GOVERNANCE
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir is managed as per the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. All the members of the Executive Council and the Board of Trustees, enthused with their missionary zeal and expertise, manage various activities pertaining to the temple’s spiritual, cultural and social endeavours.
The diverse and illustrious backgrounds of the members form a rich amalgamation of knowledge and expertise. This is furthered by their commitment in attaining the vision: “To broadcast the glories of Sri Krishna and His transcendental abode, Sri Vrindavana, as taught by Srila Prabhupada, all over the world, in a manner that the contemporary world can appreciate and derive the supreme benefit of pure love of Godhead.”
Executive Council
Chairman
Madhu Pandit Dasa was born in 1956 in Nagercoil near Trivandrum, India. As a pre-degree student, he was selected by the National Science Talent search programme of the country. He completed his B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from IIT-Mumbai in the year 1980. During his days in IIT, he became interested in the books of Srila Prabhupada. While he was doing his M.Tech. course in IIT-Mumbai in 1981, he dedicated himself to the service of humanity by becoming a full-time member of ISKCON. He was soon made the President of ISKCON, Trivandrum. In 1983, he became involved in overseeing the activities of ISKCON, Bangalore along with his responsibilities in Trivandrum temple. Under his leadership, in 1988, the Government of Karnataka allotted 6.5 acres of a rocky abandoned hillock in the city to set up a cultural complex. He headed the architectural design of the temple on Hare Krishna Hill, organised the construction of the colossal cultural complex, mobilization of support and fund raising to the tune of Rs. 38 crores (Rs. 380 million or $ 9.5 million) and recruiting and training nearly 100 full-time dedicated members of ISKCON. He initiated the Akshaya Patra programme to provide mid-day meals to underprivileged children studying in Government schools of Bangalore Rural District in June 2000.
President
Chanchalapathi Dasa was born in 1963 in Bangalore, India. While an undergraduate student in PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, he became interested in the message and mission of Srila Prabhupada. Later he joined the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for the Masters programme in Electrical Communication Engineering. In 1984 he became a full-time dedicated member of ISKCON, Bangalore and soon became the Vice President. He has been involved in the implementation of various programmes of ISKCON, Bangalore. As Vice Chairman and Trustee of The Akshaya Patra Foundation he heads all the activities of the Foundation across the country. He played an important role in production of “Little Krishna”. As Temple President of Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra Mandir, he is heading various projects of the Group at Vrindavan.
Vice President
As a meritorious student, Yudishtira Krishna Dasa joined M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore to pursue his studies in Medicine. During his first year in college, Yudishtira Krishna Dasa came in touch with the Krishna Consciousness movement and subsequently dedicated his life in the service of Srila Prabhupada’s mission in the year 1997. Initially, he was involved in handling the Prasadam Department of ISKCON Bangalore.
After few years of serving the temple, Yudishtira Krishna Dasa became the Head of Operations of The Akshaya Patra Foundation in Hubli from 2004-2008. During this time, he oversaw the setting up and running of the world’s largest kitchen in Hubli with a capacity to feed over 200,000 meals every day. Subsequent to the successful implementation of the mid-day meal programme in Hubli and Dharwad districts, he became the President of Akshaya Patra’s kitchen in Bellary. Here, he was once again involved in building and setting up a large centralised Akshaya Patra kitchen infrastructure to feed about 150,000 children every day.
He is currently leading various resource mobilisation initiatives for the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, the skyscraper temple for Lord Sri Krishna in Vrindavan.
Vice President
Bharatarshabha Dasa came in touch with Krishna consciousness while he was pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the prestigious Regional Engineering College, Calicut. He joined ISKCON Bangalore as a missionary in 1992. Soon he participated in the fundraising activities for the construction of the iconic ISKCON Bangalore temple.
Later, he became involved in various services related to editorial and publication of literatures. In this role, he was responsible for translating and publishing the 17 volume series of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita - an authorised biography of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the 18 volume series of Srimad Bhagavatam, the 6 volume series of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita and other books of Srila Prabhupada from English to Kannada.
He is currently serving as the Vice President of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir and oversees the Communciations and Public Relations of the organization.