By Yogindra dasa ACBSP
Dear God-siblings,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
It is with a heavy heart that I beg to inform that our God-brother, Bharata prabhu, left this mortal world at 10 AM today Monday at his home at Almviks Gard, the ISKCON farm outside Stockholm, after a long fight with cancer. He was listening to Srila Prabhupada’s kirtan.
Bharata prabhu, originally from Germany, distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books for many years. Several times in early years he was a top distributer in the German yatra.
He is survived by his wife, Asta-siddhi mataji and their two daughters.
Your servant, Yogindra dasa
Dear Yogindra Prabhu
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
When we were called yesterday night about the passing of our beloved godbrother Bharata Prabhu, we were not at home, and we tried to reach Astasiddhi Mataji and Janamanalaya Prabhu this morning without success.
On behalf of the German disciples of Srila Prabhupada, I am expressing our grief about the loss of his association in this world and our sympathy with his
family and friends. We will no doubt see him again in another life when we will all distribute Srila Prabhupadas books together again. Probably, because he left before us, at that time he will allready be a great general in Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental army to lead us in the service to our beloved spiritual master.
The last time we met Bharata Prabhu was during Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja in 2005 when, being certain that he would have to leave this world early, he gave a very emotional Vyasa Puja hommage. But the next day, he was in good spirits again and gave one of his inspiring and humorously descriptive Bhagavatam classes.
During the following months we witnessed Bharata Prabhu’s quick loss of strength, and we know that his death must be a relief for him. So we can be happy with him that he has left his temporary shell of suffering and will soon be invigorated with fresh energy either in the transcendetal world or on the heavenly planets or in a devotee family on this earth.
Just a few weeks ago, I was asked by the management of the German yatra to convey the yatra’s thanks for his selfless service during so many years, but because of his weak condition, I was not able to. Unfortunately, now it is too
late.
Your servant Vaidyanath das
All glories to Sriman Bharata Prabhu !
One of the first initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada in Germany, His Grace Bharata Prabhu contributed significantly to the expanion of iskcon in Germany, through his untiring work and service attitude. Bharata Prabhu impressed me and many others through his dedication to the preaching and the BTG magazine distribution in the early years and later his full time dedication to book distribution for a long time – as for his great focus and discipline in his daily services and his fast typing of translations on an old bulky type writer in the Hamburg temple. Those were the happy days… To his last breath he remained in the association of devotees. We pray for his mercy, being confident of his having attained the highest destination – full shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.
Your insignificant servant
Nikhilananda Dasa
My dear Bharata Prabhu,
please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
With a sad heart I just read about your passing.
Now this mortal world has lost another of Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciples.
Nevertheless, many fortunate souls had the opportunity to meet you while you were distributing books on the streets of Germany in the 70s and 80s, and who knows how many of them have been elevated by coming in contact with you, a sincere representative of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya.
I will always remember with fondness your association in the early days of the Hamburg temple, in Bartelsstrassse and later Kapitelbuschweg. Your humility and dedication to book distribution inspired all of us, and especially many new devotees who learned the art by your expert guidance and good example.
I had hoped to see you this summer, after almost 30 years of separation, but as you explained to me, your poor health did not allow you to fly to Malaga and spend a few weeks with us here under the shelter of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai’s lotus feet.
Now you have left us, and my only hope is to see you some time in the future. Please pray for me that I may be granted the opportunity to rejoin you and our beloved spiritual father Srila Prabhupada, wherever that may be.
Your eternal servant,
Vedavyasa Dasa