{"id":29,"date":"2025-12-07T16:47:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T00:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ajitakd.org\/blog\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2025-12-07T17:13:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T01:13:58","slug":"about-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ajitakd.org\/blog\/about-me\/","title":{"rendered":"About me"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greetings !<\/p>\n

My name is Ajita Krishna Das, and I am a resident pujari (priest) at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel, California (USA).<\/p>\n

I’ve been attempting to practice Krishna Consciousness since 1988. Started in ISKCON Society, then in 1992 moved to the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, when I became a disciple of my Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 1993 The Devotees acquired this land that I live on now, 28 acres on a mountain, outside of Soquel, California.<\/p>\n

I grew up in the music business, my father being a key player in much of the San Francisco music scene since 1965.<\/p>\n

Also grew up on sailboats…. racing them on San Francisco Bay. I also took a sailboat from Italy to San Francsico in ’87-’88. Then to Canada some years later.<\/p>\n

I spent most of the 90s in Humboldt County, visiting the Ashram here in Soquel about 5 times a year. I’d always come stay during the visit of my Gurudev who had come from India to nourish us all. He would stay anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, generally, with one visit lasting almost 3 months.<\/p>\n

I then moved to Mendocino County n 1998, following a terrible car accident.<\/p>\n

The car wreck damaged me greatly, as I had sustained some spine injuries from an assault in 1993. That assault left me unable to stand up for two years.<\/p>\n

I have been struggling with chronic pain ever since.<\/p>\n

Now I am diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis<\/a>. It’s a painful condition that progresses with time.<\/p>\n

I was keeping my own home in Santa Cruz, California, about 15 minutes from the Ashram for 2 years. Frustrated with material life I asked the Devotees if I could stay with them.<\/p>\n

They agreed, because of their affection for me. I feel like this is my home, and everyone here is my well-wisher and dear friend !<\/p>\n

\"20250416-193245.jpg\"<\/p>\n

One of my interests is gardening.<\/p>\n

Grew this Garbera daisy this year, 2025.<\/p>\n

So, what can I say. I live on donations from people, aside from some internet work and my incense company<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I live in 1 room here at the Ashram, and have many duties here.<\/p>\n

I’m primarily a pujari, priest. I serve the Devotees, visitors, and our Deities.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here they are, wearing garlands I made for Them on Thanksgiving Day, 2025.<\/p>\n

Their names are Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Ghandarvika Giridhari Jiu, and on the left is Sriman Gauranga Sundar Jiu.<\/p>\n

I am so blessed to be able to call myself Their servant.<\/p>\n

I was born in 1969, in San Francisco, California (USA). Stayed there until 1987 after which I moved to Mendocino County.<\/p>\n

It was there that I met my Devotee friend and mentor, Sriman Daitananda Prabhu, who shared Krishna Consciousness with me, and saved my life by doing so.<\/p>\n

My activity at the Ashram involves making garlands, offering foodstuffs to our Deities, offering Arati worship to our Deities, cleaning and serving out Prasad (blessed food) to visitors and Devotees.<\/p>\n

I guess I’ll share an image of myself here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That image is from 1993.<\/p>\n

Here’s a more recent one:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Taken in October of 2025.<\/p>\n

My spondylitis has me a bit bent over, and it is very difficult to walk.<\/p>\n

I am somehow able to ride my e-bike, though. Lord help me if I ever have to dismount it !<\/p>\n

I have come to the point where I need to ask for donations.<\/p>\n

If you believe what I’m doing with my life is a good purpose, and you want to help, please visit the Donate page !<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

Ajita Krishna Das
\nSoquel, CA<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\nFollow:\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"youtube\"<\/a>\"instagram\"<\/a>\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"youtube\"<\/a>\"instagram\"<\/a><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greetings ! My name is Ajita Krishna Das, and I am a resident pujari (priest) at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel, California (USA). I’ve been attempting to practice Krishna Consciousness since 1988. Started in ISKCON Society, then …..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nAbout me - Ajita's Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ajitakd.org\/blog\/about-me\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"About me - Ajita's Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Greetings ! 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