Jusaniya devi dasi: In Memory of Bhanutanaya dasi Written by Kaulini devi dasi Gita- nagari, Pennsylvania (U. S.) www. vaisnavascare. com
Hare Krishna Dear Devotees, This is to ask for your sincere prayers for Bhanutanaya dasi, a disciple of Satsvarupa Goswami from the early 1980’s. I just received a phone call from her sister on Sunday informing me that Bhanutanaya dasi committed suicide on Thursday, December 20, 2007. Bhanutanaya joined ISKCON in New York City when she was only 15 years old. She was still in high school, so her parents were not very supportive of her decision. She had many obstacles in the beginning of her spiritual life. She even had to hide all of her books and had to chant in her bedroom closet so her parents would not find out her spiritual activities. Bhanutanaya came to Gita-nagari a couple of years later, served for many years on our painting sankirtan party, got married, had her son at our farm, and then moved on with her husband. Over the years she would call me occasionally, expressing her sadness for distancing herself from the devotees and Krsna consciousness. Through the years Bhanutanaya had a very disturbed mind, yet Krsna consciousness kept her in check. When she left the association of devotees, her mental disabilities took over and she suffered for many years. Just this past summer, her sister was at Pennsylvania State University for a program and stopped by the Gita-nagari farm to take pictures. In addition, I made a video for Bhanutanaya. The other day, Bhanu’s sister told me that when she showed them to Bhanutanaya that she was so happy. She even placed the pictures over the stove in her kitchen. Unfortunately, after suffering so many mental problems, Krsna’s dear devotee, Bhanutanaya dasi committed suicide last week. I have sent holy dust from Vrindavana, Tulasi leaves from the lotus feet of Sri Damodara, Deity remnants, and a Harinam chaddar to be with her for the cremation. My realization is that Krsna never forgets the service and the heart of His devotee. Bhanutanaya dasi was very much loved by the devotees who knew her. Your prayers will benefit her so much. I am begging all of you to please pray for her and her loving family to heal from this painful situation.
Your servant, Kaulini dasi