By Indradyumna Swami
August 10
6:20 a.m. We had only a half cup of water each for taking a bath. I managed only to brush my teeth. We thought about going again to the school to take some water, but the fighting has increased again around there, so we decided not to take the risk.
8:00 a.m. Again no prasadam to eat. I’m very weak. I can’t even chant properly. Orditi has gone to look for Andrei’s body.
9:20 a.m. We had a morning program with Srimad-Bhagavatam class.
11:00 a.m. Orditi returned. Doctors from the hospital where Andrei was gave us his watch. They showed Orditi his grave in the yard of the hospital.
12:00 p.m. Finished eight rounds of japa. I am wondering how Garik is doing at the school with all the increased fighting going on there now. We decided to make the van ready and leave the city with a caravan of refugees that we heard will be going today. Local residents say the Chechen rebels and Russian Federal troops let refugees leave without any problem.
2:15 p.m. We got the van ready. Pumped up the tires and attached all the engine parts we had removed before. It started to rain. We filled all cans with rainwater. It should be enough for bathing for one day.
3:30 p.m. The rain became heavier. I took a bath under the rain, my first bath in two days. Immediately I started to feel better. I carefully applied my tilaka after the bath.
6:00 p.m. I read from the First Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Took some prasadam. We all made plans to economize what little food, water, and gas we have.
7:30 p.m. Washed my clothes. By Krsna’s grace the rain continued, so we put our buckets in the attic to catch the water from the leaking roof. Somehow or other Krsna takes care of those who serve Him. Already we have six full cans of water, which should be enough for two to three days.
Received news that the school is now occupied by Russians. How is Garik doing there? Today our spirits are a little higher, but still we all desire to leave this place at the first opportunity. Our future here is as uncertain as it was at the school. I can only imagine what the devotees in Moscow must be thinking. We have had no connection with them for four days. They are probably in much anxiety.
Mayuradhvaja’s heart is not so strong, and I’m sure that not getting news from us will not be good for him. How will he handle a report that the Food for Life devotees are lost in the burning city of Grozny? And how will we ourselves deal with this reality? But my dear Lord Krsna, Your plan is perfect. We simply have to follow.
Nitäi Nimäi Sundara, lndradyumna Swami’s Deities
Sri Sri Laksmi-Nrsimhadeva, Indradyumna Swami’s Deities
Indradyumna Swami with some of his traveling group and the Sarajevo devotees in front of the temple
(left) “Harinama: walking past tombstones” “Fifty-thousand people had died during the fighting, and because they were surrounded,the local population had to bury their dead within the city limits. Thus there were graves in every available space.” (right) “As we weaved our way through the old streets, suddenly the mosque loomed ahead. The moment I saw it I wanted to turn around, but it was too late.”
The house next to the temple was bombed a few days into the war.
“H.H. Sacinandana Maharaja spent the entire festival in the third tent speaking to hundreds of young people.”
“At 9:00 p.m. The Celibate Lovers performed on the main stage…”
“On the last day of the festival, I conducted a Vedic marriage ceremony for seven devotee couples int the village tent.”
Jurek and his family were guests of honor at the wedding ceremony.
(left) “Before the last song, I brought Jurek forward…and offered him a one ton cake.” (right) On the way to the main stage…
Theater: The Birth of Lord Krishna. “Devaki! give me the child!“
(left) Russian soldiers checking a Hare Krishna cake for bombs. (right) Vladivostock “Tribanga Sundara das was part of a small team of ISKCON devotees who had been distributing prasadam in Grozny before the war…”
Baku temple devotees
(left) Moscow. I am dancing with children on Harinama. (right) Moscow.Sri Prahlada leads Harinama.
Devotees at the Moscow temple
At Hospital. “My injuries were limited to a severe concussion, torn ligaments and badly bruised and sprained legs and hands. The doctors said I would recover in about six weeks, but I needed rest.”
