Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of Southen Illinois

Fundrider for Family of Priest Ramakrishna Mahankali

Dear Devotees,

We are organizing a Satsung on 13th March 2022 in memory of our beloved priest Sri Ramakrishna Mahankali who has reached his heavenly abode on 1st March 2022.

As you all know, the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of Southern Illinois (HTCSSI) opened the temple in 2013. Sri Ramakrishna Mahankali performed the groundbreaking ceremony and served as our priest for the first five years. Witnessing the Temple grand opening ceremony became an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us.

He kept the temple alive and vibrant by conducting various pujas, and his dedication and diction while performing them kept us spellbound. We in Southern Illinois were fortunate enough to see him perform 24-hour Rudram chanting, 1116 flowers offering ceremony to the deities, lighting 365 divas for Jyothirlingarchana, Shiva Parvati Kalyanam, Sita Rama Kalyanam, Srinivasa Kalyanam and many more. We can still hear the echoes of his reverberating chantings that are etched in our memories forever.

He has left behind two adorable kids, ages 4 & 9, his wife, Smt. Lalitha Mahankali and his father. Sri Ramakrishna was in India due to the recent loss of his mother and passed away in his sleep. We pray to the Almighty to give his family and loved ones strength during these difficult times.

We are organizing a fundraiser to help his family, devastated by back-to-back losses. People can donate through Gofund me or mail/drop off a check at the temple. Kindly plan to attend the Satsung. All the funds collected will be given to the family.

Yours truly,

Temple Board