Sivarama Swami
Encyclopedia
Śivarāma Swami is a Vaishnava guru
and a religious leader for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(ISKCON). He is a member of the Governing Body Commission
who is responsible for leading ISKCON's mission in Hungary
, Romania
and Turkey
. Within ISKCON, Sivarama Swami is also well known for his deep knowledge of Vaishnava literature, and has written several books about Gaudiya Vaishnavism
. He has been conducting courses at Bhaktivedanta Manor
on his own commentaries to Venu Gita in Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology.
Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest
, Hungary
in 1949. His family emigrated to Canada
during the failed 1956 Hungarian revolution
. In 1970 he first came in contact with the books of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
, the founder of ISKCON. He became an initiated disciple of Prabhupada in 1973 and accepted the renounced order of life sannyasa
in 1979. After that he was serving ISKCON in Canada and the USA, opening and managing temples. In 1980 Sivarama Swami moved to the UK and became the president of the Caitanya College, and the UK national sankirtana leader. He was requested to accept the responsibility of a GBC member in 1986. In 1988 he became leader of ISKCON in Hungary
. In June 2003, Sivarama Swami resigned as UK & Ireland GBC representative as from Gaura Purnima 2004.
During a Diwali
celebration on October 20, 2009, Sivarama Swami received the Gold Cross of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, the second highest award in the state. The Diwali Dinner was organized by the Hungarian Society for Krishna Consciousness at the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest
. Károly Manherz, the State Secretary for Higher Education and Science, awarded Sivarama Swami with the Gold Cross at the event, saying it was in appreciation of his “charitable, humanitarian and value-creating work.”
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
and a religious leader for 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). He is a member of 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...
who is responsible for leading ISKCON's mission in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Within ISKCON, Sivarama Swami is also well known for his deep knowledge of Vaishnava literature, and has written several books about Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Gaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gauḍa region with Vaishnavism meaning "the worship of Vishnu"...
. He has been conducting courses at Bhaktivedanta Manor
Bhaktivedanta Manor
Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple set in the Hertfordshire countryside of England in the village of Aldenham near Watford. The Manor, as it is called by those familiar with it, is owned and run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known as ISKCON or the...
on his own commentaries to Venu Gita in Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology.
Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1949. His family emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
during the failed 1956 Hungarian revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
. In 1970 he first came in contact with the books 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. He became an initiated disciple of Prabhupada in 1973 and 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...
in 1979. After that he was serving ISKCON in Canada and the USA, opening and managing temples. In 1980 Sivarama Swami moved to the UK and became the president of the Caitanya College, and the UK national sankirtana leader. He was requested to accept the responsibility of a GBC member in 1986. In 1988 he became leader of ISKCON in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. In June 2003, Sivarama Swami resigned as UK & Ireland GBC representative as from Gaura Purnima 2004.
During a Diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
celebration on October 20, 2009, Sivarama Swami received the Gold Cross of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, the second highest award in the state. The Diwali Dinner was organized by the Hungarian Society for Krishna Consciousness at the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Károly Manherz, the State Secretary for Higher Education and Science, awarded Sivarama Swami with the Gold Cross at the event, saying it was in appreciation of his “charitable, humanitarian and value-creating work.”