Sri Gangamata Gaudiya Math- London

 Hare Krsna! Welcome to our seva teams group!!  We were instructed to open a preaching center in   London in the summer of 2003.  

At that same time Srila Gurudeva expressed that He wanted all His daughters to be like  Sri Gangamata Thakurani.. So.. taking her mercy we opened our center Sri Gangamata Gaudiya Math..

We run as a preaching center/temple  and training center.

We invite all girls and ladies to stay... for a short time or a long time, if they are single or married, new or old and while staying with us be fully engaged in all the different services.. from cooking and kirtan to arranging programs, dramas, art - giving class and puja.

lets ask the girls there why they came and why they stay...???

Radhika 17yrs from Australia

I came because Manju invited me and when I asked my mom she said no because she thought I was too young and I needed to finish school.. I was determined and got a job for 8 hours a day to pay for my ticket. then my mom was very supportive and helped to arrange for me.. when I came I was thin and beautiful but pretty stupid.. Kamala beat me every day for not knowing anything, even though I was born in a devotee family. I have been here 1 and a half years and am realy happy.. a little fatter BUT I don’t want to be any where else..  

Sita Thakurani... 29 yrs Brazil

.. I came because in 2003 I came from India to be with Gurudev during his european festivals ..  I met Kamala in England who I knew from India.. The last time I saw her we were going to get a bus and drive about India..distributing books.. I asked what she was up to.. she told me Gurudeva said to do a preaching center in London. I thought that sounds cool and decided to come .There was just me and her but every day we would make raj-bhog for our small deitys Gour Nitai and chant all bhajans... do guru puja.. slowly people came..  I stay because here i can express the real Sita THakurani :)... they accept my intension.. I’m able to serve Gurudeva even though I’m a girl I feel I am progressing and am happy...I love the prasad esp.. Damayanti from italy and Kamala's pizza.. 

lalita 29years germany

I heard that Gangamatas was the only temple for girls and I wanted to live in a temple.. when I told my mom my decision she was rushed to hospital with   some heart failure. In the middle of the night my uncle gave me that message she had collapsed because of me.. It took some time but after 5 years she now also comes to visit me in the temple and does so much  service, dances in arati and is happy taking prasad.   I stay because  I’m happy here. I’m learning a lot about the philosophy and the ideals of being a devotee.. it feels very nourishing to be in the temple. I‘ve been here 5 years..

Phulara 25 years from Germany

I came to visit the temple to hear from Syamarani didi. I couldn’t understand much english but i realy liked it. I felt inspired by their enthusiasm.. in the time I was at the temple I lost my passport but it made me stop and think.. maybe I should stay forever... I wrote to srila gurudeva he replied saying that I should carry on with my studies!! I was confused... I was studying to be a nurse.. my dream job!!.... I asked Syamarani  and Kamala didi for advice..  Syamarani didi said it was up to me.. Kamala said it depends on your greed .. I looked up the word greed in my dictionary and became determined to stay. I confirmed again with Gurudeva and he said that he would be very happy FOR ME to be in the temple but I should make sure that I wasn’t going to regret my decision and return to germany after a short time...  that was 6 years ago!!.. I feel fortunate. I know that Gurudeva knows what is best for me and he is arranging the best association for me where I am learning the most.. continuously. 

Damayanti 26 years germany

I met Sudevi in Italy festival she told me about gangamatas. I wanted to go and visit.. I went and I liked it very much I was unsure if I should stay because I was studying to be a nutritionalist. I came home and realized that I was suffering in this education and that it was leading to nothing. I wrote to Gurudeva he said to finish my education and also to visit the temple in london in my holidays.. i visited twice at christmas i realized that I wanted to stay I wrote to Gurudeva and he said you will profit so much if you can stay with my daughters in london and it will give me great happiness. that was 1 and a half years ago I am still happy that i have made this decision and feel there is no better and safer place for my spiritual life.. 

Sudevi 24yrs Germany

I came because it was the only temple for girls in the whole world.. It took 2 years to decide however.. I always wanted to come.. but I had many other ideas and things to do which I thought was important. Now i realize that it was important to try these other things because otherwize I might have thought there was something else for me to do and I could have left the temple for that.

 It makes me more strong to be in association with devotees.. I think if I lived outside the temple iIcould easily have TOO MANY boyfriends ... I have difficulty to discern.. but here I have my girls and they tell me not to listern to my stupid mind and THEY remind me of the truth Gurudeva speaks..  they help me to live that TRUTH... I’m just a normal person and its hard for me to be an “ideal devotee”.. They accept my character and help me engage that in service. for instance kamala said to me you like rock music so you should do friday rockyn kirtan night.. THIS MAKES ME FEEL ACCEPTED AND I CAN EXPRESS MY INDIVIDUALITY.. WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND I FEEL INSPIRED AND LOVE THIS ENTHUSIATIC ENVIRONMENT.. THEY SEE MY POTENTIAL AND THEY WORK ON THAT IN ME.. ON MY OWN I FEEL THAT I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO USE THIS AND WOULD BE A BIT UNFULFILLED... 

Kamala 38yrs Uk 

There wasn’t a girls temple so we opened one .. Gurudeva is very kind and magnaminous.. I had a desire to give my heart to Guru and Krsna although not at all qualified.. it doesn’t seem to matter to Gurudeva.. He just accepts everything you can give and offers it to Radha and Krsna.. I love these girls they are funny sincere enthusastic..   

 My previous boyfriend told me I’d never be a nun.. he’s right its not natural for me but with this association I am developing my determination and one pointedness to Gurudeva.. I’m in love with the concept of  devotion and purity.. I want to do as much as i can to work for the vaisnavas so they can preach this message of Mahaprabhu and reach the hearts of all the lost souls ...