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Mahavegavati Dasi

Spiritual Master(s):
AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Occupation/Service:
Licensed minister

Email: mvvd@yahoo.com

Favorite Sites:
The only web site I look at is VNN. (I am not familiar with any of this computer stuff when it comes down to it.)

About the Author:
I came to the movement in 1967 although I was too young to live in the temple.

I saw the devotees in 1966 while with my mother in the East Village in NYC. I was so attracted, that I spontaneously started walking towards them thinking, "I am going to become one of them." My mother grabbed me by the hair saying, "Where do you think you're going?" and she would not let me go near the devotees. I KNEW that one day, I WOULD become a devotee; the attraction in my heart was THAT strong.

In 1967 I ran away from home, (one time out of several - I would always return, feeling guilty that I was hurting my mother), and I found the temple at 26 Second Ave. I so much wanted to become a devotee, but I was too young.

I was "looking for God" ever since I was very young, and I believed that the purpose of life was to serve Him, but I was very frustrated because I saw the hypocracy between the philosophy and practices of people, including rabbis, ministers and priests. I was already a vegetarian, and believed in reincarnation. Thus when I heard the Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy, I became COMPLETELY convinced that THIS was what God wanted, and I wanted to become a devotee right then and there. Sadly, due to my age, I was too young, and thus, I was not able to move into Srila Prabhupada's ashram.

After I came a few times, on one occasion I put in my "regalia", (22 earrings in each ear, and three nose rings). One devotee seeing my "strange" appearance, told me "Swamaji would not like you coming here unless you change." Foolish as I was, I stopped coming. (I think if I had actually met Swamiji, I would have realized that he, Swamiji, would have had NO problem with my looks. (Srila Prabhupada might have had a good laugh out of it, and I am sure that if "Swamiji" had asked me to take anything out, I most likely WOULD have.)

Because of this devotee's words, I got discouraged and stopped coming. Despite that, I still fully accepted the philosophy and I chanted my 16+ rounds faithfully. I also followed the regulative principles, although at one point during a few of my high school years, I did put two of the principles on "hold," but then again started to follow them very strictly.

When I finally reached legal age, I moved into a temple and gave up my family, friends and finacee to do so. Despite my numerous faults, I have remained faithful to my eternal Spiritual Father, Srila Prabhupada, and I hope to continue to do so with His blessings.

For years I was a "temple devotee", washing the pots, cleaning the temple, as well as other services, fulltime cook/pujari, (never "trained up", but ALWAYS praying to Srila Prabhupada for his assistance, that HE give me the ability to do the service nicely). I also went out on sankirtan, (as well as scamkirtan).

A major portion of my service to Srila Prabhupada in my later years was spent on the African continent, where I would travel to the cities and villages by myself, (under instruction), and would distribute books and the Holy Name. (I became "known" as "The White African" to many of the people there. I also got good a carrying buckets of water on my head without holding them with my hands.)