How I came to Krishna Consciousness - H.G. Siddhakatha Das

HG Siddha katha Das

My first memory of devotees was as a curious 8-year-old, seeing foreigners with shaved heads, saffron robes, and small bags in their hands. It took 24 years before I learned what was inside those bags, but by then, I had become a typical karmic individual somewhat religious but deeply entangled in material life. I used to tell my wife, “Now is the time to make money; spirituality can come later.” My ego convinced me I was "minting" wealth when, in reality, I was simply caught in illusion.

In 2011, life took an unexpected turn. Unable to fill a U.S. position at work, my boss forced me to relocate. I had just bought a home and felt my life was "set," so I was reluctant. But Krishna had other plans. I arrived in San Diego with mixed emotions, and during my hotel stay, I befriended an American gentleman, Steve, who lovingly cared for his elderly mother. His devotion contradicted my belief that Westerners abandoned their parents. Having lost my mother, this touched my heart and deepened our friendship.

One day, Steve casually asked if I had ever visited the Krishna Temple in San Diego. I was shocked to learn such a place existed! He offered to take me on Thanksgiving, luring me with promises of a delicious feast. Stepping inside, I was transported back home; the sights, sounds, and scent of incense overwhelmed me. Seeing Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, I lost my heart that very moment.

That day, Steve introduced me to H.G. Yudhisthira Das and H.G. Srimati Radha Dasi. Their warmth felt like reconnecting with a long lost family. Weekly temple visits soon became a habit, and I found joy in serving. Then, H.G. Krishnamurti Das guided me into kitchen service, a seva I hold dear to this day.

As Krsna says in Bhagavad gita 7.16 catur-vidha bhajante mam; janah su-krtino ’rjuna; arto jijnasur artharthi; jnani ca bharatarsabha, I am from the 2011 class of Distressed. We got into so many immigration wrangles that I had to stay apart from my wife and daughter for about a year. In times of distress, Krishna’s mercy revealed itself. When immigration troubles separated me from my family, I almost returned to India. But on Balarama Purnima, my wife received our visa approval—our first divine intervention. Later, despite job uncertainty, I prayed for service, and Krishna placed me in the Bay Area, leading me to ISV and Yogapeeth.

I had heard of devotees saying once Krsna has his sights on you, he wont let you go easily. When I dwelled on this I realized that his Holy name has been around me ever since I was born. Examples - My dads name is Sriram. Until the age of 5 yrs, I lived in Visnu Nagar. One of my late uncles name was Visnu. My other late uncle's name was Dattaguru (Brahma, Visnu, Mahesh). Our kula-dev is Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Bhagavan. Until I became part of Iskcon, I didn't know about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or heard of Mayapur but ironically while growing up for 10 long years, I lived in a society named Chaitanya Apartments. If that was not enough the society next to ours was named Nityananda Apartments. As you can see Krsna tried so many times to awaken me but I slept through blissfully, wearing Maya's sun glasses all along. Now I pray hard and beg Krsna to not make me forget his Holy Name.

Thinking back I feel, in Yudhisthira Pr I found my Spiritual Mentor and in Krishnamurthy Pr, I found my Kitchen Mentor. As I started walking forward on the path of Krsna Consciousness, they both held my hands firmly, lest I stumble and fall, and guided me to the dust of the Lotus feet of my Spiritual Master H.G. Vaisesika Dasa Adhikari.

I humbly beg at the Lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohana, Sriman Mahaprabhu & Sri Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Bhagavan to allow me & my family to serve Srila Prabhupada's movement and the devotees for the rest of our lives.

Daso'smi

Siddha-katha Dasa