Being at Juhu Temple and hearing all the prayers from my room was especially precious to me, given my physical limitations. Suddenly, I remembered that in 2009, my husband and I had visited Dr. Yogesh Kodkani, whose clinic was not far from the temple. At that time, my husband was struggling to walk properly and was losing his balance, so we sought the doctor’s help. It was astonishing to see that, after the treatments, my husband was able to walk without my support.
On my last day at the Juhu Temple, before leaving the next day for Govardhan Eco Village, I decided to visit him again at Nityananda Clinic—a Holistic Health Care Centre.
Renuka and a friend of hers kindly accompanied me. I was very happy to meet Dr. Yogesh again, and this time I also had the pleasure of meeting his grown-up daughter, who had followed in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor herself. With great excitement, I gifted them my book.
It was difficult for me to climb onto the treatment bed. I was in so much pain that even the slightest touch to my spine felt like torture. During the treatment, I began to wonder whether I would be able to return to the temple or whether the doctor might advise me to stay in a hospital, where I could receive the care I needed.
To my relief, however, the treatment suggestions gave me hope. One of the more surprising methods involved using a whole moth bean (dhal), secured to one of my fingers with sticky tape, as a form of acupressure.
If I lived in Mumbai, I would definitely choose Dr. Yogesh as my regular doctor.
*****
The next day, the temple driver took me to Govardhan Eco Village for Panchakarma treatment. I had no idea what lay ahead. The road was so uneven that the car jolted and rattled over every bump, and I held on to the handle above the door to protect myself as best I could. At one point, I had to ask the driver to stop so I could take a break. By the time we arrived, I was utterly exhausted. Had I known what awaited me on that road, I might have thought twice before setting out.
It is not always easy to keep a cool head in difficult situations, especially when you are on your own in pain and have to make the right decisions.
Luckily, before my treatment began, I had the opportunity to visit the main stone temple, with its most beautiful Deities, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Vṛndāvana-bihārī and Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu. I slowly walked through the entire project, breathing in the fresh air, and was amazed by its beauty and magnificence.
During my stay, I often visited the goshala, which was not far from where I was staying. Being with the cows and watching a newborn calf jumping around so playfully helped ease my pain, at least for the time being. I also had the opportunity to meet some wonderful devotees whose dedication to their service deeply touched my heart. After all, as we know, serving and protecting cows is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
There is so much to say about this wonderful place, but I feel that the project’s website can present it much better, especially with the help of photographs.
My back pain worsened day by day. I wondered whether I should continue with Panchakarma in such a condition, but somehow, I managed to persevere.
Even during that difficult time, Kṛṣṇa kindly allowed me to share Kṛṣṇa consciousness—while walking at a snail’s pace to the treatment centre, moving around the project, visiting the dining areas, and meeting those who came to my room asking for my book.
One story among many:
Bhaktin Trushna had come to GEV as a volunteer. There, she met a French family who had purchased my book, and through them, she came to know about me. The mother of three children even offered to translate my book into French!
One morning, during my japa walk, Bhaktin Trushna spotted me while sitting on the open bus used at GEV. She immediately jumped off the bus and ran after me, breathless, exclaiming, “I know you! I want your book!”
Although she was already engaged for many hours each day in her volunteer service, she still arranged the small things I needed and even kindly washed my laundry until the day she left GEV. In those hours of need, her help was truly a great support.
Facts are facts in reality; I went through torture—also through moments of embarrassment. Walking through the room to the washroom with the support of my suitcase. Luckily, warm water was always available, which meant a big deal for me—under the warm shower, I felt Krishna’s care and love for me.
Despite having to change all my plans—cancelling flight tickets and so forth. I never lost faith in Krishna. I knew everything was under His control. It even felt like I had reasons to blame others for being in such a helpless condition, but I clearly could understand that Krishna is coordinating ‘Time’. Therefore, in all times we can remember Krishna.
Krishna Himself says: “Time I am—inexhaustible time.” (Bg. 10.33) Purport:
Among all kinds of killers, time is the ultimate because time kills everything. Time is the representative of Kṛṣṇa because, in due course of time, there will be a great fire and everything will be annihilated.
The central point about time:
Nothing in the material world can escape its influence. Time is not independent of Kṛṣṇa; it is one of the ways His supreme power becomes manifest.
Time is a powerful reminder that nothing in the material world lasts forever. Our bodies, possessions, and circumstances change, but Kṛṣṇa remains the Supreme Lord. Understanding this can help us become humble and use the time given to us in His service.
I also constantly remember the words of His Holiness Radhanath Swami:
A simple heart means a heart that is grateful for whatever comes—or doesn’t come.
A simple heart is a heart that doesn’t try to control but is willing to thankfully adjust to any situation.
I was fortunate to meet His Holiness while he was walking around the project. Unfortunately, I was unable to offer my obeisances by bowing down, but instead folded my hands and bowed my head. His response touched my heart: with his walking stick, he reached my feet and then raised the stick to his forehead.
*****
To leave that beautiful project, I needed a belt to support my back and painkillers to help me endure the rocky road to the airport. Celebrating my safe arrival at the airport, I sold a copy of my book to the man sitting beside me and gifted another to a gentleman who helped me with my luggage during the security checks.
Although I left the clinic in a worse physical condition than when I had arrived, my heart was at peace. I felt deeply grateful for everything that had happened, sensing that I had undergone a kind of purification. By Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, and through the loving association of so many wonderful devotees, some of the anarthas (unwanted things) within my heart, which hinder my progress back to Godhead, had undoubtedly been removed.
In the report to my spiritual master, I wrote:
I remain eternally grateful to you, and to Srila Prabhupada for the countless beautiful gifts—a treasure so great that I have no right to lament.
*****
Herewith “Looking Back at the Year 2025” – Part One to Five has come to an end.
It was an amazing year, filled with valuable life lessons. Stepping out of my comfort zone—home—gave me the opportunity to grow rapidly. The chance to share Kṛṣṇa consciousness while learning and growing through every circumstance made it a truly successful year.
*****
As I needed considerable time to recover from my back issues, I remembered how, during some of my most challenging times, I had taken shelter day and night in Queen Kuntī’s prayers, beautifully narrated by Damodar Prabhu.
I would never presume to pray as Queen Kuntī did, but hearing them, accompanied by soothing background music, has been a great source of strength and support for me.
By sharing the link to these prayers, I, Guruseva, wish you all the very best! Hare Krishna