Tamala Krsna: These two pujaris, the two brothers…
Prabhupada: They’re ideal.
Tamala Krsna: …they look like they’re out of the Caitanya-caritamrta. They appear as two persons right out of that book.
Prabhupada: Yes. Very good boys.
Tamala Krsna: Vaikuntha men.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. They do not know except the Deity. Very good boys.
Tamala Krsna: Perfect team of brothers.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Therefore Krsna has brought them here in Mayapur. Previously they were advanced. All of you. You are simply born because the mission was to be started. Just like in Yadu-vamsa Krsna ordered all the devotee demigods to “Go and take birth there to help Me.” Similarly, you are also… You were born in Europe, America, to help this. Otherwise you were devotees in your past lives.
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of His Grace Pankajanghri Prabhu, the beloved Nrsimhadeva pujari, and twin brother of His Grace Jananivasa Prabhu. He died of Covid-19 complications in Mayapur, India.
HG Pankajanghri Prabhu has Departed
By the GBC Executive Committee
Dear Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
HG Pankajanghri Prabhu, ISKCON’s most beloved Nrsimhadeva pujari, has departed from this world in Sri Dham Mayapur.
Having joined ISKON in the footsteps of his twin brother, HG Jananivasa Prabhu, in 1973, the two brothers dedicated their lives to serving the Lordships of ISKCON’s International Headquarters in Lord Caitanya’s divine abode of Sri Mayapur.
Pankajanghri Prabhu served not only the Lord, but devotees worldwide, who would turn to him in their time of need, begging him to offer their hearts’ prayers at Lord Nrsimhadeva’s feet. Every devotee who has visited Mayapur Dham will hold fondly the image of Pankajanghri Prabhu standing on Nrsimhadeva’s altar, offering prayers and puja on behalf of the devotees, and in turn, offering the Lord’s mahaprasadam to the devotees.
Not many of us, however, were aware that in the background, Pankajanghri Prabhu was also managing the pujari department for many years, ensuring that the service to Their Lordships continues efficiently while expanding and deepening exponentially. We are all indebted to Pankajanghri Prabhu for the great inspiration we derive from the beautiful darshans and festivals that can be experienced only in Sri Dham Mayapur.
Pankajanghri Prabhu also graced the devotees with weekly classes on Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya-caritamrita. He was a founding board member and inspiration for Mayapur Academy, an international school for brahminical training, where he taught the proper mood and method of deity worship to hundreds of students as instructed by Srila Prabhupada.
Along with fifty years of steadfast service as a pujari, manager, speaker, and educator, Pankanjanghri Prabhu was also a dear brother, uncle, and friend to both the Mayapur community and ISKCON worldwide. Today is a heartbreaking day especially for the generations of Mayapurvasis who grew up in the affectionate shelter of such a loving and playful uncle.
It is rare indeed to find a personality with the combination of such dedication, humility, joviality, and kindness. As Srila Prabhupada himself said in 1976, “The two brothers Pankajanghri and Jananivasa – there is no comparison.”
We join the worldwide family of Vaisanvas, especially HG Jananivasa Prabhu and the Mayapur community, in grieving the loss of a beloved godbrother and friend while simultaneously feeling gratitude for the mercy of Sri Nrsimhadeva, who kindly brought His dear servant home to Sri Dham Mayapur for a glorious departure befitting a dedicated devotee like Pankajanghri Prabhu.
With heavy hearts we observed the peaceful passing of His Grace Pankajanghri prabhu yesterday. As one of the most critical personalities in the development of the Pujari floor of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, his absence is now deeply felt. Over the years (even decades), we have come to rely on his seniority, purity, and quality of devotion to Krishna as an example to us all.
Still, it is in the mood of separation that we remind ourselves of how important yesterday was. In truth, our association with His Grace Pankajanghri prabhu has not ended, but evolved, for now we may have him in our hearts forever as a Vaishnava who departed towards Srila Prabhupada’s service in the company of other Vaishnavas from around the world, surrounded by the chanting of the sacred mahamantra, on the banks of the most auspicious Mother Ganga, at the very heart of Navadwip Dhama, Sri Mayapur. There is no more glorious, auspicious, or ideal departure than that of His Grace Pankajanghri prabhu, and even in his passing he is teaching us to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
At the TOVP, we shall continue to uphold Pankajanghri prabhu’s teachings and standards in deity worship as we prepare for the unprecedented shift of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Panchatattva, and Sri Nrsimhadeva into Their new temple. What we have learned from Pankajanghri prabhu will serve as a legacy to all future pujaris, and now more than ever we ask all devotees, donors, friends, well-wishers and colleagues to come together to honor his memory in kirtan and prayer from the safety of your own homes.
All glories to His Grace Pankajanghri prabhu! Srila Prabhupada ki jai! Your Servants, Ambarisa das and Brajavilasa das
The Hare Krishna Movement 