Life and Teachings of Narottam Das Thakur by Sitala Devi Dasi

Life and Teachings of Narottam Das Thakur by Sitala Devi Dasi GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) brings to you an enlightening session by HG Sitala Devi Dasi to honor the Disappearance day of the great Vaisnava saint of Gaudiya tradition, Srila Narottam Das Thakur. About Sitala Devi Sitala dasi moved into the ISKCON temple in Detroit, Michigan in 1970, and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971. The first years of her devotional life, were spent in daily Harinams, book distribution, preaching programs, cooking, sewing and transcribing of Srila Prabhupada tapes. She also assisted in opening temples in Cleveland, Ohio and Bloomington Indiana. In 1973/4 she moved to France where she was engaged primarily in Deity services in Paris and New Mayapur. In 1975 she began visiting India regularly to arrange for the carving of Deities, making of outfits and procuring of paraphernalia required for temples throughout Europe. She eventually opened an embroidery shop in Vrndavana wherein hundreds of outfits were made for numerous temples throughout the world. This service required her to spend 4-6 months per year in Vrndavana, a pattern which carried on for over four decades. During her spare time in Vrndavana, she worked for the Institute of Vaisnava Studies, helping with research and editing. In 1995 she moved with her husband, Hari Sauri dasa, and daughter to Mayapur, where they continue to live till today. While caring for her family, as well as her work in Vrndavana, she helped to set up the first committee to care for the needs of the growing Mayapur community, as well as participating on the Masterplan Team, Vision Team, and Strategic Planning group. Over the years, she has become a regular speaker particularly on the lives of our Vaisnava Acaryas, especially on Indradyumna Swami’s yearly Kartika parikrama. And she recently published a book about the life of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura.