Gender

Male

Birthday:

April 19

Name / Initiated name

Rasa Rasika Das

Daily number of rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra.

16

When, where and how did you come into contact with the Hare Krishna Movement?

While studying at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, I used to see the harinama party on Queen street. I was attracted by the chanting. Since little I was interested in understanding the purpose of life. Got the book Life Comes from Life when I was in primary school. Later at Auckland Uni I met Abhay Charan prabhu who invited me to the temple. I used to go the Food for Life restaurant (because it was cheap and tasty). Looking back I realise that Krishna was getting me hooked on to prasadam. On one such visit I met HH Janananda Maharaj. After completing my studies I went to Hamilton. My place of work is next to a Radha Govindaji temple. Met Guru Das prabhu and started chanting 8 rounds. Then met HH Vedaviyaspriya Swami who instructed me to chant 16 rounds. Few months later HH Janananda Goswami came. Around this time I was constantly inquiring about how to find a guru and how do we know if one is my guru. I met him and was convinced that he is my Guru. In feb 2008 he gave me the 1st initiation. Later the same year in August he gave the second initiation. Since then under his care and guidance we started our Brahmachari center in Hamilton where we are constantly trying to run various preaching programs.

Name the nearest or most frequently Visited ISKCON temple/ centre and name few of the devotees whom you know.

The ISKCON center I most commonly visit is ISKCON Auckland, Temple of Radha Giridhari. Some devotees that I know include: Kala Sambhar Prabhu, Atamananda prabhu, Jayshila prabhu, Divya Govinda prabhu, Ramteck prabhu, Govinda Kinkar prabhu and many more.

Please describe yourself so that other like minded devotees can find you.

I am a Microbiologist by profession. Under the instructions of my spiritual master we started a preaching center in Hamilton, New Zealand. We have regular Namah Hattah programs at home. On Friday nights we go on harinamah in town. Sat we use a local temple facility to preach the mission of lord Chaitanyas. I love harinamah and serving my Nitai Sacisuta deities. Love sharing the process of Krishna consciousness with everyone. Spend my spare time reading and listening to lectures.

What are your expectations from this community?

To continue providing such invaluable service to everyone through continuing to maintain such an amazing website.

Describe any specific service you would love to offer to Lord Krishna & His devotees?

I would love to serve all the Vaishnav's who have been asking me for Gurudev's (HH Janananda Goswami's) lectures by making them available at a location that I personally feel is the most valuable and accessible.