Prakashanand Saraswati
Encyclopedia
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (Hindi: स्वामी प्रकाशानंद सरस्वती) (born 1929), was a spiritual leader, a social reformer, a Vedic historian and a Hindu Rasik saint from India. He established Barsana Dham
, USA, as a devotional representation of Braj
, India, with the intention that devotees in the west may experience a similar atmosphere as if in Braj in India. In March 2011, he was convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact in a Texas courtroom. He jumped bail
and is a fugitive
wanted by US Marshals
.
, as well as other schools of Hinduism
, understand that a great Guru
can teach disciples even after the guru is no longer in a physical body. Communication between the visible and invisible is taken for granted and is an essential factor in many types of Hinduism. Chaitanya is assumed to be in charge of his lineage even today. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati described:
Apart from a life oriented on either sense gratification or the practice of yogic and psychic disciplines (considered to be merely the exploration of the inner world of maya
), Swami Prakashanand Saraswati taught the path of God's love and the development of an affinity toward, and personal feeling of love for Godhead Personality. This devotional approach is explained in the vedas
, upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
, and the multi-volume Srimad Bhagavatam. It is centered upon the remembrance of Krishna and chanting his name while devotionally offering one's emotional feeling to Him.
family in 1929 in Ayodhya,
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (Hindi: स्वामी प्रकाशानंद सरस्वती) (born 1929), was a spiritual leader, a social reformer, a Vedic historian and a Hindu Rasik saint from India. He established Barsana Dham
, USA, as a devotional representation of Braj
, India,Hindu Temple Opens in Texas, Oct 14, 1995. The Washington Post
. Section: METROKurien, P.A. 2007. A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism. NJ: Rutgers University Press
. with the intention that devotees in the west may experience a similar atmosphere as if in Braj in India. In March 2011, he was convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact in a Texas courtroom.http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hindu-guru-found-guilty-on-20-counts-of-1298973.html Hindu guru found guilty on 20 counts of molesting young girls. March 4, 2011. Austin-American Statesman. He jumped bail
and is a fugitive
wanted by US Marshals
.http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/tx-w/fugitives/pdf/saraswati.pdf
, as well as other schools of Hinduism
, understand that a great Guru
can teach disciples even after the guru is no longer in a physical body. Communication between the visible and invisible is taken for granted and is an essential factor in many types of Hinduism. Chaitanya is assumed to be in charge of his lineage even today. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati described:
Apart from a life oriented on either sense gratification or the practice of yogic and psychic disciplines (considered to be merely the exploration of the inner world of maya
), Swami Prakashanand Saraswati taught the path of God's love and the development of an affinity toward, and personal feeling of love for Godhead Personality. This devotional approach is explained in the vedas
, upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
, and the multi-volume Srimad Bhagavatam. It is centered upon the remembrance of Krishna and chanting his name while devotionally offering one's emotional feeling to Him.
family in 1929 in Ayodhya,
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (Hindi: स्वामी प्रकाशानंद सरस्वती) (born 1929), was a spiritual leader, a social reformer, a Vedic historian and a Hindu Rasik saint from India. He established Barsana Dham
, USA, as a devotional representation of Braj
, India,Hindu Temple Opens in Texas, Oct 14, 1995. The Washington Post
. Section: METROKurien, P.A. 2007. A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism. NJ: Rutgers University Press
. with the intention that devotees in the west may experience a similar atmosphere as if in Braj in India. In March 2011, he was convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact in a Texas courtroom.http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hindu-guru-found-guilty-on-20-counts-of-1298973.html Hindu guru found guilty on 20 counts of molesting young girls. March 4, 2011. Austin-American Statesman. He jumped bail
and is a fugitive
wanted by US Marshals
.http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/tx-w/fugitives/pdf/saraswati.pdf
, as well as other schools of Hinduism
, understand that a great Guru
can teach disciples even after the guru is no longer in a physical body. Communication between the visible and invisible is taken for granted and is an essential factor in many types of Hinduism. Chaitanya is assumed to be in charge of his lineage even today. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati described:
Apart from a life oriented on either sense gratification or the practice of yogic and psychic disciplines (considered to be merely the exploration of the inner world of maya
), Swami Prakashanand Saraswati taught the path of God's love and the development of an affinity toward, and personal feeling of love for Godhead Personality. This devotional approach is explained in the vedas
, upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
, and the multi-volume Srimad Bhagavatam. It is centered upon the remembrance of Krishna and chanting his name while devotionally offering one's emotional feeling to Him.
family in 1929 in Ayodhya,Melton, J.G. 1993. Encyclopedia of American religions. Gale Research India. His early life was fraught with intense religious feelings, and as a youth he became a reclusive mystic so that he might find God. He completed his studies and at age of 21, renounced the world and took the order of sanya
s.Palaniswami, P. (Sept. 3, 1995). a Dham Blooms in Texas. Hinduism Today.Jones, C.A. & James, J.D. 2007. Encyclopedia of Hinduism, pg. 200 - 201. Infobase Publishing
. In 1952, he was offered to become the Jagadguru Shankaracharya
of Jyotirmath but he declined,Srinivasan, T.M. 2000. The True History and the Religion of India: A Concise Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism. (A Review). International Journal of Humanities and Peace, 16(1): 105. (Full Text) because, according to Swami Prakshanand Saraswati, he "was drawn towards the love of Radha Krishna".Kamath, A.P. August 12, 1999. Janmashtami Events In Cattle Country. Rediff.com
.
He spent the next 20 years as a wandering ascetic in the Himalayas and in the forests of central India, ending in Braj
. Following the strict discipline of sannyas, he first lived in the Himalayas (Joshimath, Badrinath, Rishikesh, Haridwar, etc.), forests of Amarkantak, near the Narbada River, Allahabad and Kashi for about four years. Later, he went to Vrindaban and then to Barsana where he spent over 18 years in the deep woodlands of Braj. In 1975, he emerged from his solitary life, and on the instructions of his Spiritual Master, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, he began his mission of teaching the path of raganuga bhakti.Ludwig, M. March 9, 2002. Houses of worship. Austin American-Statesman
(TX) He founded the International Society of Divine Love in India in 1975. The society was established in New Zealand in 1978. Later on he traveled to America and founded an ashram for his devotees and disciples. By 1981 Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, who had begun to be thought of as a distinguished sage and a saint, conceived of creating a global mission. He established religious centers in India, England, Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia and has written 10 books on Hinduism.
In 1999 he wrote a "monumental dissertation" on the history of Indian civilization and religion. The eight-hundred-page tome is entitled The True History and the Religion of India. The book has received laudatory comments from prominent Hindu academics and leaders in the United States and India. It was released by The Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting
Shri Ramesh Bais
. The encyclopedia won an award at the World Religious Parliament in New Delhi in 1999. In 2001, the book was published by Motilal Banarsidass
. It has subsequently been published by Macmillan Publishers
.
A simplified and abridged version of the book for college students, entitled Amazing Facts about Hinduism, was released at the Global Dharma Conference in 2003. He was awarded the title of "Dharm Chakravarti" in India for his efforts in "reestablishing authentic Hinduism".H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati to Lecture in Dallas, Texas. 2006/12/7. Hinduism Today.
Dr. Cade, a leading physicist of London, and Fellow
of the Royal Society of Medicine
, had been doing psycho-biological research during the 1970s on meditation and the altered states of the consciousness of the mind
.Geoffrey Blundell. 10 Feb 2003. The Daily Telegraph
Hill, A. 1979. A Visual encyclopedia of unconventional medicine. Crown PublishersInglis, B. & West, R. 1983. The alternative health guide. Knopf
Cade, C. M. & Coxhead, N. 1989. The awakened mind: biofeedback and the development of higher states of awareness. Element Publishing.
Maxwell Cade co-developed the "Mind Mirror", a portable EEG
machine that could monitor the alpha
, beta
, delta
and theta
rhythms from each brain hemisphere simultaneously. In the 1970's, a number of eastern religious teachers expressed an interest in participating in Cade's research, and agreed to have their brain rhythms measured. In 1976 when he was touring England, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati requested to participate in Dr. Cade's research. Dr. Cade and his team found patterns they had not seen before. Cade concluded that the Swamis' spiritual training conferred unusual powers of healing and perception.
Dr. Cade spent two weeks with Saraswati to measure Saraswati's brainwaves, and he always seemed to be in this "Awakened Mind" pattern.Cade, M. 1977. The Awakened Mind, Biofeedback and the Development of Higher States of Awareness. Delacorte Press Furthermore, he measured brainwave patterns, only previously measured in a few rare individuals, that Cade characterizes as the "State beyond the Awakened Mind". Cade commented: ". . . he has attained to that level of consciousness at which he is in the higher reaches of meditation and in everyday waking consciousness at the same time".Chapter 7: The healing response - a new direction. Retrieved, Nov 8th from: http://www.mindmirroreeg.com/w/maxCade/McHealing.htm On one occasion, Cade says that Saraswati "produced the most beautiful fifth-state pattern on the Mind Mirror for more than an hour while engaging in an intense debate with Professor John Hasted
, a noted physicist". Saraswati wanted to test out the effects of his new form of meditation called the "Divine Love Meditation." He had Cade test subjects while listening to a tape consisting of chanting and they measured the effects. According to Cade, both experienced and non-meditators were able to produce a form of "Awakened Mind" pattern while listening to these tapes.
He writes, "Those who have close contact with His Divinity know that he remains continually in his Divine-Love transcendence. This corresponds to what Carl Jung
termed 'the Transcendent Function.'" Further, Cade writes that he "had not seen anyone who could equal Swamiji's feat of touching a number of subjects on the head and immediately raising their pattern of consciousness by two levels, from the ordinary waking state into the advanced fifth state. In at least one of these subjects, the higher state persisted for three days and was an unforgettable experience." Cade's wife reportedly had an "unforgettable experience" from meeting Swami Prakashanand Saraswati and participating in the study. Maxwell Cade characterized it as "an experience of great impact". It was, he wrote later: ". . . a perfect opportunity to study his remarkable EEG patterns under varying circumstances, to discuss the application of scientific methods to the study of meditation, and to learn about Divine Love Meditation at the feet of this great Master".
Cade published his research in his "landmark book", "The Awakened Mind". Cade's research with Swami Prakashanand Saraswati has also been discussed in several other publications including by Hill (1979), Inglis & West (1983) and Treece (1989).Treece, P. 1979. The sanctified body. Doubleday
described a January 2010 operation as "serious" and said it took five hours to complete. Kale added that Saraswati should “avoid traveling and have complete rest for the next three to four months” and shouldn’t sit for more than a half-hour at a time. "The defendant is a very elderly individual," the filing said. "Traveling from India to the United States takes approximately 18 hours" and thus "renders a trial in April 2010 a virtual impossibility." Hays County District Attorney Sherri Tibbe opposed the delay request, according to the court filings, but the judge granted the delay. On October 27 2010, when travelling to the USA, Saraswati's passport was revoked and he was prevented from leaving USA. The prosecuting district attorney
, Sherri Tibbe, said that Swamiji had been maintaining a hectic travel schedule overseas. Assistant prosecuting district attorney, Cathy Compton, said that Saraswati had flown to Nepal from India in March, two months after his back surgery — and two months before his lawyers informed prosecutors they "still do not know when Swamiji will be able to travel."
In December 2010, it was widely reported in the media that key evidence (video) in the case had gone missing from the Hays County Sheriff's evidence room, while the copy of the tape at the Hays County District Attorney's office was damaged and unusable, and the computer used to copy the tape also went missing from the Sheriff's office.Dexheimer, E. Dec. 15, 2010. Guru's trial to proceed, despite loss of key evidence. Austin American-Statesman
Miller, A. 2010. Evidence missing in trial of Hindu spiritual leader. San Marcos Daily Record
Rollins, B. Dec 16th, 2010. Trial still on for Hindu guru. Hays Free Press A Hays County judge had ordered prosecutors to turn over a copy to defense attorneys. A 1 1/2-hour recorded interview with one of the two women who said they were groped went missing from the Sheriff's office. Hahn, a spokesperson for Saraswati's attorneys, said when they asked for the original, “The prosecution said it doesn’t exist anymore, we lost it. Whether it’s been destroyed or thrown away nobody knows.” He said they received a similar answer when they asked to see the computer the file was copied to." Hahn said the testimony on the DVD was crucial because the case hinges on it. “There’s no physical evidence of any kind,” he said. Saraswati's attorneys contended that the absence of a video record of the interview would deprive them of information and nuance crucial to the defense of Saraswati, including the woman's demeanor and whether her interviewer asked leading questions. Without it, "the court must strike the testimony or declare a mistrial," said Gerry Goldstein, a San Antonio attorney who was part of Saraswati's defense team. In a filing, attorney's wrote: "The degree of negligence is relatively high, as an essential item of evidence has been lost, and the State has not given an adequate reason to explain the circumstances that led to this loss of evidence… This evidence was highly significant, as it represents the primary method by which Defendant’s counsel can impeach [the complainant’s] testimony at trial. Finally, there is no other evidence supporting this charge other than [the accuser’s] own statements and her potential testimony." However, the judge ordered that the trial proceeded, even without the evidence.
A sister of Kate Tonnessen and Vesla Tonnessen, Prabhakari Devi, testified that her sisters were "habitual liars". Prabhakari Devi said that her 31-year-old sister threatened to bring down the ashram. "She said that she would destroy it," Devi, 43, testified. "[Instead] she destroyed our family." One of the three women testified that in one instance during a dinner, Saraswati fondled her breasts in front of 30-40 people but was unable to explain how none of them saw what happened. Attorneys for Saraswati questioned her timeline and whether or not she was giving correct statements. 12 men and women reached a guilty verdict of 20 counts of child molestation, after only 50 minutes deliberation, on Friday March 4, 2011.
His supporters maintain his innocence. Citing the fact that the prosecution told the jury to "Use your gut" rather than listen to the defense's arguments, lead attorney said: "That decision has to be on law and evidence, not a gut feeling". Barsana Dham cancelled Holi Festival and Festival of India in the wake of Saraswati's conviction and disappearance.
Prior to the trial, KXAN-TV
reported that Saraswati had volunteered for, and passed, a polygraph
test.http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a05_1222970419 KXAN-TV
said that the examiner asked him twice if he had touched the girls' breasts (which he had been accused of doing), he replied "no". KXAN-TV
said that the test results indicated that he was truthful. Polygraph tests, however, are not admissible in Texas courts.
to 280 years and a $200,000 fine. At the penalty hearing Peter S. claimed he hadn't understood the terms of the original bond agreement (for $10 Million). On Nov 04, 2011, Texas Watchdog reported that he had been required to pay only $200,000 of the $10 million bond, plus the previously disclosed $1 million. Hays County attempted to keep the amount secret but a Nov 2011 ruling from the state Attorney General’s office made it clear that the amount is clearly public record.Miller, M. 2011. San Marcos Mercury uses public records law to get $ details of bond deal for Hindu guru/convicted child molester. Retrieved from: http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column
Barsana Dham
Radha Madhav Dham, founded in 1990 under the name Barsana Dham by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, is a large temple and ashram complex outside of Austin, Texas. Radha Madhav Dham is a place of pilgrimage reminiscent of similar locales in India. In April 2011, JKP Barsana Dham's new name was JKP...
, USA, as a devotional representation of Braj
Braj
Braj is a region mainly in Uttar Pradesh of India, around Mathura-Vrindavan. Braj, though never a clearly defined political region in India but is very well demarcated culturally, is considered to be the land of Krishna and is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja...
, India, with the intention that devotees in the west may experience a similar atmosphere as if in Braj in India. In March 2011, he was convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact in a Texas courtroom. He jumped bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
and is a fugitive
Fugitive
A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from private slavery, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals...
wanted by US Marshals
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
.
Tradition
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was of the lineage of the great Vashnavite sage of West Bengal Shree Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1485-1553). Followers of VaishnavismVaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
, as well as other schools of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, understand that a great Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
can teach disciples even after the guru is no longer in a physical body. Communication between the visible and invisible is taken for granted and is an essential factor in many types of Hinduism. Chaitanya is assumed to be in charge of his lineage even today. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati described:
"Our tradition of raganuga bhakti is eternal. It comes from the Vedas. Around 3,202bc Krishn Himself descended on the earth planet in His Divine form and Ved Vyas re-established the same knowledge through the Bhagwatam which continues until today. Five hundred years ago, the descension of Radha in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu further revealed, rejuvenated and established this form of devotion which became the guideline for the devotees of today. This tradition is called achintya bhedabhed vad."
Apart from a life oriented on either sense gratification or the practice of yogic and psychic disciplines (considered to be merely the exploration of the inner world of maya
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
), Swami Prakashanand Saraswati taught the path of God's love and the development of an affinity toward, and personal feeling of love for Godhead Personality. This devotional approach is explained in the vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
, upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
, and the multi-volume Srimad Bhagavatam. It is centered upon the remembrance of Krishna and chanting his name while devotionally offering one's emotional feeling to Him.
History
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was born in a respectable brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family in 1929 in Ayodhya,
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (Hindi: स्वामी प्रकाशानंद सरस्वती) (born 1929), was a spiritual leader, a social reformer, a Vedic historian and a Hindu Rasik saint from India. He established Barsana Dham
Barsana Dham
Radha Madhav Dham, founded in 1990 under the name Barsana Dham by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, is a large temple and ashram complex outside of Austin, Texas. Radha Madhav Dham is a place of pilgrimage reminiscent of similar locales in India. In April 2011, JKP Barsana Dham's new name was JKP...
, USA, as a devotional representation of Braj
Braj
Braj is a region mainly in Uttar Pradesh of India, around Mathura-Vrindavan. Braj, though never a clearly defined political region in India but is very well demarcated culturally, is considered to be the land of Krishna and is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja...
, India,Hindu Temple Opens in Texas, Oct 14, 1995. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. Section: METROKurien, P.A. 2007. A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism. NJ: Rutgers University Press
Rutgers University Press
Rutgers University Press is a nonprofit academic publishing house, operating in Piscataway, New Jersey under the auspices of Rutgers University.-History:...
. with the intention that devotees in the west may experience a similar atmosphere as if in Braj in India. In March 2011, he was convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact in a Texas courtroom.http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hindu-guru-found-guilty-on-20-counts-of-1298973.html Hindu guru found guilty on 20 counts of molesting young girls. March 4, 2011. Austin-American Statesman. He jumped bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
and is a fugitive
Fugitive
A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from private slavery, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals...
wanted by US Marshals
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
.http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/tx-w/fugitives/pdf/saraswati.pdf
Tradition
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was of the lineage of the great Vashnavite sage of West Bengal Shree Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1485-1553). Followers of VaishnavismVaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
, as well as other schools of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, understand that a great Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
can teach disciples even after the guru is no longer in a physical body. Communication between the visible and invisible is taken for granted and is an essential factor in many types of Hinduism. Chaitanya is assumed to be in charge of his lineage even today. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati described:
"Our tradition of raganuga bhakti is eternal. It comes from the Vedas. Around 3,202bc Krishn Himself descended on the earth planet in His Divine form and Ved Vyas re-established the same knowledge through the Bhagwatam which continues until today. Five hundred years ago, the descension of Radha in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu further revealed, rejuvenated and established this form of devotion which became the guideline for the devotees of today. This tradition is called achintya bhedabhed vad."
Apart from a life oriented on either sense gratification or the practice of yogic and psychic disciplines (considered to be merely the exploration of the inner world of maya
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
), Swami Prakashanand Saraswati taught the path of God's love and the development of an affinity toward, and personal feeling of love for Godhead Personality. This devotional approach is explained in the vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
, upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
, and the multi-volume Srimad Bhagavatam. It is centered upon the remembrance of Krishna and chanting his name while devotionally offering one's emotional feeling to Him.
History
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was born in a respectable brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family in 1929 in Ayodhya,
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (Hindi: स्वामी प्रकाशानंद सरस्वती) (born 1929), was a spiritual leader, a social reformer, a Vedic historian and a Hindu Rasik saint from India. He established Barsana Dham
Barsana Dham
Radha Madhav Dham, founded in 1990 under the name Barsana Dham by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, is a large temple and ashram complex outside of Austin, Texas. Radha Madhav Dham is a place of pilgrimage reminiscent of similar locales in India. In April 2011, JKP Barsana Dham's new name was JKP...
, USA, as a devotional representation of Braj
Braj
Braj is a region mainly in Uttar Pradesh of India, around Mathura-Vrindavan. Braj, though never a clearly defined political region in India but is very well demarcated culturally, is considered to be the land of Krishna and is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja...
, India,Hindu Temple Opens in Texas, Oct 14, 1995. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. Section: METROKurien, P.A. 2007. A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism. NJ: Rutgers University Press
Rutgers University Press
Rutgers University Press is a nonprofit academic publishing house, operating in Piscataway, New Jersey under the auspices of Rutgers University.-History:...
. with the intention that devotees in the west may experience a similar atmosphere as if in Braj in India. In March 2011, he was convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact in a Texas courtroom.http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hindu-guru-found-guilty-on-20-counts-of-1298973.html Hindu guru found guilty on 20 counts of molesting young girls. March 4, 2011. Austin-American Statesman. He jumped bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
and is a fugitive
Fugitive
A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from private slavery, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals...
wanted by US Marshals
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
.http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/tx-w/fugitives/pdf/saraswati.pdf
Tradition
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was of the lineage of the great Vashnavite sage of West Bengal Shree Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1485-1553). Followers of VaishnavismVaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
, as well as other schools of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, understand that a great Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
can teach disciples even after the guru is no longer in a physical body. Communication between the visible and invisible is taken for granted and is an essential factor in many types of Hinduism. Chaitanya is assumed to be in charge of his lineage even today. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati described:
"Our tradition of raganuga bhakti is eternal. It comes from the Vedas. Around 3,202bc Krishn Himself descended on the earth planet in His Divine form and Ved Vyas re-established the same knowledge through the Bhagwatam which continues until today. Five hundred years ago, the descension of Radha in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu further revealed, rejuvenated and established this form of devotion which became the guideline for the devotees of today. This tradition is called achintya bhedabhed vad."
Apart from a life oriented on either sense gratification or the practice of yogic and psychic disciplines (considered to be merely the exploration of the inner world of maya
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
), Swami Prakashanand Saraswati taught the path of God's love and the development of an affinity toward, and personal feeling of love for Godhead Personality. This devotional approach is explained in the vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
, upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
, and the multi-volume Srimad Bhagavatam. It is centered upon the remembrance of Krishna and chanting his name while devotionally offering one's emotional feeling to Him.
History
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was born in a respectable brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family in 1929 in Ayodhya,Melton, J.G. 1993. Encyclopedia of American religions. Gale Research India. His early life was fraught with intense religious feelings, and as a youth he became a reclusive mystic so that he might find God. He completed his studies and at age of 21, renounced the world and took the order of sanya
Sanya
Sanya is the southernmost city in China and is a part of Hainan Province. In 2006, it had a population of 536,000, making it, after the provincial capital , the second most populous city on the island. The city is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination,...
s.Palaniswami, P. (Sept. 3, 1995). a Dham Blooms in Texas. Hinduism Today.Jones, C.A. & James, J.D. 2007. Encyclopedia of Hinduism, pg. 200 - 201. Infobase Publishing
Infobase Publishing
Infobase Publishing is an American publisher of reference book titles and textbooks geared towards the North American library, secondary school, and university-level curriculum markets. The company was founded in 1941 with its headquarters based in New York...
. In 1952, he was offered to become the Jagadguru Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
of Jyotirmath but he declined,Srinivasan, T.M. 2000. The True History and the Religion of India: A Concise Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism. (A Review). International Journal of Humanities and Peace, 16(1): 105. (Full Text) because, according to Swami Prakshanand Saraswati, he "was drawn towards the love of Radha Krishna".Kamath, A.P. August 12, 1999. Janmashtami Events In Cattle Country. Rediff.com
Rediff.com
Rediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....
.
He spent the next 20 years as a wandering ascetic in the Himalayas and in the forests of central India, ending in Braj
Braj
Braj is a region mainly in Uttar Pradesh of India, around Mathura-Vrindavan. Braj, though never a clearly defined political region in India but is very well demarcated culturally, is considered to be the land of Krishna and is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja...
. Following the strict discipline of sannyas, he first lived in the Himalayas (Joshimath, Badrinath, Rishikesh, Haridwar, etc.), forests of Amarkantak, near the Narbada River, Allahabad and Kashi for about four years. Later, he went to Vrindaban and then to Barsana where he spent over 18 years in the deep woodlands of Braj. In 1975, he emerged from his solitary life, and on the instructions of his Spiritual Master, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, he began his mission of teaching the path of raganuga bhakti.Ludwig, M. March 9, 2002. Houses of worship. Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman
The Austin American-Statesman is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is an award-winning publication owned by Cox Enterprises. The Newspaper places focus on issues affecting Austin and the Central Texas region....
(TX) He founded the International Society of Divine Love in India in 1975. The society was established in New Zealand in 1978. Later on he traveled to America and founded an ashram for his devotees and disciples. By 1981 Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, who had begun to be thought of as a distinguished sage and a saint, conceived of creating a global mission. He established religious centers in India, England, Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia and has written 10 books on Hinduism.
Writings and Awards
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati has written over 9 books on various aspects of Hindu ethics, scriptures and practices.In 1999 he wrote a "monumental dissertation" on the history of Indian civilization and religion. The eight-hundred-page tome is entitled The True History and the Religion of India. The book has received laudatory comments from prominent Hindu academics and leaders in the United States and India. It was released by The Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is a branch of the Government of India is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to information, broadcasting, the press and films in India....
Shri Ramesh Bais
Ramesh Bais
Ramesh Bais is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Raipur constituency of Chhattisgarh and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party political party....
. The encyclopedia won an award at the World Religious Parliament in New Delhi in 1999. In 2001, the book was published by Motilal Banarsidass
Motilal Banarsidass
Motilal Banarsidass is a leading Indian publishing house on Sanskrit and Indology since 1903, located in Delhi, India. It publishes and distributes serials, monographs, and scholarly publications on Asian religion, philosophy, history, culture, arts, architecture, archaeology, language,...
. It has subsequently been published by Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
.
A simplified and abridged version of the book for college students, entitled Amazing Facts about Hinduism, was released at the Global Dharma Conference in 2003. He was awarded the title of "Dharm Chakravarti" in India for his efforts in "reestablishing authentic Hinduism".H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati to Lecture in Dallas, Texas. 2006/12/7. Hinduism Today.
Research with Maxwell Cade
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati's state of "conscious ecstasy" was studied by Dr. Maxwell Cade in 1970s.Dr. Cade, a leading physicist of London, and Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Society of Medicine
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
, had been doing psycho-biological research during the 1970s on meditation and the altered states of the consciousness of the mind
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
.Geoffrey Blundell. 10 Feb 2003. The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
Hill, A. 1979. A Visual encyclopedia of unconventional medicine. Crown PublishersInglis, B. & West, R. 1983. The alternative health guide. Knopf
Alfred A. Knopf
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. is a New York publishing house, founded by Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. in 1915. It was acquired by Random House in 1960 and is now part of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group at Random House. The publishing house is known for its borzoi trademark , which was designed by co-founder...
Cade, C. M. & Coxhead, N. 1989. The awakened mind: biofeedback and the development of higher states of awareness. Element Publishing.
Maxwell Cade co-developed the "Mind Mirror", a portable EEG
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain...
machine that could monitor the alpha
Alpha wave
Alpha waves are neural oscillations in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz arising from synchronous and coherent electrical activity of thalamic pacemaker cells in humans...
, beta
Beta wave
Beta wave, or beta rhythm, is the term used to designate the frequency range of human brain activity between 12 and 30 Hz . Beta waves are split into three sections: High Beta Waves ; Beta Waves ; and Low Beta Waves...
, delta
Delta wave
A delta wave is a high amplitude brain wave with a frequency of oscillation between 0–4 hertz. Delta waves, like other brain waves, are recorded with an electroencephalogram and are usually associated with the deepest stages of sleep , also known as slow-wave sleep , and aid in characterizing the...
and theta
Theta rhythm
A theta rhythm is an oscillatory pattern in EEG signals recorded either from inside the brain or from electrodes glued to the scalp. Two types of theta rhythm have been described...
rhythms from each brain hemisphere simultaneously. In the 1970's, a number of eastern religious teachers expressed an interest in participating in Cade's research, and agreed to have their brain rhythms measured. In 1976 when he was touring England, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati requested to participate in Dr. Cade's research. Dr. Cade and his team found patterns they had not seen before. Cade concluded that the Swamis' spiritual training conferred unusual powers of healing and perception.
Dr. Cade spent two weeks with Saraswati to measure Saraswati's brainwaves, and he always seemed to be in this "Awakened Mind" pattern.Cade, M. 1977. The Awakened Mind, Biofeedback and the Development of Higher States of Awareness. Delacorte Press Furthermore, he measured brainwave patterns, only previously measured in a few rare individuals, that Cade characterizes as the "State beyond the Awakened Mind". Cade commented: ". . . he has attained to that level of consciousness at which he is in the higher reaches of meditation and in everyday waking consciousness at the same time".Chapter 7: The healing response - a new direction. Retrieved, Nov 8th from: http://www.mindmirroreeg.com/w/maxCade/McHealing.htm On one occasion, Cade says that Saraswati "produced the most beautiful fifth-state pattern on the Mind Mirror for more than an hour while engaging in an intense debate with Professor John Hasted
John Hasted
John Barrett Hasted was a British physicist, who from 1968 until his retirement was head of experimental physics at Birkbeck College, London...
, a noted physicist". Saraswati wanted to test out the effects of his new form of meditation called the "Divine Love Meditation." He had Cade test subjects while listening to a tape consisting of chanting and they measured the effects. According to Cade, both experienced and non-meditators were able to produce a form of "Awakened Mind" pattern while listening to these tapes.
He writes, "Those who have close contact with His Divinity know that he remains continually in his Divine-Love transcendence. This corresponds to what Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
termed 'the Transcendent Function.'" Further, Cade writes that he "had not seen anyone who could equal Swamiji's feat of touching a number of subjects on the head and immediately raising their pattern of consciousness by two levels, from the ordinary waking state into the advanced fifth state. In at least one of these subjects, the higher state persisted for three days and was an unforgettable experience." Cade's wife reportedly had an "unforgettable experience" from meeting Swami Prakashanand Saraswati and participating in the study. Maxwell Cade characterized it as "an experience of great impact". It was, he wrote later: ". . . a perfect opportunity to study his remarkable EEG patterns under varying circumstances, to discuss the application of scientific methods to the study of meditation, and to learn about Divine Love Meditation at the feet of this great Master".
Cade published his research in his "landmark book", "The Awakened Mind". Cade's research with Swami Prakashanand Saraswati has also been discussed in several other publications including by Hill (1979), Inglis & West (1983) and Treece (1989).Treece, P. 1979. The sanctified body. Doubleday
Accusations, Trial and Conviction
In 2007, three former residents, Kate Tonnessen (31), Vesla Tonnessen (27) and Shyama Rose (30), alleged to Hays County police that, 15 years earlier as teenagers, they had been groped 10 times each. Prakashanand was arrested on April 25, 2008. Saraswati was released on $1 Million bail. He was allowed to travel to India for the three years until his trial based on an additional $10 Million put forward by one of his supporters. It was the highest bail bond in Texas history. As part of the bond condition Saraswati was barred from entering the Barsana Dham and his legal team tried to modify it but judge refused. The trial was delayed for three years, for many different reasons including Swamiji's health issues and the pregnancy of one of the accusers. After his arrest, Saraswati had been spending most of his time in India, where, court filings say, he underwent surgery on his lower back. A note from Dr. S.S. Kale of the All India Institute of Medical SciencesAll India Institute of Medical Sciences
All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a premier medical college and teaching hospital based in New Delhi, India. The Institute operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ....
described a January 2010 operation as "serious" and said it took five hours to complete. Kale added that Saraswati should “avoid traveling and have complete rest for the next three to four months” and shouldn’t sit for more than a half-hour at a time. "The defendant is a very elderly individual," the filing said. "Traveling from India to the United States takes approximately 18 hours" and thus "renders a trial in April 2010 a virtual impossibility." Hays County District Attorney Sherri Tibbe opposed the delay request, according to the court filings, but the judge granted the delay. On October 27 2010, when travelling to the USA, Saraswati's passport was revoked and he was prevented from leaving USA. The prosecuting district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, Sherri Tibbe, said that Swamiji had been maintaining a hectic travel schedule overseas. Assistant prosecuting district attorney, Cathy Compton, said that Saraswati had flown to Nepal from India in March, two months after his back surgery — and two months before his lawyers informed prosecutors they "still do not know when Swamiji will be able to travel."
In December 2010, it was widely reported in the media that key evidence (video) in the case had gone missing from the Hays County Sheriff's evidence room, while the copy of the tape at the Hays County District Attorney's office was damaged and unusable, and the computer used to copy the tape also went missing from the Sheriff's office.Dexheimer, E. Dec. 15, 2010. Guru's trial to proceed, despite loss of key evidence. Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman
The Austin American-Statesman is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is an award-winning publication owned by Cox Enterprises. The Newspaper places focus on issues affecting Austin and the Central Texas region....
Miller, A. 2010. Evidence missing in trial of Hindu spiritual leader. San Marcos Daily Record
San Marcos Daily Record
The San Marcos Daily Record is five-day daily newspaper published in San Marcos, Texas, in the afternoon on weekdays , and on Sunday mornings. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
Rollins, B. Dec 16th, 2010. Trial still on for Hindu guru. Hays Free Press A Hays County judge had ordered prosecutors to turn over a copy to defense attorneys. A 1 1/2-hour recorded interview with one of the two women who said they were groped went missing from the Sheriff's office. Hahn, a spokesperson for Saraswati's attorneys, said when they asked for the original, “The prosecution said it doesn’t exist anymore, we lost it. Whether it’s been destroyed or thrown away nobody knows.” He said they received a similar answer when they asked to see the computer the file was copied to." Hahn said the testimony on the DVD was crucial because the case hinges on it. “There’s no physical evidence of any kind,” he said. Saraswati's attorneys contended that the absence of a video record of the interview would deprive them of information and nuance crucial to the defense of Saraswati, including the woman's demeanor and whether her interviewer asked leading questions. Without it, "the court must strike the testimony or declare a mistrial," said Gerry Goldstein, a San Antonio attorney who was part of Saraswati's defense team. In a filing, attorney's wrote: "The degree of negligence is relatively high, as an essential item of evidence has been lost, and the State has not given an adequate reason to explain the circumstances that led to this loss of evidence… This evidence was highly significant, as it represents the primary method by which Defendant’s counsel can impeach [the complainant’s] testimony at trial. Finally, there is no other evidence supporting this charge other than [the accuser’s] own statements and her potential testimony." However, the judge ordered that the trial proceeded, even without the evidence.
A sister of Kate Tonnessen and Vesla Tonnessen, Prabhakari Devi, testified that her sisters were "habitual liars". Prabhakari Devi said that her 31-year-old sister threatened to bring down the ashram. "She said that she would destroy it," Devi, 43, testified. "[Instead] she destroyed our family." One of the three women testified that in one instance during a dinner, Saraswati fondled her breasts in front of 30-40 people but was unable to explain how none of them saw what happened. Attorneys for Saraswati questioned her timeline and whether or not she was giving correct statements. 12 men and women reached a guilty verdict of 20 counts of child molestation, after only 50 minutes deliberation, on Friday March 4, 2011.
His supporters maintain his innocence. Citing the fact that the prosecution told the jury to "Use your gut" rather than listen to the defense's arguments, lead attorney said: "That decision has to be on law and evidence, not a gut feeling". Barsana Dham cancelled Holi Festival and Festival of India in the wake of Saraswati's conviction and disappearance.
Prior to the trial, KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Austin, Texas. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 from a transmitter in the West Austin Antenna Farm north of West Lake Hills. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KBVO and...
reported that Saraswati had volunteered for, and passed, a polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
test.http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a05_1222970419 KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Austin, Texas. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 from a transmitter in the West Austin Antenna Farm north of West Lake Hills. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KBVO and...
said that the examiner asked him twice if he had touched the girls' breasts (which he had been accused of doing), he replied "no". KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Austin, Texas. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 from a transmitter in the West Austin Antenna Farm north of West Lake Hills. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KBVO and...
said that the test results indicated that he was truthful. Polygraph tests, however, are not admissible in Texas courts.
Fugitive
The punishment phase of trial was scheduled for Monday morning of March 7, 2011. However, Saraswati didn't show up for his trial and his disciples and legal team claimed said they didn't know his whereabouts. Defense attorney Jeff Kearney said he believed his client's health was the likely reason behind Saraswati's absence. The jury sentenced him in absentiaIn absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
to 280 years and a $200,000 fine. At the penalty hearing Peter S. claimed he hadn't understood the terms of the original bond agreement (for $10 Million). On Nov 04, 2011, Texas Watchdog reported that he had been required to pay only $200,000 of the $10 million bond, plus the previously disclosed $1 million. Hays County attempted to keep the amount secret but a Nov 2011 ruling from the state Attorney General’s office made it clear that the amount is clearly public record.Miller, M. 2011. San Marcos Mercury uses public records law to get $ details of bond deal for Hindu guru/convicted child molester. Retrieved from: http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column