Prayers Offered At ISKCON Phoenix For Sikh Gurdwara Victims

BY: DR. PRAYAG NARAYAN MISRA

Aug 06, 2012 — PHOENIX, ARIZONA, USA (SUN) — [REVISED] During the Sunday Love Feast at Sri Sri Radha Madhava Hari Dham, ISKCON of Phoenix, prayers were offered to the six victims of the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Prof. Dr. Nemi Jain, a long time supporter of the Hare Krishna Temple in Chandler, requested all to join in support of another Temple who suffered hate crime by a white supremacist who confused Sikhism as being connected to Taliban, because followers of both wear turbans. Just after 9/11, the first killing took place in Phoenix, Arizona when Balbir Singh Sodhi - a Sikh and owner of a convenience store in Mesa, was killed during broad daylight in front of his store because he was wearing white clothes and a turban, which the killer confused with Osama bin Laden.

Sikh religion was founded more than 500 years ago in Punjab, India/Pakistan. It is fifth largest religion in the world. Sikhs believe in one God and worship Granth Sahab - Holy Book - which quotes 100,000 names of Rama. The greetings Vahe Guru has four syllables: V for Vishnu ( Krishna), H for Hari; G for Govinda and R for Rama.

It may be recalled that about ten years ago, the ISKCON Phoenix temple was victimized twice with graffiti within a fortnight outside on walls, floors and on the Temple bus by an unknown group of white supremacists or hate criminals who painted swastika signs all over and victimized a mosque who also victimized a mosque. The City of Chandler provided support by installing a CCTV camera, and other organizations, such as the ADL, Interfaith Arizona Movement and Human Rights Commission came forward. The Arizona Republic newspaper ran a full three-page article on the Hare Krishnas to educate and spread awareness.

Dr. Prayag Narayan Misra
Director Communications
Chaitanya Cultural Center
Tucson, Arizona, USA (480) 814-1372