Memorial for Ramachandra Dash
BY: SAMAPRIYA DEVI DASI
Feb 09, 2013 — JAGANNATHA PURI DHAM, ORISSA (SUN) —
Getting old is seeing everyone you knew die around you.
Ramachandra Dash was our man in Puri. He was our dear well wisher and friend for 20 years. Somehow, he always had a relative or friend in every walk of life who could assist us with any difficulty we encountered. When the electricity went out, which in Puri is daily on this side of town, he called his friend at the electrical station, and usually within an hour the lights went on. He let us know if there was a strike or power failure throughout all of Orissa or if the state would be closed for the day. He was connected with construction, telephone, where to purchase what one needed for practically anything, and arranged for tractor loads of remnant broken clay pots used by the Jagannatha Temple for Prasadam, to be the foundation of the road on ISKCON land.
He was born in Jagannatha Puri and lived his life of 85 years here. Unlike most of the Puri residents, he was pleased to keep relations with foreign devotees and though a Puri brahmana, accepted diksha from a westerner -- Jayapataka Maharaja.
There was no fanfare when he departed, though many tears from his extended family of one son, three daughters and dear friends. He was attached to his duty to his family and performed this for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha. He went through his life facing the same struggles that we all face, but the most important factor was that Lord Jagannatha was the center and the reason for all of his activities.
His body was cremated at Swargadwar near the sea in Puri, 100 yards from Haridasa Thakura's samadhi, six hours after he left it.
His life exemplified that we do not have to be big or well reputed throughout the world because of our great feats and contributions. If one can really love the Lord and keep Him in the center of his life, Krsna will be pleased to take him to Him after this term is over. Thank-you Ramachandraji, for your friendship, love and simple yet most important lessons in life.
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