26/11/2008 Revisited
26/11 will always bring memories of the horrifying attack on Mumbai. On the anniversary of the attack many peace programs were organized at the various areas where the attacks took place. Early that morning the phone rang in the reception of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir in Chowpatty.
"Is any devotee coming to Nariman point?" a lady asked. "There are many groups here offering prayers and kirtans."
Soon a bunch of devotees reached there only to find that the program was over and the VIPs had left after lighting the customary lamps. Still some crowd was there and a few books were sold.
Another group went to the Taj and met with similar response. But a bigger crowd was expected in the evening.
At 5 pm, five devotees decided to visit Taj. Fearing security regulations, they decided to take only a pair of kartals and Srila Prabhupada's books. The Taj was crowded with thousands of people. Students dressed in white and wearing black armbands came and offered their pledges. One man stood with a banner that read 'free hugs' and hugged anyone who came to him. Various groups shouted slogans praising India and criticizing Pakistan. Some read poems. In this vast ocean of humanity there were just five devotees-two distributing books and three doing kirtans.
But they soon created a sensation. Four rows of onlookers circled around them and began to clap and sing the maha-mantra. A Muslim family was going by. There three year old son, complete with a traditional cap and long kurta and pyjama, stopped and began to smile at the devotees. His mother released his hand and he rushed in front of the crowd and began to clap. Then Kalavink Prabhu gently pulled the boy and began to dance with him. This was sensational! The media went berserk. Scores of cameras started flashing and media personals, camera men, photographers all vied to get the best view of the grand unifying act: a Muslim boy dancing with a Hare Krishna, on the anniversary of a brutal act of terrorism. Then one devotee passed a Bhagavad-gita to the boy and he raised it above his head and began to dance. The crowd roared with a loud applause. Soon TV channels made a beeline for the devotees and took interview of three of them. "What is your message?" asked one reporter. Sanjay Prabhu recited the entire maha-mantra and said, "Chanting the names of God is the ultimate peace formula. It clears the pollution in the heart, which is the reason why people hate and attack each other."
"Do you have any message for the relatives of the victims?"
"Yes. If all of us present here together pray for them, they will surely get tremendous peace and benefit."
The book distributors distributed around 25 books. When the devotees finally decided to leave they came upon a group of about 40-50 army men marching towards them. On seeing the devotees, the soldier leading the troupes halted and instead of his regular commands, raised his hands and loudly shouted, "Hare Krishna." The troupes called back together, "Hare Krishna," and they all chanted the full Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
The devotees were euphoric.
It shows how the simple formula of Sankirtan that Lord Caitanya has given and that Srila Prabhupada further developed is the only true solution for the miseries of this world. The vibrations of the holy name and the blissful dance of the devotees attract the masses and Srila Prabhupada's books give them the best philosophy.
Your Servant,
Murari Gupta Das
