Nagpur :-The three-day celebration of the 75th birthday of H.H. Lokanath Swami Maharaj, one of the foremost Indian disciples and a beloved follower of Acharya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), will be held on July 15th, 16th, and 17th at Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Hall in the Gaushala of ISKCON Vrindavan.
Schedule of Events at a Glance:
• July 15th: Srila Prabhupada will be praised by his disciples from various countries and Guru brothers of Srila Lokanath Swami Maharaj.
• July 16th: Senior sannyasis of ISKCON and their disciples will offer tributes to the disciples of Srila Prabhupada who have passed away and gone to Golok Dham. Prominent among them are Param Pujya Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj, Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami Maharaj, Gaur Govind Swami Maharaj, Brahmanand Prabhu, Jasomatinandan Prabhu, Gungraahi Swami Maharaj, Anant Shanti Prabhu, Kadamba Kanan Swami Maharaj, Narmada Swami Maharaj, Aindra Prabhu, Poornachandra Goswami Maharaj, Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Mataji, Yamuna Mataji, Vibhu Chaitanya Prabhu, and others.
• July 17th: Vyasa Puja will be celebrated on Ashadhi Ekadashi (Devshayani Ekadashi), marking the 75th birth anniversary of Param Pujya Srila Loknath Swami Maharaj.
Dr. Shyamsunder Sharma, spokesperson for the Vyasa Pooja Utsav Samiti, shared that Srila Lokanath Swami Maharaj was born in the small village of Aravade near Sangli Tasgaon in Maharashtra. At the age of just 21, he dedicated his life to the feet of his Guru, Srila Prabhupada, and received sannyasa initiation in 1975 at the age of 26.
Currently serving as the Mahant of ISKCON during the Kumbh Mela, Srila Lokanath Swami Maharaj oversees Padayatra in more than 108 countries, spreading the Hare Krishna Mahamantra globally. He also conducts Padayatra in Braj Mandal and Navadwip Mandal Dham. Under his guidance, the monumental Bhuvaikunth Pandharpur project is underway in Shri Pandharpur Dham, Maharashtra. Temples and centers for Krishna devotion have been established in various locations including Noida, Solapur, Nagpur, Aravade, Koundinyapur, and Chamorshi.
Srila Loknath Swami Maharaj has authored several texts, including Shri Krishna Swarup Chintan, Brajmandal Darshan, Bhuvaikunth Pandharpur, Kumbh Mela: Amrit Mahotsav, Sukhi Jeevancha Marg, and Guru Mukh Padmavakya. In 2020, he was honored with the “Maharashtra Bhushan Jeevan Gaurav Award” by the Maharashtra State Journalists Association in Pune.
The Amrit Mahotsav will feature numerous spiritual programs in Vrindavan Dham, attracting devotees from around the world. Devotees like Krishna Bhakt Prabhu, Anant Shesh Prabhu, Padmamali Prabhu, Harikirtan Prabhu, Brajbhoomi Prabhu, Jai Teerth Prabhu, and others are working diligently to ensure the success of this grand event.
Dr. Shyamsunder Sharma
Spokesperson, Vyasa Pooja Utsav Samiti
ISKCON
