Tamal Krishna Goswami

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Tamala Krishna Goswami singing at the Ratha Yatra festival in London, 1999
Tamala Krishna Goswami singing at the Ratha Yatra festival in London, 1999

Tamala Krishna Goswami (June 1946–March 15, 2002), born as Thomas G. Herzig in New York City, NY United States was a prominent figure in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). He is specifically well known for his service rendered to the movement's leader A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as his personal secretary and for his promotion of Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy as an academic study in the western world. Tamal Krishna Goswami served as a Governing Body Commissioner for ISKCON from 1970 to his death in 2002.[1]

Contents

[edit] Background

Originally born into a Jewish family in America, he began his association with the Krishna Consiousnessness movement in 1968 wherein he was soon accepted as an official disciple by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Tamal Krishna Goswami was to become an influential leader in the movement and acted as an official initiating spiritual master from 1977 onwards, establishing temples in France, Britain, India and the United States[2]

[edit] Scholarship

Tamal Krishna Goswami was the author of several books on various religious subjects, including two classical Vedic dramas.[3] He was also doctoral student at the University of Cambridge, Clare Hall, under Dr. Julius J. Lipner[4] where his thesis was on the theology of ISKCON's founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. At the time of his death, he had completed all but the conclusion. Dr. Lipner's intention is to publish this dissertation in Tamala Krishna Goswami's name[5]. He also studied for a limited time at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

[edit] On the Term Krishnology

Krishnology is the discourse concerning the Hindu deity Krishna within the context of Vaishnava theology. Presently the term has been advanced by two prominent scholars. Tamal Krishna Goswami elaborated on this term during his research at the University of Cambridge. While a doctoral student, Tamal Krishna Gosvami studied under Dr. Julius J. Lipner and devoted his time to researching the 'Krishnology' of ISKCON's founder. Another scholar of Hinduism, Dr. Guy Beck, has published on the Krishnology of the Vaishnava sect known as the Radhavallabha Sampradaya. Dr. Beck expounds upon this research in his book Alternative Krishnas: Regional and Vernacular Variations on a Hindu Deity.[citation needed]

[edit] Governing Body Commission

Governing Body Commission (GBC) is the name for the managerial authority of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. ISKCON's founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, created the GBC in 1972 and since that time it has met on an annual basis. Tamal Krishna Goswami was a member of this body since its beginnings.[6]

[edit] Departure

He passed away in a car crash in India on March 15, 2002. He departure has occurred in a sacred area of Phuliyagrama, associated with a great saint, Haridasa Thakur marked by a memorial Samadhi at the side of Srila Prabhupada Puspa samadhi in Mayapur, where he died.[7]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Biography on ISKCON.COM
  2. ^ Biography on GOSWAMI.COM
  3. ^ Books written by Tamal Krishna Goswami
  4. ^ Biography on ISKCON Communications Journal website
  5. ^ Obituary on ISKCON Communications Journal website
  6. ^ Das Goswami, S. (1982), Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, Vol 4: In Every Town and Village, Around the World, 1968--71, Los Angeles: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust According to the letter of 28th July 1970 Prabhupada appointed following members to the commission
    • 1. Śrīmān Rupanuga Das Adhikary
    • 2. Śrīmān Bhagavandas Adhikary
    • 3. Śrīmān Syamsundar Das Adhikary
    • 4. Śrīmān Satsvarupa Das Adhikary
    • 5. Śrīmān Karandhar Das Adhikary
    • 6. Śrīmān Hansadutta Das Adhikary
    • 7. Śrīmān Tamala Kṛṣṇa Das Adhikary
    • 8. Śrīmān Sudama Das Adhikary
    • 9. Śrīmān Bali Mardan Das Brahmacary
    • 10. Śrīmān Jagadisa Das Adhikary
    • 11. Śrīmān Hayagriva Das Adhikary
    • 12. Śrīmān Kṛṣṇadas Adhikary
  7. ^ Schweig, G.M. (2005). "Dying the Good Death: The Transfigurative Power of Bhakti". The Intimate Other: Love Divine in Indic Religions: p.399. 

[edit] External links

[edit] Papers and Books by Tamal Krishna Goswami


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