https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Bhakti_Charu_SwamiBhakti Charu Swami - Revision history2026-07-30T18:04:35ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Bhakti_Charu_Swami&diff=474006&oldid=prevRoamingindian at 04:15, 5 February 20262026-02-05T04:15:49Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian ISKCON spiritual leader (1945–2020)}}<br />
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{{Infobox religious biography<br />
| background = #FFA07A<br />
|honorific-prefix = His Holiness<br />
| name = Bhakti Charu Swami<br />
| image =Bhakti Charu Swami at Santiago de Compostela.JPG<br />
| caption =Swami in 2012<br />
| birth_date = 17 September 1945<ref name = Singh619 >{{Harvnb|Singh|Bandyopadhyay|2001|p=619}}</ref><br />
| birth_place = [[Kuti Union|Kuti]], [[Brahmanbaria District]], [[Bengal Presidency]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|7|4|1945|9|17|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = Florida, United States<br />
| religion = [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], [[Hinduism]]|<br />
| location = <br />
| Period = <br />
| Predecessor = [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]]<br />
| Successor = <br />
| initiation = Harinama, Brahmana and Sannyasa Diksha (1977)<br />
| post = [[ISKCON Guru System|ISKCON Guru]], [[Sannyasi]], Member of the Governing Body Commission<br />
| website = http://www.bhakticharuswami.com/<br />
}}<br />
{{Vaishnavism}}<br />
{{Hindu philosophy}}<br />
'''Bhakti Charu Swami''' ({{IAST3| Bhakti Cāru Svāmī}}, 17 September 1945 – 4 July 2020) was an Indian spiritual leader of the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON). He was also a disciple of ISKCON's founder [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]].{{citation required|date=April 2024}}<br />
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==Early life==<br />
Swami was born in 1945 into an aristocratic Bengali family and spent his early childhood in [[Kolkata]]. After leaving India in 1970 for further education, he attended university in Germany to study [[chemistry]]. While there, he spent time researching ancient [[Vedas|Vedic scriptures]].<br />
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==Career==<br />
After reading ''The Nectar of Devotion'' written by [[Srila Prabhupada]], Swami joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in [[Mayapur]], [[West Bengal]], India. His first meeting with Srila Prabhupada took place in January 1977 during the 'Maha' Kumbha Mela at Prayagraj. Srila Prabhupada instructed him to translate all of his books into Bengali and become his Secretary for Indian Affairs. He was given his first and second initiation in Sridham Mayapur during the Gaura Purnima festival in March 1977. Shortly thereafter, during the Snana Yatra festival in Vrindavan, Prabhupada awarded him the renounced order of [[sannyasa]]. He later became the GBC (Governing Body Commissioner) Chairman in 1989 and then again in 2017. Maharaja continued to translate many of Srila Prabhupada's books into Bengali until their completion in 1996, which was the centennial anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's appearance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brief History |url=http://www.bhakticharuswami.com/about/}}</ref><br />
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Thereafter, he was involved in writing, producing, and directing the [[Biography|biographical]] video series, 'Abhay Charan'. With over 100 episodes and broadcasts on Indian National Television, reaching more than 4 million viewers in just a few months, the series chronologically portrayed Srila Prabhupada's life and achievements.<ref>{{Citation |title=Abhay Charan |date=1996-09-07 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3972566/ |type=Adventure, Biography, Drama |publisher=Veda Foundation |access-date=2022-12-12}}</ref><br />
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He further went on to develop the ISKCON<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=International Society for Krishna Consciousness |date=2022-12-12 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Society_for_Krishna_Consciousness&oldid=1126987345 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2022-12-12}}</ref> project in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India, where Lord Sri Krishna, along with his brother Balarama and friend Sudama received their education from Maharishi Sandipani. Under Maharaj's leadership, a marble temple was inaugurated in less than 10 months in February 2006. As the resident GBC of that area, he continued to oversee the development of the project and the preaching programmes in Madhya Pradesh as well as its surrounding areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=HH Bhakti Charu Swami had the temple erected from rough rocky ground to a breathtakingly beautiful marble temple, in an unbelievable and historical 10 months and 20 days! |url=https://www.iskconujjain.com/iskcon-ujjain/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903024910/http://www.iskconujjain.com/iskcon-ujjain/history/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2013 |access-date=2 November 2020 }}</ref><br />
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The Ujjain ISKCON temple under the direction of Bhakti Charu Swami feeds more than 23,000 school children per day. To facilitate this feeding project, Bhakti Charu Swami built a 6,000 sq. ft. (560 m2) industrial kitchen. He was the Chairman of Annamrita Foundation, ISKCON's midday meals programme, which fed 1.7 million children across India.<br />
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He has also established a department in Ujjain which produces decorated altars, murtis and deity dresses for devotees and ISKCON temples all over the world.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}<br />
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In 2013, he oversaw the development of a new ISKCON temple in [[Panihati]] (West Bengal) – a holy place in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, the home of Raghava Pandit and the place of Lord Nityananda's Flattened Rice (Chida Dahi) Festival.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beloved ISKCON Guru and GBC Member Bhakti Charu Swami Passes Away |url=https://iskconnews.org/beloved-iskcon-guru-and-gbc-member-bhakti-charu-swami-passes-away,7419/ |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108141814/https://iskconnews.org/beloved-iskcon-guru-and-gbc-member-bhakti-charu-swami-passes-away,7419/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
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In 2014, he established Arogya Niketan, a traditional [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] health clinic in Ujjain.<br />
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In the same year, he joined Artha Forum and began delivering keynote speeches globally on spirituality to business leaders.<br />
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He found and established [[I-Foundation]], a [[Hindu]] charity organisation in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |title=I Foundation |url=https://www.bhaktivedantamanor.co.uk/home/?tag=bhakti-charu-swami |access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref><br />
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In 2016, Bhakti Charu Swami wrote a [[memoir]], "Ocean of Mercy – A Search Fulfilled", which is a recollection of his interactions with Srila Prabhupada. This book describes how he developed his love and dedication for Srila Prabhupada.<ref>{{cite web |title=HH Bhakti Charu Swami's book (autobiography) "OCEAN OF MERCY" |date=8 July 2020 |url=https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/hh-bhakti-charu-swami-s-book-autobiography-ocean-of-mercy |access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref><br />
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On 17 November 2016, the Institute of International Social Development – New York, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations awarded an accolade to Bhakti Charu Swami, for his work with ISKCON.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhakti Charu Swami {{!}} Institute of International Social Development, United Nations (NY) Awards Bhakti Charu Swami |url=https://www.bhakticharuswami.com/2016/11/institute-international-social-development-united-nations-ny-awards-bhakti-charu-swami/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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He had started a new project called 'Veda Foundation and Cow Sanctuary' which is situated in Deland, Florida, and stretches across an expanse of 120 acres. His mission there was to propagate the Vedic culture and wisdom more simply in the West through setting in motion farm communities and visual media.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}<br />
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==Death==<br />
Bhakti Charu Swami tested positive for [[COVID-19]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Florida]] and a few days later, he died on [[the 4th of July]] 2020, at the age of 74.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bhakti Charu Swami Last Rites Held As Offerings of Love Continue From Around the World |date=10 July 2020 |url=https://iskconnews.org/bhakti-charu-swami-last-rites-held-as-offerings-of-love-continue-from-around-the-world,7427/ |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029043451/https://iskconnews.org/bhakti-charu-swami-last-rites-held-as-offerings-of-love-continue-from-around-the-world,7427/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2020-07-05|title=ISKCON Guru Bhakticharu Swami dies of coronavirus in Florida|url=https://www.thedailyjagran.com/india/iskon-guru-bhakticharu-swami-dies-of-coronavirus-in-florida-10013573|access-date=2020-07-05|website=Jagran English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2020-07-04|title=Bhakti Charu Swami, head of ISKCON governing body dies from Covid-19 in the US|url=https://uttarakhandnewsnetwork.com/2020/07/bhakti-charu-swami-head-of-iskcon-governing-body-dies-from-covid-19-in-the-us/|access-date=2020-07-05|website=Uttarakhand News Network|language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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Following his departure, various leaders in ISKCON expressed heartfelt condolences. [[Jayapataka Swami|HH Jayapataka Maharaj]] stated the departure of HH Bhakti Charu Swami to be a great loss for ISKCON, and the Executive Committee of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission published a long statement describing Bhakti Charu Swami's contribution to ISKCON and his service in Srila Prabhupada's mission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Voice |first=Team Mayapur |date=2020-07-04 |title=His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami departs - A great loss to ISKCON and the world |url=https://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/his-holiness-bhakti-charu-swami-departs-a-great-loss-to-iskcon-and-the-world/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Mayapur Voice |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[List of ISKCON members and patrons]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== Sources ==<br />
<br />
* {{Citation<br />
| last1= Singh | first1=Thoudam Damodara | last2=Bandyopadhyay | first2=Samaresh<br />
| year= 2001<br />
| title=Thoughts on Synthesis of Science And Religion: Srila Prabhupada Birth Centenary Volume<br />
| publisher=[[Bhaktivedanta Institute]]<br />
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mv8QAQAAIAAJ<br />
| isbn= 81-901369-0-9<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* {{Citation<br />
| last=Rosen | first= Steven J.<br />
| year=2008<br />
| title=The Yoga of Kirtan: Conversations on the Sacred Art of Chanting<br />
| publisher=Folk Books<br />
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k0qAPgAACAAJ<br />
| isbn= 978-0-615-20510-6<br />
}}<br />
*{{Citation<br />
| last1=Shivadas | first1=P.C.<br />
| title=Labour of love for spiritual guru<br />
| newspaper=[[The New Straits Times]]<br />
| date=11 August 1997 <br />
| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KvIVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HBUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6760,1757609<br />
}}<br />
*{{Citation<br />
| last1=Kuppan | first1=Irene<br />
| title='Lack of spirituality making world evil'<br />
| newspaper=[[The Daily News (Durban)|The Daily News]]<br />
| date=18 October 2006 | page=2<br />
| url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20061018095827869C571572<br />
}}<br />
*{{Citation<br />
| last1= Gupta | first1=Suchandana<br />
| title=MP madrassas boycott Iskcon's mid-day meals<br />
| newspaper=[[The Times of India]]<br />
| date=17 August 2007 <br />
| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-08-17/india/27964161_1_mid-day-meals-midday-meals-iskcon<br />
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024115726/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-08-17/india/27964161_1_mid-day-meals-midday-meals-iskcon<br />
| url-status=dead<br />
| archive-date=24 October 2012<br />
}}<br />
*{{Citation<br />
| last1=Burke | first1=Daniel<br />
| title=For 'Dharma Indexes,' Firms' Conduct Matters<br />
| newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]<br />
| date=20 January 2008 | page=F03<br />
| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/19/AR2008011900055.html<br />
}}<br />
*{{Citation | last1=White | first1=Charles S. J. | title=The Yoga of Kirtan: Conversations on the Sacred Art of Chanting Book Review | year=2009 | url=http://www.yogaofkirtan.com/Site/White_Review.html | access-date=13 August 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422161721/http://www.yogaofkirtan.com/Site/White_Review.html | archive-date=22 April 2009 | url-status=dead }}<br />
*{{Citation<br />
|last1 = ISKCON News Staff<br />
|title = Bhakti Charu Swami Hospitalized for Heart Condition<br />
|newspaper = ISKCON News Weekly<br />
|date = 1 April 2008<br />
|url = http://news.iskcon.com/node/966<br />
|access-date = 13 August 2009<br />
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726185654/http://news.iskcon.com/node/966<br />
|archive-date = 26 July 2011<br />
|url-status = dead<br />
}}<br />
*{{Citation<br />
| last1=Das | first1=Rasananda <br />
| title=Bhakti Charu Swami doing Sankirtan at Waikiki<br />
| date=5 May 2012 <br />
| url=http://bhakticharuswamipreaching.blogspot.in/2012/05/hh-bhakti-charu-swami-maharaja-doing.html<br />
}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{Official website|http://www.bhakticharuswami.com/}}<br />
* [http://www.bcsquotes.com/ Official Quotation Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031015346/http://www.bcsquotes.com/ |date=31 October 2020 }}<br />
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{{Modern Gaudiya Vaishnavas}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Swami, Bhakti Charu}}<br />
[[Category:1945 births]]<br />
[[Category:2020 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Bengali people]]<br />
[[Category:International Society for Krishna Consciousness religious figures]]<br />
[[Category:Performers of Hindu music]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Hare Krishnas]]<br />
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida]]</div>Roamingindian