Vedavyasapriya Swami APK

His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami Maharaja, born in an Audichya Sahasra Brahmana family on 1st August 1944 in the town of Kadod, Gujarat, India, on Sravan Sud Dwadashi, also celebrated as Pavitra Dwadashi, that follows Pavitraropana Ekadashi. His early life was spent in Gujarat, then his family moved to East Africa in the mid 50s, and afterwards he migrated to USA in September 1971.
Vedavyasapriya Swami’s mother, who is also an initiated devotee, recalls his traditional Brahminical initiation at the age of 7 when he received brahmana thread and danda (staff). She has a photo of him taken at this time, which she plans to share with us when she remembers to bring it. Vedavyasapriya Maharaja, himself, recollects that he was always more interested in spiritual matters and welfare of the people than in any business matters. As a young adult he made a daily practice of reading Bhagavad-gita slokas, and also studied the sanskrit language during his High-school years.

Vedavyasapriya Swami worked as a research biochemist first in East Africa and then later when he migrated to USA. Within a week of arrival in the USA, he met the devotees, disciples of His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).