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Spiritual
Master: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Cause
of Death: |
Vamana Dev Das, a dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada left this world on 18 July 2002 at Mumbai. He was in hospital for a few days due to ill health. Devotees at Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Mandir, Juhu, performed his last rites and his body was cremated on 19 July 2002. He was an elderly Gujarati devotee who was in fact not initiated by Srila Prabhupada, although he served at the Juhu temple since the days of Srila Prabhupada and used to read Caitanya Caritamrita to devotees in prasadam hall daily.
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Memorial by Bhima Das (ACBSP) |
Vamana Dev Prabhu was very sincere in his service and even at an advanced age he would go to the city of Mumbai. Riding the trains in spite of a mad rush of people Vamana Prabhu would do his service. Vamana Prabhu was very attached to devotees and whenever he began talking about Srila Prabhupada he would marvel at Prabhupada's abilities and greatness. I used to tell Vamana Prabhu in his old age to go to Vrindavan and he would say "no! Radha Rasabihari is here and this is my Vrindavan". Vamana Prabhu went to the Kumba Mela and faced the bitter cold even at such an advanced age and he stayed for the whole Mela.
Although Vamana Prabhu met Srila Prabhupada in the early days of Juhu he never received initiation from Srila Prabhupada. However, I can say he was a true follower of Srila Prabhupada and served His Divine Grace till the end. His kirtans were very nice and he played the harmonium in a special way. We really felt Vamana Prabhu as a close relative and pray to again one day have his association again.
June 26, 2003
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Memorial by Patita Pavana das Adikari |
My dear Vamana Dev das Prabhuji,
Please accept my most humble obeisances. I remember you from the earliest days in Hare Krishna Land at Juhu. You were very short, hence it was fitting the you were called Vamana Dev das, for the dwarf incarnation of Godhead. Yet just as Lord Vamana Dev could expand to the size of the Universe, so you were a giant among devotees.
I think that it was in 1976 when some thugs started a fight with our choki-dharas (gatekeepers). A great riot ensued and all the devotees had to run for cover from the angry mob. Two choki-dharas and six devotees were immediately jailed and, though we were let out in a week or two, we had to wait a year to stand trial for murder.
It was during this year while the mechanism of the trial was going on that I settled down in the library of hare Krishna Land to write. I wrote two books at this time, Vraja Mandala Darshana and Sri Chanakya Niti Shastra. You were always there to help me with translation work, sacrificing your time to help my service. And what a great scholar you were, translating texts from Hindi, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Bengali and Brijbhasa. Looking back, I marvel at your abilities which could have come only from Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through Prabhupada.
Yes, you were ever so attentive to serving Prabhupada. For you, there was only one mission in life, service to your guru maharaja. You understood the finest details of Krishna Consciousness, and always showed 100% willingness to help others likewise understand this great movement. Yet, despite your scholarship and high birth as a Gujarati Brahman, you were always the most humble Prabhu, never arguing, never challenging.
Prabhu, in everything you did, you set the example of a mahatma always engaged in Guru-Govinda-seva, and I revere your wonderful example as I, though unworthy, n your footsteps. You served Srila Prabhupada's heart to the end, serving his BBT publication wing. I am a richer person for having shared the spirituality of your wonderful company.
I thank you for all your help, Prabhuji.
Your worthless servant,
Patita Pavana das Adikari
6th of May, 2003
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Memorial by Brajhari Das |
Dear Vamana Dev Prabhu
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You are now drinking the nectar of your blissful association with the Lord
in His abode. I feel fortunate that I can at least meditate here and recollect
on your wonderful association you gave us while you were here in this material world.
You are such a wonderful devotee of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji here at Hare
Krishna Land. Since the time I
joined ISKCON I have been closely observing you for your dedication to the
mission of Srila Prabhupada. Your wonderful
quality of humility is but one of the 26 Vaisnava qualities that you are
adorned with. You are a friend to all living entities including the cats, birds,
and ants of Hare Krishna Land. I remember how you used to save some prasadam
everyday for all these creatures who for us did not exist. Your magnanimous attitude to all living
entities was reflected in your
service of feeding milk to the cats.
You were a pioneer in helping Srila Prabhupada's book distribution
programme. In earlier days when we used to struggle for getting books from the
printers and binders, despite your old age, you would wait in the binders
office until late night and bring the books late in the night itself so that
devotees could go for book distribution in the morning. Even today when books come from the printers
and are loading into our vans for sankirtan or into godowns we feel your
presence. It goes without saying you are where Srila Prabhupada books are rigorously
distributed. During the cold
season of December, you never hesitated to go to the remotest part of
Maharashtra to deliver Srila Prabhupada's books. By seeing your dedication, our
sankirtan devotees feel very enthusiastic to distribute books. You are a source
of inspiration to all of us.
I remember one incident, which
occurred in the year 1984 in the month of December when H.G. Bhubhaneshwar
Prabhu came to Mumbai. He was trying to book a railway ticket to go to
Vrindavana Dham. He gave you one
Indrail pass for booking his ticket. He accompanied you to the railway
station. While you were in the
counter the inspector found that the Indrail pass was fake and he immediately
took you into custody and Bhubhaneshwar prabhu seeing this situation went away
from the scene. While in the
prison, I used to send you prasadam. Your mode was non judgmental and always
ready to serve Vaisnavas.
A few days before you left this material world you came and met me and gave your
fixed deposit receipt and told me that after your death I should cash the
amount and give 50% to Food for Life and 50% to your family members. But seeing your family situation I
couldn't keep your words and gave the entire amount back to your family. You
took care of your responsibilities well and your aged wife being invalid got
your care and attention as you used to carry prasadam for her. After you left
this material world it is our responsibility to take care of her and we have
arranged prasadam to be given to her everyday without fail.
Three days before you left this world your condition was so bad that you
were not able to speak but your consciousness was in sound condition. I brought
you out of the car and put you on the sofa. While in the hospital you were
adorned with the garland of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari ji brought by the devotees
though none of us could talk to you. That same night you left your body and we
brought your body to Hare Krishna Land. Devotees chanted Hare Krishna while
Srila Prabhupada's Hare Krishna Kirtan Dhun was being played and we bathed your
body and decorated it with tilak and fresh cloth. Circumambulating Hare Krishna Land we took your body to the
crematorium chanting and dancing.
After the final rites we did a condolence meeting in the temple hall
where many Prabhupada disciples and your friends and well-wishers glorified
your good qualities.
Year after year we saw your steadiness in attending Srimad Bhagavatam class,
even if a neophyte Bhakta gave class. Although you were well versed in Krishna consciousness
philosophy you always asked questions, which were nothing but a pointer to us
to improve on that aspect of devotional service.
We miss your valuable association and only pray that we may also like you,
be fixed in our service.
Your servant,
Brajhari Das
The above is courtesy of .