Disciples and well-wishers of ISKCON guru Varsana Swami have established a Health Care Fund to help cover costs as Maharaja faces various health challenges. 

A beloved long-time resident of New Vrindaban and dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Varsana Swami has been battling Chronic Lyme Syndrome for several years. Most recently, he developed a severe acute episode which has further complicated his progress in healing. The neurological conditions suggest that Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick, is the cause. 

This has has exacerbated Varsana Swami’s debilitation and aggravated pre-existing health conditions. Currently, Maharaja is struggling to manage a number of health challenges and symptoms, including chronic fatigue causing light-headedness and fainting; joint pain stiffness; aggravated arthritis; neurological dysfunction; cognitive impairment; sleep deprivation and gastrointestinal disorders.

On September 29^th, Varsana Swami suffered another health setback, and was urgently admitted to hospital with an infected perforated appendix. Following surgery and hospital care he recovered and was discharged on October 7th. He is currently convalescing in New Vrindaban.

Going forward, he will require a number of treatments, for which his disciples and caretakers are raising funds online at Gofundme.com. (according to the campaign page, his health costs are mainly alternative and not covered by any insurance plan.)

“Varsana Swami desperately requires to improve his condition and to continue his services to Srila Prabhupada and New Vrindaban Dhama,” his disciples write on the campaign page. 

“We humbly request your kind assistance in funding and backing this health care program,” they add. “Thanking you in advance for your contributions and support to restore Varsana Swami’s health. With much care and gratitude, disciples and well-wishers of Varsana Swami.”

Varsana Swami met his beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada in 1972 and was so profoundly impacted that he was inspired to join the Brooklyn ISKCON temple. Soon after, he relocated to ISKCON’s first farm community of New Vrindaban, West Virginia. He has now performed devotional service there for five decades, including raising and training draft animals for farming; pujari service; conservation work; and heading up the excavation department responsible for carving out the infrastructure of New Vrindaban. 

Varsana Swami is especially dedicated to seeing and revealing the glory and beauty of the Dhama, or sacred pilgrimage place, to fulfill his spiritual master’s desire as expressed in Srila Prabhupada’s letter dated 18th February 1970: “Try your best to construct New Vrindaban as an exact duplicate of Vrindaban and that will give me the highest pleasure.” 

 * * *

For more details and to donate to Varsana Swami’s health care fund, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hh-varsana-swami-health-care-fund