By Gopijana Vallabha das
Over night the Ganga has risen quite a lot. Many areas cannot be reached without a boat now. Water level is increasing every hour, in front of Gada building the water is around 4.5 feet, and in the Mayapur temple hall the water is around the waist line.
Bengali news channels are informing that in the districts of Nadia and 24 Parganas the flood level is expected to increase dramatically, as some small up stream barrages broke due to heavy water load and to expect this water to make its way here.
The weather report says due to the depression which moved from Bangladesh to West bengal, we should expect very heavy rain for next 48 hours. Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister, said that the flood situation in the state is out of control.
A huge big thanks to MayapurTV for continuing to broadcast mangal arati during the immense challenges arising from the flood. Devotees attended the arati standing in knee deep Ganga water.
Amazingly, so far there is sufficient electricity in the surrounding areas, although the current is fluctuating.
The internet connection still being available is also a great achievement by Bhagavan and Doyal Garuanga Prabhus who are rendering a selfless and sacrificing service to the Vaisnava community.
Many other devotees in Mayapur are making great sacrifices for other devotees. You can also help our food relief, we need immediate support for purchasing the following things :
Biscuits packet – Rs.5
Chipped Rice and Gur – Rs.10
Khichdi – Rs.15 per plate
We are planning to feed at least 50,000 flood affected people.
To assist ISKCON Flood relief work, and to the serve the dham in this hour of need, click here:
http://www.mayapur.com/serve-mayapur/general-donation/
Care must be taken to move movable deities and to protect immovable ones, otherwise appropriate sastric measures have to be taken:
hayaśīrṣa pañcarātre
In the Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra it is stated:
19.1001.
cālitotpāṭitā hyarcca
kenacit pāpa karmmaṇā
caṇḍāla madhya saṁsparśa
dūṣitā vahninā ca yā
19.1002.
svayaṁ vā patitā jīrṇā
nadī vegādi pātitā
apuṇya jana saṁspṛṣṭā’
vipra kṣataja dūṣitā
19.1003.
acalāṁ dūṣitām evaṁ
sthāpayed vidhinoddhṛtām
pūrvvapīthaṁ parityajya
yad anyad api tad gatam
tato yathokta vidhinā
prāsāde sanniveśayet
“If the immovable Deity becomes polluted due to being worshiped for some ulterior motive, suc as success in the performance of sinful activities; the touch of a dog-eater; being displaced; contact with a polluted object, like wine; being burnt by contact with fire; having fallen onto the ground; being broken; being too old; having fallen in a river or flooded; being touched by sinful and abominable persons; being touched by the blood of anyone other than a brāhmaṇa; then the Deity must be re-installed according to the rules and regulations prescribed in the śāstra. In addition, if possible the Deity’s stand and altar should be changed.” Hari Bhakti Vilāsa 19.1001-3
19.1013
tato niveśayed anyāṁ
pratimāṁ lakṣaṇānvitām
tat kṣaṇād eva rājendra
tasya doṣa praśāntaye
“O foremost of kings, to counteract the faults that one has committed or that have been caused by a natural disturbance, one should immediately replace the old Deity with a new one possessing all the required characteristics.” Hari Bhakti Vilāsa 19.1013
19.1014
sampattir vā vipattir vā
nopekṣāṁ tatra kārayet
apāsya piṇḍikāṁ pūrvvām
anyāṁ tatra niveśayet
“In such a case, one should not pause to consider whether what happened was aupicious or inauspicious. One should simply reject the old Deity stand and replace it with a new one.” Hari Bhakti Vilāsa 19.1014