Kalindi d.d.: In Memoriam of His grace Vijay prabhu( May1, 1952 -October 7, 2009)
Vijay prabhu, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, in Houston, TX due to complications of his diabetes.
Vijay prabhu joined ISKCON in India and initiated by Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur in1976. He was instrumental in making many life members in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and all over India.
He participated in morning walks with Srila Prabhupada in Mumbai. He served with many senior devotees, like H.H. Giriraja maharaja, H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami, H.H. Lokanatha Maharaja, H.H. Hanumat Presaka maharaja.
He travelled throughout India in the Mercedes Benz Travelling Sankirtan busses with Hansadutta prabhu and personally had lunch with Srila Prabhupada on two ocassions in recognition of his outstanding service.
In 1982 prabhu won a trip to the USA by making the most life members. He went to Berkely and served there as the temple treasurer for several years.
Since 1986 prabhu has been in Houston, taking care of his family. He used to quietly sit in the back of the temple during Bhagavatam class, or attend the Sunday feast program.
Prabhu had a very good memory.
Several years ago prabhu was diagnosed with diabetes, and over the years his condition gradually became worse. His eyesight was bad, he had trouble walking, but he never wanted to be a burden for anyone. Nor did he ever complain. He just took it all as Krishna’s arrangement and surrendered to the situation.
Last year his godsister M. Manukanya from Vrindavan came to Houston. She encouraged prabhu to come to the temple at night and she helped him in many ways, both spiritually and materially by organizing someone to walk or drive him home in the evening.
Since June this year prabhu has been going in and out of the hospitals, where doctors were trying to motivate him for kidney dialysis. His condition was serious, and if he would not do this, he would not have a long time to live.
Volunteers of the Houston Vaisnavas Care team started to visit prabhu in the hospital. Most devotees were amazed how tolerant prabhu was, and how he appreciated everyone coming to visit.
When he was finally strong enough to go home, he decided to go to India. Despite the advice of everyone, prabhu had a ticket sent to him by his family and left, leaving everyone in doubt how he would be able to make it. His health was already very frail, and dialysis needed to be continued.
M. Manukanya had arranged through the Amedabad temple that devotees would visit him, and he started Ayurvedic treatment and also visited allopatic doctors. However, he had to be hospitalized in India as well, due to his health condition.
After 2 months he decided to go back to the USA to get better treatment for his leg and foot circulation.
When he arrived in Houston, on September 5th, he was immediately submitted to the hospital, where he received dialysis, and other treatments to make him better. However, prabhu decided he did not want to continue with the dialysis any longer.
The Vaisnavas care team started to visit him again, and at that time prabu started revealing all his memories of Srila Prabhupada. He was very appreciative for every little service we did for him, and he just talked about Srila Prabhupada to whoever came to visit him. At that ime prabhu had stopped eating, and also his fluid intake was little. Over the next few weeks prabhu’s condition deteriorated, although his consciousness was sharp and fixed on his memories of Srila Prabhupada.
More devotees came to visit prabhu in th ehospital, and he just kept talking about his memories of Srila Prabhupada. He was also saying that his “body machine” was very sick, and he wanted to leave it very quickly. He mentioned the glorious passing of H.H. Gaura Govinda Maharaja, who left while talking about the pastimes of Lord Jagannatha.
On Wednesday the7th, the hospital staff decided to move prabhu to the hospice section of the hospital. That evening more devotees came to see him, and he was again talking about his pastimes with Srila Prabhupada. After most of the devotees left, prabhu asked the 2 ladies who stayed if they could help him turn on his side.He had never asked anyone for help, but they helped him turn and also called a nurse. At that point prabhu had difficulty breathing and did not respond. The devotees started chanting, sprinkling Ganga water, and called his family and more Vaisnavas Care volunteers. Srila Prabhupada’s bhajan CD was playing at the background. When we arrived, we all started chanting japa and praying, and about 15 minutes after our arrival prabhu peacefully passed away. All glories to Vijay prabhu, who set a perfect example how to leave this body.
The process of Krishna consciousness is so wonderful: another example of a humble and quiet devotee who passed away in a glorious way.