Obituaries : D. Rajagopal; Edited J. Krishnamurti’s Teachings

D. Rajagopal, an early associate of spiritual philosopher J. Krishnamurti who for decades edited Krishnamurti’s teachings and helped manage his foundation, died Thursday at his home in Ojai. He was 92.

Born in Tamil Nadu, India, on Sept. 7, 1900, Rajagopal was the son of V.K. Desikacharya, a judge and member of the Theosophical Society. When he was 13, Rajagopal was selected by the spiritualist Theosophical Society--along with the 8-year-old Krishnamurti and two others--to be raised as future spiritual leaders.

After a stay at the society’s world headquarters in Madras, India, Rajagopal moved to England, where he attended Cambridge University with Krishnamurti’s brother Nityanand. It was then that Theosophical Society president Annie Besant asked Rajagopal to devote his life to looking after the welfare of Krishnamurti, the society’s chosen World Teacher, according to Rajagopal’s daughter, Radha Rajagopal Sloss.

When Krishnamurti parted from the Theosophical Society in 1929, Rajagopal remained with Krishnamurti as the former Chosen One lectured on the importance of individuals following their own path to the truth. Rajagopal served as Krishnamurti’s editor from 1926 until 1967, editing hundreds of volumes of the philosopher’s lectures.

He also helped administer Krishnamurti’s retreat in Ojai, where followers--Krishnamurti preferred to call them listeners--came to attend his lectures.

“We had such remarkable people in our lives then,” said Sloss. “During the war there was a stream of people who came to Ojai for its very nurturing atmosphere, including Aldous Huxley, Alan Watts and Beatrice Woods.”

Rajagopal left Krishnamurti’s circle after personal and professional disagreements. In 1991, Sloss published the book, “Lives in the Shadow with J. Krishnamurti,” that described the relationship of her father to Krishnamurti and their eventual falling-out.

But despite the dispute, Rajagopal continued to admire Krishnamurti’s teachings until his death, Sloss said.

Survivors include his wife, Annalisa Rajagopal of Ojai; daughter, Radha Rajagopal Sloss of Santa Barbara; step-daughter, Diana Barkin of Ojai, and four grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

No services are planned.