Millennium '73
millennium threeday festival held november – astrodome houston texas united state divine light mission dlm featured prem rawat known guru maharaj ji yearold guru leader fastgrowing new religious movement organizer billed festival significant event human history would usher thousand year peace festival official schedule described three evening address guru maharaj ji highlight event bigband music rock band religious song choral work dance performance speech dlm leader filled program noon pm medium event included press conference impromptu debate millennium received wide publicity rennie davis prominent antiwar activist member chicago seven helped draw attention event spokesman dlm notable journalist attended acquaintance davis new left later described scholar journalist among major event high point guru maharaj ji popularity important development american dlms history attendance estimated compared projected many scholar journalist generally depicted event disappointment along factor including large debt led change dlms structure management message following year movement split branch headed maharaj ji west mother brother bal bhagwan ji india han ji maharaj taught secret meditation technique called knowledge founded divine light mission dlm india han ji called guru maharaj ji died six year later succeeded spiritual leader perfect master eightyearold youngest son adopted father title young guru maharaj ji minor mother mata ji eldest son bal bhagwan ji managed dlms affair yearold guru maharaj ji made first tour united kingdom united state indian dlm claimed five million member known premie within two year dlm many member u thousand uk country many six million india western follower young people counterculture dlm celebrated three annual festival largest han jayanti commemorated han ji maharajs birthday november han jayanti festival held india early wellattended attracting audience million people including westerner mata ji yearold bal bhagwan ji decided han jayanti held united state first held outside india movement invested resource event overall budget close u including rent astrodome publicity dlm paid many international charter flight brought follower houston dlm member pressure contribute money support event organizer invited hundred reporter country hoping achieve positive medium exposure maharaj ji late early many people u especially hippy believed world verge new era age aquarius new age expected characterized peace love harmony understanding late autumn apocalyptic chill air headline dealt vietnam war watergate scandal agnew resignation war middle east energy crisis mass murder houston california ufo sighting across south sociologist james v downton wrote millenarian appeal dlm prior festival sprang belief guru maharaj ji lord new age peace would begin leadership hope appealed counterculture youth time disillusioned earlier attempt political cultural revolution turning aspiration spiritual direction downton describes aspiration encouraging millennial belief within dlm including psychological trapping surrender idealization state guru mother whose satsang full reference divine nature aided belief guru letting others cast role lord maharaj ji appeal follower give belief concept prevent adopting fairly rigid set idea divinity coming new age meeting member dlm president bob mishler denied event would start millennium said called millennium word millennium evoked vision one peaceful world based spiritual value mission prominent member antiwar activist chicago seven defendant rennie davis first met guru maharaj ji february davis appointed vice president organization short time later served general coordinator millennium festival conversion topic numerous newspaper article reportedly shook new left coast coast energetic promoter new guru millennium davis traveled across united state city tour speaking said million people day radio television interview told people guru maharaj ji solution civilization problem davis always wellreceived particularly former comrade peace movement one berkeley newspaper headline rennie unites left – heckled appearance chicago seven retrial underway fall judge gave davis dispensation attend festival several associate davis left also attended journalist twoweek eightcity person tour called soul rush organized promote millennium stop washington dc premie dlm member gathered front white house invited president richard nixon attend festival receive knowledge one reporter village voice traveled tour wrote little press coverage poor attendance showed obvious energy tour went remarkably smoothly expression love among member city touring group local premie paraded morning drama troupe performed afternoon main event free evening performance blue aquarius piece band led bhole ji maharaj ji yearold brother referred lord music davis others band composed professional amateur musician donated effort leading member drummer geoff bridgeford formerly bee gee went anchor houston festival press release festival poster announced event would mark beginning thousand year peace people want peace idea peace could come world individual experienced inner peace flyer said turning point human civilization dawn new age letter premie inviting attend festival celebrated india point guru maharaj ji said year holy significant event human history take place america call millennium announcement published dlm publication divine said guru maharaj ji proved u age peace possible peace needed peace shall obtained guru maharaj ji present world plan putting peace effect official dlm literature predicted dawn new age peace age aquarius follower expected dramatic change even second coming jesus letter premie inviting attend festival guru maharaj ji said festival whole world maybe whole universe urged support festival saying isnt time get together help bring peace earth rennie davis promised practical plan world peace would revealed sociologist thomas pilarzyk wrote devotee made bizarre cultic prediction suggested excitement validated significance event member remarked even normally realistic follower swayed collective fantasy sophia collier teenaged member later left movement published memoir said minority member mostly limited houston became victim millennium fever promoted chiefly bal bhagwan ji majority premie repeated bal bhagwan ji idea astonishment actually believed journalist noted follower perceived predicted appearance comet kohoutek omen spaceship way houston return star bethlehem frequently repeated prediction attributed maharaj ji astrodome would levitate davis others made oftenreported prediction repeated halfjest extraterrestrial would attend festival bal bhagwan ji said predicted festival would preceded earthquake new york denver along dive stock market sociologist downton wrote runaway expectation attendance public prediction attendance grew larger number foretold book revelation second coming even capacity astrodome davis told one audience million would attend bob mishler founding president dlm united state later said tried slow growing expectation said expected – toured country explaining member festival would significant happened number attendee said tried remind aim establish peace earth travel another planet summer prior festival follower worked fulltime houston preparing event known rainbow brigade motto work worship total staff festival eventually numbered fifteen hundred festival volunteer stayed former cocacola plant renamed peace plant occasion slept folded blanket concrete floor another thousand stayed rainbow inn motel reporter wrote volunteer maintained tight professional operation showed egalitarian obedience israeli army monastery one reporter wrote never saw premie lose temper another noted worker seemed model human being perhaps even way becoming new evolutionary specie claim establish heaven earth world peace corp wpc headed maharaj ji yearold youngest brother raja ji dlms security force event raja ji said job make sure whatever happening happens correctly one security group main task keeping follower away guru journalist reported pushed around threatened mostly english guard guard seen one reporter exemplifying inevitable violence millennial sect hellbent abstract purity infinite happiness world peace corp name called doublespeak compared big lie observer quoted saying people mad sense divinityauthorized power like descending ninth ring hell dlms magazine divine published special edition event page magazine maharaj ji listed editorinchief included invitation event festival program history festival one article profiled holy family guru maharaj ji mother three older brother illustrated individual portrait group photograph festival invitation said three year ago han jayanti present guru maharaj ji proclaimed would establish world peace year millennium set motion plan bring peace earth thousand year article compared nation world coyote roadrunner cartoon blinded prize chasing run end cliff fall unsigned article titled prophet millennium referred prophecy book isaiah hindu scripture american indian edgar cayce jeane dixon others article noted prophecy tend come true many prediction savior child come east concluded asking whether guru maharaj ji might prophesied great savior arrival guru maharaj ji family wednesday november first big event festival crowd young cleancut follower waited two three hour hobby airport delay annoyed impatient reporter waited premie covered maharaj ji emeraldgreen rollsroyce flower follower told reporter wanted best like king opposed christ like beggar late arrival maharaj ji spoke minute saying assembled really fantastic really beautiful see millennium program start tomorrow itll really fantastic itll incredible soon people get together finally understand god there much trouble world watergate america exists everywhere premie smiling radiant state called blissed one reporter said look blissedout premie peer empty house spotless window phrase blissed used many report festival even title cited oxford english dictionary phrase first us rawat family stayed astrodome sixbedroom celestial suite rennie davis commented cosmic appropriateness name suite master bedroom faucet shaped like swan guru symbol davis said astrodome built festival sentiment astrodome manager said shared every religious group held event architect follower larry bernstein said designed stage audience astrodome tv camera foot mhigh multilevel set fit easily one end field dome foot roof set made glowing white plexiglas described striking appearance yet reportedly dwarfed vast size astrodome highest level guru throne lower level held holy family mahatma sometimes described priest apostle dlm blue aquarius band led bhole ji rawat wore silversequined suit conducting red carpeting covered astroturf projected huge white screen set rainbow image turmoil astrolite astrodome enormous electronic signboard flashed animated firework shown ballgame representation maharaj ji variety slogan scriptural citation announcement sugar sweetso youguru maharaj ji holy breath fill placeand baptized holy breath premie interested doingpropagation morocco please contactmillennium information royal coach inn happiness material world property god attention attentionplease run dancethank guru maharaj ji realize heaven earth sit assigned place please day program opened closed singing aarti called ancient devotional song praise perfect master according report festival three theme guru maharaj ji guru maharaj ji messiah come though official schedule november different list maharaj ji watched proceeding closedcircuit television suite sent bodyguard pink foam confetti spray crowd behalf reported example lila divine play addition main program mahatma conducting initiation knowledge local ashram guru family offering darshan holy presence initiate day – perfect master first day festival thursday november program listed topic day perfect master started noon oratorio composed occasion erika anderson rennie davis opened program telling audience say honestly soon every single human know one waited every religion time actually come master ceremony joan apter early u convert one maharaj ji secretary charles cameron one guru earliest convert uk editor guru maharaj ji cameron told story previous perfect master came pageant reenacting scene life jesus christ afternoon bal bhagwan ji delivered spiritual discourse satsang rhythm blue musician eric mercury performed dinner interval stax record negotiated agreement dlm make recording event exchange showcasing mercury one new act already released album titled blue aquarius sale event mercury canadian african ancestry nonmember performed played audience fewer stax recorded performance mercury said press conference would give percent royalty album dlm later told reporter interested message initially put pressure join perceived effort gain ethnic diversity following mercury speech bob mishler hourlong set blue aquarius orchestra highlight evening satsang maharaj ji want richest man world make rich currency doesnt go people think im smuggler betcha smuggle peace truth one country another currency really rich think im smuggler jesus christ smuggler lord krishna mohammed maharaj ji said crowd try youll like catchphrase popular ad campaign alka seltzer day – perfect master second day festival friday november theme perfect master featured speech mahatma maharaj ji mother mata ji divine light dance ensemble performed dance piece krishna lila noted wellchoreographed music included another choral composition erika anderson another long set blue aquarius performance apostle devotional rock band maharaj ji wore red krishna robe later put jeweled crown krishna crown crown king king satsang night included story imagine wanted superman comic real bad go asking people theyve got one go bookstore kid college people street one one anywhere youre real depressed youre sitting park little kid come say hey man howd like superman comic say gwan dont one kid pull shirt genuine genuine superman comic look say hey man must expensive say take free dont believe take give well imagine imagine knowledge would mean day – world assemblage save humanity third last day festival saturday november called world assemblage save humanity talk another brother raja ji performance blue aquarius apostle filled schedule plan divine united organization divine city announced rennie davis gave speech one reporter called oratorical high point festival tell springtime earth jerry rubin codefendant chicago seven trial said never heard davis sound dangerous climax event final satsang maharaj ji laid plan peace according one reporter basic message want peace give try let try ill establish peace simple deal one analogy maharaj ji several reporter noted compared technique knowledge fuel filter thing life big car inside car big engine engine carburetor hooked fuel line car fuel line hit carburetor thing called filter make sure fuel going carburetor pure life filter mind knowledge filtered properly many dirty particle enter mind eventually whole engine destroyed satsang presented grateful premie golden sculpture swan marble plaque depicting lion lamb lying together event concluded short performance blue aquarius orchestra program volunteer hurried clear field stage carpeting time football game next afternoon notable member attending event included sophia collier rennie davis timothy gallwey journalist writer observer guest included james downton marjoe gortner robert greenfield paul krassner bob larson wavy gravy annie leibovitz jerry rubin robert scheer michael shamberg john sinclair loudon wainwright iii overall attendance predominantly estimated estimate ranging chartered plane brought follower several dozen country designated seating section attendee france sweden india spain even joke mar addition seat reserved ets within stadium corner parking lot set aside ship bal bhagwan ji reportedly told follower asked low attendance actually being premie reported cheerful friendly unlike youth gathering era scent marijuana tobacco incense though movement membership included former street people radical drug user appeared cleancut neatly dressed male follower wore suit tie woman wore long dress maharaj ji present follower raised arm towards chanted bolie shri satgurudev maharaj ki jai praise perfect master giver life one reporter called cheerleader four journalist compared scene nuremberg stadium four hundred parent dlm member sat special section high floor dome many parent appreciated maharaj ji rehabilitating prodigal child one mother explained son stopped using drug happier receiving knowledge initiated follower said parent looked little embarrassed local baptist church took fullpage newspaper advertisement warning false prophet group christian stationed outside astrodome prayed hare krishna jesus freak child god jew jesus protested loudly sought convert member christian information committee drove berkeley california christian evangelical anticult group spiritual counterfeit project origin event picketing group fought harassed attendee vandalized car owned dlm member organizer called police clear hare krishna protester blocking arena entrance many thirtyone arrested disorderly conduct hare krishna protested maharaj ji called incarnation krishna christian protested maharaj ji false messiah antichrist response maharaj ji said one satsangs must drunk real antichrist come wont even recognize hell professional fifty three hundred reporter covered event received extensive coverage print medium though national television news coverage organizer expected prediction walter cronkite would cover live new york time rolling stone sent two reporter also covered washington post chicago tribune los angeles time los angeles free press detroit free press village voice rag houston houston chronicle magazine covering festival included time newsweek new york review book rampart magazine creem texas monthly realist crawdaddy playboy penthouse oui journalist marilyn webb robert scheer robert greenfield ken kelley following even living dlm week month prior festival kpftfm local progressive radio station covered event paul krassner john sinclair jeff nightbyrd jerry rubin coanchors reportedly mocked festival attendee realizing festival organizer piped signal throughout astrodome nature coverage became apparent loudon wainwright iii made guest appearance kpft later said maharaj ji partly inspired song way top value television tvtv chose millennium festival topic documentary titled lord universe tvtv documentary production company received acclaim groundbreaking piece republican national convention used portapak camera newly developed recording technology allowed shoot handheld video broadcast quality two team followed member soul rush tour prior event led producer michael shamberg five camera team recorded hour video festival chicago seven codefendant abbie hoffman attend provided commentary premie sophia collier wrote tvtv crew seemed start filming whenever someone said anything fanatical illconceived pb television station across u broadcast documentary spring summer documentary went win dupontcolumbia award excellence broadcast journalism reporter angered alienated treatment rule pass medium access changed daily apparent logic female reporter wrote shoved time wpc member another reporter said dlm assigned guide accompany time answer question robert scheer later wrote told press agent venusians landing could first cover hurried parking lot according collier journalist found event confusing jumble poorly expressed idea one reporter complained lack content national press concerned finance organization feeling knowledge one account collier complained coverage general especially article village voice marilyn webb featured saying article inaccurate misrepresented belief davis told reporter aware perception event outsider admitted huge stage flashing light kid giving parable car make good show june dlms divine time newspaper printed analysis press coverage criticized article written festival saying portrayed maharaj ji materialistic whose follower misguided article approved childrens magazine review also admitted dlm made number mistake press relation improper inept carole greenberg head dlm information service said took something subtle sacred tried market public said press done movement favor holding mirror showed garbage gave article went say greatest botch guru maharaj ji press conference maharaj ji press conference hastily arranged morning friday november noted leaving reporter frustrated hostile described flippant manipulative arrogant answer effort pack room supporter several dozen follower mostly foreign jostled reporter asked long complimentary question shouted boli shri jai satchitanand following answer according divine time reporter acted like district attorney interrogating hostile witness reporter newsweek complained evasive response reminded recent watergate press conference white house press secretary ron ziegler another observer called nixonian question messiah answer please presume humble servant god trying establish peace world q great contradiction say follower say well dont favor dont go devotee ask explanation q hard people understand personally live luxuriously several home rollsroyces life call luxurious aint luxurious person get life get he gonna blow apart million piece split second people made rollsroyce heck car piece tin v engine probably chevelle concourse q dont sell give food people good would thats gonna happen need dont rollsroyces sell everything ill walk still hungry q guru happened reporter detroit badly beaten follower following question maharaj ji press aide tried change subject accusing questioner hogging floor think ought find happened everything conference lasted nearly hour ended shortly descending shamble reporter pressed information detroit incident reporter thrown pie maharaj ji month prior subsequently beaten two dlm member maharaj ji last press conference paul krassner repeatedly challenged rennie davis debate davis finally agreed held adjoining astrohall convention center third day saturday november attended reporter question resolved davis copped turn kid away social responsibility personal escape ken kelley moderator kpftfm broadcast live repeating accusation making summer krassner said movement part ciadirected conspiracy called neofascist discipline said maharaj ji mystic hired seduce youth movement oblivion called spiritual equivalent mark spitz asked maharaj ji give richard nixon secret contribution davis replied yes – gave richard nixon life davis said important point lord planet secret life maharaj ji would lead serious revolution ever take place history world said main battleground struggle mind soul person reporter said davis stayed poised krassner heckled two sociologist described millennium youth culture event year journalist listed among notable event indian writer vishal mangalwadi called festival zenith maharaj ji popularity festival live expectation establishing peace world transformation according report astrodome levitate ufo landed ets attended journalist scholar called festival dismal failure fiasco major setback disastrous rally great disappointment depressing show unnoticed according james richardson event left movement dire financial strait bereft credibility religious scholar robert ellwood wrote maharaj ji meteoric career collapsed scandal debt event maharaj ji gave public indication disappointed although one reporter said appeared nonplussed turnout remarked privately perfect called event fantastic three month event davis said significant despite low attendance noting small number people sermon mount last supper june interview mishler said love filled astrodome beginning human race came expectation disappointed member expected world transformation many report member disappointed according sociologist foss larkin member saw failure meet expectation another example lila downton attended festival said follower tried find nice thing say event appeared trying hide ruined dream one member said excitement follower could believe world changed member orthodox jewish background disenchanted began doubt maharaj ji held answer according sister memoir janet mcdonald african american woman attending vassar college said faith brutally dashed bit festival failure meet expectation miracle embarrassment lining hour kiss whitesocked foot mata ji left movement soon sophia collier said woke bottling plant floor next morning wondering though decided try repair movement public image dlm leadership expected huge attendance would followed generous donation millennium free unlike dlm festival charged sizable fee despite fundraising event lower expected attendance mismanagement left dlm serious debt estimated individual member also carried debt incurred traveling expense festival financed shortterm credit began coming due right event seeking payment creditor including astrodome management pursued dlm repossessed property belonging mission mid nbc reported still owed vendor received payment member dlm took extra work order raise money maharaj ji suggestion debt forced sale closure dlms printing business temporary shutdown newspaper magazine disbanding blue aquarius shelving new initiative dlm spokesman said debt reduced mission sound financial footing thomas pilarzyk described festival important development american movement history james v downton opined movement ultimately failed achieving millennial dream world peace failure meet expectation along debt bad press led significant change movement scholar describe peak year movement mention significant drop new follower however roger e olson wrote movement continued attract large number mainly counterculture follower despite disappointment financial crisis required retrenchment reorganization festival maharaj ji began taking greater responsibility movement took administrative control dlms u branch within month turning following year got married became emancipated minor disagreement maharaj ji family led movement split western branch led maharaj ji indian branch run mother bal bhagwan ji failure millennium led western branch shift away indian influence trapping according observer sikh scholar kirpal singh khalsa wrote dlm longer projected movement would include humanity membership western dlm moved away ascetic worldrejecting origin adopted worldaffirming position beginning guru maharaj ji changed dlm loosely organized elan vital michael york wrote result poor attendance financial failure maharaj ji changed name movement distanced status divine guru became known maharaji prem rawat presented inspirational speaker teacher bal bhagwan ji became known satpal maharaj satpal rawat branch known manav utthan seva samiti branch celebrated han jayanti since clayton lewis october singing along guru harvard crimson retrieved espo david november follower fewer church retrenching maharaj ji charleston gazette associated press p c mangalwadi vishal hoeksema kurt world guru cornerstone pr chicago isbn x melton j gordon project director lewis james r senior research associate religious requirement practice certain selected group handbook chaplain institute study american religion institute study american religioncitation c maint multiple name author list link ponte lowell november turned blissed setting guru oakland tribune syracuse poststandard staff march yearold guru teach perfectness syracuse poststandard p united press international november maharaj ji joneslike trait chronicletelegram elyria p a–