Chanchalapathi Dasa

Chanchalapathi Dasa (born 1963) is an Indian spiritual leader, social worker, and co-founder of Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-profit organisation that provides mid-day meals to school children across India. He is also the Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore and the President of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, a cultural heritage project aimed at building the tallest temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in the world.

Chanchalapathi Dasa
Born	1963 (age 61–62) Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore
Title	Spiritual Leader Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Akshaya Patra Foundation Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore President of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir
Spouse	Chamari Devi Dasi
Website	chanchalapathidasa.com

Early life and education

Chanchalapathi Dasa was born in 1963 in Bangalore, Karnataka. He pursued his undergraduate studies in Electrical Communication Engineering at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, where he first encountered the teachings of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Inspired by Srila Prabhupada's mission, he later joined the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, for his postgraduate studies.^[1]

Biography

In 1984, Chanchalapathi Dasa became a full-time member of ISKCON Bangalore. Over the years, he has conceptualised and implemented numerous spiritual, cultural, and social development programmes aimed at serving humanity. He played a pivotal role in the creation of Little Krishna, an animated series depicting the childhood pastimes of Lord Krishna.^[2]

The Akshaya Patra Foundation

Chanchalapathi Dasa is the Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Akshaya Patra Foundation,^[3] one of the world's largest mid-day meal programmes. Under his leadership, the organisation has expanded its reach, providing meals to millions of children across India. His contributions to addressing classroom hunger and improving educational outcomes have been widely recognised. ^[4]

Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir

As the President of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, Chanchalapathi Dasa oversees the development of a unique cultural and heritage tourism project in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. The temple complex is envisioned to become the tallest temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, symbolising India's rich cultural heritage.^{[5] [6]}

ISKCON Bangalore

Chanchalapathi Dasa serves as the Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore, where he has been instrumental in expanding the organisation's spiritual and social initiatives. He is also the Vice Chairman and Co-Mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement, guiding its strategic growth and governance.^[1]

Inspiration

The teachings of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada have been the guiding force behind Chanchalapathi Dasa's work. Inspired by Srila Prabhupada's vision, he has dedicated his life to spreading the message of Krishna consciousness^[7] and serving humanity through spiritual and social initiatives.^[1]

Awards and recognition

Chanchalapathi Dasa's contributions to social work and spiritual leadership have earned him widespread acclaim. His efforts in addressing classroom hunger and promoting cultural heritage have been recognised by various organisations and institutions.^{[3] [8]}

Interviews and Talks

• Is ISKCON only for Elite People? - Keerthi History
• Shri Krishna and Bhagwad Gita - Karma & Kalyug
• What is the significance of pran pratishta? - India Today
• Where India's Hunger Struggle Is Headed - TEDxBMSCE
• The Future Of Life Festival - Shri Chanchalapathi Dasa and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri
• REASON Ep. 38 Ft. with Aarti Tikoo - The New Indian