Governing Body Commission
Encyclopedia
The Governing Body Commission (GBC) is the managerial authority of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(ISKCON). ISKCON's founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, created the GBC in 1970 and since that time it has met on an annual basis, usually in Mayapur
, India
.
The GBC is organised largely through a "zonal" system, with regional representatives attending to local matters, and the entire GBC ruling on issues that affect ISKCON as a whole. At the GBC's first annual meeting in Mayapur
Prabhupada guided the proceedings, "showing how the GBC should strictly follow parliamentary procedure". Zones of the world are assigned to one or more secretaries, whether or not there is currently an ISKCON community in the zone.
The GBC is entrusted with both spiritual and secular leadership of the ISKCON communities, as well as the power to appoint new guru
s. According to a GBC confidence survey "those holding critical views of the GBC were far less committed to ISKCON." As of February 2009, His Holiness Romapada Swami
is elected GBC Chairman. He succeeded Ramai Swami as the chairman of the Governing Body Commission.
s:
1. Śrīmān Rupanuga Das Adhikari
2. Śrīmān Bhagavandas Adhikari
3. Śrīmān Syamsundar Das Adhikari
4. Śrīmān Satsvarupa Das Adhikari
5. Śrīmān Karandhar Das Adhikari
6. Śrīmān Hansadutta Das Adhikari
7. Śrīmān Tamala Kṛṣṇa Das Adhikari
8. Śrīmān Sudama Das Adhikari
9. Śrīmān Bali Mardan Das Brahmachari
10. Śrīmān Jagadisa Das Adhikari
11. Śrīmān Hayagriva Das Adhikari
12. Śrīmān Kṛṣṇadas Adhikari
This letter outlines the following purposes of the commission:
(renunciate monks). Indicating that those who set policy would not be involved with financial dealings. However, after Prabhupada's death many GBC members adopted lavish lifestyles. A number of schisms tested the notion of the supreme authority of the GBC. Some of these scandals involved GBC members Hans Kary (Hamsaduta) and James Immel (Jayatirtha), as well as one of the leaders of the New Vrindaban
community, Keith Ham
(Kirtanananda), who surrounded himself with opulence and declared himself the only true successor to Prabhupada.
In 1982 the GBC began the slow process of adding new gurus to original eleven. In 1983 it was announced that the GBC is the highest ecclesiastical authority of ISKCON. In 1985 the decision was made to lower the standard of living for ISKCON leadership. After much heated discussion, the GBC decided to "relieve" a number of leaders and new leaders were selected. The young leaders of the GBC sought the advice of one of Prabhupada's Gaudiya Math godbrothers, and endeavored to become more integrated in the broader Hindu community.
After years of discussion and reforms, a general consensus emerged to accept women as leaders and initiators in ISKCON, overriding the former GBC supposition that "unprotected, 'women leaders become subject to various forms of mistreatment and abuse'". In 1998 Malati Devi Dasi became the first woman appointed to the GBC. The second woman leader Dina Sharana was selected in 2009. However similar proposal was discussed quite a few years previously.
Current or former GBC members include: Bhakti Caitanya Swami
, Bhakti Caru Swami, Bhakti Tirtha Swami
, Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami
, Giriraja Swami
, Gopala Krishna Goswami, Hansadutta Swami, Hridaya Caitanya Dasa
, Hridayananda Dasa Goswami
, Jayatirtha Dasa, Jayapataka Swami
, Kirtanananda Swami
, Malati Dasi
, Mukunda Goswami
, Radhanath Swami
, Ramesvara Swami
, Ravindra Svarupa Dasa
, Romapada Swami
, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
, Sivarama Swami
, Tamala Krishna Goswami
and others listed below:
. He is also a member of the faculty at Bhaktivedanta College
.
. At the age of seventeen, he received a scholarship to Yale University
and graduated in 1972. Upon graduation Devamrita Swami began to study the literary works of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
, the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In 1974, Devamrita Swami became an initiated student of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He accepted the renounced order of sanyasa in 1982.
of the Dandavats Vaishnava news agency
.
. In January 1969, while studying at the University of Buffalo, he joined ISKCON and the same year was initiated by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
, receiving the name Prahladananda Dasa. In 1975 he joined the Radha-Damodara preaching bus tour, organized by Tamala Krishna Goswami
and Vishnujana Swami
. In 1982 he took sannyasa
and in 1986 he became one of the initiating
gurus in ISKCON. In 1989 he became a member the Vaisnava Institute for Higher Education, in Vrndavana. In 1990 he was appointed to head the Governing Body Commission's committee of Health and Welfare. In 1991, the GBC also made him the head of sannyasa
ministry.
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). ISKCON's founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, created the GBC in 1970 and since that time it has met on an annual basis, usually 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...
, 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...
.
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...
Prabhupada guided the proceedings, "showing how the GBC should strictly follow parliamentary procedure". Zones of the world are assigned to one or more secretaries, whether or not there is currently an ISKCON community in the zone.
The GBC is entrusted with both spiritual and secular leadership of the ISKCON communities, as well as the power to appoint new 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...
s. According to a GBC confidence survey "those holding critical views of the GBC were far less committed to ISKCON." As of February 2009, His Holiness Romapada Swami
Romapada Swami
- External links :* * * * *...
is elected GBC Chairman. He succeeded Ramai Swami as the chairman of the Governing Body Commission.
Original members of the Governing Body Commission
According to the letter of 28 July 1970 A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appointed the following members to the commission, all of them non-sannyasis (non-renunciates). After the death of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1977 only five of the original Commissioners would be eventually approved to become diksa guruGuru
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...
s:
1. Śrīmān Rupanuga Das Adhikari
2. Śrīmān Bhagavandas Adhikari
3. Śrīmān Syamsundar Das Adhikari
4. Śrīmān Satsvarupa Das Adhikari
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Satsvarupa das Goswami is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness , better known in the West as the Hare Krishna movement...
5. Śrīmān Karandhar Das Adhikari
6. Śrīmān Hansadutta Das Adhikari
7. Śrīmān Tamala Kṛṣṇa Das Adhikari
Tamala Krishna Goswami
Tamal Krishna Goswami , born as Thomas G. Herzig in New York City, NY United States served on International Society for Krishna Consciousness's Governing Body Commission since its inception in 1970. In January 1972, he accepted the renounced order of life sannyasa in Jaipur...
8. Śrīmān Sudama Das Adhikari
9. Śrīmān Bali Mardan Das Brahmachari
10. Śrīmān Jagadisa Das Adhikari
11. Śrīmān Hayagriva Das Adhikari
12. Śrīmān Kṛṣṇadas Adhikari
This letter outlines the following purposes of the commission:
- Providing a structure to ensure the continuation of ISKCON after Prabhupada's death.
- Improving the standard of temple management
- Promoting Krishna consciousness
- Distributing books and literature
- Opening new centers
- Education of the devotees.
ISKCON leadership
Shortly after establishing the GBC Prabhupada asked his newly appointed leaders to renounce the everyday world and become sannyasisSannyasa
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...
(renunciate monks). Indicating that those who set policy would not be involved with financial dealings. However, after Prabhupada's death many GBC members adopted lavish lifestyles. A number of schisms tested the notion of the supreme authority of the GBC. Some of these scandals involved GBC members Hans Kary (Hamsaduta) and James Immel (Jayatirtha), as well as one of the leaders of the New Vrindaban
New Vrindaban
New Vrindaban is an unincorporated town and ISKCON intentional community located in Marshall County near Moundsville, West Virginia. The town consists of , and several building complexes, homes, apartment buildings, and businesses including the Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra Temple and the...
community, Keith Ham
Kirtanananda Swami
Kirtanananda Swami, also known as Swami Bhaktipada was the highly-controversial charismatic Hare Krishna guru and co-founder of the New Vrindaban Hare Krishna community in Marshall County, West Virginia, where he served as spiritual leader for 26 years .-Early life:Kirtanananda was born Keith...
(Kirtanananda), who surrounded himself with opulence and declared himself the only true successor to Prabhupada.
In 1982 the GBC began the slow process of adding new gurus to original eleven. In 1983 it was announced that the GBC is the highest ecclesiastical authority of ISKCON. In 1985 the decision was made to lower the standard of living for ISKCON leadership. After much heated discussion, the GBC decided to "relieve" a number of leaders and new leaders were selected. The young leaders of the GBC sought the advice of one of Prabhupada's Gaudiya Math godbrothers, and endeavored to become more integrated in the broader Hindu community.
After years of discussion and reforms, a general consensus emerged to accept women as leaders and initiators in ISKCON, overriding the former GBC supposition that "unprotected, 'women leaders become subject to various forms of mistreatment and abuse'". In 1998 Malati Devi Dasi became the first woman appointed to the GBC. The second woman leader Dina Sharana was selected in 2009. However similar proposal was discussed quite a few years previously.
Current or former GBC members include: Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami is a Gaudiya Vaishnava swami and a religious leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness...
, Bhakti Caru Swami, Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Bhakti Tirtha Swami , also known as Swami Krishnapada, was a leading guru and governing body commissioner of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness . He was the highest-ranking African American in ISKCON...
, Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami
Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami
Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami , also known as Dr. Thoudam Damodara Singh, was a Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader, scientist, writer and poet. In 1971 he received spiritual initiation from A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
, Giriraja Swami
Giriraja Swami
Giriraj Swami is an initiating guru within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and one of the leading disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON.-Background:...
, Gopala Krishna Goswami, Hansadutta Swami, Hridaya Caitanya Dasa
Hridaya Caitanya Dasa
Hridaya Chaitanya Dasa, also known as Herman Janssens, is temple president of Radhadesh, leader and Governing Body Commissioner for Belgian ISKCON, Co-GBC for the Benelux, and a member of the "Executive Committee of the ISKCON GBC Society". He and his wife are disciples of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami...
, Hridayananda Dasa Goswami
Hridayananda Dasa Goswami
Hridayananda Dasa Goswami is a senior religious leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and one of the most prominent disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Hridayananda Goswami is an initiating guru within ISKCON and has served as a member of the Governing Body...
, Jayatirtha Dasa, Jayapataka Swami
Jayapataka Swami
Jayapataka Swami is a Vaishnava swami and a religious leader for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness . He is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
, Kirtanananda Swami
Kirtanananda Swami
Kirtanananda Swami, also known as Swami Bhaktipada was the highly-controversial charismatic Hare Krishna guru and co-founder of the New Vrindaban Hare Krishna community in Marshall County, West Virginia, where he served as spiritual leader for 26 years .-Early life:Kirtanananda was born Keith...
, Malati Dasi
Malati Dasi
Malati Dasi is a senior spiritual leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness . Born in Vallejo, California, she was part of the hippie movement before becoming an initiated disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1967...
, Mukunda Goswami
Mukunda Goswami
Mukunda Goswami is a spiritual leader within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness ....
, Radhanath Swami
Radhanath Swami
Radhanath Swami is a Gaudiya Vaishnava guru and a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness . He works largely from Mumbai in India and also travels extensively throughout Europe and America. He has been instrumental in the founding of the Mumbai Bhaktivedanta hospital...
, Ramesvara Swami
Ramesvara Swami
Ramesvara Swami was one of the leading disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and formerly a guru within the International Society of Krishna Consciousness....
, Ravindra Svarupa Dasa
Ravindra Svarupa dasa
Ravindra Svarupa Dasa is a religious studies scholar and a Hare Krishna religious leader. He was initiated by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1971...
, Romapada Swami
Romapada Swami
- External links :* * * * *...
, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Satsvarupa das Goswami is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness , better known in the West as the Hare Krishna movement...
, Sivarama Swami
Sivarama Swami
-External links:* *...
, Tamala Krishna Goswami
Tamala Krishna Goswami
Tamal Krishna Goswami , born as Thomas G. Herzig in New York City, NY United States served on International Society for Krishna Consciousness's Governing Body Commission since its inception in 1970. In January 1972, he accepted the renounced order of life sannyasa in Jaipur...
and others listed below:
Anuttama Dasa
Was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1976 and since 1993 he has served as Director of Communications for ISKCON in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. He is also a member of the faculty at Bhaktivedanta College
Bhaktivedanta College
Bhaktivedanta College, located in the rural Ardennes region of Belgium, is a Vaishnava college administered by ISKCON. The programme at Bhaktivedanta College is the study of Vaishnavism. -History:...
.
Devamrita Swami
Was born on October 16, 1950 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. At the age of seventeen, he received a scholarship to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and graduated in 1972. Upon graduation Devamrita Swami began to study the literary works 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-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In 1974, Devamrita Swami became an initiated student of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He accepted the renounced order of sanyasa in 1982.
Praghosha Dasa
Is a member of the Governing Body Commission. He was the commission's chairman in 2005. Praghosh presently serves as the editor in chiefEditor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the Dandavats Vaishnava news agency
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
.
Prahladananda Swami
Was born as Philip Burbank in 1949, in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. In January 1969, while studying at the University of Buffalo, he joined ISKCON and the same year was initiated by 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"...
, receiving the name Prahladananda Dasa. In 1975 he joined the Radha-Damodara preaching bus tour, organized by Tamala Krishna Goswami
Tamala Krishna Goswami
Tamal Krishna Goswami , born as Thomas G. Herzig in New York City, NY United States served on International Society for Krishna Consciousness's Governing Body Commission since its inception in 1970. In January 1972, he accepted the renounced order of life sannyasa in Jaipur...
and Vishnujana Swami
Vishnujana Swami
Vishnujana Swami , was a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and a sannyasi within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness...
. In 1982 he took 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...
and in 1986 he became one of the initiating
Diksha
Diksa also spelled deeksha or deeksa in common usage, translated as a "preparation or consecration for a religious ceremony", is giving of a mantra or an initiation by the guru in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism...
gurus in ISKCON. In 1989 he became a member the Vaisnava Institute for Higher Education, in Vrndavana. In 1990 he was appointed to head the Governing Body Commission's committee of Health and Welfare. In 1991, the GBC also made him the head of 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...
ministry.
Ramai Swami
In 2008 Ramai Swami was a chairman of the Governing Body Commission. Ramai Swami started the first Hare Krishna Food for Life program in the world at the ISKCON temple in Sydney, Australia. It was called ISKCON Food Relief and was operated through the back entrance of the Sydney Hare Krishna temple.See also
- List of International Society for Krishna Consciousness members and patrons
- List of International Society for Krishna Consciousness sannyasis