The Hare Krishna Murders: A Vigil of Vultures | 3

American Scandal

Wondery

True Crime, Exhibit C, Society & Culture, History, Documentary, History Daily, American History Tellers, Lindsay Graham

4.6 • 18.7K Ratings

🗓️ 12 March 2019

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When the Swami dies, eleven senior disciples declare themselves gurus and take control of the movement. In Berkeley, Hansadutta becomes paranoid and starts amassing an arsenal of weapons. In West Virginia, Keith Ham finishes constructing his palace of gold. But when new devotees with records for violent crime join the commune, Deputy Westfall grows alarmed. A drug smuggling operation at the Krishna Temple in Laguna Beach ends in murder when temple leaders pair up with ex-mafia informants.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American scandal ad-free on Amazon Music, download the app today.
0:20.0	Swami Prabhu Pada lies in a bed in a sacred temple in Vrindavan, India.
0:25.0	It's November of 1977, and the revered founder of the Hari Krishna movement is near death.
0:31.0	Outside the door, dozens of his followers chant, imploring God Krishna to bring him back to health.
0:37.0	The Swami chants softly too, but he asks for nothing.
0:41.0	He knows what happens next is up to Krishna.
0:44.0	Memories wash over him.
0:46.0	Was it really only 12 years ago that he stepped off a freighter in New York City?
0:51.0	He weekly turns his head to Parima Haraja, a dear old friend and God brother who sits by his side.
0:57.0	Parima, do you know that I almost died on the way to New York?
1:01.0	I had a heart attack.
1:02.0	There was no doctor on that boat.
1:04.0	I was almost 70.
1:06.0	What business does an old man have going halfway around the world with nothing but a pot to cook rice and a few rupees in his pocket?
1:14.0	What business?
1:16.0	Krishna's business. He had a plan for you.
1:19.0	Yes, he had a plan.
1:21.0	But what is his plan for when I'm gone?
1:24.0	It's a question that's been troubling the Swami for a long time.
1:28.0	He never imagined the movement would grow so fast or so big.
1:32.0	There are nearly a hundred Hari Krishna temples and tens of thousands of followers in thirty countries.
1:37.0	Celebrities have given their talents and money.
	...

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