Hare Kṛṣṇa, dear Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
I am an aspirant disciple of yours, dear Guru Mahārāja, and I am very grateful to have you as my spiritual father. Your dedication to the movement made me surrender unto you, and your classes are really practical—and funny also! I especially like the way you bless us with "koṭi koṭi..."!
I am a neophyte in this movement, wherein I had a desire to read the Bhagavad-gītā, and rightly, I got connected to a devotee during Gītā Jayantī—and that’s how my journey started. Thereafter, I started hearing classes on Gītā, Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Caitanya-bhāgavata. Kṛṣṇa is so wonderful.
I am a single devotee in my family, wherein I am facing challenges to do my bhakti. Many upsets happened and are still happening—criticisms, backbiting, being cornered—which I was unable to tolerate. But the only thing that sustained me was my chanting and taking shelter of you, dear Guru Mahārāja. I prayed intensely to you during those times, and to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. And it is you who gave me inner strength to overcome obstacles. Please hold me, I request. I should keep serving you and the Lord without any obstacles.
My husband, Mr. Praveen Kumar, is against Kṛṣṇa consciousness and does not allow me to go to saṅkīrtana or satsangas. But somehow, by your kṛpā and Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, I attend satsanga weekly here in the UAE. I have two children—Pranav Sivanesh, the elder, is doing Data Science in university, and the younger, Aarav Venkatesh, is in 8th grade. Both support me.
I follow the four regulative principles, take no onion or garlic, and honor only prasādam. I offer the food to Kṛṣṇa and give prasādam to my family as well, though sometimes they eat onion and garlic.
As part of my sādhana, I chant 16+ rounds daily, read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and Lilāmṛta every day, and hear classes from Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, your lectures, and Śrīla Prabhupāda’s lectures.
I serve here in the Gaurāṅga-deśa yātrā by doing photography and editing sevā. I distributed a few Bhagavad-gītās during my last vacation in India. I also compile a newsletter for a group from the USA and assist in Bālotsava classes here, along with some online sevās like hosting. I wish to serve you, Guru Mahārāja. Please let me know in what way I can serve you from my home—any online sevā I could do from here, Gurudeva.
By Kṛṣṇa’s mercy and your blessings, I am able to do these few sevās.
I sincerely wish to take shelter and initiation from you, Guru Mahārāja, but I do not know—since my family situation is difficult—whether I will be able to receive that from you or not. I also realize I may have some anarthas, and that’s why I am not able to take shelter fully.
Please keep me in your prayers, Guru Mahārāja, that I may serve the movement well, be under your shelter, and that my family will support me in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Thank you.
Your aspirant servant,
Anithā Rāmiyā
Gaurāṅga-deśa Yātrā