ISKCON World Review -- Vol. 14 No. 2 --

[bhaktajoy]

ISKCON World Review -- Vol. 14 No. 2 -- July/August 1995

 

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VRINDAVANA, India

 

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By Prithu dasa

Nama Hatta Prabhu, one of the greatest devotee book distributors of all times, passed away in Vrindavana on April 17.

 

We felt honored and pleased to be able to help in the departure of this great soul. He was in our loving care for the last 10 days of his life here and was completely peaceful and happy to leave.

 

When he came to our ashram, he used to sit in the morning sun under the great Bakul tree in front of our house. Although his body weakened, Nama Hatta remained calm and happy with his fate and always told us that he was only too willing to go. We placed beautiful three-foot-high Deities in his room. "Sree Gaura-Nitai," as he used to say in his Italian tongue, talking at times of Their mercy and grace.

 

Two days before he departed this world, we found him sitting on his bed with his legs dangling down. He appeared unconscious, and we grabbed hold of him before he could fall to the ground. Nama Hatta lifted his head and stared upward as if seeing something wonderful, his eyes wide open. He lifted up his head more and more and reached upwards with his hands. Then he dropped unconscious and he told us later that he saw something "miraculoso."

 

Puri Maharaja called from Mayapur to speak with Nama Hatta, his disciple. The telephone was 50 yards away and we tried to record some last message from his Guru Maharaja. Just when Puri Maharaja was saying, "Nama Hatta Prabhu, just leave," in the other room, Nama Hatta stretched his body and opened his eyes wide. His face was completely in awe. Then he relaxed and breathed out his life, leaving his mouth open. Just then, Rukmimi Ramana arrived from next door and put a Tulasi leaf in his wide open mouth, not realizing what went on.

 

His expresion was exceptional, with his eyes wide open in wonder, and garlands framing his face.

 

Chaos broke out with all the red tape and struggle for government permissions; after all, the sun was sinking and we wanted to cremate the body before the night set in.

 

The doctor arrived and signed the death certificate. The embassy faxed the consents. The government agreed to the cremation. All these things are not easy to achieve in India in such a short time. Finally, with about 100 chanting devotees, we carried his body to the Krishna Balarama Mandir to circumambulate the temple where a large crowd had gathered to see the procession. We continued walking to Vrindavana town. People came out of their houses. Passers-by stopped and bowed down to offer their respects. Passing Banka Bihari Temple, the flower sellers showered Nama Hatta's body with petals.

 

The pyre was ready when we arrived at the bank of the Yamuna River where we washed the emaciated body. Setting the pyre alight, a great wind suddenly arose and turned it into a blaze, quickly consuming the body.

 

We all chanted Hare Krishna and were amazed.

 

No one spoke much when we left the place by 8:30 that night. A huge thunderstorm rose and the whole sky became illuminated. We were still in the Yamuna, bathing, when a heavy rain started pouring down on Vrindavana, an unusual event for this time of the year. We concluded that this was indeed a worthy soldier of Lord Chaitanya who was called home by His Lord.

 

Following the perfect example set by Srila Prabhupada, many devotees have come to Vrindavana seeking shelter of the holy dhama at the time of passing. In the future we can expect many more.

 

 

 

 

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Right: The Vrindavana Hospice, shown in this drawing, will serve devotees at the end of their lifetime.

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Currently, however, there is little facility for an ISKCON devotee to leave his body here in Vrindavana. Bhaktivedanta Fellowship is an attempt to solve this problem. We decided to create a non-profit charity which we registered as The Bhaktivedanta Fellowship, aiming to take care of devotees during their last days. The goal of the fellowship is to guarantee all ISKCON devotees an opportunity to die in peace without any financial worries.

 

The plan is to build a block of 12 apartments, on already acquired land situated just five minutes walk from the ISKCON temple. Each apartment will have a bedroom with two beds, a study, kitchen, and bathroom with hot water. One of the apartments will be used by a doctor.

 

We have drawn plans for the project and obtained government permission. What remains is to raise the funds to build and maintain the project. We need help to complete this project. Contributors may think of it as an investment into their own peaceful passing.

 

Interested readers may make tax deductible donations from the USA. Please make your check payable to Bhaktivedanta Fellowship, c/o Rohini Kumar dasa, 2334 Stuart St., Berkeley, CA 94705.