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with His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Hansadutta dasa Rittvik Representative of the Acharya, BBT Trustee

Hansadutta das was born Hans Kary on May 27, 1941 in Brunswick, Germany. In early March, 1967, he became a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Hansadutta das helped to pioneer the Hare Krishna movement by preaching and opening Hare Krishna centres in Europe: Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, and in USA: Boston and Berkeley (San Francisco), in Canada: Montreal and Vancouver, and in Asia: Turkey, Egypt (Cairo), Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.

Hansadutta das is famous amongst the devotees for his ecstatic kirtans. From the beginning he pushed harinama-sankirtana (the congregational chanting of the holy names in public) with great enthusiasm and expertise. Srila Prabhupada especially appreciated his singing, and called him "King of Kirtan" ("Krishna Kirtan Thakur").

Hansadutta das was the first to organise and personally oversee publication and mass distribution of his spiritual master's books in English and Russian, German, French, Danish, Swedish, Arabic, Tagalo, Tamil, Singhalese, and Chinese. He was also the first to print Srila Prabhupada's Back To Godhead magazine in four colours and in European languages. Hansadutta das cut and sold records of Hare Krishna kirtans, including wonderful kirtans led by Srila Prabhupada. He also travelled extensively with Srila Prabhupada in India, and on his own, leading chanting parties and giving lectures. On account of his dynamic preaching, Hansadutta das won the approval and praise of Srila Prabhupada, his spiritual master ("You have understood the importance of my books. Without being asked, you published and distributed my books." And "The temples may fail, the devotees may fail, but my books will live forever."--London, September 1974). He was awarded with increased responsibility as one of Srila Prabhupada's senior disciples, and was especially appointed as lifetime trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, publisher of Srila Prabhupada's books.

In November, 1977, Srila Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the Hare Krishna movement, passed away from this world, leaving his disciples to carry on his mission of expanding the Krishna consciousness movement to every town and village on the planet. He left behind written instructions designating Hansadutta das as one of his deputies, "Rittvik Representative of the Acharya", authorised to continue recruiting and initiating new disciples on behalf of Srila Prabhupada.

Since then, Hansadutta das has also authored several books and other publications: The Hammer for Smashing Illusion (based on Shankaracharya's famous Bhaja Govinda ), Kirtan: Ancient Medicine for Modern Man, Fool's Paradise, The Book, and more recently, Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You. He has given lectures at Harvard University, McGill University, University of California at Berkeley, and many other public venues around the world, and made TV and radio appearances.

Hansadutta das now resides in Cloverdale, California, north of San Francisco. His email address is: hansadutta@hansadutta.com.