Bhakti Vikasha Swami Krishnaite religious leader and preacher Date of Birth: 03.01.1957 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Introduction to Krishna Consciousness
2. Joining ISKCON and Initiation
3. Spreading Krishna Consciousness in India and Abroad
4. Establishing in Bangladesh and Further Missions
5. Sannyasa Initiation and Guru Status
6. Teaching and Writing

Early Life and Introduction to Krishna Consciousness

Bhakti Vikas Swamiwas born in England on 3rd January 1957 and spent his childhood and early adolescence in Ireland. In 1973, he was first exposed to Gaudiya Vaishnavism through a television program about Krishna devotees. A few years later, he found a book written by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in a friend's house, which opened his eyes to the life of Krishna.

Joining ISKCON and Initiation

Deeply moved by the book, Vikas Swami searched for a nearby Krishna temple and discovered one close to his father's home. He soon traveled to England and joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) at Bhaktivedanta Manor, where he embraced the monastic lifestyle. On 30th August 1975, during Krishna Janmashtami, he formally became a disciple of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and received the Sanskrit name "Ilapati Das."

Spreading Krishna Consciousness in India and Abroad

In the years that followed, Ilapati Das dedicated himself to distributing Krishna consciousness books and the "Back to Godhead" magazine throughout England, Wales, and Ireland. He made his first pilgrimage to India in 1976 and settled there as his base in 1977. For the next two years, he served at the Indian branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and engaged in missionary work in West Bengal.

Establishing in Bangladesh and Further Missions

In 1979, together with Prabhavishnu Swami, Ilapati Das began distributing Hindu scriptures in Bangladesh. They used a bus purchased from smugglers, which had secret compartments to conceal the books. The people of Bangladesh were eager to acquire the literature, which had been scarce in their country. During the 1980s, Ilapati Das also extended his preaching efforts to Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Sannyasa Initiation and Guru Status

In 1989, Ilapati Das received sannyasa (the renounced order of life) initiation in Mayapur from Jayapataka Swami, who bestowed upon him the new name "Bhakti Vikas Swami." Settling back in India, Bhakti Vikas Swami became an initiating guru for ISKCON in 1991, beginning to accept disciples.

Teaching and Writing

Since the early 1990s, Bhakti Vikas Swami has been actively traveling throughout the Indian subcontinent, delivering lectures and seminars in English, Bengali, and Hindi. He is a frequent guest on the talk show "Aatma" on STAR Plus. His written works include:

- "Brahmacharya in Krishna Consciousness" (1988): A practical guide for brahmacharis, those practicing celibacy.

- "First Steps to Krishna" (2003): A comprehensive guide to the basic principles of practicing Gaudiya Vaishnavism.