Search and Hit Enter

Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Swami

A revered figure in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Swami, is often described as a jovial walking encyclopedia of Vedic knowledge, blending erudition with living realizations born of practical devotion. In 1971, at 15 years old, Maharaja came in contact with the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and in 1974 was initiated by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He lived a life of renunciation and deep study, later becoming a sanyassi and traveled the world teaching the intricacies of bhakti yoga until his departure in 2024. 

Maharaja lived a life in service to Srimati Tulasi Devi and to Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, whom he affectionately called Kanai Balai. Maharaja spent many years serving Tulasi Devi, developing a deep relationship with her, and spread her glories and merciful qualities wherever he traveled. He wrote Tulasyamrta: The Nectar of Srimati Tulasi Devi, a profound and comprehensive presentation on the glories of Srimati Tulasi Devi, featuring a wealth of Sanskrit texts, many of which he translated into English for the very first time. With his extensive sastric knowledge, Maharaja expanded on these texts with his rich commentary, offering readers insights into the deeper, inner meanings hidden within the scriptures.

35 Epoch Events From The Life of Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Swami

  1. Was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 2, 1956.
  2. In September 1971, at 15 years old, a friend gave him his first copy of Back to Godhead magazine. He was immediately captivated by the back cover photograph of Tulasi Devi set against a rich red velvet backdrop.
  3. Met the Denver ISKCON devotees on January 2, 1972, marking the beginning of his association with Krishna consciousness.
  4. Tulasi Dasa, the temple president of Denver ISKCON at the time, presented him with his first set of Tulasi japa beads. Inspired by this gift and encouragement, his chanting quickly increased from 4 rounds a day to 16 rounds within one month:
    * 4 rounds upon rising in the morning
    * 4 rounds while walking to high school
    * 4 rounds while walking home from high school
    * 4 rounds while walking among the swamp reeds near his father’s house
  5. As a child, he worked in his father’s garden and mowed lawns to earn money, which he used to purchase Srila Prabhupada’s books.
  6. In February–March 1973, became the assistant to the Tulasi pujari under Mahkana Taskara Dasa, learning the intricacies of Tulasi seva.
  7. Continued serving Tulasi Devi as a congregational member, staying at the temple from Friday evening until Monday morning before returning to school. Maharaja would distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books and BTG’s in the school hallways between classes.
Maharaja doing sankirtan in his youth
  1. Regularly attended Wednesday evening temple programs and cherished the nightly readings of the Krishna Book in the association of devotees.
  2. Maintained his visits to the Denver ISKCON temple until joining full-time with the Radha-Damodara Traveling Sankirtan Party (RDTSKP) on May 28, 1973 at 16 years old.
  3. Traveled extensively with Vishnujana Swami to various cities, including New Vrindavana Farm, Boston, New York, Long Island Park, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Gainesville, Miami, Houston, and San Francisco (Ratha Yatra).
  4. On September 4, 1973, Vishnujana Swami departed for bhakta training in the Atlanta temple, leaving him to continue service there.
  5. Assisted the Atlanta temple devotees during Balavanta Prabhu’s “In God We Trust” mayoral campaign in 1973, which ultimately did not succeed.
  6. Observed a personal daily japa vrata in Tulasi Devi’s greenhouse, praying for the opportunity to return to the RDTSKP. Tulasi Devi mercifully fulfilled this desire in early October. He later recalled this as living proof of Her glories, as described in the Pundarik Tulasi Stotram.
  7. While serving as bus party kitchen cleaner and assistant to Sri Galim, the Radha-Damodara pujari, he attended numerous state and county fairs, including those in Phoenix, Beaumont (Texas), and the Minnesota State Fair—where he met the Los Angeles book party led by Kavicandra Swami, Lokasaranga Swami, and Danavir Gosvami.
  8. Witnessed a major incident in Las Cruces, New Mexico, when the RDTSKP bus caught fire on Interstate 10 and burned to the ground within 10 minutes. The Deities were safely accommodated at a Motel 6 for three days before the party relocated to the Houston temple for two months.
  9. Returned to the Atlanta temple in December–January 1974 for one month, awaiting a replacement RDTSKP bus purchased in New York City by Laksmi Nrsimhadeva Dasa and Radha Ramana Dasa.
  10. On January 4, 1974, was collected by Vishnujana Swami from the Atlanta temple. They traveled to Gainesville for one week before proceeding to the Miami temple for three months during the Arab Oil Embargo, repairing and refitting the bus.
  11. Distributed books in New Jersey while awaiting Vishnujana Swami’s return in April from the 1974 Mayapur festival, where Maharaja had led kirtan aboard the Nitai Pada Kamala boat down the Ganga.
Maharaja fanning Srila Prabhupada
Maharaja sitting beside Srila Prabhupada giving katha
  1. Received first initiation from Srila Prabhupada at 18 years old on July 9, 1974, in San Francisco, alongside Laksmi Nrsimhadeva Dasa and Radha Ramana Dasa, on the recommendation of Srila Tamal Krishna Gosvami and Vishnujana Swami.
  2. Received second initiation one year later on July 10, 1975, in Chicago during the Rathayatra festival. On that day, he was photographed fanning Srila Prabhupada during the Srimad-Bhagavatam class.
  3. Served as pujari in the St. Louis, MO, temple from 1978–1982 after the RDTSKP had concluded, caring for 20–30 Tulasi plants and managing nearly all aspects of the six daily offerings and aratis for the Gaura-Nitai Deities.
  4. In 1981 received his beloved Govardhana sila “Kanai”, later receiving “Balai” and worshipped them daily for the rest of his life.
Maharaja carrying Kanai Balai
  1. On October 30, 1982, left the USA for Bombay, India, and spent nine months primarily in ISKCON Bangalore, South India.
  2. From March 1985–1990, served as BBT Production Manager under Bhima Dasa and Srila Gopala Krishna Gosvami, BBT Trustees.
  3. From 1991–1993, operated a BBT Library Party bus, distributing books to libraries and institutions.
  4. In 1994, moved to Vrindavana and resided in Room 97 of the brahmacari ashrama at the Krishna-Balarama Mandir.
  5. In December 1996, traveled to Russia and the CIS for the first time, beginning a long-standing connection with devotees there.
  6. Remained under the loving guidance of his mentor, Srila Niranjana Swami, his sannyasa-guru.
  7. Accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) on August 4, 2001, in Moscow, Russia, from HH Niranjana Swami.
Maharaja sitting underneath a huge Tulasi “tree” in Bali with Kanai Balai
  1. In 2010, observed the Caturmasya period at the ISKCON Krishna Balarama Mandir in Vraja, residing in the Krishna Balarama Goshala.
  2. Traveled extensively around the world for 8–11 months each year, while spending 1–4 months annually in the Krishna Balarama Goshala.
  3. In 2011 published his book Tulasyamrta: The Nectar of Srimati Tulasi Devi.
  1. Was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson’s disease in 2017.
  2. From 2020 onward, resided permanently in the Krishna Balarama Goshala under the care of his disciples and the ISKCON Vrindavana Devotee Care Department, receiving treatment for his Parkinson’s disease.
  3. Departed for nitya-lila on December 22, 2024 in Sri Vrindavana dhama.