Acharya Prashant

Acharya Prashant
Born
Prashant Tripathi

Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Alma materIndian Institute of Technology Delhi
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Occupations
  • Philosopher
  • Author
  • Advaita Teacher
  • Social and Environmental Activist
  • Vegan Activist
OrganizationPrashantAdvait Foundation
Notable workKarma: Why Everything You Know About It Is Wrong

Ananda: Happiness Without Reason

Maya: I Bow to Thee, You Cannot be Overcome
Parents
  • Awadhesh N. Tripathi (father)
  • Sita Tripathi (mother)
AwardsMost Influential Vegan
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2006–present
Genre
Subscribers51.9 million[1]
Total views2.95 billion[1]
Last updated: 18 Sept, 2024
Websitehttps://acharyaprashant.org/

Prashant Tripathi, known as Acharya Prashant, is an Indian author and Advaita teacher.[2][3] He teaches seventeen forms of Gita and sixty forms of Upanishads.[4][5] He is the founder of a non-profit organization named Prashant Advait Foundation,[6] and is an animal rights activist.[7]

Early life and education

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Prashant Tripathi received his bachelor's degree in textile engineering from IIT Delhi and later did post graduation in management from IIM Ahmedabad in 2003.[8] He worked for Indian Civil Services briefly before starting as a Vedanta teacher and an author.[9]

He was also a Theatre Actor in his College days.

Awards and recognitions

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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [PETA], in February 2023, honoured him as the "Most Influential Vegan" of 2022.[10][11] They wrote: "His [Acharya Prashant's] award from PETA India spotlights how he encourages everyone to live a conscious, nonviolent life and respect all sentient beings by going vegan."[12][13]

In August 2022, Acharya Prashant was conferred the prestigious IIT Delhi Alumni Award by the IIT Delhi Alumni Association.[14]

As of 5 July, 2024, with over 50 million subscribers,[15] Acharya Prashant is the most followed spiritual teacher globally on YouTube.[16] He directs a Bhagavad Gita Teaching Program that includes over 30,000 participants and recently concluded the world's most extensive online Gita-based spiritual examination.[16]

Reception

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The Times of India, in their review of Acharya's Karma: Why Everything You Know About It Is Wrong, remarked that while the book "presents the cryptic teachings of the Upanishads in a contemporary and relatable manner", its usage of terms from Advaita Vedanta makes it a difficult read for a layman.[17] The Financial Express wrote that the four sections of Karma mirror the four stages in the life of a seeker, and that the book "is not a classic case of prolific and bestselling authors in self-help segment repackaging and remarketing their existing body of work."[18] Dainik Bhaskar observed that the author has quoted from the Vedas and spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas to substantiate his perspective on the concept of Karma.[19] A "micro review" of Karma in The Times of India called it a book which helped the reader understand their Karma better.[20] In August 2021, the book topped the Nielsen Bookscan's bestseller list,[18] and in October 2021, secured eighth position in the bestseller list released by The Asian Age.[21]

Dainik Jagran wrote about Acharya's Sambandh that "the best part about the book is that it has been written in the everyday spoken language and contains examples that are easy to understand. It is, however, difficult to keep the pace with his [author's] thoughts and writings."[22] Punjab Kesari called Sambandh "a mirror to human relationships"; and highlighted the need for better structuring of the book.[23]

In an article titled New Light on Ancient Texts: Illumination or Nebulation published in The North East Times, Acharya Prashant was criticized for his interpretation of some central Indic concepts like reincarnation (punarjanma), enlightenment (moksha), liberation (mukti) and action (karma). Some of his interpretations were reported to be strikingly at odds with the ones provided by some of the ancient and acclaimed commentators, forming the core of the common Indic identity. Shubham Ahuja concluded his article by the comment, It is hard to believe that many of the well-known gurus and commentators whose interpretations are openly and strongly refuted by Acharya were fundamentally mistaken.[24]

Bibliography

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No. Title Publisher Year ISBN
1 Karma : Why Everything You Know About It Is Wrong Penguin Random House 2021 9780143453314[25]
2 Ananda : Happiness Without Reason HarperCollins 2022 978-9356292192[26]
3 Maya : I Bow to Thee, You Cannot be Overcome Jaico 2022 978-9393559418[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About आचार्य प्रशांत". YouTube.
  2. ^ "सिविल की नौकरी छोड़ आचार्य प्रशांत बने कर्मयोगी, युवाओं में जगा रहे अध्यात्म की अलख". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Acharya Prashant". Penguin Random House India. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Acharya Prashant Brings E-course On Upanishads And Gitas For Netizens". 15 March 2021.
  5. ^ "On a spiritual mission". 21 March 2021.
  6. ^ "प्रशांत अद्वैत फाउंडेशन के संस्थापक पहुंचे मैक्लोडगंज". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  7. ^ "वैश्विक महामारियों का मुख्य कारण मांसाहार को लेकर हमारी चुप्पी, वीगनिज्म के असली मायने सीखना अभी बाकी". Dainik Bhaskar (In Hindi). 17 July 2020.
  8. ^ मेरी ये बातें आज तक किसी के सामने नहीं आईं | @आचार्य प्रशान्त - Acharya Prashant | Josh Talks Hindi, retrieved 4 December 2022
  9. ^ "This guru has been to IIT and IIM but wants to connect with his students spiritually". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  10. ^ Olsen, David James (17 February 2023). "Most Influential Vegan in India Talks With Ingrid Newkirk". PETA. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  11. ^ Woods, Carrie (27 February 2023). "Land of Ahimsa: The Idea Behind the Documentary". Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  12. ^ Sujata (9 December 2022). "Acharya Prashant is 2022 "Most Influential Vegan". Business News This Week. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  13. ^ Goyal, Erika (21 February 2023). "Acharya Prashant, PETA India's 'Most Influential Vegan,' Chats With PETA India Founder Ingrid Newkirk - Blog". PETA India. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  14. ^ "IIT Delhi Alumni Association". iitdalumni.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  15. ^ Staff, Entrepreneur (8 September 2024). "Ancient Wisdom With Modern Relevance: Acharya Prashant's 50 Million Subscriber Success". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Acharya Prashant Is Most Followed Spiritual Leader On YouTube". www.india.com. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  17. ^ Times of India (2021), TOI review, retrieved 9 January 2022
  18. ^ a b "Book Review | Courses and discourses – Acharya's new book is another look at Karma". The Financial Express. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Clipping of Dainik Bhaskar Jabalpur Nagpur Group - जबलपुर मधुरिमा". epaper.bhaskarhindi.com. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Micro review: 'Karma: Why Everything You Know About It Is Wrong' by Acharya Prashant - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  21. ^ Asian Age Bestsellers, 10 October 2021, retrieved 9 January 2022
  22. ^ "ज़िम्मेदारी, संवेदनशीलता और स्त्रीवाद के बारे में बात करती है सम्बन्ध". m.jagran.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  23. ^ "मानव सम्बन्धों को आईना दिखाती सम्बन्ध, मिल सकते हैं इन प्रश्नों के उत्तर". punjabkesari. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  24. ^ newlightonvedictexts, retrieved 10 August 2021
  25. ^ "Karma". Penguin Random House India. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Buy Ananda: Happiness Without Reason Online By Acharya Prashant - HarperCollins India". HarperCollins Publishers India Books, Novels, Authors and Reviews. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Buy Maya: I Bow to Thee, You Cannot be Overcome by Acharya Prashant online". Jaico Publishing House. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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