Krishnarupa remembers her fascination with eastern philosophy growing up in Australia, despite her Catholic background. This interest culminated when she met the Hare Krishna devotees in 1972. Late that year, she joined the first Melbourne temple. It was here that Krishnarupa met Srila Prabhupada when he installed the Radha Ballabha Deities early 1973.

 

Determined to fulfill her cherished desire to visit India, Krishnarupa again met with devotees – this time in Raman Reti, Vrindavana, early1974, among the bricks and sand of the Krishna Balarama construction site. For the first International Gaura Purnima festival held in Mayapur in 1974, Krishnarupa travelled to Mayapur for this landmark event. She resided in Kolkata temple thereafter.

Krishnarupa received first and second initiation concurrently from Srila Prabhupada on Janmastami 1974 in Vrindavana.

 

She returned to Kolkata and served as a pujari until mid-1975.From mid-1975 until the 1980s, Krishnarupa resided in Mayapur, engaging in many services during those pioneering years. In 1978, she married and had three sons, the first two being born in Mayapur. Two currently reside and serve there. In the 1980s, Krishnarupa and her family moved to Sydney, where for more than twenty years she worked professionally in publishing. She has edited many devotional books and helped produce Sydney’s Radha Gopinatha’s 40th Anniversary magazine and the international 50th Anniversary magazine.

 

Krishnarupa moved close by the New Govardhana farming community in 2013. Her particular service is in the arena of spiritual health and wellbeing for Vaishnavis. ISKCON Australia’s National Council appointed Krishnarupa as the Women’s Minister for Australia in 2016.

 

One of her initiatives was establishing local women’s representation in Australian temples, along with the development of educational workshops aimed at preventing sexual harassment and domestic violence. Krishnarupa has also developed guidelines to assist managers in responses to these issues.

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