His Grace Namacarya Dasa, GBC Deputy from South Africa, passed away on March 22, 2024. His last rites ceremony was held  on March 24, 2024 at Prabhupada Ghat, Mayapur, Nadia District.

Namacarya Dasa was a loving and committed disciple of Bhakti Caitanya Swami and a dedicated grand-disciple of ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.  He appeared in South Africa on February 15th , 1957. He has great love and attachment to Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet and had been a member of ISKCON since 1988 where he first came into contact with the devotees and was inspired by Krishna Das at that time.

He received first initiation on Rama Navami day in 1997 and second initiation on 1998 and served Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON selflessly and did anything for Srila Prabhupada’s service without hesitation.
Over the many years, Namacarya Dasa served with dedication in many ways, including:
-book distribution
-supporting harinamas
-his enthusiastic classes
-cooking and doing aratis for Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Gaurahari
-raising funds for the temple
-serving as temple president in ISKCON Lenasia, -being regional secretary for ISKCON in South Africa,
-serving as a deputy GBC
-serving as a mentor to disciples of Bhakti Caitanya Swami and a Bhakti Shastri mentor/teacher
-inviting and serving the devotees lovingly at his family home.

His love for Srila Prabhupada has always been and remains prominent and he always stood up to support Srila Prabhupada’s standards. He read Srila Prabhupada’s books daily and is attached to the Holy Name.

Namacarya Dasa is a most beloved husband of Kaishori Devi Dasi and most beloved father to Yogesvari Devi Dasi, Syama Kishor Das, Dhira Gauranga Das and Gandharvika Sundari Dasi. He is also a beloved grandfather to Tarini Gaurangi. He is known for his exemplary fatherly love, care, wisdom and guidance to his family and to the devotees. The devotees love him for his gentle heartedness and sweet sense of humour.
Namacarya Dasa was transferred from Mayapur to the ICU at Apollo Hospital in Kolkata the second week of March 2024, suffering from bronchitis and renal failure. He left his body in the hospital on the morning of March 22, 2024.