Jahnava dasi grew up in New Braj Village School (California) and also went to Vrindavan Public School in Vraja (Vrindavan). She is fortunate to have Vaisnava parents who often took her traveling to meet great saints and hear their Kirtan. At around 6 years old, she began to practice singing for her beloved guru, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, who encouraged her to dive deeper into Kirtan and its meaning. Kirtan, the heart-prayers of the saints, has always been a powerful and beautiful guide, while also intimately invoking the presence and remembrance of our guru along with everyone to whom we pray. Through the practice of Kirtan, Jahnava hopes to learn sincere prayer and invite the gentle touch of Sri Guru’s grace to instill deep faith in her heart.

Raised in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava movement which was introduced to the West by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Manjari dasi was profoundly influenced by the dynamic atmosphere of kirtan and devotional service she grew up with in the temple communities of Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. She first traveled to India in 1994 where she met her spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja, and received initiation from him in the sacred village of Vrindavan.

She was transformed by his teachings, his impeccable character, and by experiencing kirtan in his divine association. In 2001 she answered a calling and dedicated her life to service, intensifying her bhakti-yoga practice (sādhana) and studying philosophy, devotional painting, bhajan and kirtan under the direct guidance and training of her guru and her mentors.

Dividing her time between India and North America, Manjari continues to create artwork for the books of her guru; and with his blessings, she established the Rupa-Sanatana Gaudiya Foundation to nourish spiritual communities, promote education and publishing, and to support women in bhakti.

Swati dasi’s experience in Bhakti-yoga began in London when she received harinama and diksa initiation from Srila Prabhupada in 1970 and 1971, respectively. Guided by his grace, she traveled to Vrndavana in 1973, where she received deep impressions of Radha Krsna worship, Vaisnava culture, and cuisine.

She went on to reside in Mayapur dhama until 1977, where she had the opportunity to cook for Srila Prabhupada and also received darshan of several senior Vaisnavas including  Srila Gaura Govinda Maharaja, Srila Sridhara Maharaja, and Srila Gurudeva (Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja). For the next several years she traveled between India and America engaged in pujari seva, cooking, and teaching beginning Sanskrit to young students.

In 1991, Swati dasi settled in Eugene, Oregon, co-founding Golden Avatara Catering with her husband. From 1996 to 2010 she received guidance and inspiration from Srila Gurudeva, who directed her to acquaint herself more deeply with the writings of our Goswamis, headed by Sri Rupa and Raghunath. Now located in the serene countryside of Veneta, OR, she continues to assist devotees in the local community and aspires to deepen her own practice of sadhana bhakti under guidance of her beloved diksa and siksa gurus.

Niscintya dasi’s spiritual journey began in 1971 as a sixteen year-old highschool student when she received a Back to Godhead magazine and a Sunday feast invitation card while on an escalator in New York City. She personally experienced the transformative power of transcendental literature as she began studying Srila Prabhupada’s books and also associating with devotees long distance through correspondence. Two years later, in December 1973, she received initiation from Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles, where she served in the art department and in many other services.

Over four decades, she learned how to balance her spiritual journey, family, and her career as an art teacher and entrepreneur. Amid raising three kids and now relishing grandparenthood, she highlights the vitality of questioning, trusting inner guidance, developing loving relationships with Vaisnavas, and chanting. Now retired and based in the New Braja community in Badger, California, Niscintya dasi volunteers at the New Braja Village School, where she is dedicated to nurturing the next generation with creativity, love, and devotion.

Syamarani dasi, also known as Jadurani dasi, is a renowned Bhakti Art painter and one of the foremost teachers of bhakti-yoga today. She is a revered spiritual guide and leader, currently based in Miami, Florida, where she has established an ashram and bhakti art gallery. Syamarani dasi is an early disciple of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON, and she is a prominent student of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. In 2018, she received the Humanitarian Award from Deepak Chopra at the Bhakti-Fest for her exceptional devotional art — spanning over five decades and touching millions of lives around the world, and for her efforts to alleviate suffering through the teachings of bhakti-yoga.