A Journey to the Yamuna—Mukhara Devi’s Last Rites

Giriraj Swami: Well, when you conveyed the message that according to the rules, one should immerse the ashes within thirty days, so, within my heart, I had three thoughts. One is that, I mean, it sounds. . . But anyway, I didn’t want to assume anything. So, in the morning, I was sitting next to His Holiness Radhanath Swami, chanting japa in the temple room in Mayapur, and I said, “Before you leave the japa area, I would like to speak with you for a few minutes.”

So, we chanted japa, and then, just maybe ten to seven, he said, “You wanted to discuss something.” So, I told him, “I had planned to be in Vrindavan and to do the immersion on the ninth, on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta disappearance day, but I ended up staying longer in Mayapur. And within my heart, I had offered to do this sevā and I want to do it. And furthermore, I think that Mother Mukhara would be happy if we did it together, and as far as the ritual correctness, she has probably gone back to Godhead anyway, so it doesn’t really matter about the ritual correctness.”

So, he said that it’s the duty of the son to perform the last rites, so he should be the one to decide. Then you made your decision, which was according to what my heart told me, and I think it was special, beautiful sounds from Vrindavan, it was a pleasure trip on a boat. She has Radha and Krishna in her heart, going for a little pleasure excursion on the Yamuna River. And this is eternal, her eternal life, and she gave us a taste of that, I mean, it’s all through Prabhupada and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but due to her deep devotion and realization, she also made it easier for us to taste this eternal life. And yeah, she was blessed with so many wonderful family members. Of course, she also contributed to what they are, but yeah, so nice; singing, philosophy, cooking, service.