At its recent annual general meetings in Mayapur, India, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission approved Yadunandana Dasa as a candidate for sannyasa, the renounced order of life.

Yadunandana is the principal of Bhaktivedanta College, a Vaishnava school accredited by the University of Wales, Lampeter, and located in the rural Ardennes region of Belgium. There he teaches Bhakti Vaibhava, a course on the ancient scripture of Srimad-Bhagavatam, as well as various other vocational and academic courses.

Something of an example of intense spiritual focus, Yadunandana joined ISKCON when he was only fourteen and has always been a brahmacari (celibate student).

ISKCON guru and Bhaktivedanta Book Trust editor Jayadvaita Swami will initiate Yadunandana into sannyasa at the Radhadesh community in Belgium, where Bhaktivedanta College is located. The ceremony will be held on March 10, 2009, during the auspicious Gaura Purnima festival.

The event will include a traditional fire ceremony, bathing of Gaura Nitai deities, music and dancing, theater, and of course a delicious vegetarian feast. Jayadvaita Swami will be joined by speakers Prahladananda Swami and Kadamba Kanana Swami.

A general invitation is extended for the event.