We have decided to Revive the Blog created in 2011 after Vishwananda scandal was exposed in autumn 2008.
What really happened in 2008?
"Emails were being sent out about Swamiji Vishwananda having illicit sex with his Brahmachari’s (the boys), which prompted a conference call last night lead by the national coordinator, Shrihara, and the US Brahmacharis.
Well, the “rumors” are true. Vishwananda has been having sex with his Male Brahmacharis for years. Questions that were asked were was it consensual? Yes, in some cases. Anyone under age? No, as far as anyone knows. Were any Brahmacharis tramatized? Yes. Hari, who became a Swami recently (Swami “VK”) renounced his vows and ties to Vishwananda and is now living back with his family in London. No one knows what happened with him. Was he having sex with Vishwanada? And if not, he surely must have known what was going on."
Jai Gurudev. Victory to the dispeller of ignorance and illusion.
While many people have enjoyed beautiful and enlightening experiences with Swami Vishwananda, we would like to present some facts here that you may not have heard through “official” communications from Bhakti Marga.
FACT: Swami Vishwananda has admitted to having intimate contact with several of his brahmacharis. Several of the brahmacharis categorize the contact as “sexual” and state that they thought they were receiving “special treatment” from Swami. Swami Vishwananda himself created a list of 15 or more people with whom he said these events occurred.
When a person takes vows of becoming brahmachari, they promise to uphold a life of simplicity, obedience and celibacy. By engaging in sexual activity with his own brahmacharis, Swami Vishwananda has led these young men to break their vows and devalues the system which he himself set up. Although Swami himself itemized a list of at least 15 males that were involved, the truth is that there are probably many more names left unmentioned.
FACT: Several devotees have spoken directly to Swami Vishwananda and also to other leaders within Bhakti Marga wherein they were told things other than the full truth, such as Swami Vishwananda himself denying that he actually had sex with any young men. It has been said that all he does is kiss and hug but in some cases it has gone further.
Swami Vishwananda is stating that what he did with the boys was out of love and compassion. That it was for their highest good of the devotees and that it was to fulfill their deepest desires; that he did it not for himself. It was also for them to learn that the soul has no gender. It’s interesting to note that his targets have all been male. They have also been young males. Not older men. Also there have been, up until recently, no females. If it was truly for the highest good of the devotees, or to teach about genderless, why were only males involved. And why only young males? Why not everyone?
Additionally, Swami Vishwananda has denied having had actual sex with anyone; however, several of his victims refer to what he did to them as “rape”. There has definitely been more then just the hugging and kissing he has described when lying to some people. The ex devotees state that in their hearts they did not want what was happening, but felt afraid at the time to do anything about it. People have asked why no one has spoken out about these things sooner. The general response from the people affected is that at the time they thought it was strange – and thought, “Why am I kissing God?” Some felt guilty or dirty and some felt like they were receiving special treatment because they believed he was Krishna.
They didn’t really understand what was happening and while their hearts were saying it didn’t feel good, the circumstances of the situation made their minds believe it was OK. They could not see how someone “divine” would do anything to hurt them on any level, so whatever was happening must have been for their own good. Most of the people were young and innocent and did not know any better, especially in the presence of someone as powerful as their “guru”. In many cases, He had informed them of apparent past life connections which meant it was “natural or ok” for them to indulge in such behavior.
FACT: Swami Vishwananda is married.
Why is a “celibate” guru married?
FACT: Concerned family members have called the ashram asking about the allegations and the information they have received is that Swami Vishwananda is an incarnation of “Krishna” and the young men involved are his “gopis” and therefore it is OK for Krishna to do anything he wants with them.
In the book KRSNA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead (Volume 1) by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada it states:
All material lusty desires can be immediately satisfied if one comes into contact with Krsna consciousness. P. 150 Swami has stated that some devotees have done the same thing as he did, but their intention derived from lust while his derived from love…Since Swami has also stated he is the living embodiment of Krishna, this cannot be true. Therefore Swami Vishwananda cannot be the embodiment of Krishna consciousness.
Unfortunately, by imitating the behavior of Krsna with the gopis, sometimes a rascal takes the position of Krsna, following the philosophy of monism or oneness, and he very irresponsibly takes advantage of this rasa-lila to entice many innocent women and mislead them in the name of spiritual realization. As for ordinary women. Although a woman can actually be elevated by advanced Krsna consciousness, she should not be enticed by an imposter who says that he is Krsna. P. 198
Sex desire is especially excited in the autumn season, but the wonderful thing about Krsna’s association with the gopis is that there was no question of sex desire. It was, as clearly stated in the Bhagavata description by Sukadeva Gosvami, avaruddha-sauratah, namely the sex impulse was completely controlled. There is a distinction between Lord Krsna’s dancing with the gopis and the ordinary dancing of living entities within the material world… …Some may take it for granted that Krsna was very lusty among young girls, but Pariksit Maharaja said that this was not possible. He could not be lusty. First of all, from the material calculation He was only eight years old. At that age a boy cannot be lusty. Aptakama means that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is self-satisfied. Even if He were lusty, He doesn’t need help from others to satisfy His lusty desires. But Maharaja Pariksit then used another word, yadu-pati, which indicates that Krsna is the most exalted personality in the dynasty of the Yadus. The kings in the dynasty of Yadu were considered to be the most pious, and their descendents were also like that. Having taken birth in that family, how could Krsna have been induced, even by the gopis? It is concluded therefore that it was not possible for Krsna to do anything abominable. P. 217-218
FACT: Swami Vishwananda created delusion within many individuals by telling them stories that they were incarnations of deities such as Mary Magdeline, Yoshoda, Radha, Bhu Devi (Mother Earth), Balaram, Kali, Hanuman, the Pandava Brothers, Gopis or Gopas, and more. He even told more than one person that they were the same deity. He also told various people that he himself was an incarnation of Krishna, Narayana, Vishnu, Shiva, Yogananda, Prabupad, St. Anthony, St. Panteleimon and others.
If Swami Vishwananda really was an incarnation of God himself, would so many people have left Bhakti Marga? In particular, most of the young men who were directly affected were the first to leave. Surely they would have known the “truth”. A real incarnation of Truth cannot be denied. However there are too many discrepancies here to support empty claims and theories or abusive situations masquerading as being spiritual. Apparently all the devotees who have remained are told by Swami they are reincarnations of saints… that this has all simply been a “test of faith”. The ones who left the community, and therefore failed the test, are not as elevated in consciousness as the ones who remain.
FACT: Individuals who have attempted to make the truth available have been maligned, lied to, attacked and otherwise discredited so that on top of the trauma of their personal experience they had no personal support from the community to which they dedicated their lives. Swami Vishwananda gave a specific directive to “destroy” the people who were telling the truth about his conduct.
Many lies were maliciously spread about individuals who were brave enough to actually speak the truth about some of the events that had been transpiring. Instead of maligning these people, they should be recognized for helping the truth to be revealed. In fact, a true guru would have no attachment to whatever was being said, be it truth or fiction. A true guru would have no emotional reaction to anything, but this was not the case with Swami Vishwananda. Further, one of the people speaking the truth had been told by Swami that he was in fact the “same soul” as Swami, and therefore, Swami has nothing to complain about as it was only himself acting out his own play.
FACT: Swami Vishwananda, along with some male brahmacharis, marched in San Francisco’s Gay Pride parade in 2007.
FACT: At a male family member’s stag night, the evening before the wedding, Swami Vishwananda personally approved of hiring a male stripper as entertainment for all in attendance, including both Swami Vishwananda and some of his brahmacharis. Further, Swami made the remark to make sure the stripper “went all the way” and proceeded to video the event on his cell phone camera. Some people were very distressed by this and some people did actually leave the room.
Why would a holy man even entertain the idea of a stripper at a function that is meant to celebrate the union of one of his family members and his fiancée?
It is clear that neither Swami Vishwananda nor the leadership of Bhakti Marga have much concern for the welfare of people. Many people invested their trust in Swami Vishwananda. They left jobs to go to the ashram, donated their property or money, and dedicated much effort and work in supporting the organization. Some people even divorced their spouses.
In many cases, Swami Vishwananda actively encouraged people in relationship to separate. He encouraged arguments between family members and encouraged divorce in several cases. He ridiculed devotees. People actually listened to him and risked everything, leaving their current existence in a precarious position.
FACT: Sexual allegations were already made against Swami Vishwananda in South Africa some time ago and there allegedly is a videotape of some of this activity and the young men there.
Many people in South Africa previously left the Bhakti Marga order due to similar allegations a year ago.
FACT: All the allegations regarding Swami are not centered around sexual conduct or misconduct. Several people report that he has displayed unusual interest for a spiritual master in attracting money into the organization. Swami Vishwananda has instructed several of his devotees to “flirt” with the public – especially those who have money.
A true guru would never ask for money. He knows that God provides according to each person’s karma and he accepts and surrenders to Divine Will. In a story Swami Vishwananda himself told at Easter 2004, during a talk about “The Guru”, he said, “A true Guru would never demand money or other material things from you. However he demands that you obey his words because he leads you with his grace to higher spiritual planes.”
FACT: It has been proven on video that Swami Vishwananda has faked some of his manifestations (lingams).
A majority of brahmacharis living in the ashram in South Africa left Bhakti Marga at the time this happened, once they viewed this video.
FACT: Brahmacharis who lived in Germany for some months report that they saw the lust, greed and anger sides of Swami Vishwananda that most of the general public never see.
Most people only see the public side of Swami during darshan, but even at the recent Bhakti Kriya initiation in California, Swami showed a darker side to the attendees by caustically attacking several of the brahmacharis who were trying to serve him.
FACT: Swami Vishwananda was recently indicted in Switzerland for stealing relics from a church. He explained this behavior to some brahmacharis by stating that “Jesus told him to do it” and that it was not wrong because he did not profit from stealing the relics, i.e. he did not resell them to anyone so it was OK. Swami has on occasion actually worn costumes, dressed as an orthodox priest, to gain entry into churches in an effort to acquire relics.
It is well-known that Swami frequently visits churches in France and other countries in search of relics. Why is this such a passion for him? Is it possible that he gets power through the relics? Why else would it be important enough for him to have that he is willing to face prosecution for acting illegally?
FACT: Swami Vishwananda is stating that recent events comprise a “spiritual test” of faith and devotion. That he has orchestrated the whole thing himself and that only true devotees will be left at the end. Further, close brahmacharis have made the statement that it is only the “rats” who leave a sinking ship first. Close brahmacharis who have left have been verbally attacked and called names such as “Judas” and “Defectors”.
If Swami Vishwananda orchestrated these events that have unfolded himself, why did he call people and literally cry and beg them not to tell the world the truth, lest it destroy Bhakti Marga? Further, why would he beg forgiveness from them and threatened suicide for not seeing the point in Himself living anymore if these rumours got out? What else would or could he say to keep anyone who hasn’t yet left from leaving now? Let us be clear that people who offered their service, love and devotion to Swami Vishwananda for these years are not in fact “rats”, but rather people with a sincere longing for God and Truth.
Many people have stated that they have been feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the path of Bhakti Marga.
How does one reconcile then that brahmacharis are asked to give over all their worldly possessions, to empty their bank accounts, sign over their inheritances and give anything else of value to Swami Vishwananda. If a brahmachari were to refuse such a request, he or she would therefore be disobeying their guru’s demands.
Many devotees have been sweet-talked into staying with Bhakti Marga. It is not just the sexual misconduct that is the issue here.
We invite you to share any of your experiences here… We also invite you to personally ask Swami Vishwananda about any of these facts, but please don’t expect that you will get an honest answer as we know that he has been dishonest with most people who have spoken to him directly. In fact, he has stated that he does not tell people the truth anymore – rather, he tells them what they want to hear. This is fine unless one actually does want a guru to guide their spiritual life, in which case, what is the point of having a guru who does not tell the truth?
