ISKCON New York Temple President Ramabhadra Dasa, who has been serving the Radha Govinda deities that Gayatri Devi gifted to ISKCON in 1972 for more than thirty years, offered the following condolence letter.

Hearing news of the passing of Srimati Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the famous Queen of Jaipur, made me think of the significant contribution Gayatri Devi made to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In 1972 Gayatri Devi hosted His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and an entourage of ISKCON devotees at the King of Jaipur’s property, which is also the estate compound where the famous Sri Govindaji, the beloved deity of Srila Rupa Goswami, resides. It was during that stay, which Srila Prabhupada utilized for a Krishna Consciousness festival program for the public, that Rajmata Gayatri Devi magnanimously gave the transcendental gift of Sri Sri Radha Govinda murtis to Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada established the worship of Sri Sri Radha Govindadeva at that preaching festival and shortly thereafter dispatched Them to New York ISKCON. Personally, I will always have gratitude and deep appreciation for the magnitude of Gayatri Devi’s wonderful gift as my good fortune in this life has always been linked to seva to Sri Sri Radha Govindadeva from the earliest days of my ISKCON membership.

Therefore, I thank a great daughter of the land of Bharat for the personal spiritual blessings I’ve received as a menial assistant in the seva of Sri Sri Radha Govinda. She directly assisted Srila Prabhupada in providing that mercy for me and for the ISKCON membership as a by-product of her Matchless Gift.

May Sri Sri Radha Govindaji and Sri Sri Radha Govindadeva bless Rajmata Gayatri Devi and ultimately deliver her to peace, bliss, and love. With deepest gratitude and respect.

Your insignificant servant,

Ramabhadra Dasa