| Gopala Krishna Goswami | |
|---|---|
| Religion | Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism |
| Other name(s) | Gopal Krishna Khanna |
| Personal | |
| Born | August 14, 1944 New Delhi, British Raj |
| Religious career | |
| Initiation | Diksa–1969, Sannyasa–1981 |
| Post | ISKCON Guru, Sannyasi, Member of the Governing Body Commission |
| Website | http://www.gopalkrishna.com http://www.gopalkrishnagoswami.com http://www.gkgoffice.com/ |
Gopal Krishna Goswami is a religious leader within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (popularly known as the Hare Krishnas).[1] He was the first Indian disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to be initiated after the establishment of ISKCON. Gopal Krishna Goswami is currently a member of the Governing Body Commission[2] and an initiating guru within the movement.[3]
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Gopal Krishna Goswami was born on August 14, 1944 in New Delhi, India as Gopal Krishna Khanna. After graduating from the University of Delhi, he studied Business Management at the Sorbonne University of Paris[3] on a scholarship from the French Government, and later studied for a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the McGill University in Montreal. After finishing his education, Gopal Krishna Khanna worked as a marketing research analyst for Pepsi Cola and Bristol-Myers.
Gopal Krishna Khanna was living in Toronto in May 1968 when he first met with Srila Prabhupada on June 1, 1968. During a three month period where Prabhupada stayed in Montreal, Gopal Krishna regularly heard from him on devotional topics and took instruction regarding his own personal life.[4] Within two weeks of meeting him, Gopal Krishna Khanna decided to accept Srila Prabhupada as his spiritual master. In May 1969 he was initiated as one of Srila Prabhupada's disciples, receiving the name Gopal Krishna Dasa.
Later Gopal Krishna moved into the temple and lived there. He acted as Srila Prabhupada's secretary for several years. In 1970, he entered into an arranged marriage with a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Ekayani Devi Dasi from New York.[5] Gopal continued working for Bristol-Myers until 1975. In 1975, Srila Prabhupada sent Gopal Krishna to India, giving him the responsibility of being a Governing Body Commissioner within the area. Prabhupada also instructed him specifically to print and expand the distribution of his books in India and to translate and print books in Indian languages. Prabhupada was pleased when Gopal Krishna presented him the first copies of the Srimad Bhagavatam translated into Hindi.
In 1976, Prabhupada appointed Gopal Krishna as Governing Body Commissioner for the Soviet Union. Gopal Krishna made several trips to Communist Russia at that time to preach and publish the Bhagavad Gita in Russian.
In 1981 he took the sannyasa and was initiated into the monastic order of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. He took sannyasa initiation from Jayapataka Swami and the name, Tridandi Swami Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja. Since then Gopal Krishna Goswami has been traveling extensively all over the world preaching Gaudiya Vaishnavism, initiating disciples, delivering talks, and overseeing various philanthropic and devotional projects.[6]
Currently Gopal Krishna Goswami is the Governing Body Commissioner[2] of many countries and regions including Delhi, Vrindavan, Mumbai, Mayapur, Chandigarh, Kenya, Canada and parts of North America and Russia.
Gopal Krishna Goswami played a leading role in inspiring and completing several large ISKCON temples, such as the Glory of India temple in New Delhi (inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and the Radha-Bankebihari temple in Nairobi.
Gopal Krishna Goswami has been featured on Radio, Television and Newspaper stories in India and abroad commenting on various issues. He has delivered series of lectures to diverse audiences in the last three decades ranging from the Chamber of Commerce in Mumbai, IIT students in Delhi, and congregation householder ISKCON devotees to academics, politicians and interfaith communities. He regularly delivers lectures at ISKCON temples, speaking on various Hindu scriptures, such as Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana.