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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/