Amogh Lila Das, formerly known as Ashish Arora, transitioned from being a software engineer to a monk.

Amogh Lila Das, a software engineer who made the choice to become a monk, gained attention when he was “banned” by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) due to recent controversial remarks he made.

Das allegedly made objectionable comments about Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahansa, causing a significant uproar. He faced criticism on social media, including from members of political groups.

The backlash led ISKCON to take action against Das, imposing a one-month ban on him. The religious organization also stated that Das would go to the Govardhan hills for a period of atonement, where he will live in seclusion away from public life.

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Who is Amogh Lila Das?

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Most information about Das, who is 43 years old, comes from his videos. Reportedly, Das was born as Ashish Arora into a Punjabi family in Lucknow. He pursued software engineering at the prestigious Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) at the University of Delhi. In 2004, he started working as a project manager for a US-based MNC but left the job in 2010 to embark on a spiritual path.

At the age of 29, Das joined ISKCON and became a Brahmachari. He currently resides in Delhi and holds the position of vice president in ISKCON’s Dwarka chapter. He has been affiliated with the organization for approximately 12 years and is recognized as a lifestyle and motivational speaker with a substantial following on social media.

Controversial remarks by the monk receive a negative response

In a widely shared video clip on social media, Das can be seen criticizing Swami Vivekananda for consuming fish. The monk asserts that a virtuous individual would never harm a living being.

Das also mocks Ramakrishna Paramhansa’s teaching of “Jato Mat Tato Path” (as many opinions, as many paths). He argues that not all paths lead to the same destination.

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These comments sparked a backlash from various individuals, including Kunal Ghosh, the Trinamool Congress state general secretary, who stated, “We hold ISKCON in high regard, but they must intervene now. Insulting Ramakrishna and Vivekananda will not be tolerated. Immediate action should be taken against this self-proclaimed monk.”