Ananta Shanti das (Anatoli Pinyaev), the first Russian disciple of Srila Prabhupada, has left his body on June 3rd, 2013, as a result of a stroke.
Ananta Shanti das met Srila Prabhupada in June 1971, during Prabhupada’s short visit to Moscow. In a matter of just few days Bhaktivedanta Swami taught Anatoli the essence of bhakti-yoga, and soon Ananta Shanti began his spiritual practice.
After a few months he received initiation from Srila Prabhupada, and Ananta Shanti started to preach actively.
In the 1970s he inspired hundreds of people to practice devotional service.
In the beginning of 1980s he was arrested by the KGB for his preaching and put into psychiatric hospital for 6 years. There Ananta Shanti das continued to chant the Maha-mantra, follow the 4 regulative principles and preach.
