South Indian Tidal Wave, Tsunamai

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharaj's / devotees,

 

Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila

Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

 

As you may all be aware, the tsunami that occurred yesterday at the Sumatra

island, has killed several thousands people across Asia and several in our

city here in Chennai (Capital city of Tamil Nadu, South India).

 

Many devotees have been calling me to enquire about our safety and express

their concern. I am grateful to them for their thought.

 

As the power supply was cut off yesterday as a preacautionary measure, I

could not reach out to our world wide community of devotees who may be much

worried through e-mail.

 

Thanks to the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga, their temple and devotees are

safe.And our extension centres in Pondicherry are safe.Since other centers

like Madurai ,Coimbatore,Kumbakonam Salem,Vellore are far away from the

coast they are not affected .

 

We haven't received any info from Mahakartha das ( TP Colombo -

ISKCON).Srilanka is also badly affected.

 

On Sunday(26th dec),in the morning at 6.20 am, when the devotees were

dressing the deities, they had to hold the deities tight as They were

shaking due to the earthquake. Offering prayers to Nrsimha, the devotees

prayed for the safety of our newly constructed building and people.

 

The temple is about 2 kms. from the beach and the water from the sea came

inland to only about 500 metres. People near the coastal area have suffered

greatly. After the largest wave attack, devotees went to the beach (which

had now receeded farther than before and where several people were gathered)

and did a small kirtan till the waves again slightly rose threateningly.

 

As devotees meet people with Bhagavad-gita books in the dry parts of the

city, continuing with the marathon, they are asking, "can you avert such

disasters?" and our devotees are telling them to read the book and follow

the path of sanatana dharma.

 

 

Today we are preparing prasadam for 5000 people who have taken shelter in

several common buildings a little away from the ocean. I would like to thank

the devotees who called me and offered donations for FOOD FOR LIFE.

 

If you are in India, and would like to make a donation, you can deposit into

our ICICI account No.603301107599 (ISKCON).

 

Soon, there will also be a drive to donate old clothes to the homeless. If

you are geographically close to Chennai, you can send old

clothes/blankets/kitchen wares or anything to our address:

 

ISKCON

Hare Krishna Land

Bhaktivedanta Swami Road,

Injambakkam,

Chennai-41.

Ph: 2449 1253.

My Mobile: 938 106 3234.

 

Thanking you for your prayers, concern, and cooperation,

 

Sumithra Krishna das

Temple President.