By Hrimati dasi
(The titi of Gauri’s disappearance is 16th October 2007)
Jagannath Mandir, Rajapur, September 27, 2006 ‘Prabhupada natni moregeche! Prabhupada natni moregeche!’ exclaimed one of the Guards that had just arrived from Mayapur. ‘Prabhupada’s Granddaughter died? Wait a minute,that is Gauri he is talking about.’ I called Alak Prabhu, who was with her in the Ambulance. He told me that there was still some pulse. I cried and prayed intensely to Lord Jagannath to save her, however my prayers came too late. The Lord had other plans and already taken her back to his eternal abode along with Gauri’s daughter Jamunangi and brother in Law Sri Hari das.
In 2006 Mayapur flooded for the first time in 6 years. The waters of the Gaga came over the road in the afternoon of Sept.26. My twin boys Abhay Charan and Nandulal helped me to put all our belongings into the ceiling of our hut. ‘But what to do with the cows? Where to put them?’, I thought. Although, having seen floods in Mayapur before, this was my first flood, where I had to manage our own Animals. My cowherd Gauranga thought it to be a good idea to bring the cows to the Goshala. So I hitched up our bull Balaram to the bullock cart and out we went with the other 3 cows and two calves ahead. On the main road, near the newly constructed Petrol Pump, the Ganges water was gushing over the road with such a force, that our cow Vishnupriya refused to go any further. She just stood there as if she knew, that, to go threw this water was just too dangerous. We had no other option, than to turn around. Little I knew, that 24 hours later, at the same spot, my friend Gauri would perish. With the help of Nandu we managed to finally bring the cows into Yogapita to safety. This had also not been so easy. Krishna, who was only 2 month old, got swept away by the current. Thanks to Nandu, who rescued him, he is still alive today. After resting one night at Yogapita, we brought our cows to Jagannath Mandir where they spend the remaining time of the flood.
Ever since I met her in 1996 in Kolkata during Srila Prabhupada’s Centennial celebration, I had a special attraction to Gauri. Apart from being Srila Prabhupada’s Granddaughter, she also reminded me of him, who I miss so much. Her features, her body height, the way she walked?she even had a chipped front tooth. My son Navadvipa Chandra had been friends with Sujitendriya, and so I had the fortune to also get to know him. As a wedding gift I gave them a wooden Shimasana for Gauri’s Radha Govinda deities. Gauri loved her deities. She would worship them with great devotion. She would never eat any thing, unless it was first offered to Radha Govinda. Because she knew I could sew, she would push me all the time to sew outfits for her deities, which I did. ‘ Mataji, you please make new dresses for my deities.’ Every time, when I visited Gauri, ‘ please come and have some Mahaprasadam from my deities,’
After the arrival of Jamunangi, Gauri called me to see the Baby. I was very surprised how beautiful this baby was. Gauri asked me to always give her Milk from my cow Vishnupriya. She knew that the milk from Vishnupriya was unadulterated and came only from one cow. Gauri loved her milk. She made me promise that I always supply her with milk as long as I can. So to this day Gauri’s daughter Baghirati is drinking the same milk. When it was time for Elephant Procession, Gauri would always ask me for more milk, so she could cook sweets for Radha Madhava. I think every one will remember that kheer she used to prepare for the Lord. She was an excellent cook. Gauri trained Jamunangi very nicely. One time I remember, when I gave her some candy, Jamu would not eat them until she found a picture of Krishna and offered the candy first to the Lord. Jamunangi was a very special Soul. I don’t know how to express the sorrow I feel for having lost the Association of such a good friend and devotee of the Lord as Gauri. There are so many memories, too numerous to all mention here. All memories are in connection with Krishna and my dear Guru Maharaj Srila Prabhupada. Gauri was a very jolly person. She would refer to Srila Prabhupada as ‘my Grandfather’. I remember when Gauri and I were looking at Srila Prabhupada on the Vyasasana. It was a chilly winter morning, but he was not wearing any Chaddar! So Gauri asked me to ask Jananivas Prabhu for permission to be able to put the chaddar on him. Without hesitation he allowed her to serve her Grandfather.
I pray that one day I may develop even a fraction of that devotion which Gauri had to Sri Sri Radha Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. And I beg to be able to continue serving little Baghirati by supplying her with milk.
My memories are always with you, Gauri.
Your servant, Hrimati dasi