Hundreds of people gathered at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in Aldenham on Friday at a memorial service held for the victims of the recent bomb blasts in India.
Members of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Sikh and Zoroastrian faiths from all over the country came together to condemn the atrocity on Mumbai’s transport system on July 11 which killed nearly 200 people.
Seven bombs were left on packed rush hour trains last Tuesday in the suburbs of India’s financial capital. The coordinated blasts tore through crowded trains and stations on one of the busiest rail networks in the world.
The attacks happened less than a week after the anniversary of the July 7 London bombings.
Radha Mohan Das, a spokesperson for the Hilfield Lane temple, said: “It was a great honour to host this event because we felt great pain when we heard about the terrorist attack.
“It was a pleasure to invite and receive members of many different faiths and moving to hear prayers from these different faiths.”
During the service seven candles were lit to represent all the train stations affected in the blasts and the congregation said a prayer for world peace.
The themes of unity and peace dominated the event, echoing the sentiments of the tributes held on July 7. Many British Indians joined with people of other faiths and backgrounds to pay their respects to the victims and their families.
Gauri Das, president of Bhaktivedanta Manor temple, said: “The clothes may be different, but the message of God is the same.”
Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said the service had been organised because it was important for all faiths and communities to unite in prayer.
“By coming together we are sending them the terrorists a very strong message, that we won’t be divided,” he said.
“Having gone through the experience of the July 7 bombings last year, it is also an expression of solidarity from Britain to India.”
The event underlines the manor’s standing as a major religious centre and one of the biggest Hindu temples in Europe. Its annual Hare Krishna Janmashtami festival, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, is the biggest celebration of its kind in the United Kingdom attracting over 60,000 pilgrims.
While its laudable for devotees to come together to pray for the benefit of the victims of the recent appalling Bombay bomb blasts, one wonders whether this isn’t motivated by mundane sentiments. Hundreds are dying everyday in Iraq by equally appalling car bombs and booby-traps, yet no services are held for those victims. Why only for the Indians? Why not the Iraqis or the many other thousands of conditioned souls in all countries around the world that are dying everyday from one tragedy or another?
Surely devotees should work on the spiritual platform and work with the words of Lord Krsna as their maxim: “The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brähmaëa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].”
Srila Prabhupada’s movement is not meant only for a particular class of man, it is an international society that has as its vision the benefit of all souls, regardless of their births in any particular country or species. I can’t help but think that Srila Prabhupada would not have been enthusiastic for this type of prayer gathering, noble as its intent no doubt was.
Hari-sauri dasa
Dear Hari Sauri prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am not sure if I am the best person to respond to your concerns, but as I do know a little about the background to this programme I thought it might help if I shared that knowledge. I too felt similarly to yourself when I first heard of the service, i.e. that why are we getting into mundane sentimentalism and the bodily concept by lamenting the deaths of a particular group of people, terrible though those deaths most certainly were. But the Manor TP explained to me that they had been asked by senior community leaders to host a memorial service, which would be attended by important representatives from all faiths. This was therefore seen as an opportunity to boost the manor’s status among religious and community circles, and also among senior politicians, some of whom sent messages of condolence to be read at the service. A similar service for the victims of the London bombings was held at St.Pauls Cathedral, so for the Manor to be selected in this case – over any other Hindu temple – surely raised its profile and respect among a number of key publics.
Those who attended heard the holy name, were offered prasad, and saw the deities. Gauri das, the TP, also gave a very nice speech. All in all, the people who came were impressed and went away with a higher estimation of devotees than they had previously. In fact the Manor has become quite expert in receiving VIP’s and other dignitaries. Such persons are always bowled over by the hospitality and spiritual atmosphere of the Manor. In other words, getting people there on any pretext is good preaching, simply due to the experience they get. Gauri was telling me how recently a local horticultural club came to see the gardens – a bunch of retired, middle class men and women – and by the end of the tour they were asking himi to give a talk about our philosophy and beliefs.
I hope this helps
yhs
Krishna Dharma das
I don’t see anything wrong with our praying for those souls who died so horribly. What is wrong with our showing some compassion, especially to our congressional members or to the community we live in?
It is an opportunity to show ourselves as caring and kind. It is also an opportunity to provide support, while at the same time help people understand we are not our bodies. We can teach others that Lord Krishna is so compassionate, that he has made our souls of such an indestructible nature, that nothing can actually blow us up, burn us, drown us, or cut us, as stated in the Bhagavad-Gita. Only the material body is subject to destruction.
For the soul there is never birth nor death, nor having once been does he ever cease to be. He is undying, ever-existing, and eternal. He does not die when the body dies.
I have several choice verses which I have printed out from Bhagavad-Gita on parchment paper. When a relative or close friend has died, I present the verses in a nice frame to their family. It has been much appreciated, and gives me the opportunity to present the Bhagavad-Gita to others who might never read it.
Narada Muni teaches we can accept anything, as long as it is favorable for promoting devotional service.