Concluding Statement from the Executive Committee of the Governing Body Commission Regarding Giriraj Swami’s Medical Condition 

21 April 2025

Dear ISKCON Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Sadly, Giriraja Maharaja’s diagnosis of behavioral variant Frontotemporal Dementia has now been confirmed with neurocognitive testing and multiple MRI scans by five independent certified specialists. He has shown symptoms dating back at least four years and intensifying in the past two.

The conclusion, therefore, is that this disease has caused his uncharacteristic lapses in behavior that were consistent with the symptoms of other people suffering from this disease, and as verified by medical experts, non-voluntary.

Maharaja’s care is being supervised by a team of disciples and godbrothers in coordination with medical professionals. He will now make India his home base. As stated before, due to his condition, he has retired from active outreach and will no longer give initiations.

Srila Prabhupada showed great appreciation for Giriraja Swami and his service of establishing the ISKCON temple in Juhu. Among his many other services, Maharaja spent years as a GBC member focusing on Juhu and the development of the South African and Mauritian yatras. Along with Tamal Krishna Maharaja, he established the beautiful Bhaktivedanta Asrama at Govardhan.

He has also written valuable books about Srila Prabhupada and his followers, including Watering the Seed, I’ll Build You a Temple, Dancing White Elephants, Many Moons, and Life’s Final Exam.

We are confident that Srila Prabhupada will continue to bless Giriraja Swami for all that he has done for him, the Lord, and the ISKCON society.

Tus sirvientes,
Govardhan Das
Tapana Misra Das
Madhu Sevita Das
GBC Executive Committee

A .pdf of the statement can be found aquí.