The public is invited to a memorial gathering from 5-7 p.m. April 26 at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork. A service will also be held April 25 at the Hare Krishna Temple in Salt Lake City.

Warden, 79, died in a car accident on Monday in Springville. He was not only the leader of his own faith but a prominent community and interfaith figure.

HG Anuttama Prabhuji, communications director for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, called Warden a “pioneer” in establishing Khrisna conscious in Australia, Northern California and Utah and issued the following statement:

“Under his capable leadership, in partnership with his wife of many decades, Vaibhavi Devi, they developed two beautiful temples in Utah from the ground up, one in Spanish Fork and one in Salt Lake City.

“The Spanish Fork temple, in particular, situated on a high hill and overlooking a vista of distant mountains and valleys, went on to become a cultural and geographical landmark for the entire region. The Festival of Colors that Caru established in Spanish Fork attracts more than 20,000 participants every year and has become an annual cultural experience and extravaganza for local residents as well as students from the nearby Brigham Young University (BYU). Caru not only hosted the Festival of Colors, or Holi, at the Utah temples, but he created Holi festivals in many cities around the United States.

“The State of Utah has the highest concentration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, and Caru became close friends with many members and the leaders of the church, so much so that the local church offered a generous donation to help construct the Spanish Fork Krishna Temple. Over the years, Caru and Vaibhavi also hosted many LDS students from BYU and other schools for work-study programs.

“Caru was such an out-of-the-box thinker! He was the first Krishna devotee in the world to create a radio station to broadcast the message of Krishna bhakti, or love of Lord Krishna. He developed a farm on the expansive property of the Spanish Fork temple complete with llamas and exotic birds. This demonstrates not only his compassion for animals, but his insight in creating temple environments that draw tourists and families to visit and learn more about the Krishna conscious, or Vaishnava, culture and tradition.

“At this time, when many disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are aging and leaving this world, Caru Dasa, a dear and dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada, is a reminder to all of us how one person, one dedicated disciple and devotee of Lord Krishna, can make an immense and positive difference in the world. Caru did so by teaching Krishna bhakti in a practical and broad-minded way, guided by his genuine desire to help others progress in spiritual life; all the while building bridges between varieties of cultures and faiths. Those he leaves behind, as well as successive generations, have much to thank him for.”