Ananda Sambada

His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja had somewhere in the region of 350 ‘western’ disciples, (inlcuding those from Bali and Singapore etc), and around 2000 local Oriya disciples, with around 150 or so more devotees who were about to take initiation when he left. We aim to eventually have all of our Guru Maharaja's disciples listed on this page. 

Please note that we are not promoting any godbrother or godsister in particular, nor are we against anyone.  

We are simply giving information, and we offer respects to one and all.

H.H. Sripad Haladhara Swami Maharaja

His Holiness Sripad Haladhara Swami Maharaja is now an officially recognized spiritual master within Iskcon and gave initiations to many eager and patient devotees on the 14th November, 2021. You can watch the ceremony on YouTube here https://youtu.be/tSuwjiUzVys 

Biography from Iskcon leaders website

Haladhar Swami was born and brought up in Odisha. He came in touch with devotees at ISKCON Bhubaneswar temple in the year 1992 and took initiation in year 1993, and named as Halayudha Dasa. HH Haladhara Swami Maharaj is one of the foremost disciples of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja.

Soon after joining temple as a full-time devotee, he rendered services in travelling Sankirtan party. Then he served as the Head-Pujari of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Temple at Bhubaneswar. As per the instructions of his spiritual master, he started to preach the knowledge of Srimad Bhagavatam in Odia, through various programs like Namahatta and other programs.

After the disappearance of his Gurudev, Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, in 1996, he took this order to preach as his life and soul. He preaches in Odia language and gives 3, 5 or 7 day Seminars / Bhagavat Katha even in the rural parts of Odisha. He is a as one of the famous Odia Bhagavat Kathakar.

Seeing his sincerity and dedication, he was awarded the renounced order of life, Sanyasa. He accepted Sanyasa on 20th March, 2016 from His Holiness Radha Govinda Goswami Maharaja at ISKCON, Bhubaneswar.

Currently he organizes seminars across the globe in various languages, including English and Hindi. He is also invited to various parts of the country for his nectarine Hari Katha. He also travels to Europe, Australia, Indonesia and various other countries for preaching.

Through the last 25 years of his devotional life, Maharaja is leading a simple life and advocates highly on Sri Guru and Vaishnava seva. He inspires everyone in these principles and His words are transforming many in ISKCON.

Haladhar Maharaja's followers run the website Www.TaptaJivanam.com and Facebook page    https://www.facebook.com/tapta.jivanam 

Videos of his classes and more can be found at https://www.facebook.com/iskconpattamundai 

H.H. Sripad Bhakti Prana Gopinath Swami Maharaja

HH BP Gopinath Swami is an early follower and disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Swami, and held several positions at the Bhubaneswar Temple during our Guru Maharaja's presence. He was vice President for many years, and also was in charge of the Nama Hatta and Padayatra programs. He is currently based in Cuttack and has travelled to Indonesia for preaching purposes.

Sri Patita Pavana das prabhu

Sri Patita Pavana prabhu is one of Srila Gurudeva's earliest disciples. In fact, prabhuji took initiation from Guru Maharaja even before the first batch of disciples did so in 1985. He is a retired civil engineer, and was responsible for the construction of the Bhubaneswar and Gadei Giri temples. He also designed and built the Radha-Gopinath Lotus Temple at Iskcon Bhubaneswar. 

Sri Atmarama das prabhu

Sri Atmarama prabhu is a seniour devotee based at the Bhubaneswar Temple. He took initiation from Guru Maharaja in 1985, and spent much time personally with His Divine Grace over the years. He was, at one time, the Tempe President at Iskcon Bhubaneswar (and also was vice-president for many years), the head of the Life Membership program, and also held many other responsible positions. And Guru Maharaja took Atmarama prabhu with him when he travelled to Europe in 1992, as his personal servant. Prabhu has started travelling outside of India, and preaching in his own right, as Guru Maharaja's representative, with his first tour to South Africa in 2019, and he is currently on the Iskcon sannyasa waiting list.

Though prabhuji mainly speaks in Oriya, and also Hindi, there are a few English language lectures you can watch on YouTube, such as https://youtu.be/5VNSsq0fB1g ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWA-lRzil1M ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC5JlyUJuyA and  https://youtu.be/rvZSIDz8Kc0 . 

Sri Nimai Pandit das prabhu and Srimati Manjmedha devi dasi

Sri Madhavananda das prabhu

Madhavananda prabhu joined ISKCON in Los Angeles in 1982. He moved to Bhubaneswar in 1993, and travelled with Guru Maharaja on his tour of Europe in 1994, as his personal servant. Under Guru Maharaja's direction, he began publishing books of Guru Maharaja's compiled lectures, and has been running Gopaljiu Publications as it's Editor-in-Chief since it's founding the mid 1990s. Thanks to Madhavananda prabhu, Gopaljiu Publications has published many books, amongst the best known would be;

When Good Fortune Arises (an all-in-one Life and Teachings of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami)

The Embankment of Separation

Mathura Meets Vrindavan

and Gopaljiu, The Beloved Deity of Srila Gour Govinda Swami.

Gopaljiu Publications has brought out many more titles, and also publishes the scholarly Krishna Kathamrita magazine, and the fortnightly Krishna Kathamrita Bindhu https://www.facebook.com/kkbindu The Bindu also has a group on Telegram https://t.me/+7j4J-eBDEHQ1OTU1 

Madhavananda prabhu has established the GORA institute, for research into Gaudiya and Oriya literatures, with an extensive library. This has been set up in Jagannath Puri dhama (where he currently resides), and where the prabhu also gives guided parikramas of this most sacred place. He travels widely throughout Europe, every year, on extensive preaching tours.

Madhavananda prabhu's wife Krishna Kunda dasi has been his support and assistant for many years. 

He can be found on social media, https://www.facebook.com/Madhavananda.Das and gives live classes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/user/MadhavaGGS

H.H. Sripad Murali Krsna Swami Maharaja

Murali Krsna Swami first came to Srila Gour Govinda Swami in the early 1990s, and on his instruction, started a preaching centre in Amherst, USA. He became a varnaprastha in 2004, and in 2013, took sannayas from HH Jayapataka Swami. For years he, along with his devotees from Russia, was supporting the Hare Krishna Utsav, Padayatra and Ratha Yatra at the Bhubaneswar Temple, and completed construction at Jantaribol Temple. He is custodian of the Gour Govinda Swami Samadhi Project and Ashram at Sri Mayapur Ghat, where he is also constructing a Jagannath Temple. Maharaja also runs several temples in Russia and the Baltic States, and has arranged the translation of Guru Maharaja's books into the Russian and Chinese languages. 

(After some disagreement with the GBC, Maharaja is not currently an official Iskcon member).

You can find Maharaja on FB, https://www.facebook.com/Murali.Krsna.Swami and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/HHMKSMEDIA 

Srimati Gunacuda devi dasi

Gunacuda devi dasi became an initiated disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Swami in 1994, on Nityananda trayodasi. She lived for several years in Bhubaneswar, and was a mainstay on the Hare Krsna Utsav and Padaytra programs in Orissa, where she would preach every evening in the local Oriya language (much to the satisfaction of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami). With her family - Vrindavan das and their son Gopal - she eventually moved to Mayapur to teach at the gurukula, where she became a Principle. She is now Priniciple at Bhaktivedanta Manor gurukula in the UK.

Sri Titiksu das prabhu and Srimati Jayanti Sri dasi

Titiksu prabhu and Jayanti Sri dasi, along with their daughter Rasika Nagari, and together they run the Vanisanga website www.gourgovindaswami-vanisanga.com which has pages on Instagram, as well as -

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/quoteofthedaysggm, 

You Tube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKCaUCcWnep36oOQLLybjDA and elsewhere on the internet. 

They have been posting daily quotes from Guru Maharaja, along with his videos for many years now.

Sri Purusottama Tirtha das prabhu

Purusottama Tirtha prabhu took initiation from our most revered Guru Maharaja in the early 1990s. He was based for some time in Surinam, and is currently the temple president of the Iskcon centre in Antwerp, Belgium.

Sri Puskaraksa das prabhu

Puskaraksa prabhu came to Krishna consciousness in 1980, and was Srila Gurudeva's first western disciple. He first heard from Guru Maharaja on his 1985 European tour, and was most fortunate to have been his servant for Guru Maharaja's two week stay in France. At that time, he realized that Srila Gour Govinda Swami was in fact a top most vaisnava, and took initiation from him on Ramanavami, 1986. Prabhuji spent some time at the Bhubaneswar temple in the mid 1990s, where he was looking after the Temple's public relations. Prabhuji currently lives in France.

Sri Satwatpati das prabhu

Satwatpati prabhu was first connected to the Bhubaneswar Temple in 1989, but joined as a full-time brahmacari in 1994, taking intiation from Srila Gurudeva in 1995. He was been a book distributor, and was attached to the Nama Hatta, and Padaytra, programs. He has been Head Pujari at the Temple for the past two decades, and, after being vice-president for a number of years, has been co-President since 2019. Currently, he is looking after the Pujari department, Youth and Congregation preaching, Sankirtan department and is the director of the Namahatta program. He also heads up the Bhubaneswar Temple extention centres at Jajpur Road, Nayagarh, and Jeypore. 

Sri Upendra Misra das prabhu

Upendra Misra prabhu is one of the co Temple Presidents at Bhubaneswar. He is in charge of the day to day running of the Temple, has been on the festival committee since 1995, and for many years he has looked after Srila Gurudeva's Smriti Mandir and Samadhi for many years. Prabhu is always busy. He was original known as Umakantha Pradhan, and his birthplace was Rambhila in the Kendarapara district of Odisha. In 1992, whilst he was working in the business sector, Prabhu began visiting the Temple and he finally joined Iskcon full-time as a devotee in 1994, becoming initiated the next year. He initially did seva in the gardens before joining the sankitan and Life Membership departments.

(Purandar Acarya das and Jd)

Sri Nru Hari das prabhu

Nru Hari prabhu became a member of Iskcon in the early 1980s, joining the Paris temple. He met our Guru Maharaja in Mayapur in 1988 and later that year became his initiated disciple. He moved to England, where he spent time serving at Soho Street, Bhaktivedanta Manor and Birmingham temples, and the Liverpool preaching centre. Guru Maharaja gave him the instruction to preach in East Africa, where, along with his ex-wife Priti laksana dasi, they established an ashram and orphanage in Uganda. (Priti laksana mataji is still very much involved with the preaching there.) Nru Hari prabhu has been based in the USA for the last ten years, and is currently living in Seattle, but he travels widely visiting temples and festivals world wide, preaching and performing kirtan. 

Sri Naba Kisore das prabhu

Naba kisore prabhu (previously Nilakantha Mohapatra) was the dedicated personal servant of our beloved Srila Gurudeva for the last few years Guru Maharaja was present here in this world. Whenever Guru Maharaja would travel around the state, he would always be accompanied by his servant Naba Kisore prabhu, and his cook, Sadhu prabhu. 

Sri Jagannath Misra das prabhu

Jagannath Misra prabhu joined ISKCON in 1987 and received diksa in 1992 when he moved to Bhubaneswar, where he stayed full time until 1997. He expressed his desire to study Oriya and preach in Orissa, which was approved and encouraged by Guru Maharaja. His full time service during his five year stay was learning the language of our beloved Gurudeva and preaching in Oriya on the Namahatta programme in the villages, and attending the annual Padayatra celebrations.

He is now translating documents written in Oriya by associates of Gauranga Mahaprabhu that have never before been translated into English. So far he has translated the maha-bhava-prakash written by Kaniya Khuntiya; and the vaisnava-lilamrita written by Madhava Pattnayaka.(see Oriya biographies for more info.) Serving in co-operation with Choti Mangalapura project he will shortly undertake the translation of Professor Fakir Mohan's Phd. thesis on the life of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Orissa.

Srimati Nalini devi Dasi

Nalini devi dasi first heard from Guru Maharaja in Sri Mayapur dhama, during the Festival in 1992, where he told her she should go to Bhubaneswar and cancel her other travel plans in India at the time. She did so, and surrendered to his lotus feet. She took initiation from His Divine Grace in Bhubaneswar a couple of years later, on Gaura Purnima, 1994. Starting in August 1992, Guru Maharaja would always visit Nalini Mataji's house whenever he would come to the UK. Nalini travelled around Europe following His Divine Grace in 1994 and 95, and would cook twice daily for him and do many other sevas. 

Beginning in 2004, Nalini Mataji was very much involved in establishing and maintaining Saranagati Bhavan, an ashram run by Iskcon Bhubaneswar, in Mayapur, as well as Srila Gurudeva's Pushpa Samadhi in the Dhama.

In 1996, she set up what was originally the European Tape Ministry, Srila Gour Govinda Swami Media Services, which she still runs to this day and  can always been seen at the London Ratha yatra with her Srila Gurudeva book table. Mataji is also involved in many local preaching programs and does street book sankirtan.

Sri Anupama das prabhu and Srimati Madanalasa devi dasi

Anupama prabhuji explained that both he  and Madanalasa devi dasi feel most fortunate to have been initiated by our beloved Srila Gurudeva as some of his last disciples on Sri Krsna Janmastmi 1995, at the ISKCON Bhubaneswar temple. When Srila Gurudeva visited Europe on his final tour to the continent in July 1995, His Divine Grace stayed in their apartment in The Hague for five days, where they managed to render many personal services at his lotus feet. The couple travelled to Sri Mayapur Dhama with Srila Gurudeva in 1996 and were present in his room, witnessing, as Srila Gurudeva performed his antya lila. 

After reading Srila Prabhupada's books for some years, in February, 1992 Srimati Madanalasa devi dasi visited Sri Mayapur dhama with some friends, during the Gaura Purnima festival. There she heard our Gurudeva for the first time, where Srila Gurudeva was speaking in the Temple room on how Krishna becomes indebted to his dear devotee. She was deeply impressed by his knowledge and genuine humility, and a change took place within her heart. 

Sri Lila Avatar das prabhu 

Lila Avatar das prabhuji first joined Iskcon back in 1973, but left after some time. He again joined the Temple in 1990, and based himself at Gita Nagari, where he would build the Radha Damodara Temple, with the grace of his beloved Gurudeva. Prabhuji was crying daily before the deities and Srila Prabhupada that Srila Prabhupada would his guru. Then in 1992, His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja made a visit to Gita Nagarai, and after hearing Srila Gurudeva's class, Lila Avatar prabhu was one hundred percent convinced that Guru Maharaja was Srila Prabhupada's true and pure respresentative. Prabhu explains, "From that day till the day Srila Gurudeva left our mortal vision there is no doubt in my mind that he is the pure representative of our Gaudiya Vaishnava Parampara." Lila Avatar prabhu was present in the room during Srila Gurudeva's final pastimes, and had stayed close by Guru Maharaja during those last few days in Sri Mayapur Dhama. After Srila Gurudeva's departure in 1996, Lila Avatar prabhu married into the Giri family and spent a couple of years in the village of Gadei Giri. Then, together with his wife and son, he moved to Bhubaneswar where they were based for the next couple of decades. Every year Lila Avatar would go to Vrindavana for the festival where, together with a team of younger devotees, he distributed thousands of Srila Gurudeva's books to eager devotees attending the festival. Lila Avatar prabhu and family have recently moved to the United States.

Sri Krsnananda das prabhu

Sri Navadvipa candra das prabhu

Navadvipa candra prabhuji first met the devotees in 1982, but had already been reading Srila Prabhupada's Gita and Krishna Book for three years by then, whilst he was at University. As Nishit Patel, Prabhu became involved with Iskcon Namahatta firstly in South London, and then a couple of years later Romford. 

Prabhu first heard a tape of Srila Gurudeva speaking whilst in a car with his brother-in-law Krsnananda prabhuji, and he explains that, "The roaring class interlaced with sastric evidence and the songs of Narottam Das Thakur and Bhaktivinode Thakur was like a jolt from a thunderbolt. It was very different to any class I’d ever heard before. I heard about the glorious background  heritage and the wonderful pastimes of this great Sadhu in Bhubaneswar, and after eleven years of being connected with ISKCON, I decided I had to take darshan of this great personality. On the day after the opening ceremony of Krsna Balaram Temple in 1991 I had my first darshan of His Divine Grace, and heard, first hand experience, such a powerful class on the glories of Lord Nityananda."

"The following two years I followed Srila Gurudeva on his UK tours, and he blessed us by staying at our home when holding programs at both the Romford Temple and in our own home. In1992 I requested shelter at Srila Gurudeva's lotus feet, and he mercifully gave me diksha in 1993 at the Bhubanswar Temple. For the next three years during his UK preaching tours ( 1993 to 95), by the kind mercy of my dear Godbrothers who blessed me with this wonderful service, I had the great fortune of being HDGs personal driver."

Navadvipa candra prabhu is currently involved as a trustee of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur's Sri Sri Radha Madhava and the Chotti project, a responsibility that was given to him by Professor Sripad Fakir Mohan Das Prabhu. Currently he is also working with ISKCON Redbridge and the Iskcon Sanga in East London. He has been married to Devyani (a strict dedicated Pushti Marg Vaisnavi) for more than 40 years, and together they have a daughter, Radhika.

Srimati Sujata devi dasi

Sujata devi dasi (previously Sunitha Gopal) joined the Temple of Sri Sri Radha Radhanatha in Chatsworth, Durban in 1986, aged 16 years old, though she had been attending the Temple and programs for the previous 10 years. Her family often hosted devotees, and one of her sisters, and her mother, along with several other family members are all initiated devotees in Iskcon. Sujata's main service in the temple was sewing, making garlands and assisting in the deity kitchen. In early 1989 she married Janeshwar das, then later that year they both were accepted as disciples by our beloved Srila Gurudeva. After spending some time in Bhubaneswar, they returned to the UK, via Africa and Ireland, where they currently live wth their two children Govinda Prashad and Radhapriya. Sujata devi dasi assists Janeshwar with the Ananda Sambada newsletter.

H. H. Sripad Bhakti Nilachal Swami

On 10th of November 2023, Sri Trailokyanath prabhu, a disciple of our beloved Srila Gurudeva, took sannyasa initiation and from now on is known as Sripad Bhakti Nilachal Swami. During the physical presence in Bhubaneswar of our beloved Gurudeva, Trailokyanath prabhu worked in the printing press and publishing department at the Temple. As Trailokyanath prabhu, he helped us on many occasions with the publishing of Ananda Sambada newsletter at the Press in Bhubaneswar.

Sri Sankara Pandit das Prabhu

Sankara Pandit prabhuji was born in the town of Dhenkanal, Orissa. Known by the name Sankarsana Lenka, he first met Srila Gurudeva in 1982 and subsequently visited the Bhubaneswar Temple regularly, joining the Society full time in 1984. Prabhu became an initiated disciple of HDG Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami at the first initiation ceremony on Ramnavami in 1985 (as such, he was one of Srila Gurudeva's earliest disciples). Prabhu became the pujari for the Jagannath deities on the travelling sankirtan bus, travelling the length and bredth of Orissa, dedicatedly serving the Lord. He became the pujari for the original Gour-Nitai deities, and then when the Bhubaneswar Temple was opened in 1991, for many years he was the head pujari in the main temple, and also took up the service of Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath in the Lotus Temple. After our beloved Srila Gurudeva left this world, Sankara Pandit prabhu moved to Vrndavan dhama, where he served Srila Gurudeva's Puspa samadhi for many, many years. He is currently staying at our Iskcon Temple in Pattamundai.

(Purandar acarya das)

Sri Nanda Kisor das Prabhu

Nanda Kisor das prabhu was born in Raibiruha, Dist. Puri, to Purnacandra Devra (HH Radha Govinda Swami) and Divya drsti devi dasi (HH Sripad Maharaja), his name was Narendra Behera, and prabhu has four brothers and one sister. Prior to joining the devotees, Nanda Kisor prabhu was the assistant at a law firm, and the lawyer he was working for bought a set of Srila Prabhupada's books from Ram bhadra prabhu. Nanda Kisor started reading those books and thus came to Krsna consciousness. Prabhuji first met Srila Gurudeva on the Dasami day during Durga puja, 1989. Three months later prabhuji joined the Bhubaneswar Temple and became an initiated disciple of our beloved Srila Gurudeva on Nityananda trayodashi in 1991. His service at the Temple was at first in the kitchen and then he became part of the travelling sankirtan bus as a book distributer. Next prabhu was sent to the Temple at Gadei giri to do his seva. 

Nanda Kisor prabhu is most famous as a wonderful kirtaneer, and during the presence of Srila Gurudeva, he was a regular singer in the Temple and at festivals. 

(Purandar acarya das)

Sri Sripati das prabhu

Sripati das prabhu was born into a brahmin family, in Chandanpur, Dist. Bhadrak. Before coming to the Temple, and whilst known as Santanu Kumar Das, prabhuji's occupation was as an entertainer in public performances of Krsna lila and kirtans. Sripati first met Srila Gurudeva in September, 1986 and joined the Temple during Janmastami 1989. Prabhu then took initiation from Srila Gurudeva on Janmastami day 1990. Sripati prabhu travelled as a book distributor on one of the sankirtan buses for five years and then joined the Nama hatta preaching party, did kitchen service and also the regular giving program. Prabhu joined the grhasta ashram in the year 2013, and spent some time serving at Iskcon Bhadrak. Now prabhuji stays at Gadei giri and does book distribution and preaching.

During Srila Gurudeva's presence at Bhubaneswar, he was the recipient of our Gurudeva's kind attention. He always had to sit at the front of class and you can hear our Gurudeva mentioning Sripati prabhu's name in many of his Bhubaneswar discourses. On one occasion prabhu performed some songs and theatre from his previous repertoire in front of Srila Gurudeva and the devotees, at the Bhubaneswar Temple.

(Purandar acarya das)

Sri Gokulananda das prabhu

Gokulananda das prabhuji was born in Jaycandanpur, Dist. Kendrapada, and was called Ganeswara Swain. He first met Srila Gurudeva in 1978, and became an initiated disciple in the first group of disciples on Ram Navami 1985. With his background in engineering and construction, Gokulananda prabhu was engaged by our Guru Maharaja in the construction of the Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Temple at Bhubaneswar, Sri Sri Radha Gopaljiu's Temple at Gadei giri, the Atala Farm and goshala, and Srila Gurudeva also gave him the seva to look after the Iskcon land in Jagannath Puri. 

Prabhu became a varnaprastha in 2019 and now resides at the Radha Gopaljiu Temple in Gadei giri, where he  regularly gives Bhagavad gita class and other seva.

(Purandar acarya das)

Sri Rambhadra das Prabhu

Rambhadra prabhu comes from Garam in the district of Jagatsinghpur (which is about 4 or 5 kms from Jagannathpur, the town where Srila Gurudeva had earlier made his appearance in this world. Garam is 16 kms from Gadei giri) and was known as Ravindra Samala. Rambhadra prabhu joined Iskcon in 1981 and then took initiation in the first group of Srila Gurudeva's disciples on Ram Navami 1985. Prabhuji did pujari seva and went on travelling sankirtan for a year. He was Srila Gurudeva's personal servant for two years around 1990, plus did the seva on and off for short periods over a few years. 

Rambhadra prabhu nowadays is doing a lot of preaching in Jagatsinghpur area, gives class at Bhubaneswar regularly, and also joins the padayatra in Odisha every year. Prabhu is a famous mrdanga player (you can hear his mrdanga playing expertise in our Guru Maharaja's classes at Bhubaneswar.)

(Purandar acarya das, Jd)

Sri Anirudha das Prabhu

Anirudha das prabhu was born Abhaya Kumar Manik, to his parents Sri Brajabandhu Manik and Sri Vasanti devi, in the town of Angul in 1960, where his father was at that time a high school teacher. His father was the great Mahanta who took the sannyasa order and became known as Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami. Prabhu joined the Iskcon Temple in 1978 and for the next two years he went out distributing Srila Prabhupada's books, preaching alonside Bhagavat das (Maharaja), Lagudi prabhu and others. He was also a regular in kitchen seva. He then studied and became qualified as an elementary school teacher and became Anirudha das with the first group of disciples in 1985. Anirudha prabhu took up the grhasta ashram and became a teacher. Anirudha prabhu regularly comes to the Temple for seva.

(Purandar Acara das)

Srimati Sachi Devi Dasi

Sri Krishnagati das Prabhu

Sri Gopal Krishna das Prabhu

Sri Umapati das Prabhu

Sri Jagat Pati das Prabhu

Sri Madan Mohan das Prabhu

Madan Mohan das prabhu was born in Sraddhapur, Ganjam district and was known by the name Mahanta Pradhan. He moved to the Temple by running away from home as a youngster, after hearing Srila Gurudeva speak at a local program. Everything was okay, and from that time Prabhu has been serving at the Temple in Bhubaneswar. Madan Mohan prabhu took initiation from Srila Gurudeva on Janmastami day 1986. Prabhuji has always been a brahmacari and for decades has been the brahmacari leader. He has been in charge of the Temple's three bus book distribution parties for decades, and for just as long has also been the de facto Temple Commander. One of the reasons our Iskcon Temple in Bhubaneswar functions smoothly is because of Prabhu's enthusiasm and his dedicatedly non-stop working in the background.

(Purandar Acarya das)

Sri Mahaprabhu das Prabhu

Mahaprabhu das prabhu was born in Bailo, Cuttack disrict, and became Maheswara Nayak. Whilst he was at school at Athagarh, in 1969 Prabhu became a student of Sri Brajabandhu Manik, a very popular teacher at the school, who later became Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja. Mahaprabhu prabhu worked in  bank and then in 1980 he joined the Iskcon society, and as well as doing all general Temple seva, because he was a banker, Srila Gurudeva asked him to become his accountant and help him look after the Temple finances. Then, on Rama Navami, 1985, along with many other fortunate souls, he took initiation from our beloved Srila Gurudeva in the first group of disciples. Another daily seva Mahaprabhu performed was that before Bhagavatam class he would carry Srila Gurudeva's books to the Vyasa asana. Nowadays Prabhuji has retired from his work and is engaged in congregational preaching, and he goes on Padayatra through Odisha every year.

(Purandar Acarya das)

Srimati Bisnupriya Devi Dasi

Bisnupriya Devi Dasi took birth as Basanta Samala in Garam, Tirtol in the Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha State. She first came to Iskcon after meeting with H.H. Swayambhu Swami Maharaja, then attending some programs at Poio Matha and reading Prabhupada's book The Topmost Yoga System. She next met Srila Gurudeva and was able to ask him some questions, and perform some seva at his lotus feet. Then, in 1985 as part of the first group of initiates, Bisnupriya devi dasi became a disciple of our beloved Srila Gurudeva. Her seva was (and still is) that when she would come to the Iskcon Temple at Bhubaneswar she would make garlands for the deities, and also for our Gurudeva. Bisnupriya devi dasi is married to Sri Mahaprabhu das Prabhu.

(Purandar Acarya das)

Sri Vanamali Pandit das Prabhu

Vanamali Pandit das prabhu was previously known as Bijay Kumar Swain, and was born in Badijanga in Jagatsinghpur district, around 10 kms from Srila Gurudeva's appearance place. Prabhu previous occupation was at a printing press in Bhubaneswar, and when Srila Gurudeva began the Guru Gouranga Press at our Iskcon Temple, Prabhu joined the (in 1983) to take up service there, which was most useful due to his expertise and background. Prabhu took initiation in 1986. For many years Vanamali prabhu was an editor, and was doing much of the work associated with the printing of books and magazines. Nowadays, whilst he is a grhasta, prabhu spends most of his time doing seva at the Temple, and is very much a handy man looking after building maintenance.

(Purandar Acarya das)

Sri Purandar Acarya das Prabhu

Purandar Acarya prabhu joined Iskcon at the Puri Project in 1990. From there, Prabhu moved to the Sri Partha Sarathi Temple in New Delhi, and spent a year there and also in Vrndavan's Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara Temple. Sometime later, in 1991, Purandar Acarya visited the Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Temple in Bhubaneswar, where he first met and heard from our Srila Gurudeva. He came prepared with a list of 33 questions to ask, and was feeling quite proud that he was coming from the big city New Delhi Temple, and he felt that he would test our Guru Maharaja who was living in this poor backwater Bhubaneswar temple. After waiting most of the day, in the evening he came before Gurudeva for darshan, and at their initial meeting, he proudly asked his first question, where he raised a point that Srila Prabhupada said the jiva fell from being with Krishna in the spiritual world. Guru Maharaja instantly challenged his assumption that this is what Prabhupada had said, called him a nonsense a few times and told him to go, smashing his pride. That night he was unable to sleep, and he decided he would go to visit his family the next day before heading back to the Delhi Temple. The next morning, Prabhu decided to go to class before taking prasham, but hid behind Srila Prabhupada's murti in the temple room so that Gurudeva wouldn't see him. In his pocket was the piece of paper with his 33 questions. During that class, maybe in 40 minutes, the Oriya language class, Guru Maharaja answered every one of Purandar's questions, which were actually about a whole variety of different subjects - jiva tattva, guru tattva, Sriman Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Ramacandra etc. Hearing Srila Gurudeva he became totally convinced that this is no ordinary person. He went to speak with Srila Gurudeva after the end of English class, maybe 11.30 and asked permission to stay with him at Bhubaneswar. On Nityananda Traiyodashi 1992, he took initiation and became Purnadar Acarya das. 

Prior to initiation, Prabhuji's service at the temple was cleaning the cooking pots, and being a general kitchen assistant. After initiation, he joined the newly formed Nama hatta travelling program and Padaytra where he served for another 10 years or so. Purandar was present in Guru Maharaja's room during the disappearnce lila of His Divine Grace. 

Then prabhu, who is a well-known and expert kirtan singer, spent many years travelling around the world, serving for 4 or 5 years in Birmingham but also visiting and staying in other western temples. Now prabhu lives in Sri Jagannath Puri dhama, where he runs the Gour Govinda Swami Ashram, in which he stays with his wife and son. Devotees can rent rooms as guests at the Ashram, which gives Purandar Acarya prabhu the opportunity to serve the vaisnava pilgrims. He has seven rooms available for guests. If you would like to find out more, please contact him at purandara108@gmail.com and on WhatsApp 0091 9439780128, and have a look on Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mK4SdypARmPRch2MA?g_st=iw                                                       

Srimati Anuradha Devi Dasi

Anuradha devi dasi joined the Iskcon society at the age of 21 in June 1979, in Sri in Vrindavan Dhama. Two months later she received apparent initiation from an unqualified guru within Iskcon. Then, in November, she was sent to Australia for the Christmas collection marathon. After two years she was married to a Prabhupada disciple and they had two daughters, Nadia and Vishnupriya. Together they opened a preaching centre on the north shore of Sydney, and then also opened the temple in North Sydney, both of which are still operating today. After the exposure of their fallen so-called guru, her husband felt too disappointed and left Krishna consciousness, and so they divorced. After some time, Mataji remarried, to Jagadatma das (another disciple of Srila Prabhupada), who was then a single dad with 3 children, Rupa, Gopal and Palika. Anuradha writes, "Eventually, with the addition of our son Abhirama, we were a happy family". In 1989 the family moved to New Govardhan farm.

Anuradha devi dasi says that Srila Prabhupada mercifully answered their prayers for a bonafide spiritual master, because in November 1990 they met their eternal revered spiritual master, Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami, on his first visit to Australia and new Govardhan farm. A strange event occured later that year, on the 12th of December, when their house burned down. Gurudeva confirmed this to be Krishna's arrangement and invited the family to move to Bhubaneswar, which they did in August 1991, and where they remained until after the departure of our bloved Srila Gurudeva. The family returned to Australia. In 2007, her husband decided to become a varnaprastha, and moved back to India on his own. In 2010 Anuradha Mataji took the Bhakti sastri course in Mayapur and has been teaching parts of the BS course to devotees at the VIHE and MI since that time. She spends much of her time now in Sri Vrndavana Dhama, and in 2024, she has written and published a book entitled, 'From Crow to Swan'.

Sri Stabira das Prabhu and Srimati Sindura devi dasi

Stabira das prabhu was born Sudamacandra Sahoo in Banguary, district Khurda, and his occupation prior to coming to the temple was as a typist. He first came in contact with the devotees in 1984 and the next year were amongst the group of first disciples initiated by Srila Gurudeva. Sindura devi dasi was born in Adasia, which is is the Cuttack district. Before coming to the Temple, mataji was a housewife and was called Swarnalata Sahoo. Along with her husband, she took initiation in 1985. At that time, devotees would whatever seva was needed to be done at the time. As they were householders and prabhu had to work, they could only attend and serve at the Temple on Sundays and other days such as festivals.

(Purandar Acarya das)

Sri Samihana das Prabhu

Samihana das prabhuji took his birth in Bhanupur in Mayurbhanj district, and was known as Sumanta Kumar Rana. Before joining Iskcon, in 1991, Prabhu was a school teacher. Prabhu began his seva in the kitchen and other temple seva. He then served in the Life Membership department and later as a book distributor. He was most fortunate to become Guru Maharaja's personal servant, and remained so until His Divine Grace departed. Prabhu moved to Sri Vrndavan dhama for some years. 

(Purandar Acarya das)

H.H. Sripad Bhakti Vedanta Muni Maharaja

Swami Bhakti Vedanta Muni Maharaj was born in a Gaudiya Vaisnava family in Anandapur, Keonjhar district, Orissa. His parents were high-class Vaisnavas who desired to have a qualified vaisnava son. So, Krushna Prasad Samal was born. From the beginning of his life Krushna Prasad, his samskaras (impressions) of Krishna Consciousness were deepened, because his parents' home was actually a math (temple) where aratikas (worship of Sri Krishna) and kirtans (devotional songs) were performed and the Puranas such as the Srimad-Bhagavatam were recited. Therefore, from his early childhood, Krushna Prasad was able to hear harikatha and also received chances to serve the Vaisnavas.

At the age of twelve, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is attracted Krushna Prasad towards the worldwide preaching movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The edition he was reading was translated into Oriya by Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja. The elder brother of Krushna Prasad was already an associated member of ISKCON and Krushna Prasad himself became a follower of ISKCON in 1985, at the age of thirteen. His elder brother instructed him to strictly chant a minimum of sixteen rounds daily and observe Ekadasi regularly, which he followed with strong determination. After five years of progressing his college education and at the same time deepening his spiritual practice, Krushna Prasad renounced his study in 1991, at the age of eighteen and joined the Bhubaneswar Temple. He had revealed his wish to his father that he would like to take shelter at the lotus feet of  Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, who was known as a siddha-vaisnava among the Gaudiya Vaisnavas in Orissa.  His father said that serving your Guru is more than serving thousands of your fathers. The very next day, Krushna Prasad left his home, and mercifully, Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja accepted him as his own by giving Krushna Prasad Harinam initiation but he did not change his name. Now he became known as Krishna Prasad Das. 

As a full-time devotee residing in Sri Sri Krishna-Balaram Temple of ISKCON, under the guidance of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, he became part of the traveling sankirtana movement and distributed thousands of Srila Prabhupada’s books. He also joined the padayatra and Nama programs and travelled all over Orissa at that time. In 1995 Krishna Prasad Das was put in charge of a department named ISKCON Educational Services. The purpose of this program was to provide spiritual education to schools, colleges and universities. Another service of Krishna Prasad Das was to distribute prasadam to poor and neglected children. He delivered the prasadam in the streets, throughout the villages and in schools. 

Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja gave him several instructions, one of which was to preach Sriman Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission in Orissa and also in English-speaking countries. On another occasion he instructed him to perform and preach vaisnava bhajans. Because Krishna Prasad Das had full trust in his Gurudeva, he could learn difficult Orissan classical bhajans and even play instruments without learning at a music school or by the help of a teacher. In the instruction of a siddha-vaisnava the ability to follow this instruction is inherent. Maharaja is a wonderful singer of our Gaudiya bhajans, in the traditional Oriya style.

In the year 2004 in Govardhan, Srila B.V. Narayan Maharaja bestowed upon Krishna Prasad Das the holy order of sannyasa, the sannyas name Bhakti Vedanta Muni and also gave him the instruction to preach all over the world. 

(1) https://bvmuni.org/?page_id=15 (2)https://bvmuni.org/ (3)https://youtube.com/@Kathamrta108?si=kqRwV5GLL02NqKcm (4)https://youtube.com/@bhagabatadarshana4027?si=yKEV9P25jRflSlzl (5)https://youtube.com/@PremaDhvani?si=SSKRTuqj5N4deCyg 

Sri Ujjvala Nilamani das Prabhu

Sri Sundarananda das Prabhu and Srimati Prema Manjari Devi dasi

Sri Sri Rama Pandit das Prabhu

Sri Rama Pandit das prabhu was known as Sankar Padhi, was born in Jhalarsing, Gajapati district, and before coming to our Iskcon Society, he was a student. Prabhuji joined the temple in 1992, around Vyasa puja time, and became an initiated disciple of our Gurudeva on Janmastami in 1993. His temple seva included washing the pots, and working in the gardens. Then prabhu became a book distributor with the travel sankirtan bus parties and worked for a long  in the Life Membership department as one of the top fundraisers. He now runs his own business at Ksiracora Gopinath looking after tourists visiting the temples, and still comes to the Bhubaneswar Temple whenever he can, on big festival days.

(Purandar Acarya das)

Sri Isvara das Prabhu