By Vasudeva Datta Dasa
The bomb detonations in Sri Lanka have silenced since the civil war ended a couple of years ago. But now a new wave of attacks has started – namely the revolutionary Sankirtana Movement of Lord Caitanya.
We attended a huge three-day Hindu festival in Tondaman Aru in Jaffna area. Some 200,000 people attended the pujas and processions in glory of lord Murgan (Skanda). Hundreds of people were hanging on hooks in an austere ritual called “Kavadi”.
We used this opportunity and set a book stall at the busiest corner of the Festival. People showed great interest, so they constantly gathered around our table, asking devotees many questions and taking Srila Prabhupada’s books. Devotees from Colombo, Mr. Yogalingam, a Customs Superintendant and his wife Gita Mataji, would also join us. Mataji, all decorated with golden ornaments and with Bhagavad-gita in her hand, would shout, “Veda, Sastra! Lord Narayana is the Supreme! Take Bhagavad-gita As It Is!” People would take her very seriously. They could sense that she comes from a very respectable family and doesn’t have to sell books for survival. She would speak straightforward philosophy of the Gita and people would be convinced.
I would present books in Tamil language and that would draw a lot of attention. I would explain about the meaning of life, atma-tattva, root cause of all suffering, and nectar of Krishna-bhakti. During the presentation I would tell them “Yalpanam makkal butthi saligal yena nan kelvipaten. Ithu unmaya!”(I have heard that people from Jaffna are very intelligent. Is this true?) ))) Naturally they all appreciated this observation because they are actually known as the most educated in all country. Then I would request them to take the books. And books were just flying out. We were in complete book distribution samadhi. On the second day we were distributing till 2 o’clock in the morning. At one point we distributed the entire stock of books, so we had to order 5 more boxes from our Trincomalee Centre 200 km away to be sent by bus. While waiting by the empty stall, about ten people gathered, waiting for the books to come.
For the past 30 years Jaffna area was completely cut off from the rest of the world therefore people are now eager for spiritual knowledge. Here people are financially exhausted so book distribution is not always easy, but still many made a sacrifice to take Srila Prabhupada’s books. By the Lord’s mercy at this festival they took more than 400 books, mostly Bhagavad-gitas, Krishna books, and Science of Self Realizations.
By the end of September another big festival is coming up at Vallipuram Alvar (Visnu Temple) where more than 500,000 people are expected. We are planning to have four book stalls and unlimited halava prasadam distribution.
We are requesting devotees all over the world to kindly bless us that we can be useful instruments in the hands of Srila Prabhupada and our Gurus. Thank you.
Your servant, Vasudeva Datta dasa
For any further information about developments of preaching in war affected areas of Sri Lanka, please contact us at vdd108@pamho.net