Ever since he was young, Lakshman has gravitated more and more toward spiritualism. He likes offering his services at the temple and spends his days in prayer. He encourages all to be authentic from the heart.

Lakshman Dangi is a priest at the Bhakti Dham Mandir of Rashtriya Teerth Pratap Gaurav Kendra.

Lakshman has devoted his whole life to religious service. He learned prayers and religious service under his spiritual master in Nathdwara for years, as per tradition dictates, and at present, he is a qualified priest performing rituals at the temple. He coordinates the rituals and offerings by the devotees during occasions such as festivals where pilgrims from all over the country visit the temple town. As a priest, regulating them in a controlled manner and catering to their needs is his responsibility.

Lakshman says, since his childhood, he had always been interested in pujas and religious service. He went on a pilgrimage to Vrindavan when he was seven years old. He received guidance from his spiritual master from childhood. He used to make Shiva Lingas out of clay and pray to them instead of playing in childhood, as he found it more fun. He learned Braj Bhasha and Sanskrit at a tender age. By his adolescence, he was already helping out as a priest at a temple.

Lakshman says one should be pure both mentally and physically. During the COVID-19 pandemic, government protocols were followed. He believes that the pandemic taught us the importance of sanitation, and many such practices were listed accordingly in the Vedic texts of the past. So in a way, we returned to the knowledge of the Vedic era, which proved to be priceless for saving lives, according to him.

For someone willing to join as a priest and live a saintly life, above all else, one must have unwavering faith and belief in the deity. One must be well versed in religious practices and texts. Traditions need to be followed at all times. One should not be impure while offering religious prayers and service. Cleanliness is necessary when touching the idols, according to the texts. Mental and physical purity are of utmost importance.

Lakshman says that cooking skills are a plus in this profession, as the delightful prasad made and served by the priests would attract more and more devotees to the temple and to the service of the Lord.

Singing devotional songs is his hobby.

On a concluding note, he asks us to have faith in the Almighty as he relieves us from all troubles in life gradually.