Gopala Krishna Goswami

Gopala Krishna Goswami

Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism
Other names	Gopal Krishna Khanna
Personal
Born	14 August 1944 New Delhi, British Raj
Religious career
Initiation	Diksa–1969, Sannyasa–1981
Post	ISKCON Guru, Sannyasi, Member of the Governing Body Commission
Website	http://www.gopalkrishna.com http://www.gopalkrishnagoswami.com http://www.gkgoffice.com/

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Gopal Krishna Goswami is a religious leader within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (popularly known as the Hare Krishnas).^[1] He was the first Indian disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to be initiated after the establishment of ISKCON. Gopal Krishna Goswami is currently a member of the Governing Body Commission^[2] and an initiating guru within the movement.^[3]

Biography

Gopal Krishna Goswami was born on 14 August 1944 in New Delhi, India as Gopal Krishna Khanna. After graduating from the University of Delhi, he studied in France, and later studied Business Administration at McGill University in Montreal. After finishing his education, he worked as a marketing research analyst for Pepsi Cola.

He was living in Toronto in May 1968 when he first met with Prabhupada on 1 June 1968. During a three-month period when Prabhupada stayed in Montreal, Gopal Krishna regularly heard from him on devotional topics and took instruction regarding his own personal life. Within two weeks of meeting him, Gopal Krishna Khanna decided to accept Prabhupada as his spiritual master. In May 1969 he was initiated as one of Prabhupada's disciples, receiving the name Gopal Krishna Dasa.

Later Gopal Krishna moved into the temple and lived there. He acted as Prabhupada's secretary for several years. In 1975, Prabhupada sent Gopal Krishna to India, giving him the responsibility of being a Governing Body Commissioner within the area, instructing him specifically to print and expand the distribution of his books in India and to translate and print books in Indian languages. Prabhupada was pleased when Gopal Krishna presented him the first copies of the Srimad Bhagavatam translated into Hindi.

In 1981 he took the sannyasa and was initiated into the monastic order of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. He took sannyasa initiation from Jayapataka Swami ^[4]and the name, Tridandi Swami Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja. Since then Gopal Krishna Goswami has been traveling extensively all over the world preaching Gaudiya Vaishnavism, initiating disciples, delivering talks, and overseeing various philanthropic and devotional projects.^[5]

Currently Gopal Krishna Goswami is the Governing Body Commissioner^[2] of many countries and regions including Delhi, Vrindavan, Mumbai, Mayapur, Chandigarh, Kenya, Canada and parts of North America and Russia.

Gopal Krishna Goswami has been featured on radio, television and newspaper stories in India and abroad commenting on various issues. He has delivered series of lectures to diverse audiences in the last three decades. He regularly delivers lectures at ISKCON temples, speaking on various Hindu scriptures, such as Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana.

Footnotes

↑ ISKCON festival on founder's anniversary ISKCON Mumbai website
1 2 Society Scenes -- Pune Indian Express
↑ ISKCON chairman in city Times of India, 12 Aug 2003
↑ "According to Brhat Sloka dasa, "In India with Srila Bhaktipada," Brijabasi Spirit (Sept. 1981), page 12: "While in Bombay, Srila Bhaktipada was very busily engaged in preaching. In the evening, he gave class and thousands of Hindus attended. Srila Bhaktipada spoke in English with a translator speaking in Hindi by his side. Gopal Krishna Maharaja received sannyasa initiation from Srila Bhaktipada and Bhaktipada dasa [Hayagriva's son, Samba] was also initiated. His name is now Dharmaraja dasa."
↑ List of Sannyasis in ISKCON April 2008 ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry, Retrieved on 5 May 2008 (primary source)

References

Matane, Paulias (2004), India: A Splendour in Cultural Diversity, Anmol Publications PVT. LTD., ISBN 81-261-1837-7
Pentikäinen, Juha; Holm, Nils G. (2000), Ethnography is a heavy rite: studies of comparative religion in honor of Juha Pentikäinen, Åbo Akademi University Press, ISBN 952-12-0624-1
Dhawan, S. K. (2007), President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: 2002–2004, Abhi Books & Distributors, ISBN 81-904675-0-6
Brooks, Charles R. (1989), The Hare Krishnas in India, Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-03135-5
Salvadori, Cynthia; Fedders, Andrew (1989), Through open doors: a view of Asian cultures in Kenya (2, illustrated, revised ed.), Kenway Publications, ISBN 9966-848-05-3
Mehta, Uday; Desai, Akshayakumar Ramanlal, Modern godmen in India: a sociological appraisal, Popular Prakashan, ISBN 81-7154-708-7
Chryssides, George D.; Wilkins, Margaret (2002), A reader in new religious movements, Continuum International Publishing Group, ISBN 0-8264-6167-0
Lal, Kishori Saran (2002), Return to roots: emancipation of Indian Muslims, Radha Publications, ISBN 81-7487-245-0
Muster, Nori Jean (2001), Betrayal of the spirit: my life behind the headlines of the Hare Krishna movement, University of Illinois Press, ISBN 0-252-06566-2
Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī (1982), Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta: a biography of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Vol. 4, In Every Town and Village: Around the World 1968–1971, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-115-2
Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī (1983), Srīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta: a biography of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Vol. 5, Let There Be a Temple: India/Around the World 1971–1975, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-119-5
Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī (1983), Srīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta: a biography of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Vol. 6, Uniting Two Worlds: Around the World / Return to Vrindavana 1975–1977, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-106-3
Witham, Larry (4 April 1998), "Krishnas: Color them mainstream", The Washington Times
Arjuman, Muneeza (3 April 1998), "Hare Krishna temple a bid for legitimacy in India", The Associated Press
BBC News (5 April 1998), "Robot gods at temple", BBC News
Chopra, Swati (7 December 2002), "President inaugurates spiritual conclave", The Times of India
Indian Express (17 November 2003), "Mantras, bhajans at Rath yatra", The Indian Express
Supriya, Dravid (5 December 2005), "Heaven's Kitchen", India Today
Times of India (13 August 2003), "Iskcon chairman in city", The Times of India
Business Line (15 May 2006), "A prayer with a difference", Business Line

External links

Modern Gaudiya Vaishnavas (1875 to date)

Pre-ISKCON	Bhakti Hridaya Bon Swami Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Goswami Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Bhaktivinoda Thakur Gaurakishora Dasa Babaji Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Sadananda Vamana Dasa

Governing Body Commission, and other ISKCON Gurus	A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada^* Aindra Dasa^* Bhakti Caitanya Swami^* Bhakti Charu Swami^* Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami^* Bhakti Tirtha Swami^* Giriraja Swami^* Gopala Krishna Goswami^* Gour Govinda Swami^* Hanumatpresaka Swami^* Hridayananda Dasa Goswami^* Indradyumna Swami^* Jayadvaita Swami^* Jayapataka Swami^* Kadamba Kanana Swami^* Krishna Kshetra Dasa^* Lokanatha Swami^* Mukunda Goswami^* Radhanath Swami^* Ravindra Svarupa Dasa^* Romapada Swami^* Sacinandana Swami^* Satsvarupa dasa Goswami^* Sivarama Swami^* Suhotra Swami^* Tamala Krishna Goswami^*

After the Founding of ISKCON (1966 to date)	Richard Shaw Brown Michael Cremo Alfred Ford Geoffrey Giuliano Hansadutta Swami Harikesa Swami Hridaya Caitanya Dasa Jayananda Dasa Jayatirtha Dasa Kirtanananda Swami Krishna Dharma Kurt Mausert Malati Dasi Radhika Ramana Dasa Ramesh Kallidai Ramesvara Swami Ranchor Prime Sadhu Priya Das Steven J. Rosen Graham Schweig Shaunaka Rishi Das Tulsi Gabbard Richard L. Thompson Tripurari Swami Urmila Devi Dasi Visnujana Swami Yadunandana Swami

*ISKCON guru

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