Gender

Male

Location

Kochi, Kerala

Birthday:

May 11

Name / Initiated name

Sanat Attavar

Daily number of rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra.

32+

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

I was born in a Hindu family in India, my father did not believe in GOD and my mother though believed in GOD did not light the lamp everyday as they’d normally do in Hindu households nor said aloud a prayer as my sister’s and brother did every evening. I hero worshipped my dad. When i was 15yrs old i had to read and memorize a sanskrit prayer as part of my study. From that day onwards i’d recite this prayer within me either in the morning or when i went to bed and both times later in life, I also would recite Names of all God’s i knew including Lord Jesus / Allah / Buddha etc along with all or most of the Hindu Demi God’s, of course Lord Sri Krishna Name was also included, i continued with it till 2010 by which time i was 41yrs old. A dear friend of mine forced me to the ISKCON Temple, Chennai in Aug 2010 Krishna Janmashtami day. I saw a framed poster which said ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare’ Chant 108times and be happy - I chanted sitting in a corner while Devotees where jumping/ dancing in ecstasy to the ongoing kirtan, when I finished I heard a loud THIS IS IT in my head, I could not really figure out and thought I probably imagined it, later as we headed out of The Temple a young Devotee selling books in the book stall asked me if i were interested in reading, i told him i was and also told him i wanted to read about the right path in life. He handed me five books The Laws of Nature, Life Comes from life, The Science of Self Realization, Krishna Consciousness and Bhagavad Gita – As It Is, when I finished reading them, Bhagavad Gita being the last one I read I could not stop crying, i’d been yearning to hear this while I could not articulate earlier, The Bhagavad Gita did and my life changed. I’d been in Sultanate of Oman for about 11 1/2yrs and visited a Krishna Temple – everyday in the later years but i’d never known Krishna as i came to know of HIM post my reading Srila Prabhupad’s Books since then there is no looking back. I’d returned to India wanting to give my autistic son a real go at life who was living with his mother after we divorced, but had never be able to convince his mother that he had a better future with me as he was a boy and was fast growing up. I’d left it to GOD and did my part of visiting him whenever time and money permitted and kept providing for him. Nov 2010 3 months since i’d started to chant The Maha Mantra he was with me. My life changed for the good and now all i’m really concerned about is Lord Sri Krishna and HE in turn tells me what has to be done and how it has to be done. Life never has been more beautiful, while i wait to get to HIM, equally enjoyable is chanting HIS name and for now that keeps me happy and going for i know HE will call me to HIM when HE thinks it is the right time. Until then Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. My son Sparsh is 22yrs old now and writes The Maha Mantra 16times everyday - it takes him about 45mins, he is non verbal but I also make him Chant The Maha Mantra for 18times 3 or 4 times during the day and make him Chant 3 times in every time he drinks water - he makes his own sounds trying to repeat what I Chant, his life is pretty regulated and single parenting him has been a journey to cherish and ALL the credit goes to Krishna Consciousness and cannot Thank Srila Prabhupad enough for His Mercy.

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

ISKCON, Kochi I go off and on to buy books, I know The Temple President Gaur Gopal Prabhu - because of my son’s condition I cannot frequent The Temple as Sparsh my son prefers to stay at home. Hare Krishna!

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

Single Parent of a presently non verbal boy who again presently is in the autistic spectrum. I am a Infrastructure Consultant - specialise in Shopping malls - concept to commissioning. Since becoming Krishna Conscious my main focus has been to progress in my Krishna Consciousness and of course single parenting takes a huge amount of time of my day as well. I don’t have any questions of life / am a happy contended soul - Sparsh my son is a happy soul as well (has taken a lot of hard yards to get him there) none of it would have been possible without Lord Sri Krishna’ Mercy. Hare Krishna!

What are your expectations from this community?

Would like to know if there are any Devotees who have a similar situation such as mine - coping dealing with autism - having put in the hard yards I can share my experiences with them and learn from their experiences as well.

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

Counselling any Parent dealing with children with special needs.