Friday 7 August 2026 | 7pm-9pm | Sri Krishna Haveli

Topic: ‘The Flute Player and the Wielder of the Plough: Krishna & Balarama’

Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1949. In 1956, during the failed Hungarian revolution, he emigrated with his family to Canada. Sivarama Swami first came in contact with the books of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1970, becoming an initiated disciple of Prabhupada in 1973. Six years later, at the age of 29, he was awarded the order of sannyasa. In Canada and the USA he served ISKCON by distributing books, and opening and managing temples.

In 1980 Sivarama Swami moved to the UK, becoming the president of Caitanya College, and the UK’s National Sankirtana leader. He was requested to accept the responsibility and service of a GBC member and ISKCON initiating guru in 1986. As a member of the Governing Body Commission he was responsible for leading ISKCON’s mission in the UK from 1986 to 2004. He continues to be a spiritual leader for ISKCON’s mission in Hungary, Romania and Turkey.

Sivarama Swami is an internationally acknowledged religious leader, theologian, author of 23 books and dozens of articles, and an environmental and human rights activist. His scholarship and writings, his extensive public activities, his continued efforts to stand up for human rights, and his regular involvement in interfaith dialogues have made Sivarama Swami one of the most prominent religious leaders in Europe.