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“Jaya Jaya Sree Radhe!”

“Christened Daniela Nikolova by my Bulgarian parents, introduction to India was through Mahabharata that my father bought for me when I was a little girl studying in class II. This was in the form of a fairy tale in the local language. The picture of Dronãcharya seated in meditation attracted me. From then on the desire to come to India where such people lived took a grip on me. Later, while doing civil engineering course in Moscow University, I happened to see the Iskcon people selling several books on the streets of Moscow. By chance I laid my hands on the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhãgavatam. They were in the Russian language. I began reading the Gita. I began visiting the Iskcon-Moscow center on all holidays and learnt to chant the ‘Hare Rama’ Maha Mantra."

"After completing my studies I joined the special Radio channel of Iskcon in Moscow and worked as a secretary to the Director for six months. A group of five were selected for visiting India on a two-month tour of Puri, Mayapur and Vrindãvan. Normally, only ‘initiates’ were chosen for this and I had no place in it. I had a deep yearning to come to India for the one purpose of learning and walking on the Path of Bhakti. But what a surprise! In the last moment one of them could not make it for some reason. No one else was able to go for some reason or the other and I was chosen to fill this place! On visiting Puri, Mayapur and Vrindãvan I fell in love with India and had no heart to return to Russia. However, I returned to Russia with the group. I later went back to Bulgaria and with my father’s permission and help returned to India. I came directly to Puri where I lived for two years. "

"I later met and married Sri Jagadeesh as I had a deep yearning to settle down in India permanently. Both of us had received ‘diksha’ (inititation) from the same Guru belonging to the Gaudiya Mutt Sampradãya. ‘Deena Dayãmayee’ is the name given to me by my ‘diksha Guru’. My ‘diksha Guru’ left his mortal coil in 1999. I have been living in Vrindãvan for the past few years. I deeply desired to attain a living Master to guide me. "

"The favourite deity of all Vrajavãsiis (residents of Vrindãvan) is Bãnke Bihari. Thus, I visit this temple and Nidhi van, every day. Nidhi van is the main ‘Rãsa sthala’ (place of divine play of Krishna with the Gopis). No one is permitted here after dusk as Rãsa takes place every night. Krishna Himself decorates Radharãni. The trees, the bushes and the monkeys seen during the day turn into their real form - Gopis - at night! Some Sadhus who live nearby are able to hear the jingling sound of anklets, bangles and the sound of laughter. They also hear the sound of tala (beat) for the dance - “tha! thai! thai! tha!”"

"One day as usual when I went to Nidhi van I found the place filled with devotees from South India. They moved to Swami Haridas Samadhi and sang bhajans in South Indian Carnatic style. Amidst this huge crowd sat a person who did not join the singing, but looked straight ahead. The moment my eyes caught sight of Him, I was spellbound. After the bhajan, He walked out followed by His devotees. His unique gait held my attention. I enquired about Him from one of the ladies in the group and she said, ‘He is Muralidhara Swami from South India!’"

"Three or four days later when I was on the banks of the Yamuna with a friend my husband came searching for me and said, “I have been searching for you for the past four hours. I have just met a Swamiji who is performing Bhãgavata Saptãha. He has asked me to bring you to Him!” So, I accompanied my husband to meet this Swamiji. But on reaching His place, we were told that He had left for Govardhan and would be available only in the evening."

"We left and returned in the evening. To my utter surprise it was the same Swamiji whom I had seen in Nidhi van! He spoke very kindly to me and enquired when, how and why I had come to Vrindãvan. Even as Sri Swamiji spoke and listened to me, He closed His eyes for a time. I felt that He saw much more than what I could imagine. "

"Sri Swamiji then took my husband and me to the plot of land for His proposed temple. This was near Kaathyaayini Mandir. I experienced deep inexplicable peace as we walked alongside Sri Swamiji. I found Sri Swamiji very sensitive/receptive to the cool rays of the moon that was out in full, the star-studded sky, the cry of peacocks from the nearby garden and the soft melodious sound of bhajan from one of the houses that we passed. I found Sri Swamiji the most sensitive/receptive personality that I have ever met. "

"I met Sri Swamiji once more, the next day but only for a few minutes.
Sri Swamiji then left…….."

"I had been in search of a living Master after my Guru Maharaj left His mortal coil in Puri. I had met innumerable Sadhus in Vrindãvan and outside but did not feel drawn to any of them. However, the very first time I saw Sri Swamiji I felt that He was someone very special. I prayed to Bãnke Biharji that I should meet Him again."

"Nine months later I was blessed to meet Sri Swamiji again in South India in Vrindãvan (!) - Vrindãvan is wherever the Master is!”"

-Deena Dayãmayee

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