Prakashanand Saraswati - Revision history

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	'''Prakashanand Saraswati''' or '''Swamiji''' (born 15 January 1929) is a convicted child molester from [[Ayodhya]], India.<ref name="watchdog">Miller, M. 2011. [http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column "San Marcos Mercury uses public records law to get $ details of bond deal for Hindu guru/convicted child molester"] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107190919/http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column \|date=7 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/08/05/the-hunt-prakashanand-saraswati-escape.cnn/video/playlists/the-hunt-with-john-walsh/ \| title=Spiritual leader uses influence for evil \| accessdate=2016-07-08 \| work=cnn.com/thehunt \| publisher=CNN}}</ref> He founded [[Radha Madhav Dham]] in the United States.<ref name="Kurien">Kurien, P.A. 2007. ''A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism''. NJ: [[Rutgers University Press]].</ref><ref name="washington_post">"Hindu Temple Opens in Texas", 14 October 1995. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Section: METRO</ref><ref>Coward, H., Hinnells, J.R. & Williams, R.B. 2000. ''The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States''. NY: [[SUNY Press]]</ref> <ref name=Nithyananda>Nithyananda, P. 2009. ''Bhagavad Gita Demystified, Volume 2''. eNPublishers</ref> In 2011, a jury found Swami Prakashanand Saraswati guilty on 20 counts of indecency with a child.<ref name=kxan>Sadeghi, C. 2014.		'''Prakashanand Saraswati''' or '''Swamiji''' (born 15 January 1929) is a convicted child molester from [[Ayodhya]], India.<ref name="watchdog">Miller, M. 2011. [http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column "San Marcos Mercury uses public records law to get $ details of bond deal for Hindu guru/convicted child molester"] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107190919/http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column \|date=7 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/08/05/the-hunt-prakashanand-saraswati-escape.cnn/video/playlists/the-hunt-with-john-walsh/ \| title=Spiritual leader uses influence for evil \| accessdate=2016-07-08 \| work=cnn.com/thehunt \| publisher=CNN}}</ref> He founded [[Radha Madhav Dham]] in the United States.<ref name="Kurien">Kurien, P.A. 2007. ''A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism''. NJ: [[Rutgers University Press]].</ref><ref name="washington_post">"Hindu Temple Opens in Texas", 14 October 1995. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Section: METRO</ref><ref>Coward, H., Hinnells, J.R. & Williams, R.B. 2000. ''The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States''. NY: [[SUNY Press]]</ref><ref name=Nithyananda>Nithyananda, P. 2009. ''Bhagavad Gita Demystified, Volume 2''. eNPublishers</ref> In 2011, a jury found Swami Prakashanand Saraswati guilty on 20 counts of indecency with a child.<ref name=kxan>Sadeghi, C. 2014.
	[http://kxan.com/2014/05/05/swami-ji-religious-leader-convicted-of-sex-crimes-disappears/ Religious leader convicted of sex crimes disappears]. KXAN</ref> He is still a fugitive and appeared on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company\|Fox]] TV show ''[[America's Most Wanted]]''.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130203093616/http://www.statesman.com/news/local/guru-still-missing-one-year-after-he-failed-2219028.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage Gurstill missing, one year after he failed to show up for sentencing in groping trial] [[Austin American Statesman]] 5 March 2012</ref>		[http://kxan.com/2014/05/05/swami-ji-religious-leader-convicted-of-sex-crimes-disappears/ Religious leader convicted of sex crimes disappears]. KXAN</ref> He is still a fugitive and appeared on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company\|Fox]] TV show ''[[America's Most Wanted]]''.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130203093616/http://www.statesman.com/news/local/guru-still-missing-one-year-after-he-failed-2219028.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage Gurstill missing, one year after he failed to show up for sentencing in groping trial] [[Austin American Statesman]] 5 March 2012</ref>


	==History==		==History==
	Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was born in a respectable ''[[brahmin]]'' family in 1929<ref name="Palaniswami" /> in [[Ayodhya]],<ref name="encylopedia-of-american-religions">Melton, J.G. 1993. ''[[Encyclopedia of American Religions]]''. [[Gale Research]]</ref~~><ref name="Palaniswami" /~~> 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.<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> He completed his studies and at age of 21, renounced the world and took the order of ''[[sannyasa]]''.<ref name="~~hindu_encyclopedia~~">~~Jones~~, C.~~A. & James, J.D. 2007~~. ''~~Encyclopedia of Hinduism~~''~~, pg. 200–201~~. [[~~Infobase Publishing~~]]</ref><ref name="~~Palaniswami~~">~~Palaniswami~~, P. ~~(3 September 1995)~~. ''~~a Dham Blooms in Texas~~''. ''[[~~Hinduism Today~~]]''</ref> In 1952, he was offered to become the [[Shankaracharya\|Jagadguru Shankaracharya]] of Jyotirmath but he declined.<ref name="Srinivasan">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. [http://find.galegroup.com.dml.regis.edu/itx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&docType=IAC&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A73580084&userGroupName=regis&version=1.0&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&source=gale (full text)]</ref><ref>Saraswati, S.P. 2007. ''The True History and The Religion of India.'' New Delhi: [[Macmillan Publishers]].</ref><ref name="rediff">Kamath, A.P. 12 August 1999. [http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/aug/12us.htm ''Janmashtami Events In Cattle Country'']. [[Rediff.com]].</ref>		Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was born in a respectable ''[[brahmin]]'' family in 1929<ref name="Palaniswami" /> in [[Ayodhya]],<ref name="Palaniswami" /><ref name="encylopedia-of-american-religions">Melton, J.G. 1993. ''[[Encyclopedia of American Religions]]''. [[Gale Research]]</ref> 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.<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> He completed his studies and at age of 21, renounced the world and took the order of ''[[sannyasa]]''.<ref name="Palaniswami">Palaniswami, P. (3 September 1995). ''a Dham Blooms in Texas''. ''[[Hinduism Today]]''</ref><ref name="hindu_encyclopedia">Jones, C.A. & James, J.D. 2007. ''Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', pg. 200–201. [[Infobase Publishing]]</ref> In 1952, he was offered to become the [[Shankaracharya\|Jagadguru Shankaracharya]] of Jyotirmath but he declined.<ref name="Srinivasan">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. [http://find.galegroup.com.dml.regis.edu/itx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&docType=IAC&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A73580084&userGroupName=regis&version=1.0&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&source=gale (full text)]</ref><ref>Saraswati, S.P. 2007. ''The True History and The Religion of India.'' New Delhi: [[Macmillan Publishers]].</ref><ref name="rediff">Kamath, A.P. 12 August 1999. [http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/aug/12us.htm ''Janmashtami Events In Cattle Country'']. [[Rediff.com]].</ref>

	He spent the next 20 years<ref name="encylopedia-of-american-religions" /><ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> as a wandering ascetic in the Himalayas and in the forests of central India, ending in [[Braj]].<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> 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.<ref name="Palaniswami" /> In 1975, he emerged from his solitary life he began his mission of teaching the path of ''bhakti''.<ref name="Ludwig">Ludwig, M. 9 March 2002. ''Houses of worship''. ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'' (Texas)</ref> He founded the International Society of Divine Love in India in 1975. The society was established in New Zealand in 1978. Later on he travelled 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,<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> conceived of creating a global mission,<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> establishing religious centres in India, England, Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" />		He spent the next 20 years<ref name="encylopedia-of-american-religions" /><ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> as a wandering ascetic in the Himalayas and in the forests of central India, ending in [[Braj]].<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> 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.<ref name="Palaniswami" /> In 1975, he emerged from his solitary life he began his mission of teaching the path of ''bhakti''.<ref name="Ludwig">Ludwig, M. 9 March 2002. ''Houses of worship''. ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'' (Texas)</ref> He founded the International Society of Divine Love in India in 1975. The society was established in New Zealand in 1978. Later on he travelled 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,<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> conceived of creating a global mission,<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> establishing religious centres in India, England, Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" />

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History

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{{Short description|Indian spiritual leader}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
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'''Prakashanand Saraswati''' or '''Swamiji''' (born 15 January 1929) is a convicted child molester from [[Ayodhya]], India.<ref name="watchdog">Miller, M. 2011. [http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column "San Marcos Mercury uses public records law to get $ details of bond deal for Hindu guru/convicted child molester"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107190919/http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/11/san-marcos-mercury-uses-public-records-to-get-bond-details-hindu-guru-child-molester-Saraswati/1320430570.column |date=7 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/08/05/the-hunt-prakashanand-saraswati-escape.cnn/video/playlists/the-hunt-with-john-walsh/ | title=Spiritual leader uses influence for evil | accessdate=2016-07-08 | work=cnn.com/thehunt | publisher=CNN}}</ref> He founded [[Radha Madhav Dham]] in the United States.<ref name="Kurien">Kurien, P.A. 2007. ''A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism''. NJ: [[Rutgers University Press]].</ref><ref name="washington_post">"Hindu Temple Opens in Texas", 14 October 1995. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Section: METRO</ref><ref>Coward, H., Hinnells, J.R. & Williams, R.B. 2000. ''The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States''. NY: [[SUNY Press]]</ref> <ref name=Nithyananda>Nithyananda, P. 2009. ''Bhagavad Gita Demystified, Volume 2''. eNPublishers</ref> In 2011, a jury found Swami Prakashanand Saraswati guilty on 20 counts of indecency with a child.<ref name=kxan>Sadeghi, C. 2014.
[http://kxan.com/2014/05/05/swami-ji-religious-leader-convicted-of-sex-crimes-disappears/ Religious leader convicted of sex crimes disappears]. KXAN</ref> He is still a fugitive and appeared on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] TV show ''[[America's Most Wanted]]''.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130203093616/http://www.statesman.com/news/local/guru-still-missing-one-year-after-he-failed-2219028.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage Gurstill missing, one year after he failed to show up for sentencing in groping trial] [[Austin American Statesman]] 5 March 2012</ref>

==History==
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was born in a respectable ''[[brahmin]]'' family in 1929<ref name="Palaniswami" /> in [[Ayodhya]],<ref name="encylopedia-of-american-religions">Melton, J.G. 1993. ''[[Encyclopedia of American Religions]]''. [[Gale Research]]</ref><ref name="Palaniswami" /> 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.<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> He completed his studies and at age of 21, renounced the world and took the order of ''[[sannyasa]]''.<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia">Jones, C.A. & James, J.D. 2007. ''Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', pg. 200–201. [[Infobase Publishing]]</ref><ref name="Palaniswami">Palaniswami, P. (3 September 1995). ''a Dham Blooms in Texas''. ''[[Hinduism Today]]''</ref> In 1952, he was offered to become the [[Shankaracharya|Jagadguru Shankaracharya]] of Jyotirmath but he declined.<ref name="Srinivasan">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. [http://find.galegroup.com.dml.regis.edu/itx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&docType=IAC&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A73580084&userGroupName=regis&version=1.0&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&source=gale (full text)]</ref><ref>Saraswati, S.P. 2007. ''The True History and The Religion of India.'' New Delhi: [[Macmillan Publishers]].</ref><ref name="rediff">Kamath, A.P. 12 August 1999. [http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/aug/12us.htm ''Janmashtami Events In Cattle Country'']. [[Rediff.com]].</ref>

He spent the next 20 years<ref name="encylopedia-of-american-religions" /><ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> as a wandering ascetic in the Himalayas and in the forests of central India, ending in [[Braj]].<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> 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.<ref name="Palaniswami" /> In 1975, he emerged from his solitary life he began his mission of teaching the path of ''bhakti''.<ref name="Ludwig">Ludwig, M. 9 March 2002. ''Houses of worship''. ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'' (Texas)</ref> He founded the International Society of Divine Love in India in 1975. The society was established in New Zealand in 1978. Later on he travelled 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,<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> conceived of creating a global mission,<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" /> establishing religious centres in India, England, Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.<ref name="hindu_encyclopedia" />

==Writings and awards==
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati has written over nine books on various aspects of Hindu ethics, scriptures and practices.<ref name="Srinivasan" /> He has represented the Hindu religion at the Millennium World Peace Summit.<ref>http://www.millenniumpeacesummit.org/news000905.html</ref>

In 1999 he wrote ''The True History and the Religion of India: A Concise Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduis'', a "monumental dissertation" on the history of Indian civilization and religion.<ref name="Srinivasan" /> The eight-hundred-page tome is entitled ''The True History and the Religion of India''.<ref name="Kurien" /> It is a comprehensive history of religion in Indian culture.<ref name=Nithyananda /> The book has received laudatory comments from prominent Hindu academics and leaders in the United States and India.<ref name="Kurien" /> It was released by [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|The Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting]] Shri [[Ramesh Bais]].<ref>[http://pib.nic.in/archieve/phtgalry/pgyr2001/pg082001/pg03aug2001/030820018.html Photo archive of Press Information Bureau, Government of India].</ref> The encyclopaedia won an award at the World Religious Parliament in New Delhi in 1999.<ref name="Kurien" /> In 2001, the book was published by [[Motilal Banarsidass]]. It has subsequently been published by [[Macmillan Publishers]].<ref>''[http://macmillanindia.com/book-details.asp?from=gr&category=General+%26+Reference&bookid=3057&broadid=47&broadsubjectname=General MacMillan India]{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}''</ref>

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.<ref name="Kurien" /> He was awarded the title of "Dharm Chakravarti"<ref name="dharm-Chakravarti" /><ref>Siṃhadeba, J.P. 2006. ''Socio-cultural history of Orissa: a case study of Khariar estate''. Punthi Pustak Publishers.</ref> in India for his efforts in "reestablishing authentic Hinduism".<ref name="dharm-Chakravarti">[http://www.hinduism-today.com/blogs-news/hindu-press-international/h-d--swami-prakashanand-saraswati-to-lecture-in-dallas--texas/6455.html ''H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati to Lecture in Dallas, Texas'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414184128/http://www.hinduism-today.com/blogs-news/hindu-press-international/h-d--swami-prakashanand-saraswati-to-lecture-in-dallas--texas/6455.html |date=14 April 2012 }}. 2006/12/7. ''[[Hinduism Today]]''</ref>

His writings in the scientific and spiritual fields have been acclaimed by well known scientists, social and religious leaders including [[P. S. Veeraraghavan]], [[Tarun Vijay]], [[Om Prakash Pande]], [[E. C. George Sudarshan]], [[Jayendra Saraswathi]] and [[Swaroopanand Saraswati]].<ref>Saraswati, S.P. 2007. ''The True History and The Religion of India.'' New Delhi: Macmillan.</ref>

==Research with Maxwell Cade==
Swami Prakashanand Saraswati's state of "conscious ecstasy", and the effects of his Divine Love Meditation, was studied by Dr. Maxwell Cade in the 1970s.<ref name="Palaniswami" /><ref name=morris>Morris, J. 2013. ''Acorns: Windows High-Tide Foghat:, Volume 1''. I Universe.</ref><ref name=peake>Peake, A. 2013. ''Infinite Mindfield: A Quest to Find the Gateway to Higher Consciousness''. Mmm Baird Publishers</ref>

Dr. Maxwell Cade, a leading physicist of London,<ref name="Palaniswami" /> and [[Fellow]] of the [[Royal Society of Medicine]],<ref>Coxhead, N. 1976. ''Mindpower: the emerging pattern of current research''. [[St. Martin's Press]]</ref> had been doing psycho-biological research during the 1970s on meditation and the altered states of the consciousness of the mind.<ref name="hill">Hill, A. 1979. ''A Visual encyclopedia of unconventional medicine''. [[Crown Publishing Group|Crown Publishers]]</ref><ref name="telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1421560/Geoffrey-Blundell.html ''Geoffrey Blundell'']. 10 February 2003. [[The Daily Telegraph]]</ref><ref name="inglis">Inglis, B. & West, R. 1983. ''The alternative health guide''. Knopf</ref><ref name="cade-1989">Cade, C. M. & Coxhead, N. 1989. ''The awakened mind: biofeedback and the development of higher states of awareness''. Element Publishing.</ref>

Maxwell Cade co-developed the "Mind Mirror", a portable [[Electroencephalography|EEG]] machine that could monitor the [[Alpha wave|alpha]], [[Beta wave|beta]], [[Delta wave|delta]] and [[Theta rhythm|theta]] rhythms from each brain hemisphere simultaneously.<ref name="telegraph" /> In the 1970s, a number of eastern religious teachers expressed an interest in participating in Maxwell Cade's research, and agreed to have their brain rhythms measured.<ref name="telegraph" /> In 1976 when he was touring England, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati requested to participate in Dr. Maxwell Cade's research.<ref name="Palaniswami" /> Dr. Maxwell Cade and his team found patterns they had not seen before.<ref name="telegraph" /> Maxwell Cade concluded that the Swamis' spiritual training conferred unusual powers of healing and perception.<ref name="telegraph" />

Dr. Cade spent two weeks with Prakashanand Saraswati to measure his brainwaves, and he always seemed to be in this "Awakened Mind" pattern.<ref name="awakened_mind_1979">Cade, M. 1977. ''The Awakened Mind, Biofeedback and the Development of Higher States of Awareness''. [[Dell Publishing|Delacorte Press]]</ref> Furthermore, he measured brainwave patterns, only previously measured in a few rare individuals, that Maxwell Cade characterizes as the "State beyond the Awakened Mind".<ref name="cade-1989" /> 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".<ref name="EEG">[http://www.mindmirroreeg.com/w/maxCade/McHealing.htm "Chapter 7: The healing response – a new direction"] Retrieved 8 Nov</ref> On one occasion, Maxwell 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".<ref name="cade-1989" /> Saraswati wanted to test out the effects of his new form of meditation called the "Divine Love Meditation." He had Maxwell 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.<ref name="awakened_mind_1979" />

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."<ref name="Palaniswami" /> Cade's wife reportedly had an "unforgettable experience" from meeting Swami Prakashanand Saraswati and participating in the study.<ref name="sanctified-body" /> Maxwell Cade characterised it as "an experience of great impact".<ref name="EEG" /> 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".<ref name="EEG" />

Cade published his research in his "landmark book",<ref>Goleman, D. 2008. ''Measuring the Immeasurable: The Scientific Case for Spirituality''. ''[[Sounds True]]''</ref> ''The Awakened Mind''.<ref name="awakened_mind_1979" /> Cade's research with Swami Prakashanand Saraswati has also been discussed in several other publications including by Hill (1979),<ref name="hill" /> Inglis & West (1983),<ref name="inglis" /> Treece (1989)<ref name="sanctified-body">Treece, P. 1979. ''The sanctified body''. [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]</ref> and Peake (2013).<ref name=peake />

Cade showed evidence for temporary and in some cases long-term elevation of state even after twenty minutes of Divine Love Meditation.<ref name=morris /><ref name=peake />

==Trial, conviction and disappearance==
In 2007, three former residents of Barsana Dham (Radha Madhav Dham), aged between 27 and 30 years old,<ref>Swamy convicted of molestation in
US. Rediff News</ref> told [[Hays County, Texas]] police that they had been abused at the ashram by Saraswati, who was then arrested on 25 April 2008.

A 12-person jury declared Saraswati guilty of 20 counts of child molestation, after 50 minutes deliberation, on Friday 4 March 2011.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Hindu-guru-convicted-of-molesting-girls-in-US/articleshow/7644917.cms Hindu guru convicted of molesting girls in US – The Times of India]</ref> After being convicted, he was released on a $10 million bond provided by TV infomercial entrepreneur Peter Spiegel.<ref name=watchdog /><ref name=kxan /> As part of the bond condition, Saraswati was barred from entering the Barsana Dham.

In April, following the disappearance of its founder the ashram changed its name.<ref>[http://smmercury.com/19233/with-guru-on-the-lam-ashram-changes-name/ "With guru on the lam, ashram changes name"], by Sean Kimmons, ''San Marcos Mercury'', 22 April 2011, accessed 16 May 2011</ref>

Prosecutors were criticized for losing evidence required for his defense. The evidence included missing video of the testimony of one of the accusers, damaged DVD backup discs and computers.<ref name=san_marcos>Miller, A. 17 December 2010. ''Evidence missing in trial of Hindu spiritual leader''. [[San Marcos Daily Record]].</ref> Saraswati's lawyers said the video tape was important because “There’s no physical evidence of any kind”<ref name=san_marcos /> and "it represents the primary method by which Defendant's counsel can impeach the complainant's testimony at trial."<ref>Rollins, B.16 December 2010. ''Judge won't suppress testimony in Hindu guru's sex crime trial''. San Marcos Mercury.</ref>

Radha Madhav Dham has distanced itself from Saraswati. One month after the trial, then "Barsana Dham" leaders "changed the organization's name and erased the once-omnipresent images and mentions of the former guru from the premises."<ref name="statesman.com">[http://www.statesman.com/news/local/guru-still-missing-one-year-after-he-failed-2219028.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage Guru still missing, one year after he failed to show up for sentencing in groping trial] [[Austin American Statesman]] 5 March 2012</ref>

In 2012, on the one year anniversary of the trial, Vrinda Devi, Radha Madhav Dham spokeswoman, stated that "What we've been trying to do since then is moving forward."<ref name="statesman.com"/>

The punishment phase of trial was scheduled for Monday morning of 7 March 2011. However, Saraswati didn't show up for his trial and his disciples and legal team said that 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.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/03/08/Convicted-ashram-leader-missing/UPI-29671299611910/ Convicted ashram leader missing – UPI.com]</ref> The jury sentenced him [[trial in absentia|''in absentia'']] to 280 years and a US$200,000 fine. At the penalty hearing, Spiegel said he hadn't understood the terms of the original bond agreement.<ref>[http://austin.ynn.com/content/209305/follower-offers-millions--judge-allows-hindu-guru-to-leave-country?ap=1&MP4 "Follower offers millions, judge allows Hindu guru to leave country"]</ref> On 4 November 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.<ref name="watchdog" /> 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.<ref name="watchdog"/> Federal officials believe Saraswati's followers moved him to Mexico in March 2011, and then helped him travel to India on a fake passport in November 2011.<ref>[http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/wanted-hindu-guru-escaped-to-india-officials-say-1/nSLdy/ Wanted Hindu guru escaped to India, officials say]</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of fugitives from justice who disappeared]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/08/05/the-hunt-prakashanand-saraswati-escape.cnn/video/playlists/the-hunt-with-john-walsh/ Spiritual leader uses influence for evil], [[CNN]]'s [[The Hunt with John Walsh]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XLmDTTRdJU Religious Leader Convicted, Disappears, KXAN TV Austin, TX]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saraswati, Prakashanand}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:Devotees of Krishna]]
[[Category:Fugitives wanted by the United States]]
[[Category:Fugitives wanted on sex crime charges]]
[[Category:Gaudiya religious leaders]]
[[Category:Hindu religious leaders convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Hindu revivalist writers]]
[[Category:Indian Vaishnavites]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ayodhya]]
[[Category:Puranic chronology]]