The Passing Away of Sura Dasa

Today, December 2^nd, at about 5:30 am California time, during the auspicious Brahma Muhurta time, His Grace Sura Prabhu (disciple of Srila Prabhupada and a long-time servant of the BBT) left his body in Los Angeles. He had been hospitalized since November 26^th, after being diagnosed with Covid-19. His son, Ram Nomi, and his daughter, Sitapriya, were in the room chanting when he departed. Srila Prabhupada’s chanting was also playing softly in the background. Sura Prabhu had his japa beads and was wearing a Nrsimha pavitra from Mayapura.

Some years ago, Sura Prabhu had a kidney transplant and thus was obliged to take medicine that suppressed his immune system. He caught Covid and his body did not have the strength to fight it off. Sura Prabhu had been struggling for years with a number of health challenges (a kidney transplant, dialysis several times a week, and the various ravages of severe diabetes). Yet he continued his service at the BBT with deep dedication and determination up to his last few days.

Sura Prabhu was born in Chicago in1952 and joined ISKCON in Seattle in 1973. He immediately began distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. He was so determined and successful that he became one of the top distributors in the USA and was honored during the opening of the Krsna-Balarama temple in Vrindavan by being given the opportunity to be one of the three devotees who offered the first arati by Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, along with Tripurari Swami and Vaisesika Prabhu.

In 1979 Sura Prabhu became the president of the St. Louis temple, and in 1988 he joined his old friend Svavasa Prabhu in Los Angeles to help manage the North American offices of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT). Sura Prabhu handled the accounts but also inspired the production of new mass distribution books like “The Journey of Self-Discovery”; “The Quest for Enlightenment”; “Beyond Illusion and Doubt”; “Dharma, the Way of Transcendence”; “Spiritual Yoga”; and “The Laws of Nature: An Infallible Justice”.

Sura Prabhu was also an accomplished kirtan leader and musician. While at the Los Angeles temple, he started the Temple Bhajan Band (a group of excellent devotee musicians) and spread the chanting of the Holy Name at yoga studios, music festivals, interfaith gatherings, and many other venues. Of course, you could always find him leading the Temple Bhajan Band in chanting on stage for hours each year at the Los Angeles Ratha-yatra. True to his nature, he always took advantage of these opportunities to distribute large quantities of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

We all have our individual personalities, but Sura was definitely unique. His combination of humor, gruffness, tenacity, keen intelligence and a deep preaching spirit will always be remembered and cherished. He was, above all, a “Srila Prabhupada man”—completely dedicated to Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Your servants,

Dravida dasa, Arcita dasa, and Badrinarayan Swami

Sorry To See You Go, a Poem by Bhaktimarga Swami

Sura, we are sorry to see you go
If we had our way we’d say absolutely NO
But providence has other plans
It’s really all in Krishna’s hands
You came from the tough town Chicago
Eventually you entered a life of bravado
When you met devotees, caring and gentle
Shaping a life somewhat monumental
It was the books that stole your heart
Which indicates you are sincere and smart
You dedicated yourself to an incredible mission
Picking up fully on Prabhupada’s vision
Bhakti became your complete backbone
And jovial you were anytime on the phone
When book orders came in you were happy
And bills were paid–a blissful chappy
We won’t forget that raspy sweet bhajan voice
Where stage and studio became your choice
Sura, you are definitely a true inspiration
You leave us with deep and fond admiration

More on Sura Dasa

Sura Dasa was a one-of-a-kind Vaishnava. Funny, hardworking, gruff, lovable, and totally dedicated to Srila Prabhupada and the distribution of his books.

For years he and I attended the American Academy of Religion Conference together in various cities across the USA. I was there in my Communications service, dressed in a dhoti, attending academic sessions and all that. Sura was there, too, often standing 12+ hours a day for 5 days in a row, at the BBT book table within the exhibition hall.

Sura always looked like a LA businessman, representing (as he was) an important publishing firm. Being the transcendentalist that he was, Sura also seemed to wear the same ruffled suit jacket every day–perhaps every year–because he wasn’t into being polished. He was like an unpolished gem. Not fancy on the outside, but solid to the core. He was there to wholeheartedly represent his guru’s mission, and his guru’s books, year after year.

Often we would share a ride, and meals, and even a room at the local temple. (He was one of the loudest snorers I was ever blessed to room
with.) He would always arrange in advance with the temple for sweets to be available at the BBT booth for people passing by. Scholars would come back year after year, for new books, and more often than not, some sweets.

So many people knew Sura! With his gruff, yet likable nature, he made friends with people all around his booth, and he would kid around with many of the scholars, he’d known for years..

It’s a shock for me to lose his association. He seemed to be one of those people who will always be here. A permanent fixture in our sanga. Always a member of ISKCON, always being his authentic self, in full devotion to Srila Prabhupada.

I’m sure that Sura dasa, who like all of us had his share of blemishes, has gone to be with Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. I’m no seer, but my heart tells me that if Sura Prabhu is not with his Lord and master now, I don’t know if many (any) of us will make the cut.