List of International Society for Krishna Consciousness members and patrons

Founder of ISKCON: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The following is a list of members or people closely associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This list is by no means exhaustive - and includes only well known figures within the organisation.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Hindu Vaishnava religious organization.^[1] It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.^[2] Its core beliefs are based on traditional Hindu scriptures such as the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā,^[3] both of which, according to the traditional Hindu view, date back more than 5,000 years. The distinctive appearance of the movement and its culture come from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which has had adherents in India since the late 15th century and Western converts since the early 1930s.^[4]

Founder

• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Founded the movement in New York in 1966.

Member disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Listed by date of first initiation:

• Kirtanananda Swami - initiated 1966
• Mukunda Goswami - initiated 1966
• Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami - initiated 1966
• Jayananda Dasa - initiated 1967
• Hansadutta Swami - initiated 1967
• Gurudas - initiated 1967
• Tamala Krishna Goswami (1946–2002) - initiated 1968
• Vishnujana Swami (1948–1976) - initiated 1968
• Jayadvaita Swami - initiated 1968
• Jayapataka Swami - initiated 1968
• Gopala Krishna Goswami - initiated 1969
• Giriraja Swami - initiated 1969
• Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami (Dr. Thoudam Damodar Singh, Ph.D. 1937–2006) - initiated 1971
• Indradyumna Swami - initiated 1971
• Lokanatha Swami - initiated 1971
• Ranchor Dasa - initiated 1971
• Suhotra Swami (1950–2007) - initiated 1971
• Romapada Swami - initiated 1971
• Sacinandana Swami - initiated 1972
• Krishna Ksetra Dasa (Dr. Kenneth R. Valpey, Ph.D.) - initiated 1972
• Garuda Dasa (Dr. Graham M. Schweig, Ph.D.) - initiated 1972
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami (1950–2005) - initiated - 1973
• Radhanath Swami - initiated 1973
• Sivarama Swami - initiated 1973
• Urmila Devi Dasi (Dr. Edith E. Best) - initiated 1973
• Bhakti Caitanya Swami - initiated 1973
• Gour Govinda Swami (1929–1996) - initiated 1974
• Hanumatpresaka Swami - initiated 1974
• Ambarisa Dasa (Alfred B. Ford), the great grandson of Henry Ford; initiated 1975
• Sadaputa Dasa (Dr. Richard L. Thompson, Ph.D. 1947 - 2008) - initiated 1975
• Satyaraja Dasa (Steven J. Rosen) - initiated 1976
• Bhakti Caru Swami - initiated 1976
• Drutakarma Dasa (Michael A. Cremo) - initiated 1976

Member grand disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

• Hridaya Chaitanya Dasa
• Kadamba Kanana Swami
• Kirtana Rasa Dasa
• Krishna Dharma Dasa
• Radhika Ramana Dasa (Dr. Ravi M. Gupta, Ph.D.)
• Shaunaka Rishi Dasa
• Yadunandana Swami

Members & patrons in popular culture and the media

• Allen Ginsberg American "beat generation" poet^[5]
• Annie Lennox (now an agnostic), lead singer of popular British pop rock duo Eurythmics^[6]
• Boy George, English singer^[7]
• Crispian Mills, lead singer and guitarist of English rock band Kula Shaker^[8]
• George Harrison, popular English guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer, and film producer, best known as a member of The Beatles.
• Hayley Mills, English actress, daughter of John Mills. Mother of Crispian Mills from Kula Shaker^[9]
• Henry Doktorski, American concert accordionist^[10]
• John Joseph and Harley Flanagan, from hardcore band Cro-Mags^[11]
• Marc Ellis, New Zealand rugby league and rugby union player^[12]
• Poly Styrene and Lora Logic, from British 1970s punk band X-Ray Spex
• Ray Cappo, of Youth Of Today and Shelter^[13]
• Russell Brand, English comedian, actor, columnist, author and presenter of radio and television^[14]
• Vic DiCara, guitarist for Los Angeles bands Inside Out and 108^[15]

See also

• List of International Society for Krishna Consciousness sannyasis

Notes

1. Gibson 2002, p. 4
2. Gibson 2002, p. 6
3. Klostermaier, Klaus (1998), A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Oxford: Oneworld Publications, ISBN 1-85168-175-2
4. Sandananda.com dedicated to direct western disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Sadananda.com
5. Brooks 1992, pp. 78–9
6. Sutherland & Ellis 2002, pp. 209–217
7. Boy George with Spencer Bright, Take It Like A Man (Harper Collins, First U.S. Edition, 1995) pp.481–482. On page 482, he says, "I enjoy the rituals of offering obeisances to Krishna and chanting, especially when there are hundreds of devotees jumping and banging drums. At that moment it seems like the human ego is truly transcended. I do find the sexual attitudes far too rigid, though I admit the cycle of desire is fraught with anxiety and disappointment. I don't choose to cut off from it, maybe I enjoy the pain." On page 481 he says, "'Bow Down Mister' swept me up in a spiritual whirl and I became an unlikely queer envoy for Krishna Consciousness."
8. Chitra Subramanyam (November 23, 1999). "Away from cheering crowds, singer lost in Krishna's land". Bombay: The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
9. Daily Mail 19 June 1984
10. New Vrindaban: The Black Sheep of ISKCON http://henrydoktorski.com/newvrindaban.shtml
11. Rob Harvilla (Apr 29, 2008). "The Bloodclot Diaries: The brutal life and times of John 'Bloodclot' Joseph: New York hardcore icon, Krishna devotee, hustler, survivor" (The Village Voice ed.). New York.
12. Lewis, Rebecca (May 27, 2007). "Marc Ellis joins the Hare Krishnas". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
13. Tripp Underwood (September 18, 2009). "East meets West". The Boston Globe. New York Times Company. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
14. Pendennis at The Guardian
15. Punknews.org | 108 — Creation. Sustenance. Destruction

External links

• Srila Prabhupada disciple database
• "ISKCON Gurus". www.iskcon.it.