[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding=”undefined” dimension_margin=”undefined” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text]

OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH!

When we first visited the Kingdom of Cambodia 10 years ago, to our utter amazement we came to know that no one in Cambodia drank milk nor did anyone know how to milk cows.

Although pure cow breeds from India had been brought by brahmanas and kings centuries ago during the flurry of traditional temple constructions, the famed Angkor Wat being the largest Vishnu temple in the world attracting millions of tourists yearly, due to various historical events, in particular the Cambodian genocide between 1975 and 1979 that was carried out by the Khmer Rouge under the leadership of Pol Pot destroying close to 24 % of the population (close to 2 million people) coupled with the Vietnam war that brought about an unprecedented amount of bombings on both Laos and Cambodia, the interior villages and agrarian lifestyle had since been desecrated and disrupted by the on-going civil wars across the country.

Observing such a pathetic situation, devotees then and there undertook to restore the wholesome practice of keeping cows and using their milk as well as other cow products to help re-vitalize village life and help bring back good health to the people in general. For that purpose, over a period of ten years, devotees began to systematically acquire over 108 acres of land some 40 kilometres away from the capital city of Siem Reap.

This year was eventful due to having purchased two local cows that have since delivered two calves. The cows have been named Yashoda and Devaki since the project goes by the name Yashodapur Eco Village. Mother Yashoda gave birth to Subhadra a few weeks ago and shortly after mother Devaki gave birth to Ekadasi. Soon after the birth of the new calves, devotees began milking the cows offering the first milk to perform the abhishekam to their Salagram Sila.

By such activities, devotees hope to demonstrate the importance of agrarian life were land and cows are given all respect and protection. The farm community has a small temple and facilities for a few resident devotees. The devotees grow various crops, including fruit trees such as mango, banana, jackfruit and others. On a regular basis, they distribute prasadam (sanctified food) to needy children in the neighbouring villages.

Anyone wishing to know more about the ongoing activities of ISKCON Cambodia can do so by visiting the devotees’ website at www.iskconcambodia.comor may contact the following devotees serving in Cambodia since the last 8 years:

Guna Avatara das       (gunaavatara.dasa@yahoo.co.id)

Kumudaksa das           (kumudaksa.dasa@gmail.com)

Written by RP Bhakti Raghava Swami

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