Late Pundit Shiv Narayan Hari Prasad (Arya Ratna) was called to rest on 1st September 2009. Approximately a thousand people gathered at the Macquarie Park Crematorium on Thursday 3rd September to pay their last respects to an enlightened man of impeccable credentials, suffused with compassion and profound humility.

He made several visits to India to learn about the country and its culture. He often talked about his visits to India and how those visits helped him better understand himself. He always remarked that India is based on culture and not on languages and any country or household based on culture is always strong.

I had the privilege of having several sittings with him to discuss spirituality and he highlighted the divine presence within every human being and pointed out that it is the inner voice that reveals everything to us. The revelations that he made a short time before his death to his children, is astonishing. It can only be possible from an enlightened Soul that has reached the level of brahmanda mandal in Spirituality.  

He was a most amazing man who never lost his cool and was in total command until his death. He had a great sense of independence and was highly organized and persuasive.

He had a good knowledge and understanding of the Vedas and communicated eloquently in Sanskrit, Hindi and English with clarity and efficiency. He was popular with young and old for his witty remarks and sharp sense of humour. Since his arrival in Australia, service to humanity was his life and soul.

Late Pundit S.N.Hari Prasad played an important role in establishing the Hindi language classes for the Fiji Indian Social and Cultural Association of Australia (FISCAA) in Liverpool and Parramatta. Under his guidance, the Hindi school students in Year 12 achieved 100% result in HSC for three consecutive years.

Late Punditji has set an agenda for the Arya Samaj movement in Australia, based on the Vedic principles and groomed his youngest son Pundit Awindra Prasad to continue with the legacy that he left behind. Establishing the Vedic Pratinidhi Sabha and Arya Samaj of Australia was not an easy task and there is certainly something about the way he conducted himself which kept even the vicious critics at bay. 

Some outstanding personalities get their well deserved success and recognition in both life and death and Late Pundit S.N.Hari Prasad was no exception.

Late Pundit Shiv Narayan Hari Prasad, a unique man of outstanding personality and character is irreplaceable and will never be forgotten. All we know of Punditji is that there was a glory that is no more; however his memories will live forever.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.

Govind Sami