Honouring Srimati Yamuna Devi Dasi

In honour of Srimati Yamuna Devi Dasi on her first disappearance anniversary her samadhi was established here in Sri Vrindavan Dham at the Bhaktivedanta Swami Goshala gardens and her sacred ashes were immersed into the Yamuna river at Kesi Ghat. The fuction was held over 2 days and attended by many senior devotees and residents of the Saranagati community in Cananda. Yamuna is well know for singing the Govindam prayers  which is played daily in every ISKCON temple during the greeting of the Deities as ordered by Srila Prabhupada. She was one of the pioneer devotees who served an important role in establishing temples in UK and India especially Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan. She perfected the art of cooking for the pleasure of Sri Krsna and wrote award winning cook books. Her high standards and meticulous ways in devotional practices were awed by everyone and she taught this in a very loving and caring way to all whom she came into contact with.  She is true follower of Srila Prabhupada and truly unalloyed practitioner of bhakti.

The festivities were held over 2 days. On the 8th Jan, Saphala Ekadasi devotees gathered in the morning in the temple room at 8am to remember and glorify her.  Amongst the speakers were H.H Radhanatha Swami, H.G Dinatarine mataji, H.G Vishaka mataji, H.G Yadubara prabhu, H.G Harisauri prabhu, H,G Lilamrta mataji, H.G Yoginath prabhu, H.G Jananivas prabhu(Mayapur Head Pujari)  H.G Krishna Chandra prabhu(Mumbai) as well as various doctors from the Bhaktivedanta Hospial who served her closely in her last months.

Glorification by H.H Radhanatha Swami

Glorification by H.G Dinatarine Devi Dasi

Her Samadhi stands alongside Samadhis built for three other late disciples of Srila Prabhupada: Narmada Goswami, who worked with the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust in Mumbai; Purnachandra Goswami, who preached for many years in Russia; and Vibhu Chaitanya Das, the head cook for the Deities, who lived there since Srila Prabhupada’s passing. Yamuna Devi’s beautiful Samadhi has arched dome and is covered with intricate carvings of peacocks, pillars and arches. Vishaka Dasi mentioned, “Although smaller, it is very much in the same style as the Samadhi of Vaishnava Saint Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakura, “Yamuna was very fond of it. Of all the Samadhis in Vrindavana, it was her favorite.”

The front of Yamuna’s Samadhi a plaque reads: “Unalloyed Servant of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Yamuna Devi Dasi. May 19, 1942 – December 20, 2011. She knew the art of devotional service, lived a dedicated life of devotion, and graciously and joyfully gave the gift of Bhakti to others.”

Upon reaching the Goshalla gardens there was nice kirtan being performed by the youth which really set a wonderful mood for the inauguration ceremony. The head pujari of mayapur H.G Jananivas prabhu conducted the formalities along with H.H Radhanatha Swami and H.G Dinatarine mataji.

Inauguration Ceremony

The ceremony concluded with an ekadasi feast at the temple. Glorification and remembrances continued in the evening at the Balaram hall.

On the next day 9th Jan Dvadasi devotees proceeded to the Kesi Ghat after the morning Srimad Bhagavatam Class for the immersion ceremony.

Jananivas prabhu again led the formalities then on a boat along with H.H Indradyumna Swami, H.H Radhanatha Swami and H.G Dinatarine mataji all together immersed her ashes into the sacred Yamuna river.