Hare Krishna.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My name is Srinivas Acharya Das. I am currently living in Charlotte, North Carolina for past 15 years and in U.S. for 29 years. My Krishna consciousness journey started in year 2000 when I came in contact with His Grace Srinandanandana Prabhu, a Srila Prabhupada's disciple. Based on his guidance, I later met devotees and also my future spiritual master in New Vrindavan, West Virginia in year 2002.
I heard beautiful stories and lilas that Deities performed with devotees over the years from many devotees and especially from my spiritual master. The lilas about Mayapur Deities from H.G. Jananivas Prabhu and H.G. Pankajanghri Prabhu. Stories of Gosvami Deities from Vrindavan especially Sri Sri Radha Raman, Sri Sri Radha Govindji, Sri Sri Radha Damodar. Though all the details left everlasting impressions, the beauty of Sri Sri Radha Madhav struck me deep. Until such point in my life, I never saw an arca vigraha sets that were so beautiful, worshiped so magnificently with love and care. Srila Prabhupada's description about how Srila Gopal Bhatt Goswami established meticulous standards that were strictly followed for past 500 years without deviation in worshipping Sri Sri Radha Raman captured my imagination about Sri Gopal Bhatt Goswami's love towards Sri Sri Radha Raman ji. I was also mesmerized by the Deities of Sri Sri Ranganath at Sri Rangam, Tamilnadu and Sri Sri Anant Padmanabh Swami in Trivandrum. I was eternally grateful to Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Candra at New Vrindavan, West Virginia that were my first eye opening to Deity Worship.
Though all above Deities have special place in my life, my heart pours out to the Deity of Sri Sri Radha Gopijanavallabha from Vrindavan, India. These are the self-manifested Deities of an otherwise unknown devotee, Ganashyam baba. The details how the Deities appeared, manifested Their mercy of pure vraja prema even to an insignificant devotee struck me deep. If I have to name only one of my favorites, Sri Sri Radha Gopijanavallabha stands out. These Deities highlight the fact that the entire cosmic manifestation may not pay attention and ignore, but Krishna is so eager with His full mercy and love to manifest Himself just for you alone. That realization nailed me down. Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Srinivas Acharya Das