I'm Given a New Spiritual Name

“Even chance meetings are the result of karma… Things in life are fated by our previous lives. That even in the smallest events there’s no such thing as coincidence.” ~ Haruki Murakami

Serendipity known by any other name is karma

Syamarani dasi was in Vrindavan, staying at the beautiful Gopinath Bhavan Ashram along the Parikrama Marg down by the Yamuna river. She had come to India with her assistant, Vasanti, to oversee the publishing of her new book, “Bhakti Illuminations’‘. Unfortunately, it was at a time when the capital city came under strict lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They both decided to get out of Delhi while they could and spend their time waiting the lockdown out in Vrindavan.

It began early down in Goa

Janardana and Devin had shared a house in Arambol, Goa, last month and when they both came back north to Vrindavan, Janardana stayed with us to work on music tracks with Devin.

And as karma would have it, Janardana, is a disciple of Syamarani’s, and so we were able to get several private meetings or darshans, with her.

Janardana das and Syamarani dasi IndiOdyssey Yoga

Our souls resonated

I developed an immediate affection for her. She was so kind, wise and patient. At one point, Syamarani dasi asked me if I would like a new name. It is common – may be compulsory – for devotees to take on a new, Krishna related name as part of their initiation. What could I say? I was delighted that such a beautiful soul thought to bestow upon me a new name. She knew I was not involved in the Hare Krishna movement per se, and that my diksha guru is Jesus Christ, and I follow the Raja Yoga ¹ path as opposed to Bhakti yoga practiced by the Hare Krishnas. But love of God is love of God and it felt right, really right to receive a spiritual name from such an enlightened soul. She gave me –

Guna Manjari

A Manjari is one of the handmaidens of Radha, the lover of Krishna

“There are primarily three divisions amongst Radha’s girlfriends.

Some are equal in their affection for both Krishna and his mistress, others lean toward Krishna, while others are more sympathetic to Radha.

The sakhis belonging to this last category are otherwise known as manjaris.

No matter how intense the feeling of friendship the manjaris have for Radha, their special interest is to exclusively serve the Divine Couple. This is their life; it is as if their feelings of intimate friendship and servitude have merged. It is as though their friendship has become the manifestation of their service and their service identified with their friendship.” ²

And it is specifically said of Guna Manjari –

“In the northeastern part of Sri Campakalata’s kunja lies the beautiful Gunanandaprada Kunja, where Sri Guna Manjari always resides. Her complexion is bright like lightning, and she wears a fine silk dress the color of a red jaba flower. She is famous for her strong desire to make Rupa Manjari happy. She is three days younger than Sri Tulasi (Rati Manjari) and is the delight of Sri Krsna. She is described as being daksina-prakhara in nature. Her age is 13 years, 1 month and 27 days. In gaura-lila she is known as Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. (SGGSP)”