Biography
building communities
Vraja Bihari Das, also known by his legal name Venugopal Acharya, is a highly respected spiritual teacher, author, and full-time monk at the Shri Shri Radha Gopinath Mandir, ISKCON Chowpatty, where he has been serving for the past two and a half decades. He holds a Masters’s degree in Monetary Policy and International Finance, as well as a Majors degree in Economics.
He has a wealth of experience in the corporate world, having worked with multinational companies such as KPMG Pete Marwick and ICICI Bank after completing his MBA in Finance. He is also a member of the Temple Care Committee and congregation development at ISKCON Chowpatty, where he provides counselling to young men in the monastery and trains a satellite community of over 100+ families in various parts of Mumbai.
Vraja Bihari Das is well-known for his deep study of Vedic and Contemporary History, and for presenting this knowledge in a relevant and relatable way through life-enhancing seminars for corporates and students, both physically and online. He is particularly passionate about teaching Bhakti-Yoga, a form of yoga that involves investing emotions and prayers.
With over 1000+ articles on his website (www.yogaformodernage.com) and hundreds of talks on his YouTube channel, he continues to guide and inspire people across borders through his social media presence. He has authored 5 books including ‘Cricket in a Monastery’. One of his books, “Mind Your Mind – Three Principles for Happy Living,” is a culmination of his daily study, writing, contemplation, and prayers over the last twenty years. In this book, he shares different tools to help people feel loved and improve their relationships with themselves and with those who matter to them. Additionally, his recent release “Lessons from the Road” shares insights from his deep study of Vedic scriptures like The Srimad Bhagavatam & Bhagavad Gita.
He is also a seasoned international speaker, having travelled and spoken in the USA, Australia, UK, Germany, Russia, and other parts of Europe and the Middle East. His candid thoughts on mental hygiene, spiritual discipline, and finding deep emotional fulfilment resonate with people from all walks of life. His lucid and cheerful talks harmonize wisdom from the Vedic era to enhance modern lives.
He often says, “The principles of life are simple and same everywhere: just apply even a little, and see a big difference.”