In front of the Tucson temple last week
By the waterfall at the Tucson Temple
Serving prasad at our Food for Life in Tucson last week
By Sandamini Devi
Anyone who has had the pleasure to know Urjasvat knows he’s one of the sweetest devotees you’d ever meet. His big eyes, endearing smile and his firm conviction in the holy name of Krishna, made him dear to many.
Urjasvat only recently came to Tucson, although he’d visited many times and expressed the desire to move here for the loving family atmosphere he felt at the temple. Only this past summer was I able to create a facility for him, a small private cottage, surrounded by other devotees on the temple property. He was in bliss, and the devotees reciprocate with him so much.
Urjasvat was giving regular classes, leading kirtan and being the sometimes heavy big brother, when he knew you were in a bit of maya and needed some sauce. He was 100% convinced of the philosophy and knew ultimately everyone’s problem was that they were not applying the process to the greatest extent they could, and he was there to remind us.
When Urjasvat didn’t come to mangal arati this morning like he always did, I sent a few devotees over to check on him. When they returned and said the light was on, his shoes were there but didn’t answer the locked door, I got a lump in my stomach. They went back with the key and found him lying on the floor with the book Gaura Satanam Strotam in his hand, with his eyes still open. He left his body like he lived, fully conscious of Krishna, always absorbing himself in shastra and with the holy name on his lips. He had just told the devotees who had gathered with him for lunch yesterday while he gazed at the sky, ‘I am just waiting for the Vaikuntha Express, to come and take me.” And indeed it did. All glories to Urjasvat prabhu, who gave us such a wonderful example of a fixed devotee, surrendered at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. We will miss him dearly.
We will miss him. Always lead blissful kirtans and had such a sweet smile. I remember him as the bhakta leader back in the 55th street temple in NY. He was really good with the new devotees.
Oh Sandamani, I just received a facebook instant message bout His Grace Urgasvat Prabhus passing. I am listening to Urgjavat Prabhu’s Govadharan Kirtan as I write this. I have know him for over 30 years. The sweetiest devotee. Staunch fixed up in the holy names. He has enlivened me and devotees with his enthusiastic kirtans filled with such prema during my years serving in Dallas. Now serving in Denver, I often visit my home Kalachandji dhama and always would spend time talking personally with Urjasat Prahu. All Glories to His Grace Urjasvat Prabhu. While tears fill my eyes.. it is glorious that he has departed this world as he lived in full Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada has taken him back home. My prayers are with Gita and her daughter at this time. Hare Krishna – Nandini