Ramadevi Dasi
departed 30th August 2020
Ramadevi left this world in Sridham Mayapur on the appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. At the time of her departure, her Giriraja Sila was next to her and Srila Prabhupada was chanting japa. She learnt how to sew as a young girl and when Srila Prabhupada first went to Edinburgh she began using her skills in his service. In 1973, shortly after Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda were installed at Bhaktivedanta Manor, she began making Their outfits. Between 1973 and 1986 she made over 100 outfits for Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda and other deities.
About
“With sadness we inform you that Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciple Ramadevi left this world in Sridham Mayapur at 3:30am on the appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. At the time of her departure, her Giriraja Sila was next to her and Srila Prabhupada was chanting japa.
Malati Devi Dasi commented, “I personally feel her departure was gloriously successful and not particularly a sad occasion, although sadness may be felt in her absence.”
Ramadevi learnt how to sew as a young girl and when Srila Prabhupada first went to Edinburgh she began using her skills in his service. In 1973, shortly after Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda were installed at Bhaktivedanta Manor, she began making Their outfits. Between 1973 and 1986 she made over 100 outfits for Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda and other deities.
In a newly released book, A Bond of Love, Srila Prabhupada and his daughters, the contribution from Ramadevi is as follows:
Rama devi’s boyfriend’s best friend’s brother was Smarahari dasa. Smarahari gave Rama devi a “Govindam” single record that she played over and over until she literally wore it out. After that, all day long Rama devi would sing the “Govindam” prayers.
In 1972, three or four days before my seventeenth birthday, I was invited to the Edinburgh temple for lunch. During prasadam, which blew me away although it was just potatoes and carrots with cumin, Kisora showed me a picture of Prabhupada’s face and said, “This is my spiritual master.” That picture was my first experience with Prabhupada and to this day I can see his face in that picture. His smile was real and I could see that he had no agenda, that he had nothing hidden. It was the first real smile I’d ever seen. At the time only four devotees were in the Edinburgh temple and Tribhuvanatha was one of them. The first instant I saw Tribhuvanatha I thought, “Wow!” And immediately I had my first experience of Supersoul, who gave me the thought, “No, this is not a person to fall for. He’s out of bounds.” I adored Tribhuvanatha; he was extraordinary and for me he was a direct connection to Prabhupada.
In July 1972 Prabhupada came for the London Ratha-yatra. When he arrived in Bury Place he had garlands up to his ears and down to his knees and he was so happy he was beaming. I’d never seen anyone that happy and that otherworldly. Prabhupada walked inside, took darshan of the Deities and thanked Lilasakti for taking nice care of Them. Later on, during the Ratha-yatra, Prabhupada sat on the vyasasana on the Ratha and I danced nearby. I didn’t take my eyes off him the whole time. I didn’t have a spiritual big bang, he just fascinated me.
We had no money in the Edinburgh temple but Prabhupada was going to visit and we had to prepare. Sarvamangala made friends with a department store salesperson and he gave us a role of pink nylon lining on credit. My first direct service for Prabhupada was to make curtains for his room out of that pink nylon lining. I also went to see my mum, who wasn’t speaking to me because I’d joined the temple, and I borrowed sheets and blankets from her for Prabhupada. From a junk shop we got an old table and cut off its legs to make a desk for him.
After Prabhupada visited Edinburgh we all went with him to a program in Woodside Hall in Glasgow where someone said, “I am God,” and Prabhupada said, “No, you are dog.” It was interesting to see Prabhupada in a strong mood. When he was leaving the Hall, Sarva and I dashed into the room where he had been sitting and grabbed his maha oranges and were chomping on them when Prabhupada unexpectedly came back in the room, looked at us, and laughed. We were standing with orange peels in our mouths like complete idiots.
The following year Prabhupada danced the whole way on London Rathayatra. Just watching Prabhupada dance was mesmerizing and it seemed that no one’s feet touched the ground during that Ratha-yatra. Oftentimes the cart – there was just one in those days – would stop and Prabhupada would turn around and see it far behind. Prabhupada would indicate for Jagannatha to come and then the cart would start moving again and when it caught up we’d go on. The police kept telling Srutakirti, “You’re blocking traffic. Tell your leader to keep moving. You can’t do this.” Srutakirti said to the officer, “You tell him,” and the officer backed off. There was a Vaikuntha bubble around Prabhupada protecting everyone who was with him. It was wonderful; amazing. And Prabhupada never showed a hint of tiredness. Actually none of us felt tired even though it was more than a forty-five-minute walk on a hot, sunny day and we didn’t have drinking water. Some Vaikuntha energy sustained us all.
I was young and didn’t know what was going on, I only knew that for the first time in my life I was happy. Once, at the Manor, Prabhupada paid his obeisances with his feet toward me. I paid my obeisances right behind his feet and as he stood up his heels brushed the top of my head. I’m convinced that most of the reason I’m still here today is the fact that Prabhupada’s feet touched my head, just like the mark of Krishna’s feet protected Kaliya from Garuda. The other reason I’m still here is the kindness of the Vaishnavas. Except for these two, there’s no reason I should be here.
I never understood what Krishna consciousness was all about. I never realized how serious it was – the initiation process, the chanting, the reading. It just was something I was doing. I like devotees; I like the service, the excitement and creativity of the festivals, the exotic locations, and the travel. But also I’ve realized that there’s nothing else – nothing else comes even remotely close to the richness that we have in Krishna consciousness. And I’ve realized that if I want to make spiritual progress I’ve got to please Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada captured me and now I’m spoiled for anything else. Rupa Goswami says if you want to maintain your material life, whatever you do, don’t hear Krishna’s flute, don’t see Him standing in the moonlight on the banks of the Yamuna because if you do, you’re captured by Him. That’s what Prabhupada has done for us; I would die if I went anywhere else. There’s no sustenance anywhere else in any way, shape or form. And what’s sustaining us is love and is knowing that even if we’re not on the path, our foot is above the path and at any moment we could put our foot down and start walking. And what’s sustaining us is the safety of the philosophy. You can’t argue with it, it’s so logical, and we have prasadam and the sounds of kirtans. It’s all Prabhupada’s legacy and the potential that he’s left for us. Ultimately our sustenance is the hope that he’s given us. If anyone just applies themselves they can follow the process he’s given and be sustained.
I’m inspired by Prabhupada’s disciples, like my heroes Jananivasa and Pankajanghri, and I’m inspired by his grand disciples like Bhaktipurusottama Maharaja, Naru Gopal – such a quiet, humble soul – and the brahmachari Nitai Prasada. Sitala Prabhu is a Prabhupada person through and through. Murari Gupta has complete faith in chanting; he never misses his rounds and he really tries to chant them well. And Siddhi, a simple, humble devotee, loves to polish and clean. Siddhi sits for hours listening to Chaitanya-charitamrita lectures while curling Pancha-tatttva’s hair and she has no agenda, no fear. These devotees are how I experience Prabhupada. For me, the devotees are Prabhupada’s representatives. Prabhupada is in the devotees who have taken his instructions to heart. I can’t experience Prabhupada directly, I feel so far away from him, but I experience Prabhupada in his devotees. They’re practicing and the process is working. They read, they chant, they hear, they attend the programs, they do service to their capability, they have their priorities straight. Many of them have had many difficulties, but they take shelter and they carry on. I’m grateful that I’m still around, that I’m allowed to take part and breathe the same air as such saintly persons.
I don’t like to think of Prabhupada in his samadhis in Vrindavan or in Mayapur. I prefer to think he’s in his Los Angeles garden reading Krsna Book, he’s preaching to the sages at the Kumbha Mela, he’s scratching the cows’ necks in New Vrindavan. I don’t know where he is now, but for me he’s preaching somewhere.
In July 1972 Prabhupada came for the London Ratha-yatra. When he arrived in Bury Place he had garlands up to his ears and down to his knees and he was so happy he was beaming. I’d never seen anyone that happy and that otherworldly. Prabhupada walked inside, took darshan of the Deities and thanked Lilasakti for taking nice care of Them. Later on, during the Ratha-yatra, Prabhupada sat on the vyasasana on the Ratha and I danced nearby. I didn’t take my eyes off him the whole time. I didn’t have a spiritual big bang, he just fascinated me.
We had no money in the Edinburgh temple but Prabhupada was going to visit and we had to prepare. Sarvamangala made friends with a department store salesperson and he gave us a role of pink nylon lining on credit. My first direct service for Prabhupada was to make curtains for his room out of that pink nylon lining. I also went to see my mum, who wasn’t speaking to me because I’d joined the temple, and I borrowed sheets and blankets from her for Prabhupada. From a junk shop we got an old table and cut off its legs to make a desk for him.
After Prabhupada visited Edinburgh we all went with him to a program in Woodside Hall in Glasgow where someone said, “I am God,” and Prabhupada said, “No, you are dog.” It was interesting to see Prabhupada in a strong mood. When he was leaving the Hall, Sarva and I dashed into the room where he had been sitting and grabbed his maha oranges and were chomping on them when Prabhupada unexpectedly came back in the room, looked at us, and laughed. We were standing with orange peels in our mouths like complete idiots.
The following year Prabhupada danced the whole way on London Rathayatra. Just watching Prabhupada dance was mesmerizing and it seemed that no one’s feet touched the ground during that Ratha-yatra. Oftentimes the cart – there was just one in those days – would stop and Prabhupada would turn around and see it far behind. Prabhupada would indicate for Jagannatha to come and then the cart would start moving again and when it caught up we’d go on. The police kept telling Srutakirti, “You’re blocking traffic. Tell your leader to keep moving. You can’t do this.” Srutakirti said to the officer, “You tell him,” and the officer backed off. There was a Vaikuntha bubble around Prabhupada protecting everyone who was with him. It was wonderful; amazing. And Prabhupada never showed a hint of tiredness. Actually none of us felt tired even though it was more than a forty-five-minute walk on a hot, sunny day and we didn’t have drinking water. Some Vaikuntha energy sustained us all.
I was young and didn’t know what was going on, I only knew that for the first time in my life I was happy. Once, at the Manor, Prabhupada paid his obeisances with his feet toward me. I paid my obeisances right behind his feet and as he stood up his heels brushed the top of my head. I’m convinced that most of the reason I’m still here today is the fact that Prabhupada’s feet touched my head, just like the mark of Krishna’s feet protected Kaliya from Garuda. The other reason I’m still here is the kindness of the Vaishnavas. Except for these two, there’s no reason I should be here.
I never understood what Krishna consciousness was all about. I never realized how serious it was – the initiation process, the chanting, the reading. It just was something I was doing. I like devotees; I like the service, the excitement and creativity of the festivals, the exotic locations, and the travel. But also I’ve realized that there’s nothing else – nothing else comes even remotely close to the richness that we have in Krishna consciousness. And I’ve realized that if I want to make spiritual progress I’ve got to please Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada captured me and now I’m spoiled for anything else. Rupa Goswami says if you want to maintain your material life, whatever you do, don’t hear Krishna’s flute, don’t see Him standing in the moonlight on the banks of the Yamuna because if you do, you’re captured by Him. That’s what Prabhupada has done for us; I would die if I went anywhere else. There’s no sustenance anywhere else in any way, shape or form. And what’s sustaining us is love and is knowing that even if we’re not on the path, our foot is above the path and at any moment we could put our foot down and start walking. And what’s sustaining us is the safety of the philosophy. You can’t argue with it, it’s so logical, and we have prasadam and the sounds of kirtans. It’s all Prabhupada’s legacy and the potential that he’s left for us. Ultimately our sustenance is the hope that he’s given us. If anyone just applies themselves they can follow the process he’s given and be sustained.
I’m inspired by Prabhupada’s disciples, like my heroes Jananivasa and Pankajanghri, and I’m inspired by his grand disciples like Bhaktipurusottama Maharaja, Naru Gopal – such a quiet, humble soul – and the brahmachari Nitai Prasada. Sitala Prabhu is a Prabhupada person through and through. Murari Gupta has complete faith in chanting; he never misses his rounds and he really tries to chant them well. And Siddhi, a simple, humble devotee, loves to polish and clean. Siddhi sits for hours listening to Chaitanya-charitamrita lectures while curling Pancha-tatttva’s hair and she has no agenda, no fear. These devotees are how I experience Prabhupada. For me, the devotees are Prabhupada’s representatives. Prabhupada is in the devotees who have taken his instructions to heart. I can’t experience Prabhupada directly, I feel so far away from him, but I experience Prabhupada in his devotees. They’re practicing and the process is working. They read, they chant, they hear, they attend the programs, they do service to their capability, they have their priorities straight. Many of them have had many difficulties, but they take shelter and they carry on. I’m grateful that I’m still around, that I’m allowed to take part and breathe the same air as such saintly persons.
I don’t like to think of Prabhupada in his samadhis in Vrindavan or in Mayapur. I prefer to think he’s in his Los Angeles garden reading Krsna Book, he’s preaching to the sages at the Kumbha Mela, he’s scratching the cows’ necks in New Vrindavan. I don’t know where he is now, but for me he’s preaching somewhere.
Ramadevi joined in Edinburgh in 1972 aged 18. She was a committed disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, and dedicated her entire life to his service. She was an expert seamstress, who inspired and encouraged many others to sew for their lordships. Her first sewing service was making cushions for Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasasana in Edinburgh Scotland. She served in Bury Place and made outfits for Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara. She made many beautiful outfits for Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda. Sewing for her Lordships was her heart and soul. She was a qualified midwife and delivered many… Read more »
Dear Ramadevi has left us on the auspicious day of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur and Induleka Gopi’s appearance day in the merciful land of Mayapur, the land of The Most Merciful, surrounded by loving devotee friends, with Srila Prabhupada soft chantingof the Holy Name, after a long time of preparation and acceptation. It was a amazing eyeblink of Sri Sri Radha Madhava that she left on that special day. Induleka Gopi is the chief seamstress of Radha and Krishna! That shows how much They appreciated the service of Rama who was called the « Queen of the Sewing Room ». Srila Prabhupada told… Read more »
My first memory of Ramadevi was when she showed up at the door of our Manchester temple. This was in the spring of 1972. She was just 17. She had joined the temple in Edinburgh but her mother was fighting to get her out, so she came down to Manchester and settled in with us. Her name was Rose. She was a bundle of exuberant energy. I later learned that her father had been an alcoholic and died when she was just 8. I think she had always been looking for Krishna because when she found the devotees she dropped… Read more »
We moved to Mayapur in 2004, and my mother brought my sister and I to the sewing room so that we could do some service. There, in that big messy room, was Ramadevi Dasi, and she presented to us all the possibilities of service that we might do for Radha Madhava. She seemed to me, quite stern and grumpy and I wasn’t sure how I felt about her at first. But she told my mother later that we needn’t be so formal around her and that we should drop “Mataji” and call her “Aunty Ramram” instead. This we did, and… Read more »
Thank you for informing us of the auspicious departure of one of Srila Prabhupada’s dear daughters, Ramadevi dasi. I was fortunate enough to serve at Bhaltivedanta Manor during the period of her direct service to Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda and later Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman Hanuman and to benefit from the delight of the wonderful outfits that she and the other seamstresses and pujaris created to beautify Their Lordships. And later as TP, I was further blessed to offer her some little assistance as she designed, planned and led the team producing evermore stunning outfits, ornaments and decorations for… Read more »
I feel so grateful for the opportunity to have had a relationship with Ramadevi in this life time. I can honestly say that she was a truly unique individual. She was an incredibly talented devotee. Although she was always absorbed in meditation on the next outfit she would design for the Lord, I saw in her very special, rare and commendable quality in that she would be expert in drawing in and engaging so many others In the offering whatever it may be. It was like she took more pleasure in seeing others participation and that for her was part of the joy of… Read more »
Rama devi perfected her life in Krishna’s service. When she orchestrated a new outfit for the Deities at the Manor not that many years ago, I was truly amazed to witness first-hand her breathtaking ability. The whole community was engaged in that offering. How could one person have designed, overseen and taken the responsibility for that project being completed on time?! Rama devi was a true case of empowerment. Reading the comments here, I learned that Indulekha gopi, on whose Appearance Day Rama devi departed, is the personal seamstress of Radha and Krishna. How appropriate a day that was for… Read more »
apologies my comments went here as a reply by accident
Hare Krishna I offer my obeisances to ramadevi. Such sad news we have lost her company.. She’s such a wonderful devotee and servant of srila prabhupada her spiritual master and radha Krishna. When I was a bramachari at manor She was the first person to teach me how to serve radha gokulnanda on the altar in early eighties.. When I got married she was instrumental in my children’s welfare and would baby sit them. She was very easy to talk to and had a lovely smile. She always helped and encouraged me with my drama service helping with costumes.. My… Read more »
Rama devi perfected her life in Krishna’s service. When she orchestrated a new outfit for the Deities at the Manor not that many years ago, I was truly amazed to witness first-hand her breathtaking ability. The whole community was engaged in that offering. How could one person have designed, overseen and taken the responsibility for that project being completed on time?! Rama devi was a true case of empowerment. Reading the comments here, I learned that Indulekha gopi, on whose Appearance Day Rama devi departed, is the personal seamstress of Radha and Krishna. How appropriate a day that was for… Read more »