Mukunda Charan das was born on the shore of the Indian Ocean in Durban, South Africa on 18 July 1971. He is a disciple of His Holiness Radhanath Maharaja. He loves the sea and has practiced and taught bhakti-yoga in Cape Town, Mumbai and California.
Mukunda Charan entered the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) law school in February 1990. He arrived by train in Cape Town on the 11th of February 1990, the day Nelson Mandela was freed from Pollsmoor Prison.
Driven by a desire to know the truth Mukunda discontinued his legal studies and immersed himself in studies on African-American Civil Rights, Slavery, the Abolition of Slavery and the Abolition of the Slave Trade in southern Africa. His researches culminated in his being awarded the degree of Master of Arts in June 1997. He was offered a scholarship for the English Honours Programme at this time, but declined. His thesis on the Abolition of the Slave Trade in Southern Africa was later sent to Cambridge University.
His study of slavery aroused within him an interest in ethics, ancient civilizations and western philosophy. He was particularly intrigued by the writings and ideas of European philosophers like Carlo Ginzburg, Michel Foucault, Diogenes and Ludwig Wittgenstein. His search for answers and meaning in life, however, led him to the simple truths of spiritual philosophy. He was increasingly drawn towards the teachings of Christ, Mohamet and Buddha. These teachings seemed to be nicely summarized in the simple, yet profound, philosphy of the Bhagavad-gita.
He recalls his first meeting with the Hare Krishnas in February 1997: ‘I knew it was the right thing. It was as if a door had opened. All I had to do was step inside…’ He considered dropping out of the Master’s programme to live the life of an ascetic in India. Fortunately, however, he met the devotees in in Rondebosch and UCT.
He feels most indebted to the Movement’s founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is also inspired by His Holiness Radhanath Swami and the Chowpatty ethos.
Since then he has made several television appearances, cooked for the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela, produced a television documentary on ISKCON’s Mayapur project, regularly visited India, been an active participant in Hare Krishna Food For Life, distributed Krishna conscious literatures all over the world and organized large public festivals in Cape Town.
Mukunda launched the Vedic City Project (ISKCON Johannesburg North) on Janmasthami 2008. The project is focussed on the chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna/ Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama/ Rama Rama Hare Hare.
25 October, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Hari Bol Prabhu,
I’m inspired to see your blog. I hope i see you in India for Pune Yatra.
ys, somadas das
3 August, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Hari HAri!
Dandavats Prabhuji!
I don’t know if you remember giving one very small boy from DBN a book when he was in CT some many years back… Anyway, the seed you planted so long ago has since sprouted and is growing very nicely. I owe you more than I could ever give you. All glories to HG Mukunda Caran Prabhu! All glories to HH Srila Prabhupada! All glories, all glories to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
Your humble servant,
Bhakta Arne
P.S. I should be in Bloem for Lord Balaram’s appearance day. Could you send me the address of the centre there???
23 September, 2008 at 8:57 am
It is our fortune that we can serve in the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
Das ’smin.
Mukunda Charan das
4 December, 2008 at 8:36 am
Hare Krishna Prabhu
It was very motivating to see you doing book distribution in Sandton City today, you appeared as a light amidst the darkness and maya of the kali yuga.Please keep up the good work amd I pray that Lord Narasimhadeva will watch over you .
Best wishes.
19 December, 2008 at 7:04 am
oh, and your Puri rendition of your sojourn was absolutely marvelous, it’s a difficult language to get through, you know the baboons at cape point can sit in the back of someones car, opening car doors,etc, with such sheer skill that the driver and passenger, don’t even know they’re there, until someone alerts them and the latter evacuate post haste.
30 September, 2009 at 11:26 am
Im impressed…hope to see you again sometime. Keep inspiring:)