Family Grihasta Life Quotes

HH Niranjana swami Portrait

After reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and seriously practicing the path of devotional service, Niranjana Swami took initiation from him in 1974, in Boston, USA. In 1986, he took sannyasa vows in Mayapur, India, and then proceeded to travel extensively throughout North America, the former Soviet Union, and India, lecturing on the teachings found within the books of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Devoted to assisting others on this path, Niranjana Swami is also an initiating spiritual master in ISKCON. His home base is Kiev, Ukraine.

The management and spiritual leadership experience Niranjana Swami gained during his tenure as president of ISKCON Boston from 1979 to 1983, and his service as regional secretary of New England in 1984, readied him for his GBC appointment in 1987. As a GBC member, Niranjana Swami’s zonal assignments include Moldova, New England, and North American Festival of India. He also serves as co-zonal secretary for Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, as well as three regions of Russia: Central Region, Moscow, and Kaliningrad. Currently Niranjana Swami assists the Lines of Authority Committee, which is part of the Strategic Plan for the GBC, by contributing his vision and experience.

His heartfelt kirtans, insightful classes, and his selfless and caring personality inspire and nurture many ISKCON devotees in their spiritual lives. He consistently trains, supports, and empowers others to manage in a way that makes ISKCON members feel needed and protected, and creates systems of counseling to help spread this ethos further.

One of Niranjana Swami’s achievements is the annual Ukrainian Bhakti-sangama festival that he originally conceived and developed over the last ten years. Well organized and lauded for its devotional atmosphere, Bhakti-sangama hosts thousands of devotees from the CIS and all over the world, uniting them around hari-nama, krsna-katha, and vaisnava-seva.

Niranjana Swami puts ‘devotee care’ as a top priority. His thoughts on this topic have been recorded in a book Taking Care of Krishna’s Devotees, which has inspired many to find ways of improving dealings in devotee communities. His other publications include compilations of his letters to disciples and counselees, and transcribed lectures and interviews in book format.

HH Devamrita Swami Portrait Art by USKdas

Upon graduating from Yale University, he began reading and relishing the classic bhakti texts translated by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Impressed by his impeccable erudition and saintliness, Devamrita Swami became his official student and a member of the worldwide bhakti community. In 1982 he officially accepted the renounced order of life as a Krishna monk, dedicating his life to practicing bhakti and sharing it with others all over the world.

Devamrita Swami is the author of Searching for Vedic India, Perfect Escape and the soon to be released Hiding in Unnatural Happiness. In his books, his unique wit and wisdom combine to showcase what the oldest wisdom culture has to offer. Searching for Vedic India is particularly written to assist an inquisitive university educated audience to unlock answers to life’s big questions. Effortlessly navigating the latest research in archaeology, parapsychology, consciousness, ancient history and much more, Searching for Vedic India takes us on an epic quest to rediscover the relevance of Vedic cosmology and philosophy, preserved in the ancient Sanskrit texts of India. His latest book, Hiding in Unnatural Happiness, is a refreshing perspective on the quest for happiness. Our search for fulfilment need not be limited by genetics, circumstances or lack of will power. We all have access to 100 percent happiness. Hiding in Unnatural Happiness tells you how. Deftly interweaving the latest research in neuroscience, social science and psychology, Devamrita Swami shines the beacon of timeless yoga knowledge on happiness science.

http://www.devamritaswami.com/

HH Subhag Swami Maharaj - Portrait Art

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His Holiness Subhag Swami (Milan Kumar Talukdar) was born on 21st December, 1940 in the aristocratic Talukdar family of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He completed his intermediate studies from the Scottish Churches' College, Kolkata and obtained his Bachelors' Degree in Chemistry. During the course of his studies in London, in 1970, he met His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in London itself. From then on Bhaktivedanta Swami, better known as Srila Prabhupada, personally trained him for a period of seven years in the scientific understanding of Vedic Culture which aims at enlightening the general mass, especially the student community and the scholarly minded intellectuals.

Based in Mayapur for 34 years, he served the mission in different ways. Having been appointed as the chairman of 'Bhaktivedanta Swami Charitable Trust', he looked after the renovation and maintainance of many pastime places of Lord Chaitanya and His associates all over Navadwipa Mandal. Also he organized the famous 'Chida-dahi festival of Panihatti' annually for Iskcon devotees. He also continued his travelling preaching around different continents of the world especially Bangladesh, Australia, Singapore, America etc.

Srila Prabhupada gave His Holiness specific services of translating Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures & Prabhupada's books. Also Srila Prabhupada ordered him to preach Krishna Consciousness all over the world. His Holiness has translated some Vaishnava Scriptures from Sanskrit and Bengali into English. Also he has translated Srila Prabhupada's books from English into Bengali including Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Teachings of Lord Kapila, Prayers to Queen Kunti. H.H Subhag Swami, a meek and humble personality is well appreciated for his scholarly aptitude and command over English, Bengali and Sanskrit languages. His natural ability to mingle well with the young and the old alike mixes well with his unassuming character. For the last four decades, he has been active in interacting with students and scholars from the scientific front as well as from the religious quarters.