The Passing Away of Muktakesh (1947-2007)
BY: HRISHIKESH DASA (HENRY DOKTORSKI)
Apr 13, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, USA (SUN) — Although I have no qualification to write about the
passing of a Vaishnava due to my own tendency to find fault and commit offenses, I humbly attempt to do so regardless because I was at Muktakesh’s departure from this world and some godbrothers have requested me to share my observations and limited realizations. I hope others will do the same, as I can only report what I personally experienced or heard.
Mukta joined ISKCON in Buffalo, New York, and was initiated in March 1974. (His brother Lokavarnottama was initiated 9 months earlier during June 1973.) Both brothers excelled at book distribution and rapidly became known as maharatis: big guns.
As Buffalo was part of Kirtanananda’s GBC Zone, both
brothers had a strong relationship with New Vrindaban,
and eventually relocated there when the Buffalo temple
and farm was disbanded.
I first met Mukta on the pick in 1979. He was one of
New Vrindaban’s biggest collectors and I admired him
and tried to follow in his footsteps. More recently he
served as Director of the New Vrindaban Office for the
ISKCON Prison Ministry and I had some opportunity to
assist him in editing and publishing books about
Krishna Consciousness for prisoners.
Mukta married another big sankirtan picker, Mother
Lilamrita, and they had one son: Cediraja,
affectionately named after Mukta’s dear friend and
godbrother from Buffalo who passed away tragically in
1985 while on the pick. Today Cedi is a student at
West Virginia University and pursuing a career in
biology.
As explained by Loka, during the last few weeks Mukta
had been complaining of neck pains, and the doctors at
first were unable to properly diagnose his condition.
Later it was discovered he had a cyst in his throat
and another in the spinal column in his neck, which
needed immediate attention. Then a terrible accident
prevented him from breathing for many minutes and
irreparable brain damage ensued.
Three tests were performed to determine the condition
of Mukta’s brain, and each test revealed that
cognitive brain functions were practically nil. After
these tests confirmed that Mukta would most likely
never recover external consciousness, it was decided
that he should be removed from life support and
allowed to die naturally.
I arrived at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center Montefiore Hospital Intensive Care Unit at 1:30
p.m. on Saturday, April 7. One of Mukta’s godbrothers
was massaging his head, and Gadadhara (one of Cedi’s
friends) was massaging Mukta’s left hand. A tape of
kirtan was playing in the background. Mukta was
covered with a harinama chaddar, and tilak was on his
forehead. Pictures of Krishna, Prabhupada and Lord
Nrsimhadev were strategically placed near Mukta on his
hospital bed and on the walls.
After a while Cediraja entered, sat down next to the
bed and began holding his father’s right hand. Cedi’s
great love for his father was obvious at every moment
of the vigil. Throughout the turbulent emotions he
experienced, he remained at his father’s side
continually. Loka also soon appeared with his son
Krishnaloka, along with other devotees, including one
Bhakta Bill who drove from Detroit to be with his
Siksha Guru at his passing.
Bill had been in prison for some time, and Mukta
ministered to him through his ISKCON Prison Ministry.
Because of Mukta’s ministry, Bill adopted the
Vaishnava ways and developed a deep love for his Guru
who had changed his life. I was very happy to meet
Bill, one success of Mukta’s preaching.
After some time, Mukta was moved from Intensive Care
to another floor where the hospital staff thought
there would be more room for visiting devotees who
would arrive for his passing. Although the room did
not appear to be any bigger, it was situated at the
end of a hallway with a lounge where devotees could
sit if the room became full.
Mukta was moved about 3 p.m. We assisted by carrying
devotional articles, pictures, tape player, etc. I
carried a large photograph of Radha-Vrindaban Chandra
and a colorful helium balloon someone had brought. We
decorated the new room with pictures of Krishna and
Prabhupada and devotional paraphernalia, so much so
that I thought the room looked like a temple. We gave
Mukta some privacy while the hospital staff cleaned
him and transferred him to the new bed. Then we
entered the room and Loka began leading kirtan.
Cedi sat at his father’s right hand, and Loka sat by
Mukta’s head. Both obviously have great love for their
father and brother, as evidenced by their fond and
intimate ministrations. Soon many other devotees
arrived: Varshan Swami, Soma, Tapapunja and his wife
Kamalavati, Nitodita and his wife Ria and her two
sisters Vidya Ratna and Purnamasi and her husband
Tattva, Sri Galim (who flew up from Texas on short
notice), Yogini, Sankirtan and his son Sanjaya, Mother
Jaya Sri, Rupanuga & Vani, Vrsni, Sacipita, Devavati,
Gopalasapriya, Purnima, Mother Chaitanya with her
daughter Dove and two grandchildren, the brahmacaris
Balarama Chandra, Chaitanya and Krishnadas. There were
others also, but I do not know their names.
I guess that maybe 20-25 devotees packed the room at
once, but throughout the day probably 40-50 devotees
came to offer respects, including Damodar who visited
in the morning and Loka’s other two sons who came
earlier in the week. There was standing room only.
There were more devotees standing outside the door.
Devotees brought deity garlands from New Vrindaban;
two or three garlands were placed around Mukta’s head.
Tapapunja played the mrdanga and I played a small
accordion. Someone else played karatals softly.
Several devotees took turns leading kirtan.
Devavati placed what appeared to be a small Salagram
deity on Mukta’s chest. Kamalavati sprinkled what
appeared to be Ganga water and Vrindaban dust on
Mukta. Mother Gopa held a large framed picture of
Prabhupada at the foot of Mukta’s bed.
I was especially impressed with the great love
emanating from the devotees which filled the room.
Everyone was there to support their dear friend and
godbrother in his momentous passage from this life to
the next. We were sad to see him go, but glad to be
able to help make his passing more auspicious by
chanting the Holy Names.
Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita: “And whoever, at the
time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone,
at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits
his body, that state he will attain without fail.”
(B.G. 8:5-6)
Of course, Mukta and I had our disagreements at times
through the years, as can be expected in any family,
but to be truthful, I was amazed that I had forgotten
all these things. There in the hospital room with
Mukta lying unconscious and all of us chanting, I
could only remember Mukta’s service for Krishna, his
devotion to Prabhupada, and his wonderful qualities.
My heart was absorbed in love for Mukta: a love that I
frankly did not know existed. It is said that one
doesn’t realize what is important to them until it is
taken away. Now I was all too conscious of my great
affection for Mukta, and I regretted not always being
kind to him while he was with us.
I believe Srila Prabhupada taught us the proper way to
perceive our sincere godbrothers, despite their
faults. Once Prabhupada was informed that one of his
uninitiated disciples had begun to backslide and was
not always strictly following the regulative
principles. Prabhupada declared: “No, no, he is very
good boy. . . He is keeping Jagannatha within his
beadbag and chanting. . . No, he’s our well-wisher, a
good boy.” (Srila Prabhupada quoted by Hari Sauri Dasa
in “A Transcendental Diary: Travels With His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,” Volume 1
(pp. 156-157).
Prabhupada did not see the faults of this disciple.
Prabhupada only saw the devotion, just as Radharani
sees only the good in others. I believe if others
might criticize, Prabhupada would have said the same
thing about Muktakesh: “No, no. He’s a good boy.”
About 4:30 p.m. a hospital staff member entered the
room and disconnected Mukta’s breathing tube, as Cedi
and Loka had requested. Now Mukta had to breathe on
his own. He also hooked Mukta up intravenously to a
bottle of morphine which would relax his body, slow
his breathing, and make him as pain-free and
comfortable as possible.
I had spoken to this staff member earlier in the
company of Cedi and he said that normally a patient in
this condition may continue to breath for an hour.
Perhaps four hours at most. He also explained that
normally before a person dies, their breathing becomes
shallow and irregular and less frequent. There may be
a prolonged time of stillness between each breath.
This is known as agonal respiration.
When Mukta was taken off life support, our emotions
became very strong and tears flowed freely, because we
knew Mukta’s remaining time in this world was coming
to an end. The kirtan became more intense. Loka began
kissing his brother. Cedi’s tears flowed profusely.
Even Mukta shed a few glistening tears periodically.
The room became very hot and stuffy, as we had to
close the door to the hallway to keep from disturbing
the other patients and hospital staff. Although cool
air blew from the heater/air conditioner vent, it had
little effect. It became so warm that Mukta began
perspiring, and periodically Loka and Mother Devavati
wiped the sweat from his brow and saliva from his
lips.
At 5 p.m. I left to play organ at a Good Friday Church
Service, but I had the feeling that when I returned
Mukta would still be breathing. I had told Cedi
earlier, “Your father is so stubborn, I wouldn’t be
surprised if he kept breathing for another 12 hours
after life support is removed.”
When I returned to the hospital shortly before 9 p.m.,
Mukta was still alive and breathing. The kirtan had
stopped for a while and devotees were speaking about
Mukta. I heard Varshan Swami glorify Mukta and his
enthusiasm for chanting japa loudly.
At 9 p.m. an announcement was broadcast on the hallway
loudspeaker: “Visiting hours are over. All visitors
must leave now.” Quickly I ducked out of the hallway,
entered Mukta’s room and stationed myself near his bed
with my accordion. I wasn’t planning on leaving before
Mukta. I picked up my accordion and the kirtan
resumed. Several times the nurses and staff knocked on
the door, apparently in an attempt to get us to leave,
but no one budged. We did however chant softly as not
to cause the hospital staff any additional stress.
Gradually the space between Mukta’s breaths became
longer and longer and it seemed he was going to leave
soon. At around 9:35 or 9:36, he took his last breath.
There was no more movement in his chest. We waited and
waited for the next breath. Nothing. No more movement.
Nityo stood up next to Mukta and examined him closely.
Mother Devavati placed her fingers on Mukta’s neck to
feel for a pulse, then sprinkled some Ganga water on
Mukta’s lips. The kirtan softened. Mukta was unmoving.
Gadadhara said he noticed an immediate change in the
color of Mukta’s face. Two small silver tears appear
in the corners of Mukta’s eyes. Gauranga Kishore
(Narada Muni’s son) was leading the chanting when
Mukta departed.
Someone called for a nurse who came with a
stethoscope. The room became silent as she listened
for a heartbeat. I could not hear what she said, but
it seemed she said something like: “We must have a
doctor confirm.”
Song sheets were passed out and Nityodita lead the
singing of “Song for a Departed Vaishnava,”
accompanying himself on the harmonium.
Shortly after this I departed for my home. I was
extremely grateful to be able to assist in the passing
of Muktakesh in some small way by providing pleasing
musical accompaniment for the kirtan. I was briefly
reminded of the passing of Bhismadeva, as both Bhisma
and Mukta were maharatis in their own respective
fields of expertise: Bhisma on the battlefield and
Mukta in the parking lots.
“Thus Bhismadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord
Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with
his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he
became silent, and his breathing stopped. Knowing that
Bhismadeva had merged into the unlimited eternity of
the Supreme Absolute, all present there became silent
like birds at the end of the day. Thereafter, both men
and demigods sounded drums in honor, and the honest
royal order commenced demonstrations of honor and
respect. And from the sky fell showers of flowers. O
descendent of Bhrgu, after performing funeral rituals
for the dead body of Bhismadeva, Maharaja Yudhisthira
was momentarily overtaken with grief. All the great
sages then glorified Lord Sri Krishna, who was present
there, by confidential Vedic hymns. Then all of them
returned to their respective hermitages, bearing
always Lord Krishna within their hearts.” (Srimad
Bhagavatam 1.9.43-47)
Originally written for and published on the Brijabasi Spirit Website.
