Jitendra

Jitendra Russell, kirtan musician, musical instrument maker, storyteller, tarot reader, and soothsayer, passed last month from an accident on his land in Guatemala.

Thanks

by his daughter Ma Prem Bindi

I want to give thanks to all who have reached out to offer love and support. My father was so blessed to have you all in his life and I know he was grateful for every friend along the way in his many adventures.

He was a one of a kind dad. I will continue to cherish our adventures on the road, exploring festivals, hot springs, lakes and rivers; listening to him play an instrument he just finished making; our Sunday visits to a little beach where we gathered with friends to play music and watch the sunset; the quiet moments we spent to just be…

The wise words of guidance and strength will forever be remembered. I loved his laugh and even his stubborn side. He taught me to work hard, to be independent and to have true compassion. He was always there for me. I’ll miss him beyond any words can describe.

Even though you were taken too soon for me, knowing you were content and happy during your time in Guatemala brings peace. I am grateful I was able to spend some time with you not too long ago.

Your daughters, Sangita Devi and I, will honor you and travel together to bring your ashes to the Ganges, as you had always wanted.

I miss you dad. Thank you for the adventures. 🧡

Loving you always,

Your darling daughter Bindi 🧡

Jitendra’s Celebration of Life was held Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Ahimsa Sanctuary Farm Temple, Maui. In the Zoom recording below, family and friends share their hearts and souls for their beloved Jitendra, who had lived on the island for quite a few years before moving to Guatemala. Link to part 2 (mostly just sound): youtu.be

Thanks to Madhav Krishna for alert and photos, to Elisabeth Page Logsdon for photos and help in reaching out to the family.

More Tributes

I first met Jitendra during the seventies in Poona One. In 1983 my partner, Preeti, and I lived with him at his place in Kodai Kanal, a hill station in Tamil Nadu. It was there that I grew to know Jitendra a bit better. We rented a bungalow in his compound and visited him daily. He lived in a small one-roomed house next to the bungalow.

I never saw him again after that time and will always remember him as a remarkable man. Jitendra was at peace with himself and the world that surrounded him. We would sit by the fire in his humble home and talk about all and everything. He was five years older than me and seemed to me to have worked things out in life to a greater extent than I had at the time. His life made sense. He appeared to me like a classic incarnation of an ‘India baba’. His hands were rarely idle and he made fantastic stringed instruments as he sat by the fire, which he never allowed to go out. Those hours I spent with him have remained with me over the passing decades because they were so unique and enjoyable.

Jitendra had a very loving and wise presence and the peaceful vibe he emanated was tangible. Makes me think of something The Beatles sang, ‘And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.’

Lokesh

You can leave a message / tribute / anecdote, and send a photo, by writing to web@oshonews.com (pls add ‘Jitendra’ in the subject field). Your contribution will be added manually, typically within 24 hours.