Gour Govinda Swami

Gour Govinda Swami was a Vaishnava religious leader. He was a leading ISKCON Guru, sannyasi, governing body commissioner within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and the main inspirational force behind Gopal Jiu Publications. He is a saint within ISKCON. He was the first initiating guru after Srila Prabhupada to leave his body in good standing spiritually. He never left Krishna Consciousness.

He was born already a devotee in the village of Jagannathpur, District Jagatsinghpur Orissa, India as Brajabandhu Manik. By the age of eight, Brajabandhu had read the entire Bhagavadgita, Bhagavata Purana and Sri Caitanyacaritamrta and could also explain their meanings. OnApril 1974, at the age of 45 he gave up home and relatives in quest of spiritual perfection and a worthy guide. Carrying only a Bhagavadgita and a begging bowl he wandered around India for one year and visited many sacred places along the river Ganges. He was searching for that person who could help him develop a true understanding of the Maha Mantra. After many philosophical debates with mayavadi sannyasis and yogis in the Himalayas, he proceeded on foot to Vrindavana. He thought, Surely I will find Lord Krishna here in this holiest of places.. He was searching after three things, guru, Bhagavat and Bhagavan. He was given a Back to Godhead magazine and found it contained all three things. He decided to see the fou

Source: Wikipedia