Meet Radhanath Swami, American-Born ISKCON Monk Who Received New York City Honour At Interfaith Event

Radhanath Swami, a prominent Hindu spiritual leader associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was presented with the New York City honour at an event at the organisation's Bhakti Centre in New York on Sunday. He was presented with the New York City honourSwqami was honoured in recognition of his decades of community work and spiritual leadership.

City officials and members of the Hindu spiritual community attended the event, titled "Foundation of Future", to celebrate Swami's contribution to New York's diverse religious landscape, reported ANI. Deputy Commissioner of International Affairs Dilip Chauhan presented the award on behalf of Mayor Eric Adams.

"On behalf of New York City's 8.5 million residents, I want to express our gratitude for the incredible work being done here," Chauhan said during the ceremony.

Who Is Radhanath Swami?

Born on December 7, 1950, Radhanath Swami is an American Hindu Gaudiya Vaishnava guru, activist, and author. Swami has been a Bhakti Yoga practitioner and a spiritual teacher for more than 50 years. He was born in Chicago in a Jewish family as Richard Slavin. He is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. In 1965, Richard entered Deerfield High School. His life changed after the death of his friend when he was a teenager.

In 1969, Richard enrolled in Miami Dade College, where, in search of spiritual experience, he resorted to books on religion and philosophy. In 1970, Swami met the Hare Krishnas, who gave him a pamphlet with photos of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He arrived in India in December 1970. He stayed in India for some years. In between the Indian government refused to extend his visa, so he had to leave the country.

On August 1, 1976, he received from Prabhupada Brahminic initiation. In early 1982, a community leader – Kirtanananda Swami – offered Radhanath to take 'sannyasa'. The sannyasa initiation ceremony was held in May 1982 in New Vrindaban in West Virginia. Radhanath received the title of "swami", and since then is known as "Radhanath Swami"