His Holiness Arjunananda Gauranga dasa Nitaipada Maharaja was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 12 March 1962 into a very loving and spiritual family. He learned from an early age the love of the Christian scriptures and his Native American oral heritage. Steeped in the religious principles of the Judeo-Christian belief, Nitaipada Maharaja learned from a young age love of God, respect for religious principles and diligent study. Through his studies, especially in his teenage years, Nitaipada Maharaja realized that religious intolerance was against the scriptures, and has since attempted to teach this doctrine to those around him. In June 1977, Nitaipada Maharaja met several ISKCON devotees at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia. He was drawn to the devotees of Sri Krishna, talking to them at great lengths while waiting for his flight. During this time, Nitaipada Maharaja asked many questions, that for the first time he received an acceptable answer to the typical questions that trouble the minds of most youth. "If God is such a loving God, then why is there so much suffering in the world?" In his conversations, Nitaipada found himself on a quest of learning which continues to this day. While at the airport, Nitaipada Maharaja received a copy of the First Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This wonderful book opened his mind to the great world of the Vedas, and a wonderful man who would change the world. Nitaipada Maharaja received Harinama from the hands of Swami Kirtananda and served under him until his fall in 1986. Like most of Swami Kirtananda’s disciples, Nitaipada was devastated and was forsaken by most of the devotees of ISKCON. For the next ten years, Nitaipada Maharaja returned to his hometown in Georgia and farmed with his maternal Grandmother. During this time of self-exile, Nitaipada Maharaja learned much on the strength of the Holy Names and living an austere lifestyle. "Much can be learned concerning one's self and also Krishna while living quietly in farm life." At the death of his Grandmother, Nitaipada Maharaja moved to Portland, Oregon, USA, believing that it was the desire of Sri Krishna for him to do service there. Once again, in Temple service, Nitaipada once again taught the devotees of Krishna that chanting and simple lifestyle were greatly important and desirable in the spreading of the Holy Names. The chanting of the Holy Names is the most important aspect of devotional life. Throughout scriptures and the teachings of the Acharyas the chanting of the Holy Names are greatly stressed. While Srila Prabhupada in his mercy to his disciples lowered the minimum standard to sixteen rounds, the Vaishnava standard is sixty-four rounds. Each devotee should never accept the minimum standard for their devotional service, but should aspire to achieve the highest standard of devotional service, which is sixty-four or 100,000 Names daily. The joys and spiritual satisfaction of achieving the goal of "Laksheshvara" is beyond words to explain, and those devotees who achieve this most exalted position are rare. It is Nitaipada Maharaja's desire that every devotee overcome the limitations placed upon them and strives to achieve the perfection of the title of "Laksheshvara" so that the blessings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the mercy of Sri Nityananda Raya Prabhu can richly receive in their lives.I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4A IMG{
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