Bhaktivaibhava Swami Hindu Krishna religious leader and preacher Date of Birth: 28.03.1951 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Education
2. Initiation into ISKCON
3. Pioneering Work in Eastern Europe
4. Leadership in ISKCON
5. Gauranga Bhajan Band
6. VedaVision and Filmmaking
7. Honors and Recognition

Early Life and Education

Gunnarr Reiman was born on March 28, 1951, in Hamburg, Germany, the fourth and youngest child of Latvian parents. Growing up in Hamburg, he unsuccessfully attempted to learn Russian, which he found "very strange." While studying at an art college, he became interested in Buddhism and contemplated a pilgrimage to Tibet and monasticism.

In 1969, Reiman joined the hippie movement. In 1970, he encountered a Krishnaite who offered him a leaflet with a lecture by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Intrigued by a phrase in the lecture, "Krishna consciousness purifies our whole existence. And that is so delicious!," he began exploring Krishna consciousness.

Initiation into ISKCON

In the spring of 1970, Reiman visited a Krishnaite temple in Hamburg. Drawn by the mantra "Hare Krishna," he learned about ISKCON and its practices. Within three days of his first visit, he embraced monastic life, joining a group of five monks living at the temple.

Receiving spiritual initiation from Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1971, he adopted the Sanskrit name "Avinashchandra Dasa." In 1972, he returned to Hamburg and assisted with the production of ISKCON's official magazine, Back to Godhead, in German.

Pioneering Work in Eastern Europe

In 1976, Avinashchandra traveled to communist Czechoslovakia to distribute religious literature and establish a Krishnaite temple. However, his attempts were met with challenges, including the confiscation of his books at the border. Nevertheless, he continued preaching in Arab countries such as Lebanon, even amidst civil war.

Leadership in ISKCON

In 1987, Avinashchandra became an initiating guru and accepted disciples. In 1991, he took sannyasa (the renounced order of life) and adopted the new name "Bhakti Vaibhava Swami." In 1995, he was elected to the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON.

Gauranga Bhajan Band

In 1990, Bhakti Vaibhava Swami co-founded the theatrical-musical group Gauranga Bhajan Band. During the early 1990s, the band toured extensively throughout Eastern Europe, attracting thousands at their concerts. They combined meditative music with instrumental accompaniment, sang bhajans and mantras in a rock style, and incorporated multimedia shows and pantomime performances.

VedaVision and Filmmaking

In the early 2000s, Bhakti Vaibhava Swami established the VedaVision film company. In 2003, VedaVision released "Mother Ganga: A Journey Along the Sacred Ganges River," a documentary produced by Bhakti Vaibhava Swami. In 2009, he directed, wrote, and produced the documentary "The Lost Village," which explores the vanishing rural Indian villages and lifestyle amidst urbanization.

Honors and Recognition

Bhakti Vaibhava Swami serves as director of ISKCON's activities in Russia (Siberia and Far East), Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Latvia, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, and Mongolia. In 2002, he became the first ISKCON leader to introduce Vaishnava culture and practice in Mongolia. He holds an honorary doctorate from the Mongolian State University.