Prayers for New Talavan and New Orleans

[Guest guest]

I hope everyone will pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to protect the cows and devotees

of New Talavan and to help the people of New Orleans fix their minds on Him for

their eternal shelter and benefit.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

[Guest guest]

Dear Lord Nrsimhadeva, thank you for answering the prayers of all the

devotees!

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

npetroff (AT) bowdoin (DOT) edu wrote:

 

>I hope everyone will pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to protect the cows and devotees

of New Talavan and to help the people of New Orleans fix their minds on Him for

their eternal shelter and benefit.

>

>your servant,

>

>Hare Krsna dasi

>

>

*************************************

 

Here is the article from Chakra (here is the link

http://www.chakra.org/announcements/AOtherAug31_05.html )

 

Read the part about the cows!!

 

************************************

 

Hurricane Katrina Hits New Talavan & New Orleans

 

by ISKCON New Talavan Community

 

Posted August 31, 2005

 

Dear Devotees,

 

Hare Krsna! Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila

Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Nrsimhadeva!

 

Yesterday New Talavan and New Orleans were hit by Hurricane Katrina, a

devastating Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 MPH. The eye of

the storm came ashore near Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi, and passed

within 10 miles of New Talavan.

 

By Krsna's grace and Lord Nrsimhadeva's mercy, everyone here at New

Talavan is OK. There were no casualties or injuries. However, we have

had no contact with New Orleans temple since the storm. The situation in

New Orleans is critical: extensive wind damage and flooding, highways

into the city are devastated, and many casualties. We advised the New

Orleans devotees on Sunday to evacuate to the farm before the storm hit,

but they could not be convinced to leave. We are very concerned about

the devotees there.

 

Here are the details: the storm hit yesterday early morning. By dawn the

winds were over 60 MPH. The hurricane peaked about 11 AM. There was a

short lull and then the winds picked up again in the reverse direction.

Many trees are down-up to 50% of trees in some wind-exposed areas. The

roads are completely blocked, electricity and phones are down, even cell

phones because the towers rely on electricity to function.

 

We had no significant damage to the Temple and kitchen. There was some

slight damage to the men's ashram, temple office and *sannyasi

*quarters. There was heavy wind and rain damage to the Gurukula

building, and our workshop building was devastated. One devotee's

trailer was destroyed by falling trees, and another devotee's cottage

lost part of the roof. There may be other damage in remote parts of the

farm that we have not yet seen. Extensive cleanup and repairs will be

required before we are back to anything near normal status.

 

Krsna's cows are fine; as far as we know none were injured by falling

trees. They were seen placidly grazing in 120 MPH winds! Cows are

something else. We do have a lot of fence damage, however, and will have

to manage our herds carefully to keep them on the property and out of

danger until the fences are repaired.

 

We do not expect to have electricity for a few weeks. Roads everywhere

are blocked by fallen trees until county bulldozers can get around to

clearing them. So no one is going anywhere for awhile. Fortunately, we

have plenty of food, gasoline and diesel fuel. Our water system has a

propane-powered generator. As soon as we can clear some roads, we will

have a diesel generator for the temple and kitchen. The devotee

community is pulling together to repair the damage, and we expect that

things will turn out well. We are thankful for Krsna's merciful protection.

 

Our only means of communication is via our satellite internet system.

All other means of communication and travel are presently down. We can't

even get out of our driveway because of huge fallen trees! We will check

our email daily and keep the devotional community up to date on our

progress. Please especially pray for the well-being of the devotees

trapped in New Orleans.

 

Now we know why Srila Prabhupada wanted self-sufficient farm

communities. What happened in New Orleans can happen anywhere.

 

your servant,

 

Dasanudas Vanacari

 

*Secretary,*

*

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*

*ISKCON New Talavan Community*

 

Addendum by HH Bir Krsna Goswami:

 

The devotees are fine in New Orleans. I just spoke to them last night

after the hurricane was over and the temple building was untouched as

was the residential building next to the temple. Today there is some

flooding but the devotees are continuing their service and have plenty

of Prasad. The Deities are accepting Their regular offerings and arotis.