Akhilesh Brahmchari was born and raised in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. From childhood, he was fascinated by the mysteries of creation, life, death and human suffering.  This fascination led to an intense urge to help the poor and get involved in his community.  After completing his graduation from Lucknow University, Akhilesh entered into politics so that he could reach out to the needy, but after some time he withdrew from his political career due to a number of visions he had experienced.  These visions helped him to establish his life as a mendicant, and to join the movement of Swami Chinmayananda.  Akhilesh studied and lived with Swami Chinmayananda for two years, but still his urge to find practical solutions for the suffering, stress and tensions of today’s society stayed with him.  He began a search that sent him all over India, as he traveled the entire length and breadth of the country meeting different teachers, and imbibing the best in them.