (r)I joined ISKCON in 1973 at the age of 18. Many of you will know me from my preaching in the Middle East, The Vaishnava Journal, The Prabhupada Connection, and my work on the infamous Mahamantra das abuse case more than 20 years ago....
Ravindra Svarupa’s Involvement in Lokanath Swami’s Child Molestation Case
January 28, 2022Ravindra Svarupa said in an open letter on Chakra, “The office of child abuse has not been instructed to not go after anyone... If there is any reliable testimony to the contrary, let me know, and I will follow up on it.” (September 12,...
GBC Ad Hoc Panel Report SUMMARY
April 4, 2022 LOKANATH’S CHILD MOLESTATION CASE PANEL REPORT In July 2021, the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) appointed an Ad Hoc Panel to look at Lokanath’s child molestation case - cutting out their ISKCON Child Protection Office. The GBC said the panel...