Purnamasi Devi Dasi (center) with her team at Mayapur.

In the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown, when the streets of Mayapur were silent and the gates of local neighborhoods were closed, a small group of Western devotees began a daily Harinam Sankirtan that would grow into one of the most consistent preaching efforts in the area. Among them was Purnamasi Devi Dasi, who joined the group during Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi in June 2020. The group—now known as the Jiv Jago Harinam Sankirtan Team—completed five years of daily street kirtan in March 2025.

What began with just 30 minutes of kirtan under police watch has blossomed into a full-scale mission, offered daily from around 6:30-9:00 a.m. Today, Purnamasi and her team carry out this service seven days a week, 365 days a year, irrespective of the weather conditions. Their activities include singing the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, distributing books, teaching people how to chant, and engaging those who pass by in dancing. They often translate their message from English into Bengali.

Purnamasi Devi Dasi shares how the practice of Harinam Sankirtan creates a transformative experience for people. “When we take people outside and encourage them to clap, dance, and sing, it’s not just about the mind—it’s a full-body experience,” she explained. “This holistic approach makes happiness more complete and memorable.” She also emphasizes the importance of distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books: “We may not always hear from them, but by taking the books home, we know we are changing lives. The books do the real service, and we are completely convinced of their power to transform.”

Hailing from Portugal, Purnamasi Devi Dasi was raised by a principled single mother who worked as a government school teacher. Though not religious, her upbringing emphasized honesty, simplicity, and service. At 15, she began exploring psychology, astrology, and New Age ideas, distancing herself from traditional faith while remaining respectful of God’s existence. “I knew He was there,” she said, “but I wasn’t praying or talking to Him—I just wanted to open my mind and be a good person.” Her spiritual journey took many turns, but it was Srila Prabhupada’s books and the devotee community that ultimately led her to her spiritual home.

Her journey into Krishna consciousness began in 1992 when she saw a brahmachari distributing books on the streets of Porto, Portugal. Though she didn’t immediately understand his words, a single comment about life on other planets sparked her curiosity. She purchased two books—Perfection of Yoga y Higher Taste—and gave a generous donation. For two years, she returned to that same street corner, hoping to see the devotee again. She never did, but the memory stayed with her.

In 1994, she discovered another book of Srila Prabhupada in the home of a relative and felt a strong connection. Determined to learn more, she hand-wrote a letter to the temple 40 kilometers away requesting a list of books. When the books arrived, she spent two months reading them daily. In August of that year, she visited the temple for the first time. Her first day of service was spent washing pots in the kitchen. By January 1995, she had moved into the temple.

Over the years, she performed a wide variety of services—book distribution, cleaning, cooking, giving classes, leading a Namahatta group for seven years, managing temple accounts, and eventually becoming the vice president of the Lisbon temple. She served in Sri Mayapur International School (SMIS) during her first seven years in Mayapur (2013- 2020).

Today, Purnamasi continues her austere and service-centered life in the holy dham. In addition to her full-time service with the Jiv Jago Sankirtan group, she offers counseling to devotees, practices reflexology, and maintains a simple lifestyle with few bodily demands. She dedicates time daily to reading and sharing Srila Prabhupada’s teachings through various online platforms.

Purnamasi Devi Dasi strongly emphasizes the importance of Nagar Sankirtan as the true yuga-dharma of this age, as taught by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. “Yuga-dharma is not japa, temple darshan, puja, or even Bhagavatam class. These are important, but the essence is Harinam Sankirtan—chanting in the streets with others, as Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada instructed. This is what will actually save the world,” she said. She urges devotees to take part regularly, even if only once a month. “It’s the only way, the only way, the only way—and the best. If we all go out with a few friends and chant, we fulfill the mission of Lord Chaitanya and give the world its real hope.”

At 58, she says she feels energetic, healthy, and deeply grateful to be serving in Mayapur. “If we want to do spiritual activities, the bodily demands are less and less,” she noted. “I want to use my remaining years, as much as possible, with full energy to serve the movement. Krishna will give the strength, Krishna will give the intelligence. Just stick to it.”