Our dear Radharani devi dasi (Maria Rosa Jerves Batallas) passed away Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Cuenca, Ecuador. She had been ill with cancer for over two years, and was suffering a lot at the end.
Radharani was an initiated disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, as is her husband, Yudhisthira das, and youngest daughter, Kalindi. Radharani was so thrilled and happy when Kalindi received diksha initiation in the last year or so. She is also survived by two other daughters and several grandchildren.
She lived most of her life in Cuenca, Ecuador, a beautiful small city surrounded by mountains. When she was younger, for many years she milked the cows daily and drove all over the countryside delivering the milk. I was living there for a short time in 1988 and remember very clearly her telling me: “The reason I was accepted into Srila Prabhupada’s movement was because I worked with the cows for so long. I definitely got purified by serving the cows and delivering the cow milk, and I feel that is why Lord Krishna accepted me in ISKCON.”
Radharani did endless preaching in Cuenca & surrounding areas, and she was like the glue that held together all the preaching programs. She also worked for many years in her family’s travel agency business, and got to travel to India many times and also took many groups of devotees to India with her. She was also able to visit many temples in the United States.
Her husband, Yudishthir das (Juan Batallas), has worked a lot with the Indian Embassy in South America, and Radharani helped him put on Krishna conscious festivals that the Embassador of India and other dignitaries attended.
Radharani will be deeply missed, she was a most beautiful, sweet, and special soul. Usually when devotees pass we ask the Vaishnavas to pray for their eternal souls. I am praying to Radharani devi to bless me as I know she is in a higher place.
Written by Nartaka Gopala dasi
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