Born in 1949 in Aravade, a village in Maharashtra, India, Lokanath Swami came in contact with Srila Prabhupada at ISKCON’s first Hare Krishna festival in Bombay, in 1971 while attending college. As one of Śrīla Prabhupada’s first Indian disciples, he received harinama initiation in 1972, and served in various positions at the ISKCON Juhu temple. He was awarded sannyasa initiation in 1975.
In 1976, on Srila Prabhupada’s order, he organized ISKCON’s first padayatra which journeyed across India distributing the message of Kṛṣṇa. Later, as Padayatra Minister, he expanded his service worldwide. He served as the temple president of ISKCON NEW Delhi from 1978 through the mid-1980’s. Then, as the Minister for Srila Prabhupada’s Centennial, Lokanath Swami coordinated a global, four-year campaign that culminated in ISKCON’s worldwide, grand centennial celebrations of 1996.
Lokanath Swami provided the inspiration to begin ISKCON’s yearly Vraja-maṇḍala parikrama in 1987, and currently serves as chairman of the parikrama management board. He has personally walked the parikrama path for many years, and has given (and continues to give) many of the talks on Vraja-maṇḍala parikrama. He is also credited with having developed Navadvīpa-maṇḍala parikrama, and has guided groups of pilgrims to holy places like Dvaraka, Jagannātha Purī, Pandharpur, and Tirupati.
Known for his inspiring lectures and melodious kirtanas, Lokanath Swami has attended hundreds of ISKCON festivals worldwide. Now as Kirtan Ministry Minister Lokanath Swami Maharaja will promote not only kirtan, but also quality chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Sanskrit Pronunciation, Kirtan Standards, learning to play instruments and the list is endless.
At present, he is the zonal secretary for Noida and the state of Maharashtra, where he oversees the development of ISKCON projects. He is the author of My Prabhupada, Kumbha: The Festival of Immortality and Vraja-mandala Darsana, Padaytara Worldwide - on the road with Lord Caitanya among other books. He has several new books projected for publishing in the next couple of years.
About Anugatya Application
ISKCON has been consistently preaching and has been quite successful in connecting many souls to Krishna consciousness movement. Although many get connected, many more leave due to inadequate care and timely guidance. In order to offer proper shelter, care and timely guidance to all the connected souls, HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj has envisioned to establish Counselling system in his zone.
Practice of Counselling system has brought about promising results in all the centres it has been implemented. This system will be implemented so as to systematically take care of all the initiated disciples, aspiring disciples and other serious practitioners irrespective of one's spiritual master.
