Our dear most Srimati Uma Didi,

A true Vaisnava.

Of whom every moment of remembrance yields advancement on one’s spiritual path,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Uma Didi’s door was always open to all. She wasn’t proud of her own personal position, and I never ever felt even I sniff of desire for recognition. I always felt she presented herself as a humble servant and offered advice or counsel to juniors, not because she felt herself qualified, but because she felt it was her duty to her gurudeva, the guru parampara and to the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to share all that she had received with others.

I always felt that everything I received from her was her direct service to her gurudeva and she didn’t need or want anything back from me. It wasn’t an ordinary material exchange. Any assistance that she may have accepted from me or others was only that exact necessity to aid her in her service to Gurudeva or her sadhana. And she never ever felt her own sadhana more important than anyone else’s. It is not like she would accept something that would help her in her own sadhana at the expense of someone else’s. Uma Didi was very conscious of others struggles and very compassionate to all.

Everyone who knew Uma Didi, knows all these things.

There are so many examples of Uma Didi’s exemplary Vaisnava behaviour but I will share one particular time that really touched my heart.

One day, after a big lapse of time, I came to see Uma Didi. I felt ashamed with myself that I hadn’t offered any seva during her health struggles. I felt ashamed that, being totally self-absorbed, I hadn’t even come to simply pay my respects.

But… when I came in front of Uma Didi, she only reflected love and kindness. There wasn’t even a sniff of, “I should have come to see her earlier.” “Why haven’t I come for so long?” Nothing but genuine concern for me. She saw right into me and was only concerned with my happiness and my progress in Bhakti.

This is so different than ordinary material relationships. Every material relationship has so many expectations and if one fails to uphold their side of the relationship, the relationship breaks down, just like a business.

I really practically realized at that moment, that the Vaisnavas in this world are here only for us. They don’t “need” anything, or “expect” anything. Their presence is all “giving” and we should never take for granted every precious moment with a Vaisnava, such as Srimati Uma Didi.

My ardent prayer is that lifetime after lifetime, I can be blessed to remain in the association of such high class Vaisnavas and by their mercy one day learn how to serve and enter the realm of bhakti.

Kanta Dasi