Happy Birthday to the one who means the world to me!

“Celebrating a Soul Who Radiates Bhakti”

This post is inspired by a message from my dear friend, Vanamali, who also wrote the Foreword for my book.

“PS: Today, I visited your blog. The story about A Heart Full of Gratitude is wonderful. It’s a pleasure to read. It would be great if in the future you could  keep updating  more posts for the blog.” – Vanamali Devi Dasi

Today 27/01/2025, on this special occasion of her birthday, I go along her suggestion.

Happy Birthday to the One I Hold Dear

Today’s a day to celebrate, with cheer,
A friend so special, kind, and near.
Vanamali, a soul so true,
This day belongs to only you.

With love and bhakti, you light the way,
Turning shadows into the brightest day.
Your humility shines, a guiding star,
A radiant soul admired from afar.

Through words and wisdom, you lift my heart,
A bond so strong, no force can part.
Your kindness wraps me in warm embrace,
A reflection of your gentle grace.

So here’s my homage, simple and sweet,
For a friend like you, no one can compete.
May joy and blessings fill your year,
Happy birthday to the one I hold so dear.

A prayer close to Vanamali’s heart:

“Oh Mahaprabhu,

I am fallen and drown in the ocean of Samsara,

You are capable to deliver the fallen souls,

Please be kind and deliver me too,

I fully take shelter at your lotus feet.”

-Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya

I want to say to her, “I pray to the to the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, your devotional dream comes true. My blessings are always with you!”

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa

āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

“Whomever you meet, instruct him on the teachings of Kṛṣṇa. In this way, on My order, become a spiritual master and deliver the people of this country.” (CC Madhya 7.128)

This reminds me of Vanamali, whose ability to share Krishna consciousness with everyone she meets is truly outstanding.

Prasadam distribution, book distribution…—it all comes naturally to her, it is her life. Every day she has something planned to make someone happy.

Also, and not infrequently, she takes a humble position and spends hours cleaning whenever she finds a place that needs it.

Her forehead is always decorated with tilak.

“Tilaka means victory personified.” (Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Tilaka devi dasi,)

By wearing tilak, one not only identifies one’s body as the temple of the Lord but is also blessed by the auspicious protection of the Lord. Not only the person who is decorated with tilak is immensely benefited, but even those who see the tilak marks are benefited.

The list is endless… I could write a book about Vanamali. I am grateful to be blessed with her friendship.

“She was there to encourage me from beginning to end. Always ready for discussions and giving valuable feedback. She was the first one to read through my draft and was even inspired to help me distribute the book in the future –– which she did. That’s not all-she came to India for several weeks to help me and take care of me while I was suffering from severe back problems. She sacrificed her whole being to support me in finishing the book” – From the Acknowledgements.

“I hear a little Bell, mentioned in the book page number 28-29.”

Pure souls like my Swiss friend Vanamali inspire us to stay positive, remain humble, keep our surroundings clean, apply tilak and spread the holy name.