In loving memory of Sukadev das

By Damaghosa das
This is a short summary about the life of Sukadeva das (ACBSP)
I have known Sukadeva das since the early 1970’s where he was TP in Seattle Wa USA.
We have been great friends for all those years and later as he traveled from LA Calif to our farm in
Wash several years in a row to lead our Janmastami/vyasa puja festivals.
He joined the movement in LA California back in 1969 and was formally initiated personally by Srila
Prabhupada who gave him that name because he could see that he was so much attached to kirtan and
preaching, something he did up until his last days.
Sukadeva was known then as one of the best kirtan leaders in iskcon and his kirtan tapes were sought
after. Anyone would become enlivened just by being around him.
He got married to Jagamohini dasi and had three children, two boys, Abhaya, and Nila Madhava and
one girl, Madhurya lila, and lived in LA for a brief time .
As devotees at that time were sent all over the USA to open preaching centers, Sukadeva was sent to
Arizona, Laguna Beach, Portland, San Francisco, Hawaii,Florida, and Seattle to preach on behalf of
Srila Prabhupada. Later he also lived, after separation from his family, in the Los Angeles temple for
around 5 years and later re locating to Albuquerque New Mexico.
During his stay in LA temple he was asked to come to various temples in Coconut Grove,Florida, Nairobi
Africa, and India and they all asked him to remain there as Temple President, which he humbly
declined.
Sukadeva spent his life dedicated to the service of his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada and was
greatly attached to reading his books daily. He and I would have many long discussions over the years
over the Krsna Conscious philosophy based upon those books and personal realizations. He also
worshiped over 300 Salagrams Silas as part of his daily program.
Myself and hundreds of others will miss his association when they learn of his passing. He was a
wonderful, always laughing, happy, and totally determined devotee.