Prabhupada dasa pictured sharing Radha Londoniswara lila.

His Grace Prabhupada dasa will be remembered for his dedication to ISKCON from the early days of Srila Prabhupada in London to crossing the globe and spending his latter years in Australia. He was fortunate enough to have association with Srila Prabhupada and assist with the legal battles against Bury Place.

He is mentioned in several parts of Ranchor Prabhu’s book “When the Sun Shines – the Dawn of Hare Krishna in Britain” as Vishnu Sharma: “Ever since his encounter with Prabhupada at Conway Hall in 1969 as a young law student, Vishnu Sharma had remembered him. He was now a barrister practicing law at the Inns of Court in London…Vicitravirya and Mukunda came to see him to ask for his help. The Temple in London was threatened with closure…Vishnu was brought to meet Prabhupada and found him sitting at his desk, quietly chanting on his beads.”

And so his commitment to Srila Prabhupada’s movement commenced, and it remained until the end, having observed the exponential growth of ISKCON to where it is today.

After an illustrious legal career in London, including being appointed as a Magistrate, he emigrated to Australia once his three daughters had finished their University education. He remained involved with the UK yatra, going back annually until the pre-COVID era to cook with our mother, Rajni Devi dasi, for his beloved Sri Sri Radha Londoniswara. He also continued to travel widely to India, where he resided in Vrindavan for part of the year, supporting the ventures of Sandipani Muni School. His travel bug also took him across the globe to visit the various Temples and ISKCON communities. He gave classes and preached in locations as far-flung as Slovenia to Guyana to Chile!

In Australia, he settled in Canberra and was instrumental in establishing the ISKCON Temple (including obtaining a donation of a free parcel of land from the Australian Capital Territory Government )  and cultivating the fledgling congregational community there.  His later years were spent living with his family on their farm and serving in the New Govardhan Community in Murwillumbah, New South Wales. There, he continued with our mother to cook the evening offering for their Lords during the COVID period and up until the last year of his life.

Prabhupada dasa was a “Prabhupada man” who was always committed to ISKCON with the simple message of “stick with Srila Prabhupada and his teachings.” But he was also very respectful and encouraging of others and mindful of the trials and tribulations that life would bring, and that the odd roadblock was part of the journey of devotional service. He was also a pragmatist and progressive thinker, encouraging the adoption of the best of both worlds whilst not forgetting culture and values. He was described as affectionate, warm, hospitable, gentle, with mental clarity, intellectual astuteness, subtle humour, and possessing a deep attachment to Srila Prabhupada.

He passed away after a short illness on a background of a year of chronic health decline, during the Brahma Muhurta hours on Durga Puja, listening to Srila Prabhupada sing, surrounded by family and auspicious items, pictures and prasadam from Their Lords.

While he is missed by his wife of 65 years, three daughters and their husbands, and five grandchildren, they are also grateful for the spiritual foundations that he was able to lay for them as a family as well as for movement in the UK and Australia and hope that he is able to remain in the service of Srila Prabhupada in his new situation.