Israeli bodybuilder influencer trained in West Bengal gurukul gains attention for devotion to Sanatan Dharma in India

An Israeli man living in India has gained widespread attention on social media after sharing videos about his life as a follower of Sanatan Dharma, including his daily food rituals and spiritual practices.

Tamal, who runs a popular social media account called Sankalpa Mantra Sadhana, recently posted a video showing his breakfast routine as a professional bodybuilder and practitioner of Sanatan Dharma. In the video, he described himself as a pure vegetarian and displayed a meal consisting of cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, tofu and cheese.

Dressed in traditional attire and wearing a tilak, Tamal explained that he carefully washes all food items before preparing them. He said food purchased from outside should be cleaned thoroughly because it may contain dust and bacteria.

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He also demonstrated how he arranges and prepares the food before offering it to the deity. Tamal said he likes to present the meal neatly by cutting fruits, separating grapes from the branches and arranging yogurt and pistachios properly before placing the food at the altar for prayers.

According to Tamal, offering food to the lord transforms it into prasadam, which he believes benefits people physically, mentally and spiritually. In other videos, he advised followers to add Tulsi leaves to meals before offering them and encouraged people to dedicate every meal to the lord to improve consciousness.

Social media reactions

The videos attracted strong reactions online, with several users praising Tamal’s devotion and spiritual discipline.

One user commented, “Bro you are more Hindu than us,” while another wrote, “So heartened to see your connection to Sanatan spirituality.” A third user said, “That’s so good, lord Krishna bless you.”

Move from Israel to India

In another video, Tamal revealed that he moved from Israel to India in 2009 along with his family, including his parents, grandmother and sister.

He said he studied for 12 years at a traditional gurukul in Mayapur, West Bengal, where he learnt Vedic mantras, pujas and havan rituals.

Tamal added that he graduated from the gurukul in 2021 and has since been performing havan, conducting yagyas, chanting mantras and creating online content related to Sanatan Dharma.

Sanatan Dharma, often associated with Hinduism, originated from ancient Indian texts and is regarded as a spiritual philosophy focused on guiding individuals toward liberation. As of 2026, around 1.2 billion people worldwide follow the faith, making it the world’s third-largest religion.