Murari Sevaka and Srila Prabhupada

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I have just published the following article on the CHAKRA web site at

http://chakra.org (You need access to the Internet and a web browser to view

the CHAKRA web site.)

 

 

Cows sent for slaughter at ISKCON farm

 

CHAKRA (Vancouver, Canada) - November 19, 1999: According to the writings of

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

ISKCON, "Any leader who is at all religious should resign his post in

protest if cow slaughter goes on under his rule." (Journey of Self Discovery

- 7) Unfortunately, cows and oxen at the ISKCON Murari Sevaka farm have been

sold and later slaughtered, according to a statement made by Balabhadra

dasa, ISKCON's Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture.

 

The animals had been sold to Johnny Lee by Drumila dasa. Investigation of

legal repercussions towards Drumila are continuing to be pursued. Cows are

important to the Hare Krishna followers because bulls produce food grains

through ploughing and cows supply milk. The cow and bull are very dear to

Lord Krsna. Cow slaughter is considered grossly sinful activity.

 

"There was a meeting of the Murari governing board yesterday. The decision

was made to keep the remaining cows. Prithu prabhu was voted in as the

CO-GBC. He has brought 6 men there to help take care of the cows," says

Balabhadra. "Within a week there will be a detailed report from the board."

 

Balabhadra says that altogether 14 cows have been slaughtered and that they

have legal papers in hand of the actual sale. The names of 13 of those

animals is listed below.

 

"We pray that this act will not be forgotten, that the perpetrator will not

go unpunished, that the Executive committee take some action or make some

statement, and in short that action which can set a precedent is taken so

that it be clearly understood that victimization of Lord Krsna's most

vulnerable citizens (and any citizens) is not according to our most beloved

spiritual master's, Srila Prabhupada's, desire and vision for The

International Society for Krsna Consciousness."

 

According to Srila Prabhupada, cows were the most important animals in human

society. "The cow is the most important animal for developing the human body

to perfection. The body can be maintained by any kind of foodstuff, but

cow's milk is particularly essential for developing the finer tissues of the

human brain so that one can understand the intricacies of transcendental

knowledge. A civilized man is expected to live on foodstuffs comprising

fruits, vegetables, grains, sugar and milk. The bull helps in the

agricultural process of producing grain, etc., and thus in one sense the

bull is the father of humankind, whereas the cow is the mother, for she

supplies milk to human society. A civilized man is therefore expected to

give all protection to the bulls and cows." (SB 3.5.7, purport)

 

The list of animals that are now known to be slaughtered is as follows:

 

1) Varuni - cow , (Black Angus mix) 4 Yrs. old (not Trained) sent for

breeding (now known to be slaughtered)

 

2) Indra - oxen , (Brown Swiss mix) 8 --10 Yrs. old (not Trained)

 

3) Cintamani - cow , (Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained) sent for breeding

(now known to be slaughtered)

 

4) Indra - Bull, (Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained) sent for breeding (now

known to be slaughtered)

 

5) Chota - oxen, (Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

6) Maha - oxen, (Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

7) Dharma - oxen, (Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

8) Bhima - oxen, (Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

9) Bala - oxen, (Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

10) Prabhu - oxen, (Long Hair Jersey) 4 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

11) Bimba - oxen, (Red Angus+Brown Swiss) 6 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

12) Tala - oxen, (Black Angus+Brown Swiss) 6 Yrs. old (Trained)

 

13) Hamsi - cow, (Herford mix ?) 12 Yrs.old Hamsi's Bull calf. He was

about 1wk. old when given away.

 

© CHAKRA 19-Nov-1999