Fwd: [krpabindu] The Auspicious Passing of Mother Saranagati

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Beth Bauer <ebauer108 > wrote: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 10:44:02 -0700

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Beth Bauer <ebauer108 >

Fwd: [krpabindu] The Auspicious Passing of Mother Saranagati

Yadunath Das <jdthesecond >

 

This made me cry. But it was beautiful.

Love,

Beth

 

Note: forwarded message attached.

 

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"saradams" <saradams >

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 17:27:55 -0000

[krpabindu] The Auspicious Passing of Mother Saranagati

 

Dear Devotees,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

and Srila Gurudeva! All glories to Srimati Saranagati devi dasi!

 

Gurudeva asked me to post the following account of Mother

Saranagati's auspicious passing on Krpabindu.

 

Your servant,

Sraddhadevi dasi

 

-------------------------

 

MARCH 30, 1928 - JULY 16, 2006

 

THE GLORIOUS PASSING OF A GREAT SOUL

 

Saranagati devi dasi was among Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu's very first

disciples. Their relationship of mutual affection and respect was

very sweet. She remained always the respectful disciple, trusting his

judgment completely and enjoying his humor immensely. Ravindra

Svarupa Prabhu in turn was very proud of Saranagati, and he was also

greatly concerned for her personal well being, feeling respect for

her as an elderly mataji. Saranagati's daughter Mary first brought

Saranagati to the temple. "Bhaktin Sarah" was soon coming regularly.

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu greatly appreciated her high level of

culture, her spirituality and her intellect. She held a Ph.D. in

Philosophy from Bryn Mawr College and had been a serious student and

practicioner of Christianity; she had even briefly practiced some

Buddhism. Because of her already great progress on the path of

transcendence, she had reason to be proud of her very real

advancement in spiritual life. Nevertheless, Saranagati approached

Krishna Consciousness with natural humility. Her humility and

seriousness brought quick advancement in bhakti. Ravindra Svarupa

Prabhu often expressed how extraordinary it was that someone of her

age had taken up Krishna Consiousness so completely. Her transition

to Krishna Consiousness was seamless because Saranagati was earnestly

and honestly searching for the Absolute Truth. She found the Absolute

Truth, and she gave her heart to Krishna. Saranagati became very

secure with Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu because he answered all her

questions, and she felt he taught her how to have direct association

with Srila Prabhupada through his books. Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu

engaged her in Krishna's service: especially in cooking for Their

Lordships and being the pujari for little Radha Krishna in

Philadelphia. Eventually, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu encouraged her in

her life in Vrindavan to perfect her hearing and chanting. He was

very satisfied that he had a disciple residing in the Holy Dhama.

Regularly— eventually usually once or twice a year—Saranagati would

make a formal appointment with Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu to ask him

serious questions and to seek his advice about her devotional life.

She was careful that her devotional service always be authorized and

bonafide.

 

When she called from Vrindavan to tell him of her diagnosis of

terminal cancer, her plan at that time was to stay in Vrindavan. But

she said then that if it were not possible or if it became too

difficult for others, she would be satisfied to return to

Philadelphia if he would be there. Eventually Saranagati did have to

return to Philadelphia, and her daughter Sarah brought her back from

Vrindavan. At first the hope was that Saranagati could return to

Vrindavan after the summer. By July it became clear that this was not

to be. Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu had cancelled his trip to Germany,

Sweden, and Denmark, and he was going regularly—usually in the

evening—to read Chaitanya Caritamrta to Saranagati. The death of

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu's youngest brother Scott required him to make

three trips to Hopewell, Virginia. Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu was

grateful that Sraddhadevi, then visiting in Philadelphia, was willing

to dedicate most of her time to Saranagati's care. Ravindra Svarupa

was very moved by a note of condolence Saranagati wrote to him upon

his brother's death. She had dictated it to Sraddhadevi to write out

nicely, on proper notecard, and to give to him when he came to tell

Saranagati that he would have to go away to Virginia. After returning

to Philadelphia and continuing to visit Saranagati, Ravindra Svarupa

Prabhu again left to go to Virginia to help his elderly mother for

six days.

 

He told Saranagati "Don't leave until I get back." Saranagati was

greatly relieved at his return and thus began the final three days of

her life, with Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu continuing his reading of

Chaitanya Caritamrta or chanting japa by her bedside. On Sunday, July

16th, on the auspicous day of Lord Jagannatha's Snanayatra in

Philadelphia, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu was called about 8:00 am by

Sangita devi dasi to come to Saranagati's home. Saranagati was now in

the "active dying" stage of her passing. Sangita Prabhu remarked that

as soon as Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu arrived in her room and spoke to

her, Saranagati became very peaceful. Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu

continued reading Chaitanya Caritamrita, finishing the last four

chapters as the day progressed. Saranagati was very fortunate that

many great Vaisnava devotees and family friends came to be with her

on her final day. Sangita devi dasi, Prabhupada's saintly disciple,

expert hospice nurse, and author of The Final Journey was there to

give comfort and direction. Saudamani devi dasi (Gurumata) came with

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu. Santosh Arora, a nurse and great devotee

soul from the Philadelphia congregation, who had been coming

sometimes to cook and help care for Saranagati, was also there. Padma

devi dasi, Sarnagati's long time close friend from China/Dallas, was

there nursing Saranagati loveingly and attentively. Kaulini devi

dasi, Saranagati's inspiration and friend, came early that afternoon

from Gita Nagari with Saranagati's friends Vegavati devi dasi ,

Svarga devi dasi, and Kaisori devi dasi. And of course, Nandimukhi

devi dasi who has been serving Saranagati for so many years and who

took shelter of Saranagati, was there. Anapurna devi dasi and her

husband Len were there. Neighbors and friends came to say goodbye.

Saranagati's son Dobson telephoned to give his love and, as Sangita

held the telephone to her head, Saranagati returned his with "I love

you too." Saranagati's daughter Emily was there most of the day. And

of course, Saranagati's daughter Mary, who was her main final

caregiver, was there and holding Saranagati's hand at the very end.

 

Some time after 3:00 pm Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu began to lead a

kirtan. As the time approached, Ravindra Svarupa moved from a nearby

chair to standing directly in front of Saranagati as she was looking

toward the bedside. She followed his voice with her eyes. Near the

end her breathing stopped in her chest, but she seemed still to

breathe in the mouth. She was given 1008 Holy Waters and a Tulasi

leaf from Krishna. And she opened her eyes very wide, looking

directly at Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu and left her body through her

mouth.

 

The day was clear and beautiful, and at her passing the afternoon sun

sparkled through her windows along with a breeze that gave some

relief from the heat. All the devotees continued to chant until

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu recited the prema-dvani prayers,

including "all glories to Srimati Saranagati!" Sangita helped as

Kaulini, Santosh, Mary, and Padma bathed Saranagati, applying fresh

fresh tilak and the Holy Name of Krishna with sandalwood. Saudamani

devi dasi softly chanted with the harmonium. And Nandimukhi devi

dasi, Lord Jagannath personal dresser, dressed Saranagati in a

beautiful silk sari: white with mendhi green and pink with matching

mendhi green choli.

 

By Krishna's arrangement, Saranagati left her body just in the way

she had desired. Like everything Saranati did, this also was very

well done. Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu later said that he felt just like

a chess piece, being moved as Krishna directed, all to fulfill

Saranagati's desire for her own Krishna Conscious passing.

 

 

 

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