Ravindra Svarupa dasa is the ISKCON’s Governing Body Commissioner for the U.S. mid-Atlantic region, ISKCON Philadelphia temple president and previous GBC Chairman, joined ISKCON in January 1971. Initiated by Srila Prabhupada in July 1971, he has served as an inspiring leader and initiating spiritual master in his guru’s mission, most noted for his insights into ISKCON’s historical development and institutional rectification. He holds a B.A. in philosophy from University of Pennsylvania, as well as a M.A. in religion and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Temple University.

Ravindra Svarupa is project director for a group of devotee scholars who are researching the Vedic literature to get greater insight into the cosmology of the Srimad-Bhagavatam’s Fifth Canto for the purpose of making a model of the universe for the Mayapur Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.