Devotees Around The World Offer Their Appreciation and Affection for Bhakti Charu Swami
"'My true disciple is a perfect gentleman,” Srila Prabhupada said. No one exemplified this quality more than you. Whomever spoke to you felt like the most important person in the world. Regardless of the problem or question they would bring to you, you would listen carefully and reply with wisdom, compassion and tact."
His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, a beloved disciple of Srila Prabhupada, GBC member, ISKCON initiating spiritual master, and Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi, passed away the morning of July 4th due to complications related to COVID-19. He was 74 years old.
From his earliest days as a young devotee, Maharaja had the extraordinary privilege of serving as one of Srila Prabhupada's confidential, personal servants. And ever since, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja's life has been an offering of love at the lotus feet of his spiritual master.
Prajapati Dasa, a disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has lived at the ISKCON Dallas, Texas, USA, temple for more than two decades.
Born in 1941, Hansadutta grew up in New York City and joined ISKCON in 1967, becoming initiated by Srila Prabhupada in May of that year. Under Prabhupada’s direction, he helped to spread the Hare Krishna movement by preaching and opening many centers in Canada, USA, Europe, and Asia.
Although he took on the post of temple president at Bhaktivedanta Manor in 2009, Srutidharma Prabhu served at the Manor for over forty years, starting back in 1978. In his final hours he was serene and without discomfort. His passing was auspicious as was his life, surrounded by devotees, chanting the Lord’s holy names, in the holy place of Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple.
Jaya Vijaya Prabhu had been serving as Temple President of the Brisbane ISKCON Temple for several years and was an appreciated member of the Australian National Management Council.
Sravananada Das served in various capacities in India, for many years, with passionate enthusiasm and vigor. He passed away in August 2019.
Anandini Dasi passed away on August 18th at the age of 84. She was one of the first communications devotees in Russia.
Born Paul Dossick, he joined ISKCON in October 1970 in Gainesville, Florida. Leaving college as a premed student in his last quarter, he immediately set off with Gargamuni Swami to assist the preaching in Dhaka, East Pakistan, in March 1971. In April, when the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out, they escaped to Bombay just in time.
On Sunday, April 21, 2019, Savitri devi dasi, a beloved member of our ISKCON Philadelphia Temple peacefully passed away.
Bhakti Sharan Shanta Swami departed from this world on March 26th in Lithuania.
Kaliyaphani Das, an English disciple of Srila Prabhupada known for being multi-talented and always ready to serve – as an actor/director, book distributor, kirtan leader, and groundskeeper to name but a few – passed away in a motorcycle accident on January 3rd, 2019 in Alachua, Florida. He was sixty-five.
Although he had serious health problems for many years, he never complained or even talked about his struggle with disease; nor did he give up.
After years of battling with cancer, on Saturday early morning Gunagrahi das Goswami left his body in Vrindavan, in the midst of loving devotees chanting the Holy Names of Krishna.
Most people know him as being a maverick in the political arena, but he was also a friend of ISKCON devotees.
On July 31st, Gopal Agarwal, husband of Sally and father of two daughters, Srila Prabhupada’s first sponsor in the West, left his body due to old age afflictions.
He was 69 years old, and was BTG’s longest-running servant, having worked with Srila Prabhupada’s beloved magazine for 42 years. Yamaraja spent his final days meeting with devotees, hearing how they came to Krishna consciousness and speaking about service to the Lord. He also shared his own heartfelt realizations about how Srila Prabhupada “gave us the real deal.”
Vrindavan Chandra had been the only family member present when Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta to leave for the U.S. on August 13th, 1965. He related the experience when he attended the 50thanniversary celebration of Prabhupada’s historical journey at Netaji Stadium in 2015.
Braja Vallabhi Dasi, a beloved second-generation devotee who helped organize many youth and outreach programs, passed away in a tragic car accident while on her way to attend a seminar at Govardhana Hill in Vrindavan, India, on November 11th. She was just twenty-three years old.
Radha Damodar Das, One of the First Devotees in the Soviet Union passed away on September 3rd evening succumbing to lung cancer. ISKCON Communications Director Anuttama Dasa remembers: "Radha Damodara prabhu was a true, humble and dedicated servant of his guru maharaja and Srila Prabhupada. Despite the dangers and troubles of being a Krishna devotee in the early years in Russia, Radha Damodara was fully committed to Lord Caitanya's mission."
ISKCON-sannyasi Gaur Krishna Das Goswami has left his body on 17th of November 2015 in Vrindavan. Born on 22nd January, 1964 in Bihar, India, Gaur Krishna Das Goswami had recently got sanyyasa (renounced monk) initiation on May 14th, 2015 at Haridwar on the banks of holy river Ganga from Radha Govinda Swami.
Kaulini Devi Dasi, a much-loved disciple of Srila Prabhupada known for her simplicity, surrender and purity, and for her many years of dedicated service at Gita Nagari, passed away on September 3rd. She was 69. Born and raised in Northern California, her life changed when she received Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita in 1972 while on a trip to Mexico.
Srila Prabhupada disciple Surabhir Abhipalayantam Das, who was the design coordinator for ISKCON’s flagship Indian temples in Vrindavana, U.P. and Juhu, Mumbai in the 1970s, has passed away. He left due to liver cancer on July 30th in the sacred land of Vrindavana, surrounded by devotees. All were chanting along to a recording of Srila Prabhupada’s kirtan.
