26 February 2026
Dear Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We wish to inform the worldwide community of devotees that His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami
left this world this evening, 26 February 2026, in Sri Vrindavan Dham. He passed away peacefully
in his room after a brief illness.
Badrinarayan Maharaja, reknowned for his learning, frankness, humour and dedication was an
initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness. He was born in 1952, met Srila Prabhupada in 1969, and moved into the
Laguna Beach temple as a full-time devotee in 1970. He took initiation from Srila Prabhupada in
1971, was awarded the sannyasa order of life in 2014 and became an ISKCON diksa-guru in
2020. He is survived by his children, Anasuya and Nila Madhava, from his previous asrama.
The list of Maharaja’s glorious services to ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada are numerous: in the
early days he served in St Louis and Detroit temples, undertook travelling sankirtana, and served
as the temple president of ISKCON Ann Arbor and ISKCON San Diego, the latter remaining his
home temple from 1978 to the present day. He was integral in setting up the first Child Protection
Office in ISKCON. Most notably, his service during the Turley case will stand out as a lasting
memory. In recent years he also undertook the austerity of travelling regularly to Myanmar, one of
the most isolated yatras in ISKCON, to enthuse the devotees there.
From our perspective, Maharaja will be remembered most for his contribution as a GBC member,
a service he performed since 1987 with zonal responsibilites in North America. Badrinarayan
Swami also served as the chairman of ISKCON’s international GBC, was a member of the GBC
Organizational Development Committee, among others, and the North American Regional
Governing Body Executive Committee.
Despite failing health, including amputation of his toe, he risked his comfort to unfailingly attend
the GBC meetings and fully contributed. Indeed he was to the end a strong supporter and
defender of Srila Prabhupada’s GBC system and worked tirelessly to keep the GBC as the
ultimate managing authority of ISKCON, as desired by Srila Prabhupada. To this end, he was the
author and co-author of several invaluable GBC position and legacy papers such as:
A Concise Statement of Gau?iya Vai??ava Siddhanta for the International Society for K???a Consciousness
Principles & Practices/Diksa-guru Projects
Carrying out Srila Prabhupada’s Order: The GBC as ISKCON’s Ultimate Managing Authority UMA.pptx
Understanding ISKCON’s Lines of Authority
Formation & Role of the Bureau: Survey of Srila Prabhupada Disciples Engaged in Managerial Matters in India by His Divine Grace
Badrinarayan Swami was one of the most brilliant minds in ISKCON and he endured
inconceivable challenges for the protection of ISKCON. Maharaja was a dutiful servant, a
dedicated disciple, and one of the most outspoken guardians of Srila Prabhupada’s legacy. He
served in a bold and uncompromising way. His managerial astuteness, impeccable sadhana,
inspiring classes filled with memories of Srila Prabhupada, and exemplary devotion endeared him
to many devotees. We offer our deepest respect and gratitude to this stalwart son of Srila Prabhupada.
May his example of service and surrender be a beacon for all of us. We especially offer our prayers for
Maharaja’s son, daughter, and disciples so that they may find shelter and comfort in the
association of the holy names and Srila Prabhupada’s books. We remain at your service at this
most difficult time.
The GBC shall be eternally indebted to Badrinarayan Swami for his innumerable services to
ISKCON. Thank you, Badrinarayan Swami, for the many years of association. We will miss your
uplifting association, wit, and candour. That Maharaja was fortunate enough to circumstantially
depart this material world in Lord Krishna’s own abode of Vrindavan is a final testament to the
mercy he has received from Srila Prabhupada, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Lord Krishna
Himself.
His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami Maharaj ki jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Ananta koti vaisnava vrinda ki jai!
Samaveta bhakta vrinda ki jai!
Your servants,
Madhu Sevita Dasa
Govardhana Dasa
Devakinandana Dasa
GBC Executive Committee