At Gita Nagari, Pennsylvania, on June 26, 2005, the doctor caring for His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami, a great general in Srila Prabhupada’s sprititual army, informed the devotees that His Holiness had entered the active dying process and death would occur between 24 and 72 hours. The next afternoon Mother Sangita the director of Vaisnava’s CARE, a hospice ministry for departing devotees, arrived. Through the day devotees chanted in the room and the mood was serene, peaceful, reflective and bitter sweet.

June 27, His Holiness entered the advanced stages of dying and he was peaceful and comfortable having slept through most of the night. Prabhupada bhajanas were played and he had two assistants - Sangita monitoring his health and a senior disciple Madhavacarya, fanning him. Chanting in the room began again in the morning and was simple and soulful. At around 9.30 to 10.30am His Holiness entered the final stages of dying. He lay surrounded by caregivers. Radhanatha Swami, his dear friend and Godbrother, held his hand which held a Govardhana Sila, and devotees massaged his free hand and his feet, and fanned him with a peacock fan. The chanting was slow and sweet, as a slow queue of devotees offered obeisances, prayers and tears. Radhanatha Swami sometimes spoke in his ear and once a tear streamed from Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s left eye.

At 3.35pm on June 27 His Holiness departed with a last, very gentle, breath. Sangita checked his vital signs and she confirmed he had made "the perfect escape". Immediately after, the great spiritual warrior, was given his victory abhisek (bath) by beloved disciples and Godbrother Radhanatha Swami, and his body was prepared, and rituals performed.

At twilight, Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s body was borne on a beautifully decorated saffron palanquin with 12 devotees carrying kerosene torches. He was carried in procession along a path marked with torches and bon fires through the woods to the Temple. The mood was festive and he was surrounded by his loved ones. He was given darsan (audience) of the deities, Sri Sri Radha Damodara who were dressed in white, traditional for honouring a departed loved one. During the completion of further rituals, the chanting continued in the festive mood, characteristic of Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s kirtanas, and Radhanatha Swami joined in, dancing with joy. The scene was a vibrant one full of diversity with devotees of various colours and ages.

Radhanatha Maharaja spoke, saying: "Today is a great celebration, a celebration of the life, words, and love, of a truly great personality. We celebrate this auspicious occasion with the tears of the love, of our separation.Bhakti-tirtha Swami Maharaj gave his life as the instrument of the compassion of Srila Prabhupada in this world. He sacrificed everything for us." Maharaja spoke in deep gratitude of the sacrifice of Bhakti Tirtha Swami and he introduced the bhajan (song) he was to lead, "Lamentation Due to Separation from the Lord and His Associates." He spoke of the nature of being separated from a great Vaisnava, and explained how this song was written by Srila Narotama das Thakur after the disappearance of Srinivas Acarya (his beloved friend). Maharaja said that to feel separation from great devotees sows the seed of divine love, for as we have more and more genuine love for the Lord’s pure devotees, we come closer to the real spirit of Bhakti. "mad-bhakta-püjäbhyadhikä" - the best worship of the Lord is the worship of his devotee.

After some time, Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s body was placed in a hearse, to be taken away for cremation. The devotees paid their last respects as it drove away.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami, writer, guru and Governing Body Commissioner of the worldwide Hare Krsna movement, passed away following complications from melanoma cancer. He was 55 years old.

The Couch: Edition 10, June 2005