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by B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami http://www.vrindavan.org
The divine soul of Krishna mayee didi left this world at the advanced age of 101 years. This report comes a little late, but I did not want to miss the opportunity to offer my prostrated dandavats to her and to tell you all about her.
She was from a respected Brahmin family in Navadvip and when she surrendered to her Guru Maharaj Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Maharaj it was a scandal in her family. As smarta Brahmins they had been opposed to the movement of the Gaudiya Math and here their beloved daughter leaves everything and enters the ashram of her Guru in Kolerdanga in the aparadha Bhanjan path to serve with all her heart.
She was very very dear to her Guru Maharaj and helped a lot to get the math established. She donated everything she could and did service from the early morning to the last moment. She and Ramam didi were icons of the Sri Chaitanya Sarasvat Math. She composed the beautiful stanzas in praise of her Guru Maharaj.
Later she complained that at her high age she was not able to do much service any more. Guru Maharaj told her to just bless the people who come and that will be wonderful service.
Actually the Ashram of Srila Sridhar Maharaj was a hub for high Vaisnavas to meet and discuss the Visva Vaisnava Raj Sabha once a year a day after Goura Purnima.
You see many of the Godbrothers of Srila Sridhar Maharaj considered him a person who was very dear to their Srila Prabhupada. Even our Srila Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami had wanted to make him the Guru for the reorganized Gaudiya Math and later he wanted to make him president of his own mission Iskcon.
Without accepting any formal position Srila Sridhar Maharaj was the person to be visited by almost all of his most beloved Godbrothers. So you can imagine what association Krishna mayee didi had over all those years.
As a matter of fact Srila Prabhupadas Bhaktivedanta Swamis sister Pisima had approached Srila Sridhar Maharaj for second initiation.( She had hari nam from Srila Prabhupada) She was such a friend of the ashram that a picture of Pisima is hanging in the Brahmacari ashram of the Chaitanya Sarasvat Math. Needless to say she was another dear friend of Krishna mayee didi.
Srila Sridhar Maharaj told Pisima to take initiation from his beloved Godbrother Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj since her house in Calcutta was very close to his mandir. There she became an intimate friend of Prabhavati didi who was living in Imli Tala as a renounced devotee. Pisima requested her Godsister to make sure that her brother, who had just taken Sanyas and was living in Radha Damodar Temple writing what would become famous books, would get something to eat.
She still lives in Imli Tala and gives her merciful darshan to all who like to visit her. As a matter of fact, I met her an hour ago when I took night darshan at the imli tala temple which is under reconstruction.
Back to Krishna mayee didi who is one of those rare souls who surrendered her life one hundred percent to Sri Guru and Gouranga. The departure her Guru Maharaj who is also my sanyas and siksa Guru was very painful for her. She wept for the rest of her live in that separation.
She took shelter after his departure in another ashram in Navadvip with the assistance of Jahnava didi and the surrendered soul Gour Krishna das who served her just like they had served Srila GuruMaharaj. They took Krishna Mayee didi to Radha Kunda to glimps at that holiest of holy places before she would leave this world.
Later her pain of separation from Guru Maharaj increased so much that she moved to the Gopinath Gaudiya math in Mayapur to have the close association of the stalwart godbrother of Srila Sridhar Maharaj pujyapada Srila Bhakti Promod Puri Maharaj the President of the World Vaisnava Association.
Here she spent much time in her deep bhajan. Srila Puri Maharaj was so merciful to all his godbrothers who desired to stay in his ashram and also to Krishna Mayee didi.
Then he also left this world plunging all of us into the sea of sorrow and Krishna Mayee didi returned to her ashram in Navadvipa. There she received visitors and blessed them as Guru Maharaj had told her.
We, who have met this selfrealized pure devotee didi in this life are very fortunate. She set the example for those who want to surrender in this lifetime to Krishna. She also set the example what to do as a mataji interested in service to Sri Guru and Gouranga. Our Visnupriya ashramas will benefit forever remembering her love and devotion for Thakurji and for all the bhaktas.
Krishna mayee didi Tirobhav Mahotsav ki jay.
Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti
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