Swami BG Narasingha

Swami B.G. Narasingha

vancchitam amrtam yattu sri rupa-raghunathayoh
taddane truti lesam yah sahate no nrsimhakah
pracar karye siddhanta-sarasvati-samah ksamah
bhaktivedanta sisyah sa vande svami nrsimhakah

"Our obeisances unto Swami Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja, disciple of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who, in the same mood as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, does not tolerate even the slightest deviation in the distribution of that sublime nectar which is aspired for by Srila Rupa and Srila Raghunatha Goswamis."

Swami B.G. Narasingha Maharaja

Srila Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja first came in contact with his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada in the summer of 1967 in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, but it was not until 1971 that he took hari-nama initiation from Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles, thus becoming his duly initiated disciple. At his initiation ceremony, Maharaja received the name, Jagat-guru Dasa Brahmacari.

A serious and dedicated disciple from the beginning, Maharaja absorbed himself in studying Srila Prabhupada’s books and distributing them — later leading many traveling sankirtan parties in the USA, making it his life and soul. He devised new means of improving results through innovative approaches such as wearing non devotional clothing and distributing books in public transports. 

In 1972 Maharaja received mantra-diksa (gayatri initiation). In 1973 Maharaja was requested by Srila Prabhupada to go to Africa for preaching. After two years of preaching in East Africa, Maharaja went to South Africa and thereafter Maharaja went to North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Emirates preaching the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Narasingha Maharaja often enthralled his followers with his many harrowing adventures in Africa, dealing with unreasonable authorities, often looking down the barrels of rifles held by hostile people. 

Many times traveling solo, Maharaja recounted how he often didn’t see another non-native person for months at a time — often traveling alone to unfamiliar places. In Ethiopia, he barely escaped the country after Haile Selassie’s assassination.

Due to the many dangerous risks that Maharaja took on repeated occasions to serve Srila Prabhupada in Africa and Muslim countries, Maharaja became known amongst Srila Prabhupada's disciples as a fearless preacher of Krsna consciousness.

In 1976, impressed by the determined service of Jagat Guru Dasa Brahmacari,  Srila Prabhupada awarded him the order of sannyasa and the title of Svami in Sridhama Mayapura, the birth site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Prabhupada stated that Jagat Guru Dasa’s confident self-motivated service in the face of countless dangerous situations and his extensive understanding of our devotional philosophy, more than qualified him for sannyasa. 

In following years Narasingha Maharaja was often in close association with Srila Prabhupada in Mayapura, Hyderabad, Allahabad, and Vrndavana, many times engaged in personal service or obtaining numerous items needed by Prabhupada such as shoes, clothing and devotional items. Maharaja was gifted by Prabhupada with his remnants, and often distributed them to his god-brothers. 

In the last days of Srila Prabhupada's manifest pastimes on the earth, Maharaja took every opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada and on many occasions Maharaja stayed at Srila Prabhupada's bedside throughout the night. After the departure of Srila Prabhupada from this mortal world in November 1977, Maharaja remained in Vrndavana for four years.

Srila Sridhara Maharaja and DevoteesIn 1981, Narasingha Maharaja traveled to Navadvipa-dhama where he met for the first time Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja, the renowned saint and preceptor of the line of Srila Rupa Gosvami. In 1987 he returned to the lotus feet of Srila Sridhara Maharaja to officially take siksa from him. During May of 1988, Sripada Jagat Guru Svami received the title and name 'Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha' from Sridhara Maharaja, who also conferred his blessings upon him and requested him to continue preaching Krsna consciousness throughout the world.

In October of 1988 Narasingha Maharaja, forming a new spiritual society, went to Vrndavana accompanied by his dear Godbrother Sripada Bhakti Bhavana Visnu Maharaja and together they established the Rupanuga Bhajana Asrama. In 1992 Narasingha Maharaja established the Sri Krsna Caitanya Asrama at Trivendrum and in 1995 he and Sripada Visnu Maharaja established the Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha at Srirangapatna, Mysore.  

Narasingha Maharaja continued his enthusiastic preaching in subsequent years, opening centers and making devotees in the Czech Republic, Mexico, Italy and USA, while maintaining and expanding his existing centers.

Narasingha Maharaja enhanced his innovative preaching to include documenting early archaeological sites, corroborating the authenticity and dating of the early Vedic Culture as the basis of the Hindu Culture as well as its innumerable scientific and mathematical contributions to modern science.  Maharaja also collected artifacts and cultural items from India, forming the “Museum of Vedic Culture,” as a novel way of introducing the spiritual dimension of the Vedas into Western society — which met with resounding success. 

He has written many articles for such spiritual journals as Back to Godhead, Clarion Call, and Gaudiya Vedanta and written and published many books on the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, such as:

His deep understanding and realizations inspired Maharaja’s many publications addressing current concerns and controversies amongst the Vaishnava community. He astounded and enthused many devotees with his inspired revelations of the essential truths. He specifically highlighted many hidden misconceptions (apasiddhanta), aparadha and avaisnava behaviours, and through his writings and publications presented the proper conceptions. Such clear, precise and truthful explanations by Maharaja were revealed in more than 250 Krsna Talk articles, numerous book publications, and video series.

In addition to these literary contributions, Maharaja has edited and published: 

Swami B.G. Narasingha MaharajaMaharaja was also the inspiration behind Devavision Productions, producing the documentaries The Universal Teacher, Kumbha Mela and Himalayan Pilgrimage. Devavision Productions has also produced a series of lectures by Srila Sridhara Maharaja such as Gayatri, Absolute Harmony, Darshan, Ujjvala-nilamani, Fools Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread and The Art of Sadhana series by Srila B. P. Puri Maharaja.

On Thursday, January 2nd, 2020 at 1:31pm, corresponding with saptamī during the month of Pauṣa, Gaurābda 534, our beloved Guru Mahārāja, Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Paramahamsa Parivrājakācārya Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja entered the eternal midday pastimes (madhyāhna-līlā) of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava. He was surrounded by his disciples, friends and well-wishers who were loudly singing the holy names.

He has left us with the priceless gift of devotional service and the treasure of Gauḍīya siddhānta, and all his sincere and dedicated followers will be able to find the strength that they require and attain his direct, personal association by faithfully adhering to his instructions and propagating them.