The Little Conch.

I've just come across such a nice blog - The Little Conch - written by Jahnavi devi (pictured above). When we mentioned Kripamoya's blog a little while ago, we had no idea that his estimable daughter Jahnavi writes one too.

Jahnavi's 'boring details' (as she puts it!) are as follows: "I live in England, near the wonderful Bhaktivedanta Manor. I am studying for a BA in English Language and Communication with Creative Writing, at Middlesex University (just finished first year). I also study South Indian Bharatanatyam dance and Carnatic music (singing and violin) which I love."

And the blog itself is filled with the more interesting details of Jahnavi's life - her own poems, pictures, reflections -tastefully presented and refreshingly chaste. Jahnavi has just come back from a Kartik trip to Vrindavana and there are some posts and pictures up about that, right now.

It's also interesting that Jahnavi is one of a first generation of Vaishnavas born into 'Western' families in the British Isles; her blog shows how Krishna consciousness is a very natural way of life for her, yet that she appreciates the richness and privilege of her cultural heritage.

I hope you'll like The Little Conch as much as I do! And I like it very much indeed.

P.S. When you're on bare-foot pilgrimage in Vrindavana, your feet do get dirty...

The Vaishnava Voice.

Good news! Kripamoya has a blog. And a very good blog, it is. You can find it here.

His Grace Kripamoya das is well known to the devotees as one of the longest-serving, most dedicated teachers of Krishna consciousness in Britain. He's inspired and helped many hundreds of people in their spiritual journeys and attracted many a heart to Krishna by his beautiful singing in Kirtan. Now, in his blog The Vaishnava Voice he writes his thoughts and realisations on a variety of topics connected with Krishna consciousness.

It's good to see someone of Kripamoya's maturity and breadth of experience writing for devotees. I think many of us wish there was more of this sharing of experience in writing. We have many lectures and classes to listen to, but the written word can be more intimate and more developed than the spoken. As we struggle and strive to practise a high order of spiritual life to which most of us weren't born and bred, it's heartening to read the realisations of our elders. Hurrah for Kripamoya!

Kripamoya has a special place in the hearts of Belfast devotees; he was one of the first people ever to bring Krishna's message here, many moons ago, long before there was a temple or community of Vaishnavas in these parts. He's been a good friend to us over the years, helping us through difficult times and rejoicing with us in our successes.

He's promised to tell us some of his adventures in Belfast in his early days of preaching here. So watch this spot!