How did you meet and marry?
Both Karnamrita and I went through the pain of having a failed first marriage. We both had spouses that gave up their Krishna Conscious practices and were engaging in illicit activities. We both value marriage as a life time commitment, but we have seen that there are times when the marriage can become detrimental to ones spiritual life. Our first marriages are a testament to what happens when couples are not properly matched and there are no devotee mentors or counselors to help them in difficulty.
We met one another at the Potomac Temple in 1988, and were married in 1990. Krishna consciousness, counseling and in general, healing has always been part of our shared values. We share a similar perspective of Krishna consciousness, and greatly appreciate the importance being balanced, moral and ethical human beings. It is wonderful to engage in devotional service together and to share our spiritual journey.

Do you have any children?

Archana has a 25 year old son, Narayana, from her first marriage. Karnamrta, while not his biological father, has been a very important role model for him and is really his father in practice, and by the law of affection. Narayana is engaged to a delightful devotee, Prema Bhakti.

When did you join ISKCON?

Karnamrita: I joined the movement in 1970 in Berkeley California during the great days when chanting on the street was the main activity at every ISKCON. Eventually, I traveled extensively around the world to India, Japan, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. In my travels I had the good fortune of seeing Shrila Prabhupada several times before he departed from the physical world.

Archana Siddhi: I came in 1976 just missing Shrila Prabhupada’s visit to Potomac, Maryland where I joined. Although being blessed to take initiation from Shrila Prabhupada, I never saw him in person. However, I have always felt connected to him through my service, and through his advanced disciples.

What type of services have you done?

Archana Siddhi: I was a book distributor and fund raiser for twelve years while living in the Potomac temple. When I moved out of the temple, I went back to school and earned my masters in social work. Since then I have been counseling devotees, writing for BTG and other publications and teaching seminars and workshops.

Karnamrita: When book distribution became the focus in Temple communities, I did not feel well suited for it. As a result I gravitated towards Deity service. In fact, I found this service fit well with my nature, and I was able to absorb myself fully in it. Thus I served as both a head pujari and cook for 10 years, as I was sent to various temples mainly in Asia. In the late 80s I became interested in counseling and healing, and became a certified Hypnotherapist, and Reiki master. Since the early 90s, Archana and I have been counseling devotee couples.

Describe your professional background. How has it helped you in your services to Srila Prabhupada?

Archana Siddhi: I had finished my BS in psychology before joining the temple. In 1990 I went back to graduate school and completed my master’s in social work. Then I worked for 10 years in community mental health clinic in Baltimore.

Karnamrita: I took a number of counseling courses and personal growth trainings while working full time. Though I would have like to get a formal degree, I found it was too difficult to juggle work, school, family life and sadhana. I have gone the alternative healing route, becoming certified in hypnotherapy, Reiki and other alternative healing systems. We have worked as a team counseling devotees since the early 90s.

What brought about your involvement in the Grhastha Vision Team?

Archana Siddhi: When Krishnanandini was putting together the initial team, she asked if we would be interested in participating. We were both excited about the concept and wanted to be involved.
Karnamrita: I have had a vision of working with devotee counselors and healers for years and the GVT had been the first way I found to put this into practice. There is such a need for support for devotee couples, marriages, and families. I also see the importance of having a rural healing/counseling/retreat center which I hope to help create in the near future.

What are your concerns about contemporary Vaishnava families?

Our ideal is to see happy, well-balanced, spiritually absorbed couples who are able to be in the world but not of the world. We want to see couples understand the importance of having a strong and healthy relationship for their personal welfare, for their children’s welfare, for the good of the spiritual community and as an example for the larger society. Since most devotees will spend the majority of the adult life in the Grihastha Ashrama it is essential that they learn to live together harmoniously and in a way that fosters their Krishna consciousness. Spiritually minded marriage provides a wonderful opportunity for retiring our material desires and for spiritual advancement if the couple is able to work cooperatively in the spirit of service to Shri Guru and Gauranga.

What wisdom from your personal experience would you pass on to a new couple?

The most important elements in successful family life are mutual respect for one another and shared spiritual values and practices.