Ujjvala Rasajña Devi Dasi was initiated in 2010 by His Holiness Vedavyāsapriya Swami Mahārāja. From the very beginning, she was deeply inquisitive about bhakti—not merely what we practice, but how bhakti works, why it transforms the heart, and how it becomes genuine, joyful, and sustainable in our journey toward Bhagavān.
At the heart of her journey has been a growing desire to take deeper shelter of the Holy Name. She sees herself as a Nāma-āśraya bhakta—one who seeks shelter in Nāma and looks to Guru, śāstra, and the vāṇī of the ācāryas to understand how to deepen that shelter. Over the years, this shelter of Nāma has become the foundation of her bhakti and her service.
From Book Distribution to Devotee Care
After initiation, she served in book distribution and as the servant-leader of the local book-distribution team. She compiled a booklet Bhagavad Gita for Wholesome healing which is meant to act as a bridge to explore the metaphysical science presented in Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is.
She was also entrusted with a hospital Bhagavad-gītā project, through which sets of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, including Bhagavad-gītā, were placed in hospitals and chapels throughout North Carolina. This service took her to every corner of the state.
Looking back, she can see that these journeys were an expression of the causeless mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu, who compassionately carries the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to every soul. Through this service, she experienced how Nitāi’s mercy opens doors, creates opportunities for service, and prepares the heart for a deeper devotional life.
Looking back, she can also see that this service was laying the foundation for something that came much later: the Gaurā Prema Nama-saṅkīrtana yajña that would eventually take devotees to all 100 counties of North Carolina.
As the years passed, her service gradually shifted toward devotee care. She began asking why so many devotees came to ISKCON, yet not all remained, and why many continued to perform bhakti without experiencing the peace, harmony, and joy described in śāstra.
She began exploring the relationship between bhakti, emotional health, and spiritual transformation, and wrote the two booklets Wholesome Devotee Care and Essentials of Transformative Bhakti.
Over time, she realized that emotional health alone could not be the complete answer. If bhakti is not deepening, devotees may begin searching elsewhere—taking courses, pursuing different forms of healing, losing faith in the Holy Name, and gradually distancing themselves from bhakti. Complete healing and lasting spiritual nourishment ultimately come through deeper shelter of the Holy Name.
The heart needs tattva, śāstra, the vāṇī of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the ācāryas, and, above all, deep shelter of the Holy Name.
Rooted in Tattva and Nāma
Her central realization became simple:
“Our bhakti can go deeper only when we take shelter of Nāma.”
Faith in the Holy Name is not merely sentimental enthusiasm. Deep faith is nourished by sambandha—with Guru, śāstra, and the vāṇī of the ācāryas.
We need to understand the path of bhakti: nāma-aparādha, nāmābhāsa, and śuddha-nāma. Just as we need to know the road and direction when we are driving, we need clarity about where we are on the path of bhakti and where we are going. The roots have to be strong.
This exploration led to writing the booklet Wholesome Japa and to a deeper understanding of japa, Nāma-niṣṭhā, surrender, and the essential role of the Holy Name.
As her faith in Nāma deepened, so did her desire to share Nāma. She came to understand that regular saṅkīrtana requires deep faith. Going out once or twice is not enough; something deeper must propel us to continue and inspire others to join. Other services may produce tangible results and appreciation, but saṅkīrtana requires a deep faith in Nama rooted in the vāṇī of the ācāryas and Śrīla Prabhupāda.
What we carry within manifests outside.
When we become grounded in Nāma-niṣṭhā and genuine taste, inspiration naturally comes. Through shelter of Nāma, the desire arises to go out and give the Holy Name.
This understanding became the foundation for the Gaura Prema Nāma Saṅkīrtana movement.
Gaura Prema Nāma Saṅkīrtana
The original prayer was to take the Holy Name to every town and village of North Carolina. As the planning began, however, it became clear that reaching every individual town and village could take years. For the sustainability and enthusiasm of the devotees, the vision was simplified into a statewide yajña covering all 100 counties.
Each yātrā was thoughtfully planned, and what began with a few devotees gradually grew into groups of ten, fifteen, and sometimes nearly twenty. But the real transformation was not in the numbers or the vehicles—it was in seeing devotees become inspired by saṅkīrtana. Despite family responsibilities, work, physical limitations, and exhaustion, the fire of saṅkīrtana continued to grow, becoming deeper and increasingly relishable.
There were days of twelve to fourteen hours immersed in Kṛṣṇa-kathā—śāstra, the vāṇī of sādhus and ācāryas, Harināma, and bhajans. The principle was simple: Kṛṣṇa-kathā only. Zero grāmya-kathā. Even during prasādam and breaks, conversations remained centered on Kṛṣṇa. The entire yātrā became an opportunity to remain absorbed in Harinam.
At the heart of it all was a simple prayer to Śrīla Prabhupāda and Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu: “Please take over us. Please use us as Your instruments. Please bring the mercy of the Holy Name to every county.”
The essence of the yajña was never personal achievement. It was taking shelter of Śrīla Prabhupāda and Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu and becoming an instrument of Their mercy.
A Life of Sevā
A physician by profession, Ujjvala Rasajña Devi Dasi believes that devotees need both a strong spiritual foundation and holistic well-being.
Her present sevā includes supporting devotees in their spiritual journeys, wholesome devotee care, studying and sharing bhakti-tattva, distributing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, participating in Gaura Prema Nāma Saṅkīrtana, and engaging in daily pracāra-sevā.
The principle remains:
“What we carry within manifests outside.”
The goal is not merely to increase external activity, but to become deeply rooted in Guru, Nāma, śāstra, and tattva. When bhakti becomes rooted within, service naturally becomes its expression.
Holy Name is everything!
Her prayer is that everyone may receive the love of Godhead and become an instrument of the mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda, Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, and the Gurujana—carrying the Holy Name wherever They send us.
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa,
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma,
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.