Who Is Involved?
HH Bhakti Swarup Damodara Swami
Initiating Diksha Guru – The League of Devotees
Radhakripa Mission, Rouen, France
Born and raised in one of France’s poorest neighbourhoods, he became involved in violent gang life from a young age. Heavily attracted to the skinhead scene, it was the near-fatal shooting of a close friend that would go on to have a profound impact on his life – and encourage him to turn away from the violent ways of his youth.
Maharaj first met Hare Krishna devotees in Paris in the early 1990s and just a few years later would go on to found the Radhakripa Mission – a preaching initiative, turned temple, in Rouen, northern France.
A Srila Prabhupada-man ‘through and through’, Bhakti Swarup Damodara Swami spends much of his time now glorifying Prabhupada and encouraging others to do the same.
An enthusiast for organic, grassroots, preaching projects, Maharaj is part of The League of Devotees – the international federation of independent centres under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada.
HH Bhakti Kumkum Govinda Swami
Initiating Diksha Guru – The League of Devotees
Radhakripa Mission, Rouen, France
Born and raised in Quebec, Canada, Maharaj always wanted to be a monk from a young age!
He remembers looking in the mirror at the age of 5 thinking “this body isn’t who I really am, it’s just not me.
With a desire to serve and support others, he became a social worker with the United Nations – caring for refugees who had survived some of the world’s worst conflicts.
After exploring several religious traditions, Bhakti Govinda Maharaj joined the Hare Krishna movement some 20 years ago and now serves as a sannyasi at the Radhakripa Mission in Rouen, France.
Passionate about sharing bhakti yoga with the general public in new and dynamic ways, he is part of the ‘Ahimsa Non-Violence’ Motorcycle Ministry and regularly speaks at public events across France.
HG Gauranga Sundara das
Initiating Diksha Guru – The League of Devotees
The Hare Krishna Centre, Leicester, UK
Born and raised in a Catholic family in Germany, he first met Hare Krishna devotees in 1975 whilst searching for something much ‘deeper’ in life.
His journey took him to New Mayapur in France where he met Srila Prabhupada in 1976 – an encounter that would have a profound impact on his life!
For the last 35 years, Gauranga has been a leading figure in the Hare Krishna movement in Leicester having served in numerous roles including as Temple President. For over 20 years Gauranga Sundara has been running the Hare Krishna Centre – a growing group of devotees who meet regularly in service to Srila Prabhupada. The centre practices the values of respect, inclusively and acceptance of others.
His seniority and knowledge of sastra see devotees from across the UK (and beyond) regularly approaching him for advice and guidance.
Gauranga Sundara was one of the foundation stones that brought the League of Devotees together in 2024. He is enthusiastic about independent projects and temples working in a spirit of collaboration.
HG Narada das
The Hare Krishna Project, UK
Born and raised in Somerset, England, at the age of 15 joined the Methodist Church – a group of non-conformist Christians with a special focus on social action and social justice.
He met Hare Krishna devotees whilst at university as part of a degree in the Study of Religion… but he was never ever meant to join!
After graduating Narada worked in local government for 10 years, running community engagement projects, press and media campaigns. At the age of just 26 he was managing a council’s education budget of £72million, with over 50 staff under his direction.
By the age of 30 though he realised he wasn’t happy and wanted something ‘deeper’ in life, so gave it all up to serve in Srila Prabhupada’s movement full time.
Narada runs The Hare Krishna Project in the UK and is a campaigner for a more inclusive, open and ‘accepting’ Hare Krishna movement where all people feel included.
He works as a freelance communications consultant and helps businesses to build links with the charity sector.
