Remembering Mother Kaulini – Launch of blog to glorify Prabhupada’s dear daugther
By Mathura Lilesvari Devi Dasi
Dear devotees,
Year after year many soldiers of Srila Prabhupada are leaving us bereft of their association. These are great Prabhupadanugas who has dedicated their lives for the mission of Srila Prabhupada. There is so much to learn from their lives.
As an attempt to glorified one such soldier, Kaulini Devi Dasi we have set up a blog in her glorification. This blog is an initiative by HG Sudevi dasi (SDG) to record homages to HG Kaulini Devi Dasi. Her life was an inspiration to many and we hope this blog will continue to inspire many others. Please email your offerings to motherkaulini@gmail.com. Let us celebrate Mother Kaulini’s glorious life! Click here to view the blog: http://motherkaulini.blogspot.com/
Her Grace Kaulini Devi Dasi was born on August 30,1946 in Sacremento, California. She grew up there and joined ISKCON in 1972 in San Francisco with her then husband, Keshava Bharati Prabhu (now Keshava Bharati Swami).
While in San Francisco, she was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in May 1973. During that time, her family lived in the same home as Jayananda Prabhu. In fact, her first service was going on Harinam with Jayananda Prabhu’s sankirtan party. Over the next three years, she continued to serve in San Francisco, Saint Louis and Florida.
After her husband took sanyasa, Kaulini devi put on white cloth and as Satsvarupa Maharaj noted, “flourishes in chaste renunciation”. In 1976, she moved to Gita Nagari, where she lived and served for over 30 years.
Kaulini devi exhibited many exemplary qualities. She was genuinely humble and preferred to do her service in the background and sunned the spotlight. She was also very simple, and did not require lavish arrangements. She acted as temple president, head cook, pujari, caretaker of the cows, guest services, caregiver and wore numerous other hats. She was the model of steadiness and remained fixed in Krishna Consciousness in spite of institutional changes, meager finances, political upheaval and other challenges. She famously asked Satsvarupa Maharaj if it was okay if a devotee didn’t have any problems, as she was completely content in her devotional life. She made Krishna Consciousness look easy.
On September 3rd, surrounded by well-wishers and friends chanting the holy name, Kaulini devi left her body.