ISKCON's Swami Damodara passes away, condolences pour in
Pall of gloom descends, mortal remains to arrive today from Kol
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 02: Governing Body Commissioner of ISKCON and International Director His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Srila Sripada passed away at his Kolkata residence in the wee hours today sending shockwaves across the world.

He was 69. Announcing the passing away of the spiritual leader in a statement, temple president of ISKCON, Imphal, Ajit Das said Swami breathed his last at 2 pm today at his Kolkata residence Shree Ram Nagar, VIP Road, Kolkata-700059 due to the arrangement of the Lord, Sri Sri Radhakrishnachandra.

A file photo of Swami Damodara

Fondly called Swami Maharaj, Damodara was undergoing treatment of the injuries suffered in the August 16 terror attack at Mani Mandir here.

Ajit Das, a close disciple, informed that Damodara complained of slight ache on his injured left hand before breathing his last at around 2 am today.

Though the ISKCON devotees at Imphal could not say the exact cause of Swami�s death, they speculated that it could be a result of the injuries suffered in the terror attack at ISKCON temple on Janmasthami Day.

They, however, informed that Swami was discharged from Apollo Hospital, Kolkata about ten days back.

As news of his death spread, a large number of mourning devotees and well wishers started pouring in at the ISKCON temple premises here even as a group of Bhaktas began performing Kritans since early morning amid tearful scene.

Villagers of Toubul, the birth place of Swami also joined the mourning.

If Swami�s death is the result of the August 16 attack, then he is the seventh victim to have died from the terror blast.

On that fateful day, four persons including two minor boys were killed and over fifty devotees including Swami himself and some foreigners were injured in the bomb attack.

Later on two more persons including a girl succumbed to their bomb injuries.

Meanwhile, a team of ISKCON devotees from Imphal including Imphal temple president Ajit Das flew to Kolkata today.

Before leaving Imphal, Ajit told The Sangai Express that a meeting of all senior functionaries of ISKCON would be held at Kolkata to decide whether Swami�s last rites would be conducted either at his home State or at other sacred places.

However, before his death Swami had expressed his desire that his last rites be performed at Radha Kunda, Ajit disclosed.

The whole matter would be discussed during the meeting before arriving at any decision conclusively, he added.

Ajit said that contrary to the Hindu�s practice of cremation, ISKCON�s top priests like Swami Damodara are buried after deaths.

On the other hand, ISKCON devotees at Imphal have made the necessary preparation for holding a Guru Puja wherein they would offer floral tributes and Arati to the body of Swami at the temple premises here tomorrow.

Swami�s mortal remains would be brought by a flight tomorrow at 2 pm, they said, adding that a short mourning procession might be taken out on the streets of Imphal.