His Holiness Rama Govinda Swami Maharaj

First contact with Krishna consciousness

Rama Govinda Swami, first time came in contact with the Hare Krsna devotees in July 1986 when He was visiting Washington (USA). On the advice of those devotees he went to ISKCON Temple Brooklyn, New York in July 1986. He started attending the preaching sessions of ISKCON in 1990 in Gaborone, BOTSWANA (AFRICA). His Holiness Krishna Dasa Swami Maharaj used to visit Botswana.

At that time H G Devakinandan Dasa Prabhu started preaching Krsna Consciousness in Botswana and used to invite H H Krishna Dasa Swami Maharaj. Some times H H Indradyumna Swami Maharaj also used visit Gaborone, Botswana. First time H H Rama Govinda Swami, then known as Jajaiah Kalva, attended a lecture given by H H Krishna Dasa Swami Maharaj on Sri Bhagavad-gita in Botswana Hindu Society hall, Gaborone (Botswana). Since then on, he always attended all the satsang classes given by H G Devakinandan Dasa and visiting sannyasi’s and senior devotees from other countries.

Convinced with the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, he started chanting Hare Krsna Mahamantra since then. He has been participating all the ISKCON activities like festivals, Harinama Sankirtana and food-for-life programs.

Initiation and service

After the installation of Their Lordships Sri Sri Krsna Balaram in Gaborone (Botswana) in Oct 1996 by His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaj and His Holiness Krishna Dasa Swami Maharaj, he took Krsna Consciousness more seriously and finally in April 1997 he took shelter of H H Krishna Dasa Swami Maharaj and was initiated with the name Jaya Govinda Dasa.

Since then he served ISKCON BOTSWANA, Gaborone. In May 1998, he was appointed as Temple President of ISKCON BOTSWANA and continued in that position till In Feb, 2008 he resigned as Temple President so that he can be free to travel in Africa on preaching mission.

Sannyasa

In 2006, on the instruction of his spiritual master His Holiness Krishna Dasa Swami Maharaj, he applied for sannyasa. In April 2009 on the very auspicious day of Sri Rama Navami, he was awarded Sannyasa in Sri Mayapur Dham by His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaj and was awarded the sannyasa name Rama Govinda Swami.

He is being guided by his Sannyasa guru His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaj and He is based in Gaborone, BOTSWANA (AFRICA). He travels on preaching mission in Africa, South Africa, Europe and India. Whilst in India, Solapur (Maharashtra) is His base.

Key dates

• July 1986 First contact with Hare Krsna devotees; visits ISKCON Brooklyn, New York
• 1990 Starts attending ISKCON preaching sessions in Gaborone, Botswana
• Oct 1996 Installation of Sri Sri Krsna Balaram in Gaborone
• April 1997 Initiated by H H Krishna Dasa Swami Maharaj as Jaya Govinda Dasa
• May 1998 Appointed Temple President of ISKCON Botswana
• Feb 2008 Steps down as Temple President to travel and preach in Africa
• April 2009 Receives sannyasa in Sri Mayapur Dham on Sri Rama Navami

Spiritual courses

H H Rama Govinda Swami attended the following spiritual courses:

Languages and education

He can speak Telugu, English and Hindi. He also studied Sanskrit while he was in High School. Academically he did Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Diploma in Tele-Communication Engineering and has served in the Indian Army.