Professor Thomas J. Hopkins, Scholar and Friend of ISKCON Passes Away
One of ISKCON's best friends and scholarly supporters, Professor Thomas J. Hopkins, passed away the morning of Saturday, February 20, 2021, at the age of ninety-one. Dr. Hopkins was Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Franklin and Marshall College, USA, and an expert in the study of Caitanya Vaishnavism.
Karnamrita was someone who cared about others in a deep meaningful way and devoted his life to make the lives of others better; someone who knew the meaning of love and lived it through his words and actions; someone who made everyone feel relaxed, valued and accepted.
Esa spent 14 months at ISKCON Gita Nagari and during his stay he was always helpful, enthusiastic, and devoted to the process of Krishna Consciousness. He will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.
Tungavidya Devi Dasi passed away at the Rama Krishna Mission Hospital in Vrindavan amidst all auspiciousness.
About two weeks ago, Brahmananda Puri, one of the seniormost Russian-speaking Vaishnavas, was hospitalized with pneumonia as a result of COVID-19.
Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami was was one of Srila Prabhupada’s original 100 disciples, and was initiated by His Divine Grace as Makhanlal Das in October 1968.
Krsnanandini Devi Dasi was a Srila Prabhupada disciple, Certified Family Life Educator, a member of the ISKCON Grihastha Vision Team, and the co-director of the Dasi-Ziyad Family Institute with her husband Tariq.
On Saturday the 24th of October, 2020 at approximately 5 pm Indian Standard Time, His Grace Jasomatinandana Prabhu left this planet. He had been hospitalized with Covid-19 for nearly two weeks and was in the city of Ahmedabad, India; he passed away today due to cardiac arrest.
Senior Russian ISKCON sannyasi Nitai Chaitanya Goswami Maharaja was hospitalized on September 25th with COVID-19, and passed away around noon on October 14th in the city of Kursk, Russia. He was 70 years old.
She spent decades of serving Sri Sri Radha-Madhava by designing and making Their night dresses also serving the community as a loving and expert midwife who delivered most of the community's children for over thirty years.
"Srila Prabhupada blessed him and empowered him to present the Srimad Bhagavatam and the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita through gorgeous transcendental paintings that captured the mind and heart and left one with feelings of spiritual awe and amazement and love."
Offerings of appreciation and love have continued to pour in from ISKCON leaders, senior devotees and disciples, as well as other religious and secular leaders. Even newspapers and TV stations in India and abroad have covered Bhakti Charu Swami’s passing, demonstrating his great impact on the world.
"'My true disciple is a perfect gentleman,” Srila Prabhupada said. No one exemplified this quality more than you. Whomever spoke to you felt like the most important person in the world. Regardless of the problem or question they would bring to you, you would listen carefully and reply with wisdom, compassion and tact."
His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, a beloved disciple of Srila Prabhupada, GBC member, ISKCON initiating spiritual master, and Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi, passed away the morning of July 4th due to complications related to COVID-19. He was 74 years old.
From his earliest days as a young devotee, Maharaja had the extraordinary privilege of serving as one of Srila Prabhupada's confidential, personal servants. And ever since, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja's life has been an offering of love at the lotus feet of his spiritual master.
Prajapati Dasa, a disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has lived at the ISKCON Dallas, Texas, USA, temple for more than two decades.
Born in 1941, Hansadutta grew up in New York City and joined ISKCON in 1967, becoming initiated by Srila Prabhupada in May of that year. Under Prabhupada’s direction, he helped to spread the Hare Krishna movement by preaching and opening many centers in Canada, USA, Europe, and Asia.
Although he took on the post of temple president at Bhaktivedanta Manor in 2009, Srutidharma Prabhu served at the Manor for over forty years, starting back in 1978. In his final hours he was serene and without discomfort. His passing was auspicious as was his life, surrounded by devotees, chanting the Lord’s holy names, in the holy place of Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple.
Jaya Vijaya Prabhu had been serving as Temple President of the Brisbane ISKCON Temple for several years and was an appreciated member of the Australian National Management Council.
Sravananada Das served in various capacities in India, for many years, with passionate enthusiasm and vigor. He passed away in August 2019.
Anandini Dasi passed away on August 18th at the age of 84. She was one of the first communications devotees in Russia.
Born Paul Dossick, he joined ISKCON in October 1970 in Gainesville, Florida. Leaving college as a premed student in his last quarter, he immediately set off with Gargamuni Swami to assist the preaching in Dhaka, East Pakistan, in March 1971. In April, when the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out, they escaped to Bombay just in time.
On Sunday, April 21, 2019, Savitri devi dasi, a beloved member of our ISKCON Philadelphia Temple peacefully passed away.
Bhakti Sharan Shanta Swami departed from this world on March 26th in Lithuania.
