Gour Govinda Swami
Encyclopedia
Gour Govinda Swami, was a Vaishnava religious leader. He was a leading ISKCON Guru
, sannyasi, governing body commissioner
within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(commonly known as the Hare Krishnas
or ISKCON) and the main inspirational force behind Gopal Jiu Publications. He is a saint
within ISKCON.
He was born in the village of Jagannatha-pura near Orissa
, India
as Braja-bandhu. By the age of eight, Braja-bandhu had read the entire Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavata Purana
and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and could also explain their meanings. On April 8, 1974, at the age of 45 he left home and relatives in quest of spiritual perfection. Carrying only a Bhagavad-gita and a begging bowl he wandered around India for one year and visited many sacred places along the river Ganges. He was searching for that person who could help him develop a true understanding of the maha-mantra. After many philosophical debates with mayavadi sannyasis
and yogis in the Himalayas
, he proceeded on foot to Vrindavana.
Two weeks after arriving in Vrindavana he saw a signboard for ISKCON, then he met a group of Western devotees who gave him a copy of Back to Godhead magazine. When he read the contents describing the glory of divine love for Krishna
, his heart became anxious to meet the writer A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. At last he was to meet his eternal spiritual master, whose association he had been awaiting for such a long time. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami had just finished his lunch when Gour Govinda Swami entered the room and paid his obeisances. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami then asked him, "Have you taken sannyasa
?" Gour Govinda Swami said, "no," and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami said, “Then I will give you sannyasa.” At that time Gour Govinda Swami understood that A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami knew his heart and surrendered to him.
In 1975, at the opening of ISKCON’s Krishna-Balaram Temple in Vrindavana, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami accepted him as a disciple, gave him the name Gour Govinda and awarded him the sannyasa
order, thus the name Srila Gour Govinda Swami.
During his life, Gour Govinda Swami preached for ISKCON in Orissa
. He worked to establish an ISKCON temple in Bhubaneswar
, as he was instructed to do so by his guru
in 1977. He an author of many research papers and translated his guru's books into the Oriya language
.
He left his body in 1996 in Mayapur
during a discussion on Lord Jagannath and is remembered in annual ISKCON festivals.
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...
, sannyasi, governing body commissioner
Governing Body Commission
The Governing Body Commission is the managerial authority of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness . ISKCON's founder, A.C...
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...
(commonly known as the Hare Krishnas
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...
or ISKCON) and the main inspirational force behind Gopal Jiu Publications. He is a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
within ISKCON.
He was born in the village of Jagannatha-pura near Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as Braja-bandhu. By the age of eight, Braja-bandhu had read the entire Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and could also explain their meanings. On April 8, 1974, at the age of 45 he left home and relatives in quest of spiritual perfection. Carrying only a Bhagavad-gita and a begging bowl he wandered around India for one year and visited many sacred places along the river Ganges. He was searching for that person who could help him develop a true understanding of the maha-mantra. After many philosophical debates with mayavadi sannyasis
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...
and yogis in the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, he proceeded on foot to Vrindavana.
Two weeks after arriving in Vrindavana he saw a signboard for ISKCON, then he met a group of Western devotees who gave him a copy of Back to Godhead magazine. When he read the contents describing the glory of divine love for 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...
, his heart became anxious to meet the writer A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. At last he was to meet his eternal spiritual master, whose association he had been awaiting for such a long time. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami had just finished his lunch when Gour Govinda Swami entered the room and paid his obeisances. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami then asked him, "Have you taken 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...
?" Gour Govinda Swami said, "no," and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami said, “Then I will give you sannyasa.” At that time Gour Govinda Swami understood that A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami knew his heart and surrendered to him.
In 1975, at the opening of ISKCON’s Krishna-Balaram Temple in Vrindavana, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami accepted him as a disciple, gave him the name Gour Govinda and awarded him the 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...
order, thus the name Srila Gour Govinda Swami.
During his life, Gour Govinda Swami preached for ISKCON in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. He worked to establish an ISKCON temple in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
, as he was instructed to do so by his guru
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...
in 1977. He an author of many research papers and translated his guru's books into the Oriya language
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
.
He left his body in 1996 in Mayapur
Mayapur
Mayapur is located on the banks of the Ganges river, at the point of its confluence with the Jalangi, near Navadvip, West Bengal, India, 130 km north of Kolkata...
during a discussion on Lord Jagannath and is remembered in annual ISKCON festivals.