By ISKCON Kuching
The world recently came to a stand-still when a Malaysia Airlines aircraft bound to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur disappeared from the radar on 8 March 2014. There were 239 passengers and crew onboard MH370. Some were elderly people while some were children. They were from 14 different countries. The thought of an aircraft going missing was difficult for many to digest.
Much was done to find answers. However at the end of the day, they were left with no person, no country, no system and no technology to turn to.
Malaysians starting praying. Be it in the mosques, churches or the temples, special prayers were conducted to pray for the safe return of the flight and it’s passengers and crew. Malaysia Airlines also released a statement urging the public to pray. Everyone knew that God was the only one who could probably answer their questions and console their hearts.
ISKCON has been existing in Malaysia for the past 32 years. The government of Malaysia have been very supportive towards ISKCON in the past years. Despite having a Muslim majority, devotees are allowed to have public Ratha Yatras in this country. Malaysia probably has the most number of Ratha Yatras compared to any other country in the world. More than 30 each year.
Devotees from ISKCON Kuching, headed by HG Kripa Sindhu Krishna das joined the bandwagon to pray for MH370 on 18 April 2014. They organised a harinam in Kuching City Center. Earlier on 26 March 2014, another Harinam was done for the same reason. What better way could there be to pray for souls affected by this horrible accident.
The devotees dressed in colourful clothing gathered at the assembly point at the Kuching Water Front at about 5pm. A banner to indicate the reason for the harinam had been printed and was carried along throughout the harinam. It read, ” Prayers for Passengers of MH370″.
Following in Lord Chaitanyaâs footsteps, devotees chanted and danced in the city streets praying for those of MH370 and at the same time giving a chance to the conditioned souls to hear and benefit from hearing Krishnaâs holy names. The devotees were joined by many passer-bys and tourists. They came together and chanted the holy names with much joy and jubilation. Only the holy names can turn such morose situations into a joyful one.
The last verse of Srimad Bhagavatam (12.13.23) stresses the importance of chanting the holy names of Krishna. It tells us how only by the chanting of these holy names can we be relieved of all material sufferings.
nÄma-saÅkÄ«rtanam yasya, sarva-pÄpa pranÌ£ÄÅanam
pranÌ£Ämo duhkha-Åamanas. tam namÄmi harim param
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.
ISKCON Kuching hopes that some light will soon be shed on the fate of the missing MH370 for the benefit of the families of those on board the aircraft.
All glories to the holy names and All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
By ISKCON Batu Kawah Kuching ,Sarawak
