I was born in Latvia in 1982, as Artjoms Hvans. At the age of 17 I embraced the path of bhakti-yoga and shortly after that came to India to explore its ancient traditions, languages and culture. I spent five years in the South India studying and teaching the Vedic scriptures. The next five years I spent in a traditional school (gurukula) of Sanskrit in North Indian town of Govardhan, where I was thoroughly trained in Sanskrit grammar and other related disciplines, teaching the same after graduation. Since 2010 I am professionally engaged in Sanskrit translation, editing (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) and teaching. I love Sanskrit, having lived in each corner of its land for more than half of my life, among the people who speak it, chant it, and carry on its great culture. At present, I live with my family in Vadodara (Gujarat, India)