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THE POISON ISSUE PAGE

Was Srila Prabhupada Murdered?

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Samples of Srila 
Prabhupada’s 
Hair Needed
by Yudhisthir das

Dear Prabhus, Maharajas, and others:
Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

For several years now the definitive proof that Srila Prabhupada was not poisoned has been within easy reach but has not yet been taken advantage of. A simple but highly reliable scientific testing method that has been in use for decades can ascertain whether a hair sample contains any toxic elements or not. This method is widely used by law enforcement and is legally valid evidence.

Books have been written on the subject of Srila Prabhupada's ostensible poisoning, debating details, coincidences, and speculations, but a few tests of His Divine Grace's 1977 hair will settle the matter once and for all. Bas! No more debate or doubts.

Before this book there was the "Poison CD." 

Read the official GBC response to the "Poison CD" and the "Poison Issue" in general.

Srila Prabhupada Not Poisoned

Was Srila Prabhupada poisoned? Check out this website:

http://www.iskcon.org.au/prabhupada/index.html 

[The article is complete on this page.]

Let the truth prevail
By Bhakti Caru Swami

If someone wants to take me to the mundane court also, he can do so. There also I will give the same testimony, “IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY ABSURD ALLEGATION THAT SRILA PRABHUPADA HAS BEEN POISONED BY HIS DISCIPLES. IF ANYONE INTENTIONALLY POISONED SRILA PRABHUPADA, THEN IT MUST BE ME BECAUSE THOSE DAYS I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO USED TO GIVE PRASAD AND MEDICINE TO HIS DIVINE GRACE. WHATEVER HE ATE AND DRANK WENT THROUGH MY HAND.”  
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 15-Jan-2004

Srila Prabhupada's Poisoning - The Smoking Gun Evidence is in Prabhupada's Own Words
By Prabhupada dasa 

You've all been waiting for this, Prabhus. The Smoking Gun evidence to settle the issue of whether or not our Srila Prabhupada was poisoned has been subtly covered up during all these years.

We all accept Srila Prabhupada as Jagat-guru. We accept what he says/what he writes as authoritative-the last word, the final judgment.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 23-Mar-2000

CHAKRA - March 21, 2000: Much of the concern of the poison theorists, relates to the words spoken by Srila Prabhupada and those around him, in his final days. Here are the relevant conversations as quoted in the Powerpoint presentation shown to the GBC Body in Mayapur, this year. Even ritvik theorists like Adridharan dasa reject the poison theory, as will be shown below.l
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 21-Mar-2000

CHAKRA – 21 March, 2000: In light of the new book which reviews not only Balavanta’s report, but also new medical evidence presented to the GBC Body in Mayapur this year, CHAKRA officially declares the theory that Srila Prabhupada died by poison a “dead issue.” Unfortunately, death threats keep the issue alive.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 21-Mar-2000

1. Balavanta's report confirms that there is no evidence of toxic chemicals found in Prabhupada's medicine.

2.The "whispers" cannot be relied upon.

3."Dr. Morris operates one of the world's most advanced technologies for microscopic analysis and is himself an authority on the subject... He found arsenic in the hair in the amount of 2.6 parts per million which he considered to be twenty (20) times greater than would be expected in an average person living in the United States."
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 20-Mar-2000

"Not that I am Poisoned" - The Truth behind Srila Prabhupada's Glorious Passing

CHAKRA (Mayapur, India) - March 20, 2000:  "Not that I am Poisoned" is the most complete description to date of the poison controversy, with more than 300 pages of scientifically documented evidence and eyewitness testimonies, showing the falsity of the poison allegations. It also includes 14 appendices detailing different aspects of the controversy including forensic test results, doctor's reports and the report from Balavanta Prabhu, which also confirms that there is no evidence of poison being given to Srila Prabhupada.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 20-Mar-2000

CHAKRA – March 20, 2000: The GBC Body watched a Microsoft Powerpoint presentation on the new book “Not that I am Poisoned” at the annual meeting this year. The presentation convinced GBC members that the poison theory was without foundation and that the resignation of Naveen Krishna dasa may have been due to his not fully hearing both sides of the argument.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 20-Mar-2000

This report is an analysis of claims of murder made by Don Rousse [Dhanesvara das] using reverse speech analysis as published in the book, “When a man is poisoned is said like that” and also published on his website, http://dhanesvara.tripod.com/new_page_6.htm. I first met Don Rousse in late 1996 when he enrolled for a Reverse Speech training class in San Diego. From our very first meeting, I began to have problems with him. This initially came in the form of a reluctance to pay course fees and a mentality that demanded he be given everything for free.  I think my final piece of indignation was when I had an arson house fire at my home and Don Rouse came to “help clean up.” I was horrified to see him looting remaining items that had survived the house fire. Items such as toilet paper and food in the fridge.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 10-Feb-2000

© CHAKRA 08-Feb-2000

Srila Prabhupada's last days
By Jayadvaita Swami

As much as I dislike feeling obliged to respond to garbage, I think that I too ought to comment on the scuttlebutt that Srila Prabhupada, by a conspiracy of disciples, was poisoned. I saw how Srila Prabhupada dealt with the devotees caring for him, and how they dealt with him. Sometimes I was with Srila Prabhupada alone, reading to him late at night. More often I was with Srila Prabhupada as he lay surrounded by his devotees.
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© CHAKRA 27-Nov-1999

I have always known Tamal Krishna Goswami to be a man of principle and unwavering in his faith in guru and the Deities. To not give him the benefit of the doubt in the poison allegations is a heinous miscarriage of justice and a travesty. I would advise those that are waging that witch hunt campaign to reconsider their actions and beg for the good Goswami’s forgiveness for this aparadha.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 16-Nov-1999

Time to pull together
By Jalakara das

Your articles by David R Hooper (Deva Gaura Hari das) are very authoritative and should do much to dispel any lingering doubts about Srila Prabhupada being poisoned. The latest one about Dr McIrvine of Watford General Hospital was particularly appropriate and enlightening. The enemies of ISKCON will stop at nothing to destroy Srila Prabhupada’s institution, and you can be sure that as the ritvik and poison theories become discredited, they will dredge up something else. 
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 10-Oct-1999

I am certainly no judge, having neither the training nor the authority. But upon the written strength of this one man’s appeal, I must appeal to all: let this and every spurious and deviant theory rest, allow ISKCON to heal itself and regroup, and let Srila Prabhupada peacefully continue to fulfill God’s will from his eternal abode at the feet of Lord Krishna.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 8th-Oct-1999

Hair analysis shows no signs of poisoning
With specific reference to claims made in the book ‘Someone Has Poisoned Me’ by Nityananda Das.

By David R. Hooper B.Sc (Biochem) (Deva Gaura Hari Das)

In this paper we will document important scientific facts regarding analysis of hair arsenic levels in Srila Prabhupada’s hair relics. Nityananda das has claimed that Prabhupada’s hair levels were recorded at 3ppm and that this represents solid evidence that “undoubtedly Srila Prabhupada was maliciously poisoned.”

We will show that this assertion is UNTRUE by referring to various authoritative scientific literatures and experts in the fields of toxicology, medicine and neutron activation analysis.

Scientific facts about arsenic in hair

1.  Arsenic is the twentieth most abundant element in the earth’s crust.

2. The real figure for the testing of Prabhupada’s hair sample was NOT 3ppm arsenic but 2.6ppm.

3.  Scientific studies have shown levels of 4.8ppm (Mexico City) and 3ppm (Glasgow) average arsenic content of hair in normal (unexposed) populations.

4. Research proves that persons who are malnourished exhibit a 50% increase in the concentration of trace metals in their hair, due to slowing of hair growth while the rate of metal deposition remains constant.

5.Results of up to 1.4ppm arsenic (Didima Mataji) were found in Mayapur devotees, and up to 3.36 ppm in persons who only occasionally visited the Ganges arsenic affected area.

6.By far the major source of elimination of arsenic is through the kidneys and urine. One would expect elevated levels of these toxins in the blood and hair of a person suffering serious kidney malfunction.

7. Forensic pathologists agree that even high levels of arsenic cannot on their own be accepted as proof of poisoning without specific clinical symptoms of arsenic poisoning.

8. Hair analysis for arsenic is a very unreliable indicator of serum arsenic levels when a specific individual is tested without a range of reference values from a group of the same time and place for comparison.

9. Expert scientists who are presently working in the field of hair analysis and neutron activation agree that any amount up to 10 ppm arsenic can be considered ‘normal’ levels of arsenic. Studies show that at least half the total amount of arsenic from water or environmental sources is eliminated by the kidneys and passed out through the urine. Someone suffering from serious kidney damage would have a dramatically reduced ability to eliminate arsenic from the bloodstream. Therefore whatever trace amounts one would normally expect to be deposited in the hair and other tissues would be elevated under these conditions. 
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 8th-Nov-1999

A Challenge to Nityananda dasa
By Ravindra Svarupa dasa, GBC

Nityananda das (Niko Kyut), a Prabhupada initiate expelled a decade ago from ISKCON, is lately the author of a self-published 408-page book- - designated, weirdly, on cover and title page as “a letter”--with the title “Someone Has Poisoned Me: The Facts About Srila Prabhupada’s Poisoning By Arsenic.”

Nityananda dasa may remember that at one time, he sent out a “challenge horse” to the GBC. Now, here is my challenge to him.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 26-Oct-1999

I have been most apprehensive about becoming involved in what I saw to be an “endless debate” on the Internet over the poison issue, but then Hari Sauri prabhu made the point that many innocent devotees were becoming bewildered by all this. I therefore felt duty bound to make a statement - and one statement only - for the record. Srila Prabhupada departed by his own sweet will and by the desire of his beloved Lords, Krsna and Balarama.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 21-Oct-1999

Prabhupada's surgeon confirms: Diabetes to blame
Report by David R. Hooper B.Sc. (biochem.) (Deva Gaura Hari Das)

After being encouraged to further investigate the allegations of arsenic poisoning by Nityananda Das and others, it was decided that we should try and contact the doctor who performed the operation on Srila Prabhupada in England, just over two months before his passing. The statement from Doctor Andrew McIrvine, who performed the operation on Srila Prabhupada at Watford General Hospital on September 8th, 1977 reads as follows: "...Srila Prabhupada first presented to me in the emergency room of Watford General Hospital in 1977. He was in obviously poor health and showed signs of renal failure and was found to be diabetic. These diagnoses were made on clinical suspicion confirmed by blood and urine analysis. His most obvious problem on admission was urinary retention. This was caused by a most unusual degree of phimosis."
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 10-Oct-1999

Prabhupada’s servants dedicated the better part of their lives to serving Srila Prabhupada. We served him during his manifest pastimes right up until the end. It was not easy to serve His Divine Grace during the last year of his failing health. It was not easy to see his body wither, his resolve to continue on, wane. By his mercy alone we stayed by him throughout this difficult time and performed every possible service, collecting his urine, removing his stool, bathing him, changing his clothes and bedding, but most of all encouraging him to continue on. It has come as a most cruel blow to be suspected of having been moved by any other motive than love in serving our dear most spiritual master.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 6th-Oct-1999

I was also present in those last few months in Vrndavan with Srila Prabhupada. We were spending 3 or 4 hours a day in his room doing kirtan. For me it is unimaginable that anyone of Srila Prabhupada’s personal servants could have even once entertained the thought of poisoning Srila Prabhupada. Absolutely unimaginable!
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 6th-Oct-1999

Nityananda’s Diagnosis 1 – Cardiac Symptoms
David R. Hooper  B. Sc. (biochem.)
(Deva Gaura Hari Das)

Introduction

In ‘No Medical Evidence for Poisoning of Srila Prabhupada,’ a general overview of the symptoms of arsenicosis was given, and their marked absence in the condition of Srila Prabhupada discussed. Also presented was evidence from medical and scientific publications detailing the clear presence of signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus type 2 with accompanying kidney disease in Prabhupada’s physical condition.

This document is the first in a series that will address more directly the claims published in the book ‘Someone Has Poisoned Me,’ (hereafter referred to as SHPM), by Nityananda Das. We will begin by examining each of the ‘symptoms’ given in the Health Biography Analysis (chapter 32, page 226) of SHPM.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 2nd-Oct-1999

Prabhupada was sick for a prolonged period of time
By Mary Nowak

Conspiracy theories frequently emerge after the death of someone who is famous or well loved. It took many years for this particular theory to emerge. Why now and not at the time of Prabhupada’s passing away? Is it because people are intrigued by conspiracy theories? 
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 22-Sep-1999

Dirty tricks: Hallmark of a rascal
By Jagannatha dasa

Cruising through the VNN forums the other day I was amazed that this huge noise that spills out of our monitors on a daily basis is basically coming from only a handful of very big mouths! 958 postings by Puru Dasa, dozens and dozens from Mahabuddhi, not to forget cyber sitcom regulars Isa Dasa, poor Mother Maha and, of course, the venerable Nityananda Dasa.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 22-Sep-1999

Be advised that my stance on the Poison Lies has not, and could never bring me anything but a very hard time. I have come forward ONLY to help disperse this nasty tempest (of Nityananda’s making) and not see my name (or any bastardization of it) up in lights on either VNN or Chakra. Frankly, I am already quite well known in my field and have honestly earned quite a lot of fuss from my twenty secular books on rock music. I don’t want to be a Krishna celebrity in any sphere thank you. What I want is the truth and that is exactly what I have given to everyone involved.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 18-Sep-1999

No Medical Evidence for Poisoning of Srila Prabhupada

by David R. Hooper B.Sc (biochem.)

The theory that Srila Prabhupada, founder-acharya of ISKCON was poisoned with arsenic has been given recent impetus by the publishing of the book ‘Someone Has Poisoned Me’ by Nityananda Das. This paper presents further medical evidence from the scientific and medical literature which suggests that the symptoms of Prabhupada’s physical disease were in no way consistent with arsenic poisoning. Lack of specific clinical symptoms of arsenicosis such as Mees’ lines, hyperkeratosis and raindrop pigmentation strongly suggest that arsenic poisoning was not to blame. Rather, his condition was symptomatic of type 2 diabetes mellitus, causing high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy and heart problems, including myocardial infarction and stroke. In later stages this progressed to diabetic nephropathy (severe kidney damage due to diabetes), which led to uremia (buildup of metabolic toxins which are normally excreted by the kidneys) causing gastrointestinal disturbances and loss of appetite. In the final stages the loss of appetite and poor digestion led to malnutrition, and ultimately total systemic collapse. This diagnosis has been confirmed by doctors Jacob and McIrving (who treated Prabhupada in his final months) as well as Prabhupada’s personal nurse Abhirama Das.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 15-Sep-1999

CHAKRA (Australia) - September 10, 1999: I think that Nityananda and his cronies have chosen to make this a public issue through speaking and publishing, and I think that ISKCON should do the same thing. I think it should be very open and up front and I think things like this interview are terrific, not because I get a chance to hear myself talk but because this thing should be aired. I think its very unlikely, as a person who’s been around for 30 years, and this is only my opinion, that Srila Prabhupada was poisoned. I don’t think he was. You can see that being convinced conversely I was ready to act and ready to put my money where my mouth is and publicly take a stance that Prabhupada was.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 10-Sep-1999

September 6, 1999

An official investigation was launched under the direction of Mr. William Ogle (Balavanta dasa), an attorney based in the state of Florida. Mr. Ogle expects his report to be completed by March, 2000, the time of ISKCON’s annual international meetings in Mayapura, India.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 08-Sep-1999

CHAKRA (Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK) - September 7, 1999: Jagannatha dasa, the narrator of the poison CD, has come clean. Listen in RealAudio format.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 07-Sep-1999

CHAKRA (Lockport, New York) - After undergoing the experience of working with devotee mobsters Rochana Dasa and Nityananda Prabhu I quite rightfully took a few months to reflect on the events I experienced while drawn into their web of lies, innuendo and half truth which is the hallmark of the professional agitator.  Slowly, however, the actual agenda of these two began to seep out which led to my ejection of one of their pathetic minions from our SRI center in Buffalo. And now, after much careful consideration I feel the time is right to FULLY expose the deliberate, pre-meditated fraud these men were out to sell to our worldwide family of already fairly traumatized devotees. 
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 26-Aug-1999

Thank you for publishing the letter from Jagannatha Dasa, entitled “Narrator of Poison CD Declares Hoax.” Unfortunately, it raises more questions than it answers.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 26-Aug-1999

CHAKRA (USA) - August 18, 1999: I was on the "inside" of the poison paranoia via Rochana and company since almost day one. I co-wrote, narrated and produced the now infamous poison CD, talked extensively with all the pro-poison big guns and subsequently carefully went through the poorly written book by Nityananda Prabhu and I can tell you it is all false propaganda spun out to try and feed the personal agendas of the principals. In short, his devotees or anyone else did NOT poison Srila Prabhupada and no one knows it better than the self-serving spin doctors behind this most unforgivable and evil lie.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 18-Aug-99

The Preposterous Poison Theory
from Kaviraj Goswami Das

Thank you for your article about the Poison-Poison. It was very painful to read, especially the details of Srila Prabhupada's severely deteriorating physical condition(it actually caused me to wince and look away from my computer screen) but I wholeheartedly agree with your concusion.

Last November I happened to first hear of this preposterous theory because I live in the Gainesville area near the Alachua community and have friendly dealings with some of the unfortunate primary proponents of this disenheartening affair. Being that my nature is very much to make harmony I immediately began to attempt to disuade them to little avail.

To me it was ludicrous to suppose that something of this terrible nature would be permitted to befall a representative of all the Devas, including Mother Durga, who was also a Shaktyavesh Avatar of Sri Nityananda Prabhu as if his Divine protectors would ever leave such an awesome soul, the beloved of Srila Saraswati Thakur and Mahaprabhu, unprotected for even a moment.

Also I had heard from those present in the last days in Vrindaban, that although there was of course the inevitable human frailties manifest in the dealings between the disciples present, primarily what existed was a mood of great affection towards Srila Prabhupada.
>Click Here

CHAKRA 11 Sep 98

More about Puripada
from Tribhanga Sundara das
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

With all due respect, it seems as though Jagannatha das is selling out Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON in order to make SRI grow the same way he sold out his vegetarianism to get paid for being Ronald McDonald.

Your servant,
Tribhanga Sundara das

See "Who is Puripada?"

CHAKRA 5-Jul-98

A REPLY TO
THE POISON CD/TAPE
This paper has been issued by the Ministry For The Protection of ISKCON

Compiled by: Jahnu dasa and Hari Sauri dasa

The Poison CD:
Narrator: Geoffrey Guiliano aka. Srila Puripada
[See  "Who Is Puripada?"]
Producers: Rocana dasa, Dhanesvara dasa, Nityananda dasa
Narrator: Geoffrey Guiliano aka. Srila Puripada
[See  "Who Is Puripada?"]
Producers: Rocana dasa, Dhanesvara dasa, Nityananda dasa

Over the last few months, a rumor has surfaced which has it that Srila Prabhupada supposedly was poisoned by some of his closest and most trusted disciples. Just recently a CD (henceforward called the Poison CD or PCD when quoted) and equivalent tape have been put out which, although hiding behind the banner of neutrality and claiming no other intention than getting to the truth of the matter, strongly and in not so subtle terms suggest that Srila Prabhupada was in fact poisoned by his Western disciples and that there is a conspiracy being perpetrated by the GBC to cover this up. The following will show that this proposal is without any basis. The so-called evidence that is being presented on the Poison CD is, upon closer examination, actually found to be very loosely constructed and rather insidious at its core.
>Click Here

CHAKRA 21 May 98

Previous poison issue articles