Svāmī Pūrṇacaitanya, formerly known as Freek Alexander Luthra, is a Dutch life coach, public speaker, and author who currently works at the Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore, India. He travels both domestically and internationally to teach yoga and also works on rural development and educational projects in the North-Eastern Region of India that are run by the foundation. He is a member of the Art of Living Council for yoga and focuses his efforts on preserving and revitalizing ancient Vedic practices and indigenous traditions in these areas.
Early life and education
Freek Alexander Luthra was born on 26 October 1984, in Leiden town in the Netherlands to parents Sonia Luthra and Bart Pieter van den Roovaart. He was named Freek (short form for Frederick, which means "Peaceful Ruler") and Alexander (which means "Defender of the People"). Both his Dutch father and Indian mother were also spiritually inclined and initiated him into yoga, meditation, and Eastern philosophies early on.[3][4][5]
When he was 5 years old, his family moved to Haarlem, another town in the Netherlands, where he spent the rest of his childhood and teenage years.[6]
Alexander's parents were introduced to meditation and spiritual teachings through the programs of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and decided to raise both- Alexander and his younger brother Sebastian as vegetarians and introduced them to meditation at an early age.
During his childhood, Alexander showed a keen interest in traditions of the East, which led him to learn and practice various eastern martial arts,[7] such as Aikido, Taekwondo, Judo, Ninpo Bujutsu, Capoeira and Wushu (Kungfu). Martial arts helped him understand the importance of breathing, balance, and discipline.[3]
At the age of 16, Freek met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a public program in Amsterdam and became a regular participant in Art of Living programs. After completing high school, he took a year off to work and travel to India for three months, which deepened his interest in Indian traditions, particularly the Vedic practices. He then pursued Indology at Leiden University, with a specialization in Sanskrit, and also studied Journalism and New Media.
After graduation, in 2007, he moved to Bangalore, India, to work as a full-time volunteer at the International Headquarters of the Art of Living Foundation. While there, he managed various departments in the ashram and began his Vedic studies at the Veda Agama Pathashala (Vedic studies school) in the ashram. In 2012, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar formally initiated him as a Swami and gave him the name Swami Purnachaitanya, which means one whose consciousness has the quality of fullness.