December 20 (Lord Jagannath Odhana Sasthi Tithi) is the 83rd appearance day of Iskcon Guru Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami. Vyasapuja is being observed by the disciples in various Iskcon centers all over the world to mark the occasion.
Bhaktiswaraup Damodar Swami Srila Guru Maharaj was a scientist, spiritualist, philosopher and Krishna conscious preacher, all rolled into one. He was born in 1937 in Touble village of Bishnupur district closer to Imphal in Manipur.
He belonged to a pure traditional Baishnab family. His childhood name was Todam Damodar Singh. He came with thousands of problems since his childhood. However, he got Masters degree in Chemical Engineering with first class distinction in the year of 1964.
Then he joined as Assistant Director in Industries Department of Manipur. Getting an overseas scholarship, he joined the California University from where he got his PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry in the year of 1976. He joined in the mission of Iskcon during the year of 1970.
Srila Prabhupad, Founder of Iskcon, initiated him on June 13, 1971 at Los Angeles, New Dwarika ISKCON Temple (United State of America) and he became identified as “Swarup Damodar”.
He was personal secretary of Srila Prabhupad from 1970 to 1977. Srila Prabhupad imparted him higher education about deeper relation of Krishna Consciousness with science and philosophy. He became director of Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI), Iskcon in 1974.He was promoted to chief authority of BI in 1976. He took Sannyas during the year 1979. A scientist to Brahmachari then Sannyasi, he initiated a number of devotees around the world till his disappearance in 2006 on the Bijaya Dashami day. He established the Bhaktivedanta Institute at Manipur besides the Ranga Niketan cultural unit at Manipur.
The unit sponsors actors performing Krishna consciousness dance and drama throughout the world. He is very fond of Kirtan. All devotees praised him for his nice Kirtan. He published many books relating to science. philosophy, religion and Krishna consciousness and organised many seminars. He became the GBC of Iskcon Bhubaneswar temple during the year 1996 after the departure of beloved Gurudev Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Goswami Guru Maharaj. He came to Bhubaneswar temple 3-4 times in a year for his preaching of Krishna Consciousness.
He inaugurated Bhaktivedanta book trust unit at Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar. He laid the foundation stone of Iskcon Gundicha Mandir, Bhubaneswar.
He also laid the foundation stone of Brahmapur, Bahanaga and Kamakshya Nagar Iskcon Center and Bhaktivedanta Institute at Burla.
(Das is State PRO, Iskcon)