Name / Initiated name
Anamika
Daily number of rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra.
2
When, where and how did you come into contact with the Hare Krishna Movement?
Through youtube i come into contact with hare krishna movement. About 8 months ago, when i saw one of amogh leela prabhu's video explaining that we shouldn't wait for our old age to practice spiritual activities. It shoud be started from very young age or child age. I found his video quite logical and it was full of entertainment though. So i was pushed to watch his more and more videos. And it didn't take much time for me to connect with hare krishna movement.
Name the nearest or most frequently Visited ISKCON temple/ centre and name few of the devotees whom you know.
I was living in roorkee uttarkhand when i connected with hare krishna movement. Through google map i search location for isckon centre. But couldn't find it physically. I tried a couple of times but i couldn't find. Then i visited vrindavan for the very first time in my life (felt like krishna is making a way). There i was able to visit isckon temple which was near prem mandir. Large no of devotees were there doing hare krishna kirtan and dancing. 8 enjoyed being there. Now I'm moved to dar es Salaam tanzania. Through google map i can see there's an isckon temple located here.. i went to the location a couple of times. But again couldn't find the temple. Nobody nearby knows about the temple. There was no hoarding or any sign through which new devotees could easily find the way to temple. I was able to hear hare krishna kirtan on the location. But still can figure where was it coming from.
Please describe yourself so that other like minded devotees can find you.
I was initially a devotee of mahadev in my childhood. But I also used to worship other demi gods occasionally. But i don't know why but i didn't like krishna at that time till my teenage. Whenever i see Krishna's photo or deity i used to turn my face. I kind of hated him. But then when i was graduating, one day i dont remember how but i started reading bhagwad Geeta. May be my father used to read it and i have heard him reading that book many times. So one day i started reading the book like one adhyay per day. During this period my whole mindset changed. I became a different personality. First i was a depressed, unhappy person and now i was a complete happy person. I even decided to take sanyas. I was only 17-18 yrs old. But my parents were not happy with my decision and they were somehow able to change my mind. But still i was a completely changed identity. Now i was in love with krishna.. so many things happen to me, i got married now i am a mother of 2 daughters. In all these years i faced so many ups and downs in my life. So many changes i went through. One thing that hasn't changed is my love towards krishna.. few months ago i connected with hare Krishna movement due to which my love towards krishna has only increased. But still i haven't become a true devotee of krishna.. i am not doing my rounds regularly. I have even skipped ekadashi fasting a couple of times. I m not wearing tilak. I am already a vegan but due to my family i am not able to give up on onion garlic. I tried cooking food without onion garlic for a couple of months. But this only lead to family stress. So i giveup on the thought of giving up on onion garlic.
What are your expectations from this community?
My expectations are very clear to me. I only want a helping hand. That can help me practicing krishna bhakti purely so that i could be able to make my way back to godhead.
Describe any specific service you would love to offer to Lord Krishna & His devotees?
Whatever i could do, i would love to do for krishna and his devotees.
