How I came to Krsna Consciousness - HG Radhika Prema Devi Dasi

I come from a god fearing family. Growing up I was the one who would question everything especially when it came to rituals and had objections to not eating onion and garlic. I questioned reincarnation, Rama’s abandoning Sita Devi to forest to name a few, which gave a Brahmakumari follower a chance to preach to me their philosophy. I had conversations with scientists who were religious to understand their perspectives or read articles and one thing became clear was that there were reasons as to why we were practicing or following things, but it was my inability to find them.  This understanding kept my brain always in search for answers because I knew they were definitely there. Then there was a difficult phase in life during which by Krishna’s arrangement a friend of my sister who was then learning about Madhva philosophy was trying to preach my sister. She was uninterested, but I grabbed the opportunity and started to interact with him. He opened my spiritual doors to understand Shankara philosophy and introduced me to Madhva philosophy and Nama Sankirtanam. 

That was the beginning, I stopped eating onion and garlic, started following ekadashi and would took to “Rama “naama Japa. Lord Shri Rama became my Ishta and Tulsi maharani was my source of prayer and inspiration.  

Soon my age to get married was approaching and my only prayer was “oh lord, I have come to you after so long and after so many difficulties, please please send me to a home where I can continue my spiritual journey “. 

Like a blessing answered, I met my husband, who had started following ISKCON. During our 40 mins intro he said what I wanted to hear : no onion garlic , followed ekadashi and chants. Though I had no idea of the philosophy ISKCON followed then, but after marriage we continued going to Bhakti vrksha which he was going to and transitioning into a Hare Krishna was not difficult. 

So my request to all truth seekers would be continue to question and constantly contemplate on those unanswered questions and be open to answers, because you will see that the answers will come at unexpected time and from unexpected sources.