Katrina

Just See Krsna's Hand
and Careful Planning

From Dasanudas Vanacari

Posted Sep 5, 2005

All glories to
Srila Prabhupada!

Dear Devotees,

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, everyone has experienced the awesome reality of just how fragile our material existence is. Twelve hours of wind, some rain, a few tornadoes—and a major city is crippled, a community shattered, and opulent lifestyles destroyed for many, perhaps millions of people. Srila Prabhupada writes:

In the grim clutches of maya, the first-class prisoners of this material world wrongly think themselves happy because they are rich, powerful, resourceful and so on. These foolish creatures do not know that they are nothing but play dolls in the hands of material nature and that at any moment material nature’s pitiless intrigues can crush to dust all their plans for godless activities. Such foolish prisoners cannot see that however they improve their position by artificial means, the calamities of repeated birth, death, disease and old age are always beyond the jurisdiction of their control. Foolish as they are, they neglect these major problems of life and busy themselves with false things that cannot help them solve their real problems. They know that they do not want to suffer death or the pangs of disease and old age, but under the influence of the illusory energy, they are grossly negligent and therefore do nothing to solve the problems. This is called maya. [Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi 3.98 Purport]

Our material comfort and convenience remains at the mercy of Krsna's mahamaya potency, whose pitiless intrigues conspire to make every non-devotee's life story an inevitable tragedy. But Krsna protects His devotees, and can turn defeat into victory by His great and causeless mercy. The proof of this is that despite the terrible consequences of the storm, all the devotees in New Talavan and New Orleans made it through the worst disaster in North American history without a single casualty.

This is a tremendous confirmation of our transcendental faith in Krsna consciousness and pure devotional service to the lotus feet of our Guru, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Despite the horrific impact of the storm on New Orleans and the farm, we are not only continuing our service, but increasing it! Details follow.

New Orleans Yatra Evacuated

Today a team of devotees from Dallas and Houston somehow or other got through the numerous blockades and checkpoints sealing off the flooded city and rescued all the New Orleans temple devotees, the Deities and all Their transcendental paraphernalia. They will be relocated to Dallas, where facilities will be provided by Nityananda Prabhu and the Dallas temple for Their extended stay and uninterrupted worship until the normal operation of New Orleans yatra can be restored.

The New Orleans devotees, all disciples of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, are in good health and consciousness. Of course it helps that most of them are from Bengal and Bangladesh and are veterans of flood survival. Nevertheless, their courage and dedication to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Radhakanta, Sri Sri Gaur-Nitai, and Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra are exemplary and certain to be rewarded by advancement in devotional service to the Lord.

Massive Food for Life Mobilization

Thanks and appreciation from dipika.org to our sponsor and host,

Meanwhile, courageous New Talavan devotees are already venturing into the hardest-hit areas of the Gulf Coast, braving fields of debris, vast stretches of noxious quickmud, and crazed gas-hungry locals to distribute Lord Krsna's mercy in the form of sanctified vegetarian food. Despite reports of people being held up at gunpoint to feed gas-hungry SUVs and pickups, yesterday and today the devotees journeyed to Gulfport and Biloxi to bring hot meals of red beans, rice, chapatis, and lemonade to the starving residents.

New Orleans devotee Ramakeli Prabhu, who lost everything in the hurricane, is collecting supplies in Memphis and transporting them to New Talavan, while New Talavan devotee Dvibhuja Prabhu, whose rental property lost its roof in the storm, is devoting full time to prasadam distribution in the Gulf Coast area.

They report a scene of almost total devastation with very little help for the victims. The aged and infirm are hardest hit, often immobilized with no one to help them. The devotees went door-to-door in the affected areas near the coast, bringing back striking tales of devastation and woe.

Meanwhile, Priyavrata Prabhu of Food for Life International and New Talavan GBC Bir Krsna Gosvami are organizing a massive food-relief program. Teams of devotees from Washington DC, New Vrndavan, and other volunteers are cooperating to bring tons of food, outdoor cooking gear, temporary tent shelters and other needed equipment to New Talavan, which will serve as a base for expanded prasadam distribution throughout the devastated Gulf Coast area.

Just before the storm hit, Krsna provided a state-of-the-art satellite Internet system for the farm. Who could have known that it would have to serve as the sole communications link for an entire community, cut off from the rest of the world by this tragic disaster? Just see Krsna's hand and careful planning to protect His devotees in this miraculous occurrence.

To contribute to rebuilding New Talavan, please contact His Holiness Bir Krsna Gosvami. To contribute to, or volunteer for the Gulf Coast Food for Life project, please contact Priyavrata Prabhu. Thank you very much for your kind well wishes, generous donations, and prayers.

Your servant,
Dasanudas Vanacari
Secretary,

ISKCON New Talavan Community

Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Temple President: His Grace Yogindra Vandana das Adhikari

31492 Anner Rd.
Carriere MS 39426

601 749-9460

http://www.newtalavana.org/

Katrina

Just See Krsna's Hand and Careful Planning

From Dasanudas Vanacari

Posted Sep 5, 2005

Just See Krsna's Hand
and Careful Planning