Lord Krishna's Inability To Protect His Devotees?
Sanjay Kishore Dadlani
Middlesex University Student Residing In The UK
On August 21st 2006, no less than on Janmasthami Day itself (Lord Krishna's Birthday), a grenade was hurled into an Iskcon temple that ended up killing 5 people and injuring 40 others. Needless to say, among those who immediately condemned the vicious attack (displaying a rare sense of empathy for the Hare Krishna's who are generally antagonistic against Sathya Sai Baba) was the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation of Assam, Manipur and North East States:
Another news article:
Although this attack is horrifying, and should not be trivialized in any way, I can't help to wonder how Sanjay's arguments against Sathya Sai Baba come into play when applied to violent acts perpetuated against the Hare Krishna's?
For example, Sanjay discussed the terrorist blasts in Mumbai that killed 180 people and injured 660+ others. Sanjay said:
Putting aside the glaring fact that Lord Krishna (the "real" God, to Sanjay) was unable to warn or protect his country from the terrorist blasts in Mumbai, one can't help to notice how Sanjay flip-flops and ignores violence when directed towards the Hare Krishna's (of which he is a congregational member) and the implications thereof about his savior, Bhagavan Sri Krsna.
If Lord Krishna is really God (as Sanjay contends), then why did Sri Krishna allow others to die so horribly? Reflecting on Sanjay's words, in relation to the Iskcon attack (with a slight modification):
This is exactly the problem with Sanjay. His critiques are one-sided and highly selective. When wagging his tongue and frothing at the mouth, Sanjay fails to divulge the relevance of his critiques to his own belief system. No doubt, he does this in order to mislead others with his propaganda. Anti-Sai Activists do the same thing. They point out numerous world-wide atrocities and blame Sathya Sai Baba because he claims to be God. However, since Anti-Sai Activists do not consider Sathya Sai Baba to be God, all of their critiques and citations of atrocities fall flat at the door-step of their own chosen God concept!
If Lord Krishna could not protect his own devotees who gathered at a temple dedicated to him (no less than during his birthday celebrations), what hope does Sanjay have in being saved from his perversities, obscenities and absurdities? I think the chances are slim to none.
Middlesex University Student Residing In The UK
On August 21st 2006, no less than on Janmasthami Day itself (Lord Krishna's Birthday), a grenade was hurled into an Iskcon temple that ended up killing 5 people and injuring 40 others. Needless to say, among those who immediately condemned the vicious attack (displaying a rare sense of empathy for the Hare Krishna's who are generally antagonistic against Sathya Sai Baba) was the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation of Assam, Manipur and North East States:
Other social organisations which have strongly condemned the incident include Kuki Mothers' Association, Manipur; Academy of Martial Arts and Cultural Organisation, Manipur; Ever Living Youth Sporting Agency, Thoubal Phouden; Old Cachar Road (Tongjei Maril) Chingmee-Tammee Development Committee, Bishnupur; Service Education for Welfare Action (SEWA), Manipur; Ima Keithel Auto Owners and Drivers' Union, Kongba Bazar; Loyalam Apunba Nupi Lup, Khumbong Bazar; Samurou Nupi Chaokhat Thoudang Lup, Imphal West; Oriental Leveller Association, WangkheiKongba; Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation (Assam, Manipur and North East States); Rural Service Agency, Palace Compound; Nilamani English School, Heingang United Clubs' Organisation; St Joseph's School, etc. (Reference).
Another news article:
Manipur Iskcon temple attacked, 4 dead
K Sarojkumar Sharma
IMPHAL: Janmashtami celebrations in Manipur turned bloody on Wednesday when a grenade was tossed into the Iskcon temple crowded with more than 20,000 devotees.
The blast left at least four devotees dead and 40 others injured, including Iskcon international director Damodara Swami, police said.
A woman and a child who came to the temple to offer Janmasthami prayers were among those killed. Four foreigners, two of them Americans and a Swiss national, were among the wounded, said additional SP (Imphal) Radheyshyam Singh.
He said the identity of one foreigner could not be immediately ascertained since all the injured had been rushed to different hospitals.
Police said suspected militants hurled a grenade at a mandap inside the temple when the classical Manipuri Raas Leela dance was being performed as part of Janmashtami celebrations. The grenade was hurled at the centre of the mandap where Damodara Swami was sitting.
Of those injured, the condition of at least four was critical. At least 10 children were hurt, most by shrapnel and splinters that tore through their arms and legs.
Organisers estimated about 20, 0000 devotees had gathered on Wednesday evening for Janmashtami, one of the biggest religious events in Manipur, where most Hindus were Krishna worshippers.
The Iskcon temple is one of the major shrines in Imphal valley which is predominantly inhabited by Vashnavite Manipuris. One of the top gurus of Iskcon movement, Damo-dara Swami, stays mostly in Imphal since he's a Manipuri. He was injured on his hands by splinters.
Security at Manipur's biggest shrine, the Sri Govindaji temple, was tightened following the Iskcon blast. Govindaji is another shrine where thousands of devotees gather on Janmasthami night (Reference).
Although this attack is horrifying, and should not be trivialized in any way, I can't help to wonder how Sanjay's arguments against Sathya Sai Baba come into play when applied to violent acts perpetuated against the Hare Krishna's?
For example, Sanjay discussed the terrorist blasts in Mumbai that killed 180 people and injured 660+ others. Sanjay said:
"For this atrocity to happen the day after the festival of Guru Poornima itself casts doubts upon the ability of Sai Baba to warn and protect his own country from terrorism..."
Putting aside the glaring fact that Lord Krishna (the "real" God, to Sanjay) was unable to warn or protect his country from the terrorist blasts in Mumbai, one can't help to notice how Sanjay flip-flops and ignores violence when directed towards the Hare Krishna's (of which he is a congregational member) and the implications thereof about his savior, Bhagavan Sri Krsna.
If Lord Krishna is really God (as Sanjay contends), then why did Sri Krishna allow others to die so horribly? Reflecting on Sanjay's words, in relation to the Iskcon attack (with a slight modification):
"For this atrocity to happen on Janmasthami Day itself, casts doubt upon Lord Krishna's ability to warn or protect his devotees or country from terrorism and attacks."
This is exactly the problem with Sanjay. His critiques are one-sided and highly selective. When wagging his tongue and frothing at the mouth, Sanjay fails to divulge the relevance of his critiques to his own belief system. No doubt, he does this in order to mislead others with his propaganda. Anti-Sai Activists do the same thing. They point out numerous world-wide atrocities and blame Sathya Sai Baba because he claims to be God. However, since Anti-Sai Activists do not consider Sathya Sai Baba to be God, all of their critiques and citations of atrocities fall flat at the door-step of their own chosen God concept!
If Lord Krishna could not protect his own devotees who gathered at a temple dedicated to him (no less than during his birthday celebrations), what hope does Sanjay have in being saved from his perversities, obscenities and absurdities? I think the chances are slim to none.
posted by Equalizer @ 8:19 PM
1 Comments:
At 12:19 AM,
Anonymous said…
Death is certain. Ths is the whole point. Lord Krishna doesen't say that He will become someone's 'bodyguard'. Death can come in any form. Be it the Iskonites or the SaiBaba followers -- die they must.
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