Posted March 10, 2003

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Dear Maharajas, Prabhus, Matajis,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krsna.

It is very painful for us to give you this news, but for five years Uddharana Prabhu (ACBSP) has needed the help of all you.

In 1980 (more or less) several cows and bulls of the arrived from Gita-Nagari at the ISKCON property near the city of Tulancingo, Hidalgo (three hours from Mexico City). In 1988, unfortunately, the property was closed and sold, and the cows and bulls were left without a home.

Uddharana Prabhu mercifully took responsibility for taking care of seven bulls and cows, being helped to maintain them with a vegetarian restaurant that opened up in the city of Orizaba Veracruz, an hour and a half from the port of Veracruz. The place was not a suitable size, (1.5 hectares), but it is it what Uddharana Prabhu could obtain.

More than five years ago, Uddharana Prabhu began to have difficulties maintaining the cows and bulls. One year ago the situation became critical. The income of the restaurant was not enough to maintain the cows and bulls, and Uddharana Prabhu began to accumulate debts in order to maintain the cows and bulls.

Then he had to close his restaurant cause he had not paid the rent for several months because he preferred to feed the cows (with smaller and smaller rations) than maintain his own business.

At the moment, the animals are on the verge of dying from starvation. There are eight cows, eight bulls, and two calves between life and death, besides which Uddharana Prabhu is continually besieged by non- devotees that want to buy them (obviously to take them to the slaughterhouse).

The daily need for all the cows to survive it is $50.00 US (monthly $1500.00 US). The vegetarian restaurant has been closed and Uddharana Prabhu is 52 years old, sick, and at the moment 15 kg below his normal weight.

We request devotees to take these cows and bulls to other places or to help maintain these cows and bulls that have been in Krishna Consciousness for more than a decade. At the moment they are located an hour and a half from the port of Veracruz, so shipment can be easily arranged, although in the condition that they are in at this time they could not possibly support a trip.

Concerning cow protection, Srila Prabhupada once said " Now in our New Vrindaban, we see how the cows are happy, how they are dealing. They are not afraid. This is our duty, to keep the cows happy. Just like I want to see my wife and children happy, similarly, it is the duty of the human society to see that the cows feeling very happy. This is human civilization. Otherwise it is tiger civilization, meat-eaters. Meat is not eaten by human being. It is eaten by the dogs, by the tigers, by the animals." — Reading, November 25, 1973

Finally, please remember that in spite of the best desires, the cows cannot be fed.

Today in February of 2003 regrettably we have the necessity to communicate to the world community of ISKCON the unfortunate departure of Prahlad dasa from starvation. Revati dd explains: "One day he fell from weakness, and the doctor came and tried to save him, but he could no longer do anything."

Prahlada dasa (2.5 years) was one of the cows and bulls that had survived near starvation.

Eighteen bulls and cows still survive, but for how much longer? Which one will be the next one to leave the body from starvation?

Also, these devotees are harassed by non-devotees who want to buy the cows and bulls for the slaughterhouse. After our previous e-mail on this situation (September 2002) we received the following donations:

$55.00 from Sarvasakti dd (September/02)
$25.00 US from Anupam Anand Prabhu(Septembre /02)
$200.00 US from Iksvaku Prabhu (September /02)
$100.00 US anonymous
$200.00 US anonymous
$200.00 US anonymoud
$20.00 US anonymous
$500.00 US from HH GPS (September/02)
$500.00 US from HH GPS (October/02)
$500.00 US from HH GPS (February/02)

They need a minimum of $1000 US monthly to be able to live.

Help us to:

a) Look for donors for the cows.

b) Relocate the cows and bulls if necessary.

If you or anyone else wants to help us protect these cows and bulls, following the desire of Srila Prabhupada, please take one of the following steps:

Give a contribution (with credit card) at the following link: http://www.iskcon.com.mx/adoptacow

or a bank transfer (wired) to the following bank.

From outside of Mexico: Bank of America, Concord, California, USA to account 6290692210 ABA 121000358. Please specify the following information clearly: Bank: Bancomer Account #: 012 85501 1124050401-9 Branch: Córdova, Veracruz, Account holder: Hari Herrera Pérez

From México: Banco: Bancomer Cuenta #: 012 85501 1124050401-9 Plaza: Córdova, Veracruz A nombre de: Hari Herrera Pérez

2. Speak with the president of the local temple or the GBC to receive in their community these cows and bulls (even one will help us). You can contact Uddharana Prabhu and Revati dd here: Contact: Uddharana P / Revati dd (012717) 144825 (from México) (+52-2717) 144825 (outside México)

e-mail: revatidd1@hotmail.com
or virtual@iskcon.com.mx
or szpigiel@mdp.edu.ar

3. Please speak with your local GBC to makes the necessary arrangements to stop their imminent death somehow.

4 Stay in contact with the local authority until this situation is solved satisfactorily to avoid another departure.

Finally, we want to clarify two things:

1. That Uddharana Prabhu is a very dedicated devotee, a good disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and he maintains a very good standard dedicated to maintaining the cows of Veracruz, even to the cost of his own health.

2. Revati dd wants to invite to all the devotees to the re-inauguration of the restaurant Radhe Siam (managed by Uddharana Prabhu to maintain the cows). His relatives have helped him to reopen it.

The reopening will take place (if Krishna allows it) March 1, 2003. Restaurante Radhe Siam Ote. 4 No. 787 Orizaba, Veracruz Mexico

Please remember that Srila Prabhupada and Krishna are not pleased that the Veracruz cows have already began to die from hunger. The bull that is in the picture, Prahlada dasa, left his body from hunger at the age of 2-1/2 years.

Thinking in the following way is symptom of sahajaism: "Oh Srila Prabhupada, Oh Krishna, as much as I adore you, you go like expense money in adoring you, but the situation of the Veracruz cows is because of karma, I cannot do anything in this respect."A neophyte devote doesn't know the writings or sahajiya characteristics of the apasampradayas. Please help the cows

Thank you very much.

Your servant,
Madhava Prasada dd
(HDG) – Argentina

(Excuse my English)

[Note: I spoke with Guru Prasad Maharaja, and he said that if they can raise US $3000, they can relocate most of the cows immediately. Legal complications prevent the relocation of the cows outside of Mexico.— Ed.]

© dipika.org March 10, 2003