My Medley of Friends

Medley (definition according to dictionary.com):
1. a mixture, esp. of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge; jumble.
2. a piece of music combining tunes or passages from various sources

Krsna has been so merciful to grant me the association of so many wonderful devotees here in Mayapur dham. But as it is with life, somehow certain individuals just gravitate and get along well with each other. Those devotees who have become especially near and dear to my heart are three of my classmates: Apurva Nilacala dd, Amrta Sakhi dd and Malini Priya dd.

The interesting thing is that we are such different and unique individuals and the combination of the four of us is truly a medley. Not only could you say that we comprise a mixture of sorts, due to coming from different backgrounds and experiences, but just as a musical medley combines different tunes that accent and supplement each other, in many ways so do we! :D

Apurva Nilacala is probably one of the sweetest devotees you'll ever meet. Hailing from England, she is not only a beautiful person but has a beautiful heart. She is so caring, genuine and has so much love for Lord Jagannath. Although she is fondly referred to as the "small one" in our group because of her height, she is a vast reservoir of good qualities and kind-heartedness.

Amrta Sakhi is from Bangalore, India and is the person you need to be around if you need help developing a service attitude. Whether it be day or night, tired or well-rested, Amrta is always serving the devotees. She always thinks of everybody elses' welfare first. Amrta also is a such a shining example of a dedicated disciple who will do anything for her guru, HH Jayapataka Swami. She is smart, sincere and extremely quick and always keeps me on my toes!

Malini Priya is another Brit and a sassy one at that. Of the three, Malini and I are probably the most similar in terms of character. Upon getting to know Malini, I realize how much realization and how much sincerity she actually has in her Krsna consciousness. Innately very astute and very subtle, she has so much insight into human psychology. One of the things I love most about Malini is that she is not afraid to be herself and one can't help but admire her bold and confident nature.

This is the group of devotees I am allowed to be around everyday! Such great mercy. Even though we may have to go our separate ways in the coming weeks, I know that we will always keep in touch and find some way to do some service together.

This is the greatest mercy Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada have given us-the wonderful association of devotees. vaisnavi sanga ki JAI!