Section 4: Camping in Kathmandu

4.2: Furious Earthquake strikes Nepal

Furious Earthquake strikes Nepal on 25^th April 2015.
It’s the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake.

25^th April

5th day in Kathmandu at Bal Mandir. Acharya Mahashraman started the chores of visiting followers’ houses in morning hours but couldn’t visit many houses due to rain.

Program on Preksha Meditation

Regular morning hour program was organized based on “Preksha Meditation and Yoga” topic. Baba Ramdev and his aide Acharya Balkrishna were present as special guests. Acharya Balkrishna mentioned “we have come here using flight but Acharya Mahashraman has arrived here walking and purifying the earth with each of his steps. Wherever such great people go it turns to a pilgrimage”.

Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna meeting Acharya Mahashraman

Rare are great personalities like Acharya Mahapragya: Baba Ramdev

Excerpts of speech of Baba Ramdev: It’s the biggest fortune of my life that I’ve seen Acharya Mahapragya, a great human being of this era and an ideal saint. Today I’m fortunate to see Acharya Mahashraman as well. Acharya Tulsi launched Anuvrat movement. I also have attraction for Preksha Meditation. I’ve read from H.H. Mahapragya the most in my life. He had great logical capabilities but he never had bad logics. In the modern times, not only in Jain tradition but in entire saint tradition as well, it is rare to find a match of the level of thoughtfulness, philosophy and knowledge of Acharya Mahapragya. He was such a great human that he crossed all the boundaries of religions and sects to seek truth. I respectfully greet Acharya Mahashraman, belonging to such a divine Acharya tradition and his divinity.

Acharya Mahashraman elaborated on the philosophical aspect of meditation. Minister of Industry Mr. Mahesh Basnet and Ex-Chief of Army Mr. Rukmangat Katuwal visited H.H in the last phase of the program.

Acharya Mahashraman coming out of assembly session with Mr. Mahesh Basnet and Mr. Rukmangat Katuwal, minutes before the earthquake

Program ended with chanting from H.H. Acharya Mahashraman came out of assembly through an internal pathway whereas Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna came out from the main way and boarded the vehicle.

Furious Earthquake: Nepal Jolted

Acharya Mahashraman has just come out of the assembly Shamiana (tents). It was open area between shamiana and camping room. Minister of Industry Mr. Mahesh Basnet and Ex- Army Chief Mr. Rukmangat Katuwal were walking together with H.H. Clock was indicating 11.57 AM local time. All of sudden an unimagined, highly destructive catastrophe started. Before someone could understand anything, the earth started shaking heavily. It got difficult to take even one step further. It felt like arrival of big devastation. People started getting fearful and it got chaotic on all sides. Anything can happen.

Acharya Mahashraman just exiting the assembly area when the earthquake started

Acharya Mahashraman sat down on the ground. Around 10 monks were walking together with H.H. Few monks held H.H. with hands and few monks made a security circle around H.H. and sat down. The earth continued to jolt heavily.

Monks giving support to Acharya Mahashraman during tremor moments

The earth is still shaking. The sky scrapers looked like they are made of rubber and condition of people inside them was like football - upon getting hit by wall on one side were thrown out to the wall of opposite side. But no one was able to do anything. Some people were falling down when trying to run away and those were trying to stand firmly were shaking. The earthquake continued for 90 seconds that gave the picture of great disaster.

The epicenter of this earthquake, named as “Gorkha earthquake” is 80 KM northwest of Kathmandu at Lamjung district in Nepal with magnitude of 7.9 in Richter scale. The right wing of building of Bal Mandir (H.H. Campsite) came down with big noise in just few moments. The wing hosted the school for deaf-dumb kids. Fortunately its Saturday today and holiday in Nepal so children were not present in the school. Many monks were present inside the Bal Mandir building on different side. They were not successful in coming out of building during the quake. Many monks and nuns were on the chores of food seeking (Gochari) and like other people were also hitting the walls.

Acharya Mahashraman with monk group chanting Mantra during earthquake minutes

Acharya Mahashraman was sitting on the swinging ground outside the Shamiama in which still thousands of people were trying to come out. There was little stampede but no casualty. In few moments the Shamiana started coming down but didn’t get fully grounded due to trees and chairs in the assembly. Not able to withstand the shamiana weight, the big Sal tree came down. This blocked the pathway that connects the main gate of Bal Mandir with the camping room. Hundreds of people were trapped under the partially grounded shamiana but with help of volunteers all came out safely. Some people got injured and no major casualty noted.

Fourfold religious order remained safe

People were extremely scared. Some were crying, some were screaming. Many people were in deep shock but Acharya Mahashraman was calmly sitting on the ground. Once the earthquake stopped, monks in Bal Mandir and followers started searching H.H. Everyone was relaxed after finding H.H. safe. H.H. coming out of assembly Shamiana before the quake and not yet reaching the camping room could be miracle or good coincidence, whatever it may be, but H.H. is fully safe. After sometime, H.H. moved to a safer place and open area. Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna came out of the premises by crossing over the fallen tree in front of the Shamiana with the help of volunteers.

Most of monks arrived near Acharya Mahashraman after the earthquake. Huge Shamiana that got grounded could be seen in the background

Acharya Mahashraman was sitting on ground on a place near the Shamiana. Monks and hundreds of followers stood surrounding H.H. Frequent severe and mild tremors of quake continued. Tears were not stopping from people who were highly scared. People around them were trying to console. H.H. was cautiously and fearlessly sitting on the ground. News of devastation from all over Nepal started flowing in. Many mountains broke down in the mountain region. Rocks sliding down from thousands of feet from mountains were destroying buildings in the valley. It was impossible to imagine the condition of people living in mountain range.

The furious anger of nature has taken away someone’s life or everything for some other. It took away money earned from hard work of many years from some or took away the children from some parents who nurtured them for many years. At some places the entire village was destroyed. Landslide caused gorges at many places. Roads have got blocked and the daily life has come to a complete halt.

Huge Shamiana meant for morning assembly got grounded

All members of Sangha (Terapanth Order) including H.H. remained safe in this furious calamity. There was severe destruction in many parts of Kathmandu whereas this portion of Naxaal area in Kathmandu was comparatively less affected. Some portion of decade old building in Bal Mandir premises where H.H. is camping has come down but no monks were staying in this part of building. The camping rooms of H.H. and monks got cracks on the wall but no major damage happened. Hundreds of people coming out safely, after getting trapped under huge Shamiana, is no less than a miracle. H.H. got the counting done for all monks. All 43 monks including H.H. were safe. H.H. also got news of all safety from camping nun group. Tremors of quake were still jolting the earth. Monks, Nuns and followers were chanting Mantras of “Namaskar Mahamantra”, “Uwasaggahara Stotra”, “Vighna Haran Mangal karan”, “Om Bhikshu” and other Mantras with every shock.

Nepal Police personnel together with some volunteers arrived near H.H. and requested to shift to nearby Police Headquarters ground as that ground seemed to be a safer place. After some thinking, H.H. accepted their proposal. Industry Minister Mr. Mahesh Basnet, who was together with H.H. during prime shock moments, advised policemen to be vigilant on H.H. Security. One of the followers requested H.H. to shift to the police ground quickly before other people in city reach there and occupy place and to avoid difficulty in getting place later. H.H. replied - “Why to go there first for this reason, they also need place!” This shows the greatness of H.H during the moments of fear, grief, uncertainties and stress.

At safer place in Police Headquarters

Venue of Acharya Mahashraman at Police Headquarters ground

Acharya Mahashraman shifted to the nearby Police HQ ground. Soon most of the monks and nuns shifted to this ground. Thousands of followers were also there in presence of H.H. Acharya Shree camped at open area near “Amar Prahari” monument in the HQ ground. Aftershocks continued to shake the earth and with each tremor people were trembling with fear. Loud screaming hinted the panic people were in. With each tremor H.H. body was shaking but H.H. was mentally unshaken, steadfast and firm. As per the direction of H.H. counting was conducted for monks and nuns. All 43 monks including H.H., 38 nuns and 43 Samaniji found to be safe. All resident followers of Kathmandu were also safe.

Acharya Mahashraman instructing monk and nuns at Police Headquarters ground in afternoon

Relief and safety operation of Police was clearly visible in the Police Headquarter premises. Thousands of policemen were departing in big-big vehicles to designated locations as per instructions from senior officials. Entire system was connected through wireless. Police Headquarters premises, prohibited for common man, opened today for everyone after the arrival of H.H. Thousands of followers were present in the premises along with thousands of non-followers. The numbers kept increasing. Policemen were arranging tents in open area for people.

News of heavy destruction from all over Nepal was flowing in. It’s difficult at the moment to estimate the lives losses but one could easily imagine loss of thousands of lives. Big buildings have fallen down like cards. Many people were trapped under the debris. Local administration, Army and citizen were working on their levels for relief works. Many temporary hospitals were opened. Dead bodies were piled up at many places beside the roads after being taken out from debris. Flying planes showed the alertness of Nepalese army.

It wasn’t that warm even in the afternoon due to clouds. Prediction of heavy rain and storm added fuel to the fear of people already affected by earthquake. Many people requested H.H. to camp at their house but H.H. decided to spend the night at Police Headquarters.

Acharya Mahashraman issuing message to Terapanth followers after the earthquake

Around 3:01 PM, H.H. issued message of wellbeing to Terapanth order. The message was broadcasted through social media. Followers located far were relieved after seeing this message.

Acharya Mahashraman announced to cancel all the upcoming scheduled programs and celebration of H.H. Birthday, Ascendance to Acharya hood and Initiation to Monkhood at all different locations and instead suggested to use this time for spiritual good wishes for victims of the earthquake.

H.H. took the midday meal around 3:15 PM in this open ground. Baba Ramdev’s aide Acharya Balkrishna visited to enquire H.H. wellbeing. He informed that Baba Ramdev is now camping at an open area at another premises little away from H.H. camping.

Night stay under the tin shed

Acharya Mahashraman moved to a tin shed in the south-west part of the Police Headquarters after 4 pm. H.H. together with few monks spent the night under this shed. Rest of the monks stayed at a nearby shed. Nuns stayed at another shed in this premises whereas Samaniji stayed under a tent near H.H. Aftershocks continued with mild and severe tremors throughout the night. Ambulance siren, flying air planes, running police vehicles hinted the progress of relief operation throughout the night.

Commissioner of Police Mr. Upendrakant Ayaal came to enquire H.H wellbeing around midnight but H.H was in sleep. He left his personal contact detail with volunteers and mentioned - “We are always keen to serve H.H. Please ensure to inform us for any type of work”. It started raining mildly around 1:30 am in the night and stopped after a while. Had it been heavy, it would make it difficult to stay in current place. H.H. slept on the ground as a precaution. Occasional tremors were shaking earth and interrupted sleep of monks and nuns but couldn’t get them scared. Few monks took turns to remain awake during night near H.H. from safety perspective. Followers were helping with arrangements with agility.

Acharya Mahashraman ►Ahimsa Yatra Nepal ►4.2 ►Furious Earthquake Strikes Nepal

Section 4: Camping in Kathmandu

4.2: Furious Earthquake strikes Nepal