On July 29, 2024, Her Grace Saranagati Devi Dasi, a disciple of Giriraj Swami, departed her body around 1 pm in Mayapur. She was cremated that evening at Prabhupada Ghat. She left her body while her spiritual master was speaking to her via video call. As Maharaja blessed and encouraged her by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, she took her last breath and quit her material body.

She had been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a cancer that was traveling through her body and brain. In the last few days before her departure, her condition had quickly deteriorated. Since her oxygen levels were very low without aid, she had not been very conscious.

She is remembered for her many services in Mayapur, particularly organizing the Jhulan Yatra. She was very humble and always helped devotees in any way she could. 

From her son Nityananda Rama Das

“One of the earliest services she provided in Mayapur was taking care of Sridhar Swami’s samadhi. She would be the pujari and clean it and everything. Over the years, as her health declined, she delegated that to others.

Other services that she offered in Mayapur included teaching Art and English for a period of time at the Mayapur International School and also outside of school. She always loved spending time with children and youth and helping them in whatever way she could.

She was also involved with the worship of Lord Shiva at the Jagannath Temple. She would go there every Monday to worship Lord Shiva and was very active in the Shivaratri festival every year, organizing the whole festival and inviting the guests. For around the last 10 years, every time Jagannath Ratha Yatra happened and Jagannath would be staying in Radha Madhava Temple, she would make his toothbrushes every morning for that week and would do that every year.

In around 2009, she started becoming involved with Jhulan Yatra, planning and managing the Jhulan Yatra Festival over the years. For the last three or four years, she’d been working very actively on the Vrindavan Gardens project, which was Pankajangri Prabhu’s original idea.

She worked in a small team of devotees with Pankajangri Prabhu to help plan and realize that idea. After his departure, she became even more enthusiastic about taking up that service. As far as I know, she completed all of the design from a design standpoint and an architectural standpoint. Not the small details, but the overall design is complete. She got it all the way to the stage of actually being able to develop it. That was her main focus for the last few years.

She was a huge advocate of natural medicine, and she’d always had a natural remedy. She has also helped Jayapataka Swami with his liver problem with different natural treatments. From the time we were children, she’d always practiced homeopathy, and she’d have remedies. I know in the Mayapur community, many devotees would come to her for remedies when they were unwell or when their children were unwell.

She never wanted to be in the front. She would quietly be in the back, doing her service, focusing on the details very seriously. But she was not interested in being seen. In fact, she’d be embarrassed to be acknowledged publicly for anything. She really hated that. She preferred to get on and do her service.

She had been aspiring to take initiation from Chandramauli Swami. Even though Sridhar Swami offered her initiation, she was a little conflicted at that time in her heart to accept it, after which he left his body. After that, she realized that she really felt in her heart that Sridhar Swami was her guru. For many years, she didn’t take initiation.

Then she started developing a close relationship with Giriraj Swami, who was also close to Sridhar Swami and took initiation from him in Mayapur at Sridhar Swami’s samadhi. Subsequently, she took a second initiation from him. She used to worship a Govardhana Shila that a friend gave to her.”

Appreciations from others

Sudevi Sundari Devi Dasi, who was present during the last day of her life journey said, “Whatever she commented on, she gave her full heart. Our friendship, Vrindavan Gardens, Julan Festival and many more services was very inspiring. She very much influenced my life by being a sweet example of a surrendered soul. She was sober and transcendental with a touch of English humor. We shared our hearts and time together. She had full faith and trust in the Lord’s plans even to her last breath. She raised three amazing kids and will live in our hearts forever.”

Srivatsa Syamasundara Das, who had met her in 2017 and 2018 while serving Chandramauli Swami in Mayapur, recalled, “Saranagati Mataji did lots of seva for Maharaja unconditionally. She was a very caring and genuine devotee. I have had a good association and help from her on a regular basis during services.

“Mataji exemplified the 26 qualities of a devotee and a Vaishnava. I never heard her speak ill of anyone! She was always ready to serve, regardless of her frail bodily health, and was so welcoming when we’d visit Mayapur. May Lord Krishna hold her close,” said Dharmatama Das.

Kandarpa Manjari Devi Dasi, who met her in Mayapur last year, said, “She was truly a saint and a great association. Her service in Mayapur was so interesting, and she truly was a dhambasi. I was grateful to have her association.”

Remembering his association with her, Nrsingha-tirtha Das said, “I have lost one of my mothers! Mataji’s association had such a profound effect on my spiritual life. She was truly a powerful devotee, and her departure hurts. But I guess, since she left gloriously, I should be grateful to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for keeping His promise of never allowing His devotee to perish, for there isn’t a more auspicious way of leaving the body than leaving it in the holiest of places while our Spiritual Master chants the Holy name in our ear.”