Passing away of Srutakirti dasa, a very wonderful devotee from Durban

[Guest guest]

A very wonderful devotee from South Africa, Srutakirti das, left his body

today at 2.40pm, South African time.

 

He joined ISKCON in 1979 when he was still a university student. He was

first initiated by Jaya Tirtha Prabhu and then by Bhagavan Prabhu. Inspite

of their fall down and consequetive spiritual difficulties, Srutakirti did

not lose faith in Srila Prabhupada and his transcendental institution,

ISKCON, and continued to serve with great determination and sincerity in

many responsible positions in ISKCON.

 

When the devotees of South Africa were building a very gorgeous temple in

Durban in mid eighties, one of the main ways of fundraising was done through

the selling of paintings. Srutakirti headed up that department. After

completing that project he became the president of the temple in Cape Town,

and then the temple president in Durban.

 

In 1997, he went to India to help in the production of Abhay Charan series.

In 1998, he went back to South Africa to give support to his ailing mother.

It was around that time that he developed some complications with his

kidney, which were further aggravated by acute diabetes and high blood

pressure.

 

About two years ago, when I was in Durban, I got the news that he was in the

hospital in a rather serious condition. I went to see him and suggested that

he came back to the association of devotees in the temple. He did so. Seeing

that the constant care and attention that he needed all the time, a

wonderful congregation devotee named Mukunda Prabhu, a disciple of His Grace

Partha Sarathi Prabhu, took him to his home and cared for him in a way that

is very rare in this world. The care, concern and affection that he

displayed towards Srutakirti can only be compared to the loving care of a

mother for her ailing child. Mukunda Prabhu was by Srutakirti’s side

practically twenty four hours a day. He used to even sleep on the same bed

with him, just in case he needed something at night.

 

About fifteen months ago, Srutakirti’s condition deteriorated drastically.

He became totally bedridden and lost his eyesight. At that time Srutakirti

became so resigned to the will of Krsna that the doctors who were treating

him became quite frustrated that he had lost his will to survive. Although

the doctors many-a-times declared that he only had a few days to live, and

although Srutakirti was also totally resigned to that idea, he nevertheless

remained in this world with us for 15 more months.

 

Srutakirti always displayed a very wonderful attitude of surrender to Krsna

and to Srila Prabhupada. Often he would eloquently describe how Srila

Prabhupada had saved him and had guided him through so many difficulties. In

spite of his invalidity, he continued to preach from his wheelchair and he

even organized different festivals. He shouldered the total responsibility

of organizing Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja celebration this year. I have

been told that this festival was the grandest Vyasa Puja celebration they

ever witnessed in Durban. Although it was held during a weekday, more than

two thousand five hundred people attended, and everyone was amazed at its

success. I was also told that during the aroti kirtan that day, Srutakirti

got up from his wheelchair, led the kirtan himself and even started to

dance, to everyone’s amazement.

 

On 18th November, when I was in London, I received the news that his

condition was very critical and that he could leave his body at any moment.

I immediately took a flight to Durban, intensely hoping that I would be able

to see him before he left his body. By Krsna’s mercy, his condition

miraculously improved, and I had a wonderful time with him for about two

weeks until I left for America on the 3rd December.

 

Although he had not eaten for 18 days and his body was critically ill, his

consciousness was very clear. One day, recalling his condition that was

almost at the verge of death, he told me, “I knew I was going to die. I was

not afraid. It seemed so easy. I felt so peaceful.”

 

On another occasion, when I asked him “When you go back to the spiritual

world, what will you do?” he responded, “Serve Krsna. Love Krsna. Glorify

Krsna.”

 

I was supposed to leave South Africa for the USA from Johannesburg on 1st

December, but I changed my plan and in stead of flying to London I went back

to Durban to see him again. It was a very wonderful experience. Both of us

knew that this was the last time that we were seeing each other. At the same

time, we had a very deep conviction that our relationship will continue.

 

He had been one of the most exemplary devotees, and he practically

demonstrated how genuine this process of Krsna Consciousness is. From his

example we got a very clear perception that a devotee simply surrenders

himself to Krsna, and Krsna takes care of him in all respects. We are

eternally indebted to Srila Prabhupada for offering us this most wonderful

process and training us to take full advantage of it.

 

Please bless this very wonderful devotee, Srutakirti das, so that he can

fully receive Srila Prabhupada’s mercy and become most wonderfully engaged

in the service of our Supreme Lord.