Dear devotees and friends of our family all over the world,

Please accept my humble obeisances. I have the nice opportunity to tell you a little about our yatra here in the north of Sweden, in our Parama Karuna ashram in Umeå.

After several years, struggling more or less on my own in this remote place in the north of Sweden, I have with the mercy of Lord Krishna got nice company here in the service to our Gurus and our beautiful spiritual family. Sri Sri Gaura Nitay came here already the summer of 2004, and since one year back, Anubhav, a vrajbasi whom Srimati Radharani so kindly sent to Sweden, is here to give me company and help in the service.

Through his job and studies at the university, Anubhav has made contacts with many people from different countries and in different fields, and soon we had a little group for weekly programs in our little temple. Every Saturday we gather for artik and to sing bhajans, read Bhagavad-Gita, listen to lectures and take prasadam. Since there are different nationalities represented, the programs are mainly in English, although our guests communicate in many other languages between themselves. I feel very fortunate to have the wonderful association with these nice people who rejoice in talking about Krishna and singing His holy Names, and to share prasadam with them.

Besides the weekly programs, we have also some other projects going on here in our ashram, like translations of Vedic wisdoms and managing web pages. We are also planning to work on some material for presenting Hinduism/Vaisnavism/Vedic culture in schools. However, the essential in all projects and in everything we do is that we are totally dependent of the blessings from our Gurus and the devotees, and this blessing is what we humbly beg for. It is pure mercy and a great joy for me to be part of this family and try to serve.

All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!

Your servant,
Manah Siksa Devi Dasi

Voices from our Indian friends

We will let some of our friends speak here on our website, to say some words about themselves and their experiences here from our Saturday programs in Parama Karuna ashram.

Himanshu	"It is really a best opportunity for those who wish to understand the richness of Vedic culture. The weekly meetings here in this city of Umeå is undoubtedly worth to attend, who one really wishes to find the best approach to life. It is the source of universality and totality of ethics, pureness and fairness of conscience. Because Vedas is not a mere religious philosophy, but it is the essence of ever-lasting truth from the supreme element. It has changed the life of many. I feel this is really useful to beautify our thinking..."
Vasanth	"Before coming to Sweden I felt that I would miss my devotional routine that I used to practise in India. But I was wrong, because when I met all my other friends who are active along with me in singing bhajans, discussing the essence of bhagavat gita and at last having delicious prashadam (hmm...), this brought that routine back. It was unbelievable, I mean, chanting Hare kristna and spending time in the service of the Lord in Sweden and that too in the freezing Umeå! But this is true, believable… maybe this is Krishna consciousness?"
Maribasappa	"I am living in Sweden since 2002 and I am a research student at Umeĺ University. I was enthralled when I heard the news that there will be talks on the Bhagavadgita every weekend by a Swedish woman. It was a pleasant surprise to me, as I had not even dreamt of such thing to happen in Umeå!! When we all gathered for the first time at Parama Karuna Ashram, Manah Siksa said that she is not a qualified person to give lectures on the Gita and we can only have discussions. However, I personally feel that her knowledge on the Gita is so vast and enormous! So also the other spiritual seekers who have been coming to the ashram every weekend. It is such an eternal joy having bhajans, songs, and chanting Harinam. Apart from the discussions on certain topics in the Gita, we often listen to lectures by Gurudev Paramadvaiti. In short, every time when I go to Parama Karuna Ashram, it is a step forward towards my spiritual goal! I cannot just get away by thanking Manah Siksa and Anubhav for all this! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare "
Hrishikesh	"Before coming to Umeå, I knew that there is quite a sizeable Indian community and I was looking forward to being a part of it. When I was told that there would be meetings at Param Karuna ashram to learn what the Bhagavad Gita preaches, and discuss our opinions about it, I coould not resist the idea, since I am a hardcore believer in the Bhagavad Gita. Secondly, it gives me an opportunity to chant Krishna's name when I am there, I have always been in love with Krishna, I remember him at all times, I thank Him for everything he has given me."
Badrinath	"I would like to write few lines about the Krishna conscious session which is been a weekly held at Manah's place. The plan to undertake this mission was inpeccable as it is not meant for Geetha preachings but was also arranged to share each other's thoughts and thier personal experiences and memorable moments of everyones during this session. As i was used to this type of preaching when i was 7 yrs old, this reminds me my glorious past moments which i used spend much of my evenings with my Mother way back in my childhood days in attending Hari Kadhas (Lord Vishnu's Preachings) which used to be held daily In Jagannath Temple in Visakhapatnam which is my place of birth in a traditional country of one billion people. I feel proud to be or becoming a member of this Hare Rama Hare Krishna Group In Umeĺ, Sweden. Attending this session every saturday makes me a feel happy and reduces day to day burdens during this torrid time in this strange part of world where i am not so used to either with the people or with the surroundings, and at the time when materialisitic thoughts and gains replaces faith and joy towards All Mighty. I will be thankful to Manah as she is not only enlightening us with some moral verses of God but also making all Indian friends and people from other countries to gather at this holy place and share thier experiences about God they daily worship. I once again repeat that we found a place of worship what we initial thought that we had lost. We used to attend temples on every monday(Lord Shiva), saturday (Lord Venkateswara) and wednesday(Krishna Chaitanya Temple) in my home town now i feel the same here in Sweden by attending the Krishna conscious session what i personally term it as Bhagawad Geetha session. I would like to thank Mana once again on this occassion. Thank you."
Anubhav	"Hare Krishna! When I left my home in Vraj Dhaam and the association of Devotees, I was not happy with Radha Rani to take me away from HER association and love but who could have understood the plans of HER. Who would have imagined that all my life I was being prepared to serve HER more closely, and that seperation was not a seperation but was a journey to bring me closer to HER, HER love and an opportunity to serve HER and Krishna with the mercy and help of HER devotee Manah Siksa. Helping hand of Manah Siksa, blessings of Guru Maharaj Paramadvaiti who gave not only me but to all of us, an ashram to live, temple to pray, nice dieties to serve and their heart full of loving care. And specially to me a nice kitchen to cook prashadam for Gaur Nitai. Hope this Love, blessings and mercy will be there times to come and will be spread to all corners. We hope we can be of some help to serve and help the people and spread this message of pure love of Radha and Krishna. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga! Gaur Nitai ki Jai! Radhe Radhe!"
Deepa	"I am Deepa Ganesh and have been in Umeå since one and a half years. When I got an opportunity to visit the ISCKON, for the first time in Bangalore (India), like any other tourist who is just visiting the temple, I too was left with no choice of just walking away praising the architecture and the Prashads being served. But with Lord's grace, Anubhav's efforts and Manah's "shiksha", this mist of ignorance is being cleared and I am now able to realize the inner beauty of "KRISHNA CONCIOUSNESS" through PARAMA KARUNA ASHRAM. Few lines read during each session from THE BHAGAVATH GITA really makes me think that : Am I serving the purpose of life? "Hari Bhajan Bina Sukh Shanthi Nahi" which means one will not find peace without chanting or singing the Lord's name. Is this really true? Then why do we have to face a new problem each day and why don't we find peace even if we perform our regular course of prayers? These ever unsolved questions in my mind are now slowly being answered through the few verses discussed during each session at PARAMA KARUNA ASHRAM. I would definitely call it not just a spiritual gathering but a place of self-realization through the words of the Lord. I really enjoy being a part of this ashram and never ever thought of singing such good bhajans sitting right on the North Pole!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to Anubhav and Manah Siksa for introducing me to this new world! HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE"
Ramesh	"Hare Krishna! "When I was asked to write few lines regarding my experience , I have started think how to share my feelings in few lines since these few lines are not sufficient for me. From childhood onwards I'm intrested in spirituality and i'm practising some of them.In 2002 I met with with members of ISKCON and from that time only I have started chanting the holy manthra and reading BHAGAVADGITHA. It is direct way which leads to lord KRISHNA. Insted of saying 'some thing we can mold our lives', we can start our new life by beeing in this consciousness. After coming from India also Bagawan is directing me through His servants in Parama Karuna ashram. Thank you! Hare Krishna!"
Giri	"My name is Giri and I am staying here in Umeå for the last 18 months. I was so much used to going to temples but unfortunately after coming to Sweden, I could not find any temple and so started going to nearby churches, whenever I found time. Few months back I came to know from my friend Anubhav about a Swedish lady, Manah Siksa, who is a devotee of the Lord and going to have some discussions on the holy Bhagavadh Gita, which was very exciting to hear. This is how I came to know about Parama Karuna Ashram and became a frequent member. Every week we have very nice discussions and even sometimes arguments. We try to find answers to our silly and serious problems through the verses quoted in Gita and it becomes all the more interesting with the flow of beautiful bhajans, sung by all of us every week. I am amused to be a part of this spiritual gathering, and all the credit goes to Srila Paramadvaiti Swami, the spiritual master of Anubhav and Manah Siksa, since he is the founder and well-wisher of this temple in the northern Sweden."