In Vrindavan, the heart of spiritual devotion, the remains of Gopal Krishna Goswami, esteemed president of ISKCON India, arrived amidst solemnity and reverence. His sudden demise due to cardiac arrest has plunged his followers into sorrow, drawing devotees from far and wide to pay their respects at the sacred grounds of the Vrindavan ISKCON Temple complex.
The journey of the revered saint’s mortal frame began from Dehradun, culminating in Vrindavan’s embrace on this somber Monday. As the news spreads, an outpouring of grief envelops the temple precincts, where preparations for his earthly departure, marked by the ritual of ‘Bhu Samadhi’, are meticulously laid out.
Born in the bustling streets of Delhi in 1944, Gopal Krishna’s academic prowess shone brightly, leading him to the corridors of Sorbonn University in France and McLean’s University in Canada. It was amidst the scholarly pursuits in Canada that fate intertwined his path with that of ISKCON’s founder, Srila Prabhupada, in 1968. Under Prabhupada’s tutelage, he embarked on a journey to disseminate the essence of Sanatan Dharma and the teachings of Lord Krishna across the globe.
A visionary in spreading the eternal principles of Sanatan Dharma, Gopal Krishna traversed continents, establishing vibrant communities in lands as diverse as Canada, Kenya, Pakistan, and the Soviet Union. His legacy resonates in the cultural edifices he erected, adorning temples worldwide with centers of spiritual enlightenment and cultural enrichment.