Departure in Vrindavan of Ram Das.

[Guest guest]

Many devotees knew Ram Das who for such a long time was the head pujari of New

Dwaraka. After a massive heart attack, he had retired to Vrindavan to spend his

last days.

 

On dvadasi night, Dec 8th at 10 pm, Ram Das left his body very peacefully here

in Vrindavan in the company of his wife Krishna Kumari. Kavichandra M had just

been there giving him Reiki and they were laughing and joking, but he was

extremely weak. After KM left, around 10 pm, he told Krishna Kumari that he was

very thirsty, so she gave him his milk and pills. Then. After he drank it, she

could hear gurgling in his lungs like they were filling with fluid and she knew

it was the end. It was just the 2 of them there. She told him to chant, and he

was telling her that it is 10 pm, you must be tired please go to bed, it's

very late. Just put Prabhupada's tape on and I'll be alright. You take rest. He

kept repeating this concerned for her. She kept telling him Ram Das chant

Krishna, chant Krishna, and she began chanting. Srila Prabhupada's happening

tape was playing in the background. One brahmacari, Kala Venu had just one hour

before brought a large lamination of Srila Prabhupada's torso and it was on the

window sill directly in front of him. Rukmini Dwarkadhish's large calendar

photo was above his bed. With husband and wife alone chanting together, very

peacefully he passed on to the arms of Lord Krishna in a matter of minutes,

fully conscious and without any trouble.

 

In the morning we took him to the Jamuna. Most devotees were out on Marathon,

but whatever Godbrothers and a few others were there, we consigned his mortal

remains to the flames on the bank of Kalindi. He was a very big boy and Acyuta

had to run and bring another load of wood to finish off.

 

We had the Smriti Sabha in Prabhupada's house last night and it was very

wonderful. I really only knew Ram Das from his visits to Vrindavan shopping for

the Deities and a few quick visits to LA. It was amazing how many old new

Dvarka vasis are here. I never knew what a dynamo the man was, as here in

Vrindavan for the last 3 years, he was really laid back. Many young devotess

were amazed as devotee after devotee recounted his amazing service as the head

pujari in New Dwarka.

 

Everyone also praised the constant selfless service of his good wife Krishna

Kumari who took such wonderful care of him till the end.

 

In the Sabha she told how Ram Das told that the Mahaprasad sales was what

pushed him over the edge. On top of all that he did it was too much. But

because of Ernie, he was ready to die for this service. Who's Ernie? He was the

postman, and everyday Ram made sure that he got a little prasad as he did his

daily rounds. He refused to let him go by without prasad, even if just a little

pakora. One day Ernie stopped to talk to Ram and was so touched he started

coming to the temple programs. When he finally retired, his desire had always

been to retire in Florida. But he couldn't live outside the association of

devotees, so he finally retired to Alachua. He eventually got cancer and died

in the association of devotees. Ram said because of that, he was ready to do

this service even if it killed him.

 

In service to Sri Sri Krishna Balaram,

Deena Bandhu dasa