Thursday, March 26, 2020

Payasvini Dasi Reportedly in Ill Health


PADA: Anyone who has further details send to: 

angel108b@yahoo.com



PRAYER REQUEST



Please pray for our Godsister Her Grace Payasvini Devi Dasi who is actively making her transition from this world. Payasvini was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in New York, July, 1971.

Devoted Mother of three children, Bhakta, Vrnda and Vrindavan. A well loved ashram Mom and teacher who loved children and gave the best birthday parties! Payas was always instrumental in organizing get togethers, picnics and outings with the devotees. Always a devoted friend and well wisher. She will be missed by many.

Payasvini is being lovingly cared for by our godsister Karen Pharmer, Kriyashakti Devi Dasi, in New Dwaraka. May Srila Prabhupada guide her every step.

Please share your memories with Payasvini here!



[PADA: Best wishes to Payasvini and God speed.] 

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“Payasvini means one who gives an abundance of milk.”

[Payasvini was into the drug scene but knew she had to make a change. She visited Siddhaswarupa Swami’s ashram in Haiku, Hawaii, where she heard from Teachings of Lord Caitanya.]

Payasvini: Prabhupada’s words in that book answered my dilemma of what I was supposed to be doing and helped me make a change. I went back to where I was staying, went to a nearby field to chant Hare Krishna, and the answer was there for me. Eventually I joined Siddhaswarupa and, ultimately, met Srila Prabhupada.

I saw Srila Prabhupada lecture at the Honolulu temple and was impressed with how graceful and gentle he was. Yet he could be strong in his preaching too.
He knew what we needed to hear and gave it to us–softly, then strongly, then softly.

He was trying to get us to pay attention to what he was saying. I saw him again in New York in July 1970. My room was upstairs, overlooking Henry Street, and when Prabhupada stepped out of his car and into the temple room, just seeing him and knowing I was going to have his association was magnetic.

Devotees had come to Brooklyn from all around the East Coast, and every day for a week, Prabhupada performed initiations. The temple room was full of devotees making japa malas with Tandy Imports beads.

I still have mine. Most devotees collected a little lakshmi and offered it to Prabhupada as a gift, but I was pregnant at the time, so I couldn’t collect and didn’t have any money to offer.

Instead, I got some scraps of silk from a pujari and made a bookmark about 4 inches wide and 7 inches long for Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam. When I was called to receive my beads and name, I laid the package with the bookmark on the steps of his vyāsāsana. He smiled at me, then gave me the name Payasvini Devi Dasi.

He chanted the first couple of lines of the Brahma-samhita: Cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vriksha-lakshavriteshu surabhir abhipalayantam, and said,

“Payasvini means one who gives an abundance of milk.”

I offered my obeisances and walked away, thinking, “I didn’t tell him what my gift is for, and he’ll never know.” I was concerned about that, but everybody was so busy it seemed insignificant to write him a message, so I let it go. About a year and a half later, my husband and I were in Pittsburgh when Srila Prabhupada was visiting.

While Prabhupada was out on his morning walk, I was tidying up his desk and saw my bookmark in his big Bhagavatam. He knew what my gift was for.
That was my most intimate exchange with Srila Prabhupada. Sitting on the vyāsāsana, Prabhupada always appeared regal and seemed to know everything.
Sometimes I’d be thinking something and the next thing he would say related to what I had been thinking.

I had to wonder how he knew everything like that, but he knew everything about us and accepted us as we were, and that was special. I’m happy that I’ve made it this far with him. I’m not as good as I should be, but I’m trying.

—Payasvini




1 comment:

  1. PLEASE CHANT THE LORD NRSRINGA PRAYERS. MOTHER PAYASVINI, SRILA PRABHUPADA DISCIPLE LEFT HER BODY AT ISKCON LOS ANGELES, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE TEMPLE.

    Her Grace Payasvini Mataji left her body at Iskcon Los Angeles chanting Rama. She was one of the kindest devotees I know. Always had a sweet smile on her face and nice things to say. She had alzheimer's, but was chanting the name of Lord Krsna in the end. Rama Rama

    Her Grace Srimati Kriya Shakti Devi Dasi was with her, all the way to the end. She's been the nurse for Mother Payasvini the past few years. Kriya Shakti Mataji is a very Krsna Conscious and compassionate devotee, also Srila Prabhupada's dearmost disciple. She's expert in helping devotees that are sick. Her love and care is like no other. She's the best! All glories to her extraordinary services and sacrifices. Mother Payasvini Mataji Ki Jai! Kriyashakti Mataji Ki Jai!

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