Newly married Aksh and Gopika attend a Grihastha Vision Team Retreat in 2015.
Inspired by Krishnanandni Devi Dasi,* foundress of the Grihastha Vision Team (GVT), a young devotee couple, Aksh and Gopika Sharma, have launched Better Together – A Vaisnava Family Podcast. The new offering provides a much-needed platform for discussing marriage and family life within Krishna consciousness and aims to create a space for devotees to explore the realities of the grihastha ashram, weaving together insights based on personal experiences, modern research, and Bhakti wisdom.
A Journey Rooted in Growth and Faith
Aksh and Gopika’s story is one of learning and transformation. Although both were born into Krishna-conscious families, their faith was not always steady. In their youth, they faced a period of questioning, where they grappled with doubts about their spiritual path and their place within the devotee community. At times, they felt disconnected from Krishna consciousness, unsure of how it would fit into their evolving identities.
It was during this time that they turned to outreach programs on university campuses, sharing Krishna consciousness with others. Ironically, when speaking about bhakti to others, they found themselves rediscovering it. “When you’re explaining something to someone else, you have to think about it deeply yourself,” Aksh shares. “It forced us to confront our own beliefs, and in doing so, we found our faith again.”
Through these interactions, they realized that Krishna consciousness was not just a philosophy they had inherited—it was a vibrant, living experience that needed to be practiced and shared.
As they grew spiritually, they realized the importance of the grihastha ashram as a service to Krishna, yet they entered marriage with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Like many devotees entering married life, they had expectations about what the grihastha ashram would be like. However, attending a Grihastha Vision Team retreat offered them a profound shift in perspective. Surrounded by experienced couples who had dedicated their lives to strengthening devotee marriages, they witnessed the depth of commitment required to make a Krishna-conscious partnership work.”Watching senior devotees who have been married 25, 30, or 40 years openly work through real-time issues was so striking. It showed me that challenges never stop, but how you navigate them can improve,” Gopika reflected. They deeply appreciate the efforts of the GVT in fostering an environment where devotee couples can learn, grow, and fortify their relationships in Krishna consciousness.
Read More https://iskconnews.org/navigating-grihastha-life-faith-marriage-and-real-conversations/
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