Riktananda Dasa (center in red sweater) helping to pull the cart with Srila Prabhupada at 1975 San Francisco Rathayatra.

Just before noon on April 3, 2025, Riktananda Dasa Adhikari (Richard W. Arthur), a most dear disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, departed this world for Goloka Vrindavan.

After breaking his spine and hospitalization, Riktananda Dasa decided for himself to forgo any rehab or treatment and leave his body. For over a month, he ate nothing but small bites of maha prasadam and drank little water or juice. For the last week, Riktananda ate or drank nothing as his body slowly deteriorated and shut down. In the days leading up to his departure, he yelled out Krishna’s name and could nod to me that he heard me when I asked him questions.

He was a fearless disciple of Prabhupada and a devotee of Krishna. He joined in Los Angeles in 1970 and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in early 1971. He served at New Dwaraka, distributing books and incense on Hollywood Boulevard, and performed sankirtan throughout the streets of Southern California. Later, he became pujari for Lord Jaganatha, Baladev, and Subhadra. He dressed them and cooked for them daily. He was also a correspondent for the BBT and would answer letters from all over the world.

He loved to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and would often be found in the boiler room of the men’s ashram, sitting on a milk crate reading. His copies of Prabhupada’s books would be filled with Riktananda Dasa’s handwritten notes, including his insights, ideas, and scriptural references to other texts.

Before he joined, Riktananda had studied literature and received a Master’s degree in English. His love of words and poetry culminated in the discovery of Prabhupada’s works, and Riktananda adored his spiritual master’s translations and commentary. In the later part of his life, he married and settled in Kansas, where he became a full-time professor of English and literature.

I met Riktananda in 2016 when I enrolled in his English composition course in my freshman year. Then I only knew him as Professor Arthur. He taught with such knowledge and wisdom of life and the universe. In his classes, we discussed such deep topics as love, war, death, karma, tragedy, fate, etc. I became immediately attracted to the depth to which he thought about such things. I would leave his classes struck with wonder, and I even recall knowing I could go to him and ask him what to do with my life. I did one day, and he told me to “remember God and never forget Him…”

We both developed a friendship in class, and we began emailing one another to talk about God. Later, I wrote an essay in his class. “If God existed,” and through our exchanges, I had asked him what books he would recommend about God. He recommended I read Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita. I bought it, read it, and emailed him my questions and ideas, as I was stunned by the revelations within the text.

It wasn’t until after I read the Gita and became convinced of its message that Mr. Arthur revealed he was a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and his name was actually Riktananda Dasa. I was so moved by the seeming coincidence of our meeting and by the knowledge revealed from these texts that I joined the movement myself. Throughout the years, we maintained a close friendship. During a visit, we would spend upwards of six or seven hours talking about Krishna and the early days of the movement.

Riktananda most enjoyed discussing the esoteric philosophy of Krishna consciousness. He adored Srila Prabhupada and would cry when remembering pastimes with him in Los Angeles and India. Riktananda never missed a round of chanting japa his whole life, and even in the hospital and up to his death, he was chanting on his fingers and in his mind.

Riktananda Dasa faced death fearlessly and without any anxiety or attachment. Riktananda’s life and teachings are a testimony of true, sincere devotion and dedication to his beloved spiritual master. I was in the room when he passed, and I have no doubt that when that sacred moment came, Riktananda entered it and beheld the Supreme Lord Himself.

On behalf of Riktananda Dasa, I want to thank all of his God-siblings who reached out and expressed their love, pastimes, and even apologies for past actions. Riktananda’s life and teachings will live on through our shared letters and memories. Hare Krishna.