Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami Srila Guru Maharaj of Iskcon was a scientist, spiritualist, philosopher and great Krishna preacher.
He was born in 1937 in Bishnupur district closer to Imphal. He belonged to a pure traditional Baishnab family. His childhood name was Thoudam Damodar Singh. He came with thousands of problems in his childhood. After death of his father, his teacher Thoudam Karen Singh took care of him.
He was a brilliant student and became a Masters in Chemical Engineering with first class distinction in 1964. Then he joined as Assistant Director in Industries Department of Manipur. Later, he got overseas scholarship and joined at the California University. He became PhD holder in physical organic Chemistry in the year of 1976.
Here he was influenced by Iskcon ideology. He joined the mission in 1970. Srila Prabhupad, founder of Iskcon, initiated him on June 13, 1971 at Los Angeles-based New Dwarika temple (United State of America) and he became identified as “Swamp Damodar”.
He was personal secretary of Srila Prabhupad from 1970 to 1977. Srila Prabhupad taught him about deeper relation between Krishna consciousness and science and philosophy. He became director of Bhaktivedanta Institute in 1974. He was promoted to chief authority of the institute in 1976. He took Sannyas in 1979.
He undertook Baishnab Vedanta studies and higher research under Srila Prabhupad. He was instrumental in organising four international conferences on science and religion. He preached Krishna consciousness philosophy throughout the world in the medium of science. He established “Youth Forum” organisation of the Iskcon.
He established the Bhaktivedanta Institute at Manipur and the Ranga Niketan, a cultural unit, there. He was very fond of Kirtan. All devotees praised for his nice Kirtan.
He published many books relating to science, philosophy religion and Krishna consciousness. He became the GBC of the Iskcon, Bhubaneswar temple, in 1996 after the departure of Gurudev Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Goswami Guru Maharaj. He ame to Bhubaneswar temple 3-4 times in a year for preaching Krishna consciousness.
Gajapati Maharaja of Puri likes him very much. He inaugurated the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust unit at Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar and laid the foundation stone of Iskcon Gundicha Mandir, Bhubaneswar and of Brahmapur, Bahanaga, Kamakshya Nagar and Burla units.
(Das is State PRO, Iskcon, M:9861391342)