Giriraja Swami
Encyclopedia
Giriraj Swami is an initiating guru
within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(ISKCON) and one of the leading disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
, the founder of ISKCON.
on September 13, 1947. In March 1969, as a student at Brandeis University
near Boston, he met A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, author of numerous books on Vedic philosophy and spiritual culture, and founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). After graduating from Brandeis cum laude, he received initiation from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, receiving the spiritual name "Giriraja dasa." Soon after, Giriraja became a leading member of the Boston center and was given the opportunity to travel with Srila Prabhupada to help establish his mission in India. After touring India, in 1972 Srila Prabhupada appointed Giriraja president of ISKCON Bombay and trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
.
In the year following Srila Prabhupada's death in 1977, Giriraj Swami accepted the renounced order of life, sannyasa
, from Tamal Krishna Goswami and was appointed president of ISKCON's Board of Trustees in India. In 1982, Giriraj Swami was elected to the Governing Body Commission
, ISKCON's ultimate managing authority, and went on to oversee the Society's activities in Bombay, Mauritius
, South Africa
, Spain
, Portugal
, Sri Lanka
and Pakistan
.
Giriraj Swami has toured extensively throughout India and other countries, presenting knowledge of Krishna
and helping to develop Srila Prabhupada's mission. He contributed significantly by overseeing all aspects of the development of Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Bombay, and was instrumental in the development of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhan
, India. More recently, Giriraj Swami led the development of the Kirtan Ashram for renounced women, the Bhaktivedanta Hospice, and the Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care, all in Vrindavan
, India. Giriraj Swami has also taught at the Vaisnava Institute for Higher Education in Vrindavan and now gives presentations at japa retreats and workshops for the Bhagavat Life educational foundation.
Currently based in Southern California, he is a frequent contributor to Back to Godhead
magazine and is working on several publications, including books about his search for a spiritual master and his early days in the Boston temple, his travels with Srila Prabhupada in India from 1970 to 1972, and Srila Prabhupada's monumental efforts in Bombay.
ISKCON Guru System
ISKCON guru is permitted to initiate disciples in the system that is being used in International Society for Krishna Consciousness; this ISKCON Guru System has undergone a considerable evolution and reform since its beginnings in 1970s...
within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
(ISKCON) and one of the leading disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was a Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher and the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement"...
, the founder of ISKCON.
Background
Giriraj Swami was born Glenn Phillip Teton in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on September 13, 1947. In March 1969, as a student at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
near Boston, he met A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, author of numerous books on Vedic philosophy and spiritual culture, and founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). After graduating from Brandeis cum laude, he received initiation from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, receiving the spiritual name "Giriraja dasa." Soon after, Giriraja became a leading member of the Boston center and was given the opportunity to travel with Srila Prabhupada to help establish his mission in India. After touring India, in 1972 Srila Prabhupada appointed Giriraja president of ISKCON Bombay and trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
thumb|300px|Books of BBTThe Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is the world's largest publisher of books concerning Krishna and the philosophy, religion, and culture of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of India . It was established in 1972 by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the...
.
In the year following Srila Prabhupada's death in 1977, Giriraj Swami accepted the renounced order of life, sannyasa
Sannyasa
Sannyasa is the order of life of the renouncer within the Hindu scheme of āśramas, or life stages. It is considered the topmost and final stage of the ashram systems and is traditionally taken by men or women at or beyond the age of fifty years old or by young monks who wish to renounce worldly...
, from Tamal Krishna Goswami and was appointed president of ISKCON's Board of Trustees in India. In 1982, Giriraj Swami was elected to the Governing Body Commission
Governing Body Commission
The Governing Body Commission is the managerial authority of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness . ISKCON's founder, A.C...
, ISKCON's ultimate managing authority, and went on to oversee the Society's activities in Bombay, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Giriraj Swami has toured extensively throughout India and other countries, presenting knowledge of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and helping to develop Srila Prabhupada's mission. He contributed significantly by overseeing all aspects of the development of Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Bombay, and was instrumental in the development of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhan
Govardhan
Govardhan is a town and a nagar panchayat in Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Geography:Govardhan is located at . It has an average elevation of 179 metres .-Demographics:...
, India. More recently, Giriraj Swami led the development of the Kirtan Ashram for renounced women, the Bhaktivedanta Hospice, and the Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care, all in Vrindavan
Vrindavan
Vrindavan also known as Vraj is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India...
, India. Giriraj Swami has also taught at the Vaisnava Institute for Higher Education in Vrindavan and now gives presentations at japa retreats and workshops for the Bhagavat Life educational foundation.
Currently based in Southern California, he is a frequent contributor to Back to Godhead
Back to Godhead
Back to Godhead, also known as BTG, is the main magazine of the Hare Krishna Movement. It was originally published by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and later by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami and Jayadvaita Swami.-External links:**...
magazine and is working on several publications, including books about his search for a spiritual master and his early days in the Boston temple, his travels with Srila Prabhupada in India from 1970 to 1972, and Srila Prabhupada's monumental efforts in Bombay.