The demise of Srila Prabhupada’s sister, Srimati Bhavatarini Devi Dasi

“Few minutes after 6:00 p.m. on March 13, at ISKCON Mayapur, West Bengal; Srila Prabhupada’s younger sister, Srimati Bhavatarini-devi dasi passed away.” Known by all ISKCON devotees as “Pisima” (in Bengali “father’s sister”), she was widely respected and loved for her simple and pure devotion to Lord Krsna and His devotees. A few hours before his passing, he ceased all his physiological activities, except the silent chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra. Devotees gathered around his bed and sang Hare Krsna as he approached his final moments.

Pisima was born in Kolkata in 1899, three years after Srila Prabhupada, they were two very close brothers during childhood.

Sometimes kites flew, and when a kite didn’t fly correctly, they prayed Krsna to do so. After Srila Prabhupada received a few small goddesses of Radha-Govinda from her father, Pisima became her constant companion by worshipping them. Later, Srila Prabhupada handed over the deities to him, and after he passed away, she put them in the care of the devotees of Mayapur.

Pisima was disciple initiated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada often said she was a pure devotee of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and on many occasions she showed her unwavering faith in the Lord. Once, during an annual festival in Mayapur in the 1940s, his youngest son, Madan, suffered a dangerous disease called Asian cholera.

Everyone advised Pisima to take him to the doctor, but she relied on the healing power of Lord Krsna. He simply gave him some caranamrta, water that had washed the feet of the Lord’s lotus, and so he brought life back to the almost dead body of Madan.

In 1948, when riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Kolkata, no one dared to go out except Pisima. Everyday I walked alone through the deserted streets to the Radha-Krishna temple.

Without a doubt, Pisima was a pure devotee, and now she has returned to the spiritual world to participate in the eternal hobbies of Radha-Krsna. We all pray for her blessings, so that we can serve the Lord and His associates with the same heat she showed all her life.