Mālatī Dāsī | |
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| Personal | |
| Born | August 30, 1945 Vallejo, California, U.S. |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sect | Gaudiya Vaishnavism |
| Other names | Melanie Lee Nagel |
| Organization | |
| Philosophy | Achintya Bheda Abheda Bhakti yoga |
| Religious career | |
| Based in | New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA |
| Initiation | Diksa–1967 |
| Post | Member of the Governing Body Commission (1998–present) |
| Website | www.newvrindaban.com |
| Sanskrit name | |
| Sanskrit | मालती दासी |
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Malati Dasi (Sanskrit: मालती दासी, IAST: Mālatī Dāsī, also Mālatī Devī Dāsī) is a senior spiritual leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).[1][2] Born in Vallejo, California, she was part of the hippie movement[3] before becoming an initiated disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1967.[4] In the same year, she and her husband, Shyamasundar Das, helped Mukunda Das organize the Mantra-Rock Dance, a countercultural musical event held at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco; the dance was a fundraiser for ISKCON's first center on the west coast of the US.[5]
In 1968, together with five other Hare Krishna followers, Malati flew to London to establish ISKCON's foothold in the United Kingdom.[6] There, she helped introduce Beatles guitarist George Harrison to Gaudiya Vaishnava's philosophy and practice.[7] In recognition of her pioneering role in ISKCON's UK missionary activities, Malati was invited as a special guest to attend the 30th anniversary of the Bhaktivedanta Manor, ISKCON's headquarters in England, donated by Harrison to the organization in 1973.[8]
In 1997, Malati helped organize the ISKCON Women's Ministry, which paved the way for the provision of "equal facilities, full encouragement, and genuine care and protection for the women members of ISKCON."[1][9] In 1998, despite fierce opposition, Malati became the first female member of the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON.[10]
- ^ a b Knott 2004, pp. 303–4
- ^ Cerrone 2010, p. 20
- ^ Burr 1984, p. 20
- ^ Goswami 2011, p. 150
- ^ Goswami 2011, p. 119
- ^ Oakes 1969, p. 25
- ^ Greene 2007, pp. 106, 143
- ^ Dwyer & Cole 2007, pp. 30, 32
- ^ Rochford 2007, p. 140
- ^ Bryant 2003, p. 112