Giriraja Swami

Glen
Personal life
Born	September 13, 1947 Chicago, United States
Other names	Glenn Phillip Teton
Religious life
Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism
Initiation	Diksa–1969, Sannyasa–1978
Senior posting
Post	ISKCON Guru, Sannyasi, Member of the Governing Body Commission
Website	http://www.girirajswami.com

Giriraj Swami (IAST: Giri-rāja Svāmī; born Glenn Phillip Teton[1]; September 13, 1947) is an initiating guru in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON.[2][1]

Background

Giriraj Swami was born Glenn Phillip Teton, the only son of a Chicago lawyer, Alfred B. Teton, who was later appointed judge. In March 1969, while studying at Brandeis University in Boston, he met A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). After graduating from Brandeis, he accepted formal initiation from Srila Prabhupada and received the spiritual name Giriraj das.

In 1972, Giriraj was appointed by Prabhupada to be president of ISKCON Bombay and trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.[3] Since then, he has contributed to Srila Prabhupada's mission, overseeing all aspects of the development of Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Bombay. He was instrumental in the acquisition and development of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhan and led the development of the Kirtan Ashram for women,[4] the Bhaktivedanta Hospice, and the Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care, all in Vrindavan.

In the year following Srila Prabhupada's death in 1977, Giriraj was awarded sannyasa, the renounced order of life, and appointed president of ISKCON's board of trustees in India. In 1982 he was appointed to ISKCON's Governing Body Commission, and he went on to oversee the Society's activities in Bombay, Mauritius, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.^[citation needed]

Giriraj Swami has also taught at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education.[5]

Books

• Watering the Seed, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Mountain King (2000), ASIN: B000K9PRVS.
• Watering the Seed – With Teachings from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (revised and expanded), Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Torchlight (2012), ISBN 978-0-9817273-3-2.
• Many Moons: Reflections on Departed Vaishnavas, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Torchlight (2012), ISBN 978-1-937731-01-4.
• Life's Final Exam: Death and Dying from the Vedic Perspective, edited by Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Torchlight (2013), ISBN 978-1937731120.
• I'll Build You a Temple: The Juhu Story, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (2020), ISBN 978-1-925850-01-7.
• Dancing White Elephants: Traveling with Srila Prabhupada in India, August 1970–March 1972, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (2023), ISBN 978-1-925850-03-1.

Notes

1. Rosen, Steven J. (2004). Holy cow: the Hare Krishna contribution to vegetarianism and animal rights. Lantern Books. p. 121. ISBN 1-59056-066-3.
2. Bryant, Edwin Francis; Maria Ekstrand (2004). The Hare Krishna movement: the postcharismatic fate of a religious transplant. Columbia University Press. p. 175. ISBN 0-231-12256-X.
3. Satsvarupa, Dasa Goswami (2002) [1980-82]. Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Vol 1 (Second ed.). BBT. pp. vol.1 1133 chapter: India: Dancing White Elephants. ISBN 0-89213-357-0.
4. Kirtan Ashram Kirtan Ashram Background
5. VIHE course list Scroll to "Giriraja Swami"

External links

• Website of Giriraja Swami