Jayananda Dasa

Who is Jayananda Dasa?

Jayananda Dasa was an influential religious figure in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in San Francisco between 1967-1977. ISKCON views Jayananda Dasa as a saint. Prabhupada said that he was proud that he had such a good devotee as Jayananda, and when Jayananda left his body, Prabhupada said: "Jayananda went back home to Godhead".

Born as Jim Kohr in Dayton, Ohio, he graduated from Ohio State in 1962 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Jayananda was employed as a cab driver in San Francisco when he first came into contact with the founder of ISKCON, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Jayananda helped found an ISKCON center there in 1967 and later became the president of the temple. He was instrumental in organising the first ISKCON Ratha Yatra festival, which is now held every summer in San Francisco and is a day of public holiday in the city.