Announcing the Second North American Sravanam Kirtanam Camp hosted by ISKCON Seattle- Aug 12-14, 2016
Radhika Gopinath Das
His Grace Harivilas prabhu was born in Philadelphia January 5 1946. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He studied 1968-1969 at American University, Beirut. He moved to Paris June 1969 and met devotees July 1969 in Paris. He moved to temple in London Bury place in December 1969. Later he returned to Paris and opened the first temple in Paris. He was initiated in June 1970 and became the temple president. His Grace Harivilas prabhu invited Srila Prabhupada to Paris in 1971 to the first ISKCON temple inauguration in France. He got married in 1973 in Paris and stepped down from temple president in 1973 to focus on Grihasta activities. Shortly thereafter started a business called Spiritual Sky. His Grace Harivilas prabhu took on president responsibilities again in 1979. In 1979 he opened a new temple building in downtown Paris and remained president until 1979 – 1981.
His Grace Harivilas prabhu started middle eastern BBT between 1981 – 1988. He guided people in translation of the Bhagavad Gita, Beyond Birth and death, Isopanishad, Coming back in Armenian and printed books with his own funds. Similarly translation and printing of Isopanishad and Coming Back in Turkish and Coming Back in Arabic. His Grace Harivilas prabhu made many donations for printing first Gitar Gaan in Bengali. He also gave donations and printed books in Swahili, Japanese, Urdu, Oriya.
His Grace Harivilas prabhu became GBC 1988, and went to Berkeley California, when the temple was in foreclosing proceedings. Served there as temple president and GBC for 4 ½ years during which time he paid off mortgage. He also completely renovated the entire temple building inside and out.
In 1991 His Grace Harivilas prabhu moved to Seattle because the temple in Seattle was going to close down and deities were to move to Alachua, FL. His Grace Harivilas prabhu expertly managed temple congregation and paid off the mortgage in 2004. By 2008 He built a brand new temple in Sammamish, WA costing $4.5 million dollars and by then there was a developed community of 50 initiated devotees and significant congregation. In 2010 became GBC of Phoenix and help secure that temple from outside influence. From 1988 onwards he helped the Vancouver temple to free itself from the influence of potentially damaging individuals. Eventually in 2006 he organized the payoff for the entire mortgage amount. In 2011 he became GBC for Hawaii and worked to stabilize the temple that has experienced difficulties for the last eight years.
His Grace Harivilas prabhu has six children with his wife Parijata Devi dasi. He has been living as a vanaprasta since 2003. All his children are grown and are independent. His Grace Harivilas prabhu also applied to be put on the list to become a Sanyasi and resigned from the GBC in 2016.