United States presidential candidate Donald Trump is in the news after a shooter fired at him from an elevated position during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania’s Bulter. A bullet pierced his ear and the perpetrator was eliminated by the United States Secret Service. However, one person died and two sustained grievous injuries in the incident. A social media user Matt Wallace shared an image from the shocking instance and referred to the narrow escape of the former president as “divine intervention.”
Vice President and spokesperson for the Kolkata ISKCON, Radharamn Das, concurred with him and related a fascinating story of how Donal Trump was able to gain spiritual merit by helping followers of Lord Krishna organize the Rath Yatra in New York. He stated in an elaborate post, “Exactly 48 years ago, Donald Trump saved the Jagannath Rathayatra festival. Today, as the world celebrates the Jagannath Rathayatra festival again, Trump was attacked, and Jagannath returned the favour by saving him”.
Yes, for sure it's a divine intervention.
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) July 14, 2024
Exactly 48 years ago, Donald Trump saved the Jagannath Rathayatra festival. Today, as the world celebrates the Jagannath Rathayatra festival again, Trump was attacked, and Jagannath returned the favor by saving him.
In July 1976, Donald… https://t.co/RuTX3tHQnj
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was preparing to host the first-ever Jagannath Rath Yatra in New York City in honour of its tenth anniversary, around 48 years ago in 1976. There were, however, multiple challenges. The two main ones were authorization to utilize Fifth Avenue and a place where the Raths could be constructed close to Fifth Avenue. Tosan Krishna Das, the person in charge of obtaining permission, had sent a formal proposal to the authorities on behalf of the Hare Krishna Movement. The police department had first responded positively but later changed its position and cited a 1962 mayor’s decree prohibiting new parades on Fifth Avenue.
In the end, after exhausting all other options, Tosan submitted a special request to the Manhattan Chief of Police. No one knew how the application would be received by him. However, following a thorough examination, the senior official grinned and signed the documents. “I don’t know why I am doing this,” he stated according to Tosan and put his signature on it. Even though the Fifth Avenue parade permit’s issuance was nothing short of a miracle, another divine intervention was required to find a vacant plot close to the starting point of the parade route where chariots could be constructed. Tosan took it upon himself to find such a place that would work.
The Pennsylvania Rail Yard was the best option and he unsuccessfully knocked on the doors of everyone who might possess a portion of the yard. The conditions required to construct the enormous wooden Raths (chariots) were revealed and all of them refused as they were worried about potential legal problems and insurance hazards, among other things. Many of the business owners who were contacted reportedly stated that they didn’t want to take a chance because they were in the process of selling the land at the Pennsylvania rail yard which was marked as the perfect site for cart making and the new owner under contract would have the final word. The distress among the devotees peaked and their hopes were crushed.
Notably, none other than Donald John Trump was the new owner. A few days later, Tosan received word that a significant portion of the former railroad yard had been acquired by Donald Trump, the “up-and-coming” real estate magnate of the time in the United States of America. First of all, there were doubts because the dozen previous landlords he had requested had already declined, therefore, “Why would Trump be any different,” was the first question that was raised in addition to his ostentatious and widely recognized lifestyle. Tosan, nonetheless, penned a proposal, which was given to the real estate tycoon, however, everything appeared bleak at the time.
The devotees brought a presentation package and a large basket of Maha Prasadam to his office. While accepting, his secretary forewarned them and declared, “He never agrees to this kind of thing. You can ask, but he will most likely say no.” Nevertheless, the devotees maintained their faith in Mahaprabhu and the miracle materialized. Surprisingly, Donald Trump appeared as a beacon of hope for followers of Lord Krishna as his secretary called up the devotees after three days and informed, “I don’t know what happened but he read your letter, took a bit of the food you left, and immediately said Sure, why not? Come on down and get his signed letter of permission.”
Tosan was contacted and invited to come to the Four Seasons restaurant in Manhattan where all the specifics of the real estate purchase were to be finalized, much to his surprise and prayers. He then received the signed consent document. The devotees were greatly relieved to learn that Donal Trump allowed the utilization of the open train yards for the building of Rath Yatra chariots. He helped the devotees after everyone had shut their doors. He could have also declined the offer with ease as well, but he decided not to.
What is ISKCON
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization. It was founded on 13th July 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Its main headquarters is located in Mayapur, West Bengal, India. Its unique form of monotheistic core beliefs is based on Hindu scriptures, particularly Prabhupada’s commentaries and translations of the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana.
ISKCON is “the largest and, arguably, most important branch” of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition which has had adherents in India since the early 16th century and its American and European devotees since the mid and late 20th century. It has around 10 million followers worldwide. The religious organization practices vegetarianism and was initially formed to spread the practice of Bhakti yoga. Its followers, called bhaktas, dedicate both their thoughts and actions towards pleasing Krishna, whom they consider the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Its most rapid expansion in registered membership has been within India and (after the collapse of the Soviet Union) in Russia and other formerly Soviet-aligned states of Eastern Europe.
