Memorial Service for HG Banke Bihari Mataji at Iskcon-Vrindavan
Dear Gurumaharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurumaharaj, I want to inform you that on 26th Dec we had a Memorial Service in honor of HG Banke Bihari Mataji at Iskcon-Vrindavan. This was held at the Balaram Hall. The Program started with Kirtan by the devotees of 24 hrs Kirtan Mandali from 12pm to 1pm. After that Glorifications started, HG Sanaka Sanatana Prabhu was the Master of Ceremony(MC).
Senior Devotees like HG Sridham Prabhu, HG Daivi Sakti Mataji, HG Dharmaraj Prabhu, HG Vrajavilas Prabhu, HG Radha Shyamsundar Prabhu, HG Ramanreti Prabhu, HG Badrivishal Prabhu, HG Prasanta Mataji, HG Radhapriya Mataji were present there. Glorifications started, many devotees described that whoever met Mataji even once became like a Family Member for her and she cared for His/Her spiritual life therafter. For many she was like a Siksa Guru as they associated and took instructions from her on a regular basis.
She was also very well known by the other prominent Vrajavasis and Saints from other sects of Vrindavan. Even the Vrajavasi priest from Gore Dauji Mandir-Ram Sharanji came to glorify Mataji as he was known to Mataji since last 30 years. Many devotees glorified saying that after leaving the body Mataji’s face was blooming like a lotus and was in a very calm and peaceful state confirming that she went Back Home, Back to Godhead.
Then Guru Maharaja we had a Live Video Session with You which was broadcasted on big screen to the assembled devotees, all were very happy to see you glorify Mataji for around 20 mins. Then we had Pushpanjali and Kirtana followed by Maha Feast for over 1000 devotees. We also offered Rajbhoga of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram to Mataji’s Picture which was placed on the Vyasa-asana nicely decorated with flowers.
Thank You,
Yours in the Service of
Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir,
Kanhaiya Lal Das
Dear God brothers and sisters,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Gurudev!
I was fortunate to have some association of Banke Bihari Mataji while travelling to Aravde to attend temple opening ceremony. She gave me some tips on how to avoid committing vaisnav aparaadh and remain focussed in devotion. Despite her old age, she exhibited her sharp memory when after few years I met her in Vrindavan and she immediately recalled of having travelled to Aravde with me.
I had her last Darshan in Varsana this year and despite her age and deteriorating health , she seemed very active.I bow down and pay my obeisance to such a wonderful devotee who showed me the way the way a mother does to her young child.
All glories to Banke Bihari Mataji.
Your Humble Servant,
Haridas Thakur Das
GURUGRAM
Dear Guru Mahaaja, Godbrothers and Godsisters
Please accept my humble obeissances.
All gories to sri guru ad Gauranga. Allglories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today one of our senoir Godsister her Grace Banke Bihari Mataji has passing away in Vrindavana. Long time ago, she used to visit the Vraja Mandala Parikram. Guru Maharaja would every time give special attention to her whenever she used to see him.
I was also happy to see her.
Dear Guru Mahaaja, Godbrothers and Godsisters
Please accept my humble obeissances.
All gories to sri guru ad Gauranga.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today one of our senoir Godsister her Grace Banke Bihari Mataji has passing away in Vrindavana.
Long time ago, she used to visit the Vraja Mandala Parikrama. Guru Maharaja would every time give special attention to her whenever she used to see him. I was also happy to see her.
I don’t know much about her. Can any mataji write something abut her.
Your servant
Rasamandala das
Dear devotees,
Hare Krishna! PAMHO AGTSP.
Jaya Guru Maharaja!
With tears in my eyes, I”m saying a sad “Good Bye” to my dear Banke Bihari Devi Dasi. What a sincere, humble, sweet and loving soul! I’m also firmly convinced that she went back to Goloka Vrindavana. I’m praying to her that she talks to Her sweet Lords to say a few words in my favor. Better have some good connections with those dear to Radha Krishna, that’s our only hope.
I only regret that I did not spend more time with her each time I went to Vridavana, being usually very busy with seva. But is not serving vaisnavis like her the best seva of all, and the most pleasing to Sri Sri Radha Krishna? On this day, in her memory, my appeal to all of you is to make taking care of vaisnavas and vaisnavis especially when they are old, sick, isolated, ejected or rejected, our number one prirority.
Because, sadly to say, and despite the recent Devotee Care initiative, it is NOT our priority in all ISKCON temples. In some places, property, projects, laxmi and even walls are more important that sincerely caring for the devotees who have given their life to the mission of Srila Prabhupada. What is the value of big temples, big projects and big buildings if the devotees inside are nor happy, are not valued, not lovingly cared for and not treated with justice ? I pray to Krishna not to be a silent accomplice of this show and to do what I can to change what’s not right, starting with being a more loving and caring Vaisnavi myself.
Attached are some nice photos of Banke Bihari last time I went to visit her in her house, about 2 years ago. She was living in a simple room in a temple compound that has very gorgeous deities of Radha Krishna (attached photos) ; from her room very close to the altar she could hear all the singing and aratis . She was physically and spiritually so close to Sri Sri Radha Krshna, being blessed to live in Sri Vrindavana Dhama. All glories to Banke Bihari Dasi, our wonderful godsister! I’m very happy that hear that her sojourn in a miserable material body is now over.
With love,
Gaurangi dd
Dear All God brothers and sisters
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to srila prabhupada
I have met this Mataji in Vrindavan when I went for the first time to Vrindavan and she has a beautiful shaligram, and deities at her home. Even at such an old age she used to do vrajamandal parikrama every year and she was older than guru Maharaj. She used to speak non stop just about Krishna and pastimes and gurudev….really an amazing soul….I have also met her daughter and grand daughter who all the way come to vrajamandal parikrama during karthik… I am thankful to The Lord that I got her association and chance to serve her and her deities.
Dear All God brothers and sisters
PAMHO, AGTSP
It was really painful to hear the news of the departure of HG Banke Bihari Mata ji from this material world. All those amongst us who were fortunate to get her little association can surely say that she has returned back home back to Krishna to serve Him eternally.
Mataji, was totally a surrendered soul to Srila Gurudev and was living alone in Vrindavan Dham and never left the Holy Dham till her last. Today when I remember her blissful face with tearful eyes, it makes my understanding of Gurudev more stronger. Whenever I met her the only thing she did was just glorify her Gurudev and his spiritual qualities. I saw her feeding Gurudev on his Vyasapuja like a mother feeds her son and then she would touch Gurudev’s face and would kiss her hand like a mother.
This year fortunately I got her last darshan in Varsana Dham where she came to see Guru dev and bless us all. I humbly pray at the lotus feet of mother Banke Bihari to bless us all so that we all can stay together in the service of Srila Gurudev and Srila Prabhupada.
Your humble servant
Harikirtana Dasa
Hare Krishna
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Srila Gurudev.
Today we bade farewell to a wonderful spirit soul and senior god-sister, HG Banke Bihari Mataji who suddenly fell ill yesterday and was admitted to hospital where she left her body.
Mataji was from Delhi, born on 26 January 1926. She came from a good family and was attracted to ISKCON in the 1980’s. She was associated with Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir in Delhi where she cooked for the Deities.
She received initiation from Gurudev in 1986 in Varsana and is one of Gurudev’s senior most disciples. Padmamali Prabhu shared with me an interaction he had with Mataji where she said that she had approached Gurudev for initiation even before Gurudev had started initiating, adamant that she would only take initiation from Gurudev.
Banke Bihari Mataji was a dedicated and delightful devotee who initially stayed at the Gore Dauji Mandir on Parikrama Marg, in Vrndavana and later moved into the Krishna Balarama Temple. Since the inception of Vraja-mandala Parikrama, Mataji has annually been donating Govardhan Puja bhoga.
Mataji whose mind was always fixed on the Lord’s pastimes has a daughter who lives in America. Both her daughter and her grandchildren are all ISKCON devotees.
Gurudev’s message: Radha Krsna has surely taken Banke Bihari Mataji to the shelter of Their lotus Feet, engaging her in Their eternal service.
You servant,
Dinanukampa dd
(Secretary to HH Lokanath Swami Maharaja)
On 16th December 2016 at 9am, I came to know that our dear and oldest god sister H.G. Banke Bihari Mataji has left her body in Vrindavan Dham at Bhaktivedanta hospice. I have known Mataji for last 10 years. I have never seen any devotee having so much love and trust on their spiritual master as Mataji did. Whenever i went to see her, i would only hear from her about Gurumaharaja. I can’t express how much love she had for Gurumaharaja.
Whenever she would speak of Gurumaharaja’s dedication, her eyes would get filled with tears. For such an exalted devotee, age was not a barrier in her service to her beloved Gurumaharaja. At the age of 90, she would personally prepare some eatable items for Gurumaharaja. She even used to make special ghee for Gurumaharaja. I remember during last Kartik she brought 2,3 bottles of ghee for Gurumaharaja.
It is true that Gurumaharaja used to give personally attention to Mataji. I remember once Gurumaharaj said to her that “you are a special soul”. Gurumaharaja always allow’s her to touch his lotus feet. It was Gurumaharaja’s special instruction to all his Vrindavan disciples to meet and serve Mataji occasionally. Just before joining to ISKCON NOIDA i went to seek Mataji’s blessing at her residential place. She personally blessed me by saying that “in any condition try to always serve Gurumaharaja and Srila Prabhupada’s mission”. During that time only Mataji told me that she also met Srila Prabhupada in 1977 in Delhi.
She was also sharing that she wanted to take initiation from Gurumaharaja even before Gurumaharaja became initiating Guru. For the last 30 years, Mataji had been sponsering feast during Vraja Mandal Parikrama. We heard from other devotees that the first feast she sponsered was around Rs200. She was also the main doner for Gurumaharaja’s Vyasapuja celebration in Vrindavan.
