Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami Srila Guru Maharaj of Iskon is a scientist, spiritualist, philosopher, Krishna conscious preacher which is known from his noble deed and pioneering efforts to bring synthesis between science and religion for a deeper understanding of life.
Gurudev Sripad Maharaj was born on lord Jagannath’s ‘Odhan Sasthi Tithi’ on Thursday in the year 1937 in Touble village of Bishnupur district close 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. His father died when he was five years’ old. His elder sister Anhabi Devi got married and he became isolated. He was affected with epidemic when he was 14 years’ old. Due to mercy of lord Krishna he escaped narrowly. His primary teacher Todam Karen Singh took care of him and imparted him education.
With his effort he always stood first in the class throughout his academic career. He became Master in Chemical Engineering with first class distinction in the year of 1964.
Then he joined as Assistant Director in Industries Department of Manipur with due selection by the Union Public Service Commission of Manipur. In the meanwhile, he was selected by Government of India through overseas scholarship and joined at California University. He became Phd degree holder 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 31, 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 1970-77. Srila Prabhupad imparted him higher education about deeper relation of Krishna consciousness with science and philosophy. He became director of Bhaktivedanta Institute, Iskcon in 1974. He took Sannyas during the year 1979. A scientist to Brahmachari then Sannyasi and then GBC during the year 1982, he become Guru and initiated a number of devotees around the world up to his disappearance day in 2006, on the Bijaya Dashami.
He has organized four international conferences on science and religion. 1st and 2nd world Congress on Synthesis of Science and Religion, Bombay (1986) and Calcutta (1997), First International Conference (1990 Sanfransisco, USA) and Second International on the Study of Consciousness Congress on life and its origin - Exploration For Science and Spiritual Traditions (Rome, 2004). He preached Krishna consciousness philosophy throughout the world in the medium of science and research.
He established the Youth Forum of Iskcon through which he taught the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and religion to the students of engineering colleges and various universities of the world. He established Bhaktivedanta Institute at Manipur where a large number of students from India but also various part of the world were educated about Krishna consciousness, philosophy and religion. He established Ranga Niketan cultural unit at Manipur. Through this unit, actors are performing Krishna consciousness dance and drama throughout the world. He is very fond of Kirtan. All devotees praised his nice Kirtan. He published so many books relating to science, Philosophy, religion and Krishna consciousness.
He became the GBC of Iskcon, Bhubaneswar temple, during the year 1996 after the departure of Gurudev Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Goswami Guru Maharaj. He came to Bhubaneswar temple 3-4 times in a year for his preaching. He always thought about devotees of Bhubaneswar temple. He took the name of Odisha devotees where ever he delivered his speech in international forums. He inaugurated Bhaktivedanta book trust unit at Chandrasekharpur. He laid the foundation stone of Iskcon Gundicha Mandir, Bhubaneswar. He also laid the foundation stone of Brahmapur, Bahanaga, Kamakshya Nagar Iskcon centres, besides Bhaktivedanta Institute at Burla.
(The writer is State Public Relations Officer, Iskcon)