Her Grace Tungavidya Devi Dasi, a dedicated pujari and preacher who was much beloved by devotees, passed away due to acute cardiac arrest (reportedly a complication from COVID-19) on December 14th, 2020. She departed at 3:45am during the sacred Brahma Muhurta period on Samvit Amavasya in Sri Vrindavan Dhama, India.

Tungavidya Devi Dasi and her husband Trikalajna Das began their life in Krishna consciousness in 1979 at Bhaktivedanta Manor in the UK. During their time there, they participated in the well-known campaign to save the Manor from closure as a public temple.

In 1989, the couple moved to Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir in Delhi, India, where Tungavidya served as the Head Pujari, while Trikalajna served as the temple president.

In 1997, they transferred to the Potomac temple in Washington D.C., where Trikalajna was again the temple president, while Tungavidya Devi Dasi served the presiding Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan with deep love and dedication. She also brought many people to Krishna consciousness, and was a well-loved member of the D.C. ISKCON community.

In 2017, Tungavidya and Trikalajna moved to Vrindavan, India. There, Tungavidya served her home Deities Sri Sri Radha Govindaji, along with 116 Saligrams, Giridharilal and Lord Narasimhadeva, while her husband served at Krishna Balaram Mandir. 

On December 14^th, 2020, Tungavidya Devi Dasi passed away at the Rama Krishna Mission Hospital in Vrindavan amidst all auspiciousness. While she was taking her last breath, devotees at ISKCON Vrindavan were praying for her intensely; they also chanted while her last rites were carried out on the banks of the River Yamuna.

Devotees around the world are requested to pray for her spiritual journey ahead, and for her to reach the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara.

“Tungavidya Devi Dasi was a very dedicated and sweet lady. She was always in a service mood, and she was a great lover of Vrindavan,” said Anuttama Das, ISKCON GBC for Washington D.C. “A few years ago when her husband was the President of ISKCON of D.C. temple, she was a, if not the, devotional pillar of the community. She served non-stop and was always friendly and enthusiastic, no matter what the challenge or service load. We will all miss her dearly. Our prayers go out to her husband, Trikalajna Prabhu, and her children Ramdas and Kulapriya, as well as her grandchildren Ganesh, Gaudiya and Jai Baladeva Chandra, and other family members.”