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It was unexpected..the way it happened. But I wanted to share it with you all. It was Glorious. It is absolutely possible to go back home, back to Godhead, to Krishna in THIS VERY LIFETIME. And I can say this with absolute conviction…Because We saw our Father do it with our own very eyes.
 

Papa was an embodiment of what devotion 24hrs a day looks like. From never missing a mangal arti to chanting his quota of japa daily, to being constantly immersed in hearing and sharing his love for Bhagavatam, to cooking for the deities and all the devotees, always serving prasadam at programs first before honouring and eating himself..He did everything so perfectly.

Even if he had so many bodily difficulties..it would never come in the way of him serving. He always would say..”without service I’m like a dead man.
 

He was laying on the bed with oxygen support provided by kind devotees. Ma, yogi and I were chanting non stop in his ears along with Srila Prabhupad’s Kirtan in the background- he held my hand tightly- fidgeting around with my fingers…and it struck me..is he trying to chant japa? His index finger was sticking out. So I took his beads and placed it where my hands were. In such a state, half unconscious, he was doing what he practiced for the past 30 years of his life…he was chanting Hare Krishna. We got emotional- it was incredible.
 

We saw no fear in his eyes. I kept telling him “papa you’re remembering nitai? You are remembering Gauranga?” To which every time he would give a confident nod.

His breathes were shallow and at times with whatever strength he would have, he would call ‘Krishna’ out loud. He wasn’t afraid. He even took out the oxygen pipe many times. He was ready.
 

It is so hard to see your hero that raised you and gave you literally everything in this world suffer..But what gives us courage is knowing that in reality Vaishnavas don’t die. He was simply on his journey back home, to Krishna.

We chanted louder than ever when we saw his colour start to change and his breath faint away. His lips are were still moving – He used his last breathe chanting the Holy Names.
 

And the most amazing part was right after..in a matter of moments..we were on the banks of the Yamuna ..with some of our dearest Kirtan friends that came on such short notice…they roared the holy names…the orange sun was setting and we built his pyre from the logs and wood brought by a beautiful white bull. We bathed his body with Yamuna water, smeared his body with Braj dust and other holy items like ghee and camphor. Seeing all this manifest so perfectly…it became so clear to us..how dear our Papa is to Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar.
 

He achieved perfection in this very life.

Leaving his body in Sri Vrindavan, surrounded by kirtan, with devotees, with tulsi and ganga water, with a garland from Radheshyam, with Harinam sankirtan at the banks of the Yamuna..covered with Braj dust.

He did it.

I am so proud of you papa.
 

We hope to make you proud as well.
 

And from the bottom of our hearts.. we want to Thank each and every single one of you for every single prayer, message and support you have been giving us during these toughest moments. We love you all so much.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=95192