About The Author
Swami B.G. Narasingha
Current Residense: S. India and Vermont, USA
Occupation/Service:Preacher/SadhuEmail: gosai@sover.net
Author's Web Page: http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/ Affiliations: Guardian of Devotion Mission About the Author: Sripad Narasingha Maharaja first came in contact with his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the summer of 1967 in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, but it was not until 1970 that he took hari-nama initiation from Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles, thus becoming his duly initiated disciple. At his initiation ceremony Narasingha Maharaja received the brahmachari name; Jagat Guru dasa. At the time of Srila Prabhupada giving Maharaja his brahmachari name many devotees were present who cheered with loud cries of Jai and Haribol! Maharaja engaged himself in the process of studying Srila Prabhupada's books, sankirtana,and book distribution as his life and soul.
In 1971 Maharaja received mantra-diksa (gayatri initiation). In 1972 Maharaja was requested by Srila Prabhupada to go to Africa for preaching. After two years of preaching in East Africa, Maharaja went to South Africa and thereafter Maharaja went to North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Emirates preaching the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Due to the many dangerous risks that Maharaja took on repeated occasions to serve Srila Prabhupada in African and Saudi Arabia, Maharaja became know amongst Srila Prabhupada's disciples as a fearless preacher of Krishna consciousness.
In 1976 Maharaja traveled to Sri Dhama Mayapur, the birth site of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, where Srila Prabhupada awarded him the status of sannyasa and the title of Swami. In the year that followed Maharaja's taking sannyasa he was in close association with Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur, Hydrabad, Kumbha Mela, and Vrindavana. In the last days of Srila Prabhupada's manifest pastimes on the earth Maharaja took every opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada and on many occasions Maharaja stayed at Srila Prabhupada's bedside throughout the night.
After the departure of Srila Prabhupada from this mortal world in November 1977 Maharaja remained in Vrindavana for four years.
In 1982 Narasingha Maharaja went to the United States for preaching at universities and colleges. In 1987 Sripad Narasingha Maharaja traveled to Mayapura, Navadwip Dham where he took specific instruction in the matter of Krishna consciousness from Srila Bhaktirakshaka Sridhara Deva Goswami Maharaja, the renowned saint and preceptor of the line of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada. During May of 1988 Sripad Narasingha Maharaja received the title and name Bhaktigaurava Narasingha from Srila Sridhar Maharaja who also conferred his blessings upon Maharaja and requested him to continue to preach Krishna consciousness throughout the world.
In October of 1988 Sripad Narasingha Maharaja went to Vrindavana accompanied by his dear Godbrother Sripad Bhaktibhavana Vishnu Maharaja and together they established the Rupanuga Bhajan Ashrama. In 1992 Maharaja established the Sri Krishna Chaitanya Ashrama at Trivandram and in 1995 he and Sripad Vishnu Maharaja established the Sri Narasingha Chaitanya Matha at Sri Rangapatna, Mysore. In 1998 Maharaja went to Vermont, U.S.A. where he established the Sri Sri Gaura Gadadhara Ashrama under the banner of the Guardian of Devotion Mission.
Over the years Sripad Narasingha Maharaja has written many Krishna conscious articles for such spiritual journals as Back to Godhead, Clarion Call, Gaudiya Vedanta and currently he is the senior editor of Saranagati. Maharaja has also authored several books such as Vaishnava India, Kumbha Mela, Evolution of Theism, The Authorized Sri Caitanya-Saraswata Parampara, Sat-Nyasa, and Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipika. In addition to these literary contributions of his own, Maharaja has edited and arranged for the publication of, In Search of the Ultimate Goal of Life by Srila Prabhupada and the title Prabhupada Saraswati Thakura, describing the life and precepts of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.
Due to his straight forward and affectionate dealings with all the devotees Sripad Narasingha Maharaja is held in high regard by Senior Vaishnavas, sannyasis, Godbrothers, Godsisters, and disciples alike. At the age of fifty-three Sripad Narasingha Maharaja continues to preach Krishna consciousness enthusiastically and enliven all those who come into his holy association. At present Maharaja resides at Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha on the banks of the sacred river Kaveri in South India (Maharaja sometimes visits the Matha in Vermont, USA during the winter months).
NEWS DESK | TOP
Surf the Web on
|