Giriraja Swami

Giriraj Swami (IAST: Giri-rāja Svāmī; born Glenn Phillip Teton September 13, 1947) is an American hindu author and an initiating guru, the highest position in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).^[1]

Giriraj Swami
Personal life
Born	(1947-09-13) September 13, 1947 (age 77) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Other names	Glenn Phillip Teton
Religious life
Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism
Initiation	Diksa–1969, Sannyasa–1978
Senior posting
Post	ISKCON Guru, Sannyasi, Member of the Governing Body Commission
Website	http://www.girirajswami.com

Background

Glenn P. Teton is the only son of Alfred B. Teton, a Chicago lawyer who was later appointed judge. In March 1969, while studying at Brandeis University in Boston, he met A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder and original acharya of the ISKCON. After graduating, he accepted formal initiation from Prabhupada and received the spiritual name Giriraj Das.^[2]

In 1972, Giriraj was appointed by Prabhupada as president of ISKCON Bombay and trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.^[3] He subsequently oversaw the development of Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Bombay. He was also involved in the acquisition and development of Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhan, as well as projects such as the Kirtan Ashram for women,^[4] the Bhaktivedanta Hospice, and the Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care.^{[citation needed]} Giriraj Swami has also taught at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education.^[5]

In 1978, Giriraj took sannyasa (the renounced order of life) and was appointed president of ISKCON's board of trustees in India.^[6]

In 1982, he was appointed to ISKCON's Governing Body Commission and oversaw ISKCON activities in areas such as Bombay, Mauritius, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.^[6]

Books

• Watering the Seed, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Mountain King (2000), ASIN: B000K9PRVS.
• Watering the Seed – With Teachings from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (revised and expanded), Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Torchlight (2012), ISBN 978-0-9817273-3-2.
• Many Moons: Reflections on Departed Vaishnavas, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Torchlight (2012), ISBN 978-1-937731-01-4.
• Life's Final Exam: Death and Dying from the Vedic Perspective, edited by Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Torchlight (2013), ISBN 978-1937731120.
• I'll Build You a Temple: The Juhu Story, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (2020), ISBN 978-1-925850-01-7.
• Dancing White Elephants: Traveling with Srila Prabhupada in India, August 1970–March 1972, Giriraj Swami, Publisher: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (2023), ISBN 978-1-925850-03-1.