No idea who the guy above might be, but I have to say that ChatGPT´s warning is extremely entertaining. Has ISKCON Official taken over the AI? *Chant* GPT, as it were! LOL.
No, the Narayana Swami you're referring to on YouTube who tells people to leave ISKCON is most likely not the same person as Narayana Maharaja (Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja).
Here's why:
✅ Narayana Maharaja (1921–2010):
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Passed away in 2010, so he is not active on YouTube personally.
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While his teachings did attract ISKCON members, he never aggressively told people to "leave ISKCON." Instead, he encouraged sincere spiritual seekers to go deeper into rasa-tattva (devotional mellows) and bhakti-rasa, often causing some to drift from ISKCON on their own initiative.
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His tone and method were more gentle, traditional, and respectful, even amid doctrinal disagreements.
❌ The YouTube “Narayana Swami”:
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If you're watching someone who speaks in more provocative or polemical terms, directly telling followers to reject or leave ISKCON, this is probably someone unaffiliated with Narayana Maharaja’s original mission, or possibly a self-styled guru using a similar name.
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“Swami Narayana” or “Narayana Swami” is a common spiritual name in India, especially in Vaishnava circles, and can refer to different teachers or even entirely different traditions (e.g., Swaminarayan).
How to Confirm:
To verify who you're watching:
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Look at the name of the YouTube channel, their affiliation, and whether they mention Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti or Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaja (both linked to Narayana Maharaja).
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If the speaker is alive and giving talks today, they are definitively not Narayana Maharaja.
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Also note if they’re teaching in a style focused on highly emotional appeals, criticism, or sensationalism—this would not match Narayana Maharaja’s tone.
In Summary:
You're almost certainly seeing a different teacher who uses a similar name—not the late Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja. His actual teachings are available on channels run by his disciples and are usually framed in a devotional, respectful, and scripturally grounded manner, even when offering critiques of ISKCON's approach.
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