oldchakra.com

A Few Words about Vrndavaneswari
By Bhaktimarga dasi

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to His Holiness Tamal Krsna Goswami. All glories to Her Grace Vrndavanesvari devi dasi.

I would like to write a few words about Vrndavaneswari, who was the great friend of so many of us here in New Zealand. Words cannot really express how sorely she will be missed by all of us, especially of course her 13 year old son Raghunatha and her husband Kalasamvara. Is is almost unbearable that we won't have her association again in this lifetime. I'm sure many other devotees will wish to express their appreciation of this wonderful devotee also.

Vrndavana had developed an extraordinary attachment for chanting the holy names. That she left us in the place where Haridas Thakur, the harinama acarya, was tested by Mayadevi and beaten in 22 market places was certainly fitting. She always said to me that chanting was her only shelter, and it was clear she had experienced great shelter and spiritual realisation through her chanting. In her passing she is an inspiration to all of us to recommit and dedicate ourselves very seriously to the process of absorption in the holy names.

I think it is also very wonderful that she passed away with her siksa guru, His Holiness Tamal Krsna Maharaja, to whom she was very devoted and who had always been a great inspiration for her devotional advancement. It was certainly no car "accident" that took them from us. Excrutiatingly painful as her passing is for us who are left behind, I cannot help but think that knowing Vrndavana, that was the way she may have chosen to go: quickly, without drawn-out illness or the slowing down of old age, yet in the most auspicious of circumstances.

Vrndavana has always been the most active of devotees, totally dedicating her energies in devotional service. Her cooking is famous. She would make about six or more preps for 500 people for Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja and they were all divine. She must have collected millions of dollars over the years all of which was dedicated in Guru and Krsna's service. She was completely devoted to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Giridhari and worked so hard to see Them in Their new temple. She was always so generous and giving of herself, her time, her energies, and her love, to everyone. She genuinely cared about the devotees and took that as her mission to help and look after them in whatever way she could.

She was also always very courageous. She wouldn't avoid the challenges in her life, but saw them as a greater impetus to take shelter of Krsna. I was always urging her to give class, which she felt very unqualified to do in her typical humble way, thinking herself not sufficiently academic. But in spite of this she took up the challenge and gave her first class for Radhastami last year, and it was a wonderful class!

She was a visionary devotee. She inspired me so much. We used to talk together for hours about how we could work to spread Srila Prabhupada's mission. And now she has left.

Oh dear dear friend, how can I, how can we carry on without you? I can't believe you've left... It seems that we were only just getting started. But just see how even in your leaving us you are preaching so powerfully... bringing the devotees together, making us really look deep within and desire to become serious as you have been, in honor of you.

We really love you, Vrndavana, and we are happy to see you achieve your heart's desire. Please pray for us all who are left behind you suffering separation from you in this terrible material sojourn. We thank you for all the wonderful association and memories you have so generously given to us.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Your unworthy servant
Bhaktimarga dasi

© CHAKRA 18 March 2002