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For three days in mid-March, 2010, Adi Da Samrajashram (the sacred island of Naitauba) and many neighboring islands in Fiji were battered by Cyclone Tomas, a category 4 storm. After hurried preparations we (the 70 devotees of Adi Da Samraj and 130 Fijian staff and their families living on Naitauba Island) barricaded ourselves in buildings, at times fearing for our safety as the storm raged outside with indescribable ferocity. For hour after hour winds reaching 150 mph (240kmh), tore at buildings, and wreaked havoc with vegetation. Huge waves swept the island’s shoreline, and over 14 inches (350mm) of rain fell in a single day. After 27 hours we emerged from shelter to a scene of staggering destruction. Now we urgently need your help!
Naitauba Island is the Hermitage Sanctuary of His Divine Presence Adi Da Samraj, spiritually empowered by Him, as the primary place from where His Divine Blessing flows perpetually to the world. It is the site of His principal ashram home and the most precious sacred sites and temples in Adidam. For 25 years, Adi Da worked to establish the island of Naitauba as a unique esoteric and ecological treasure. Adi Da Samrajashram is devoted to the principles of green living, sustainable energy, cooperation, tolerance, and peace, and Adi Da’s devotees and the local Fijian and Indian staff live together harmoniously, serving and protecting the sacred environment of the island. It is a uniquely pure and untouched sanctuary in the world today. |
Cyclone Tomas was the most destructive event to have occurred on Naitauba in living memory. Gracefully, no one on the island was injured, and the many empowered temples and holy sites were miraculously spared. Although numerous huge trees and branches fell within inches of sacred buildings, almost no damage was done to any of these structures. However the damage to the island’s infrastructure - roads, power, communications, water, gardens and more - is very extensive and will take many months and considerable expense to fully restore. In addition, several residences, offices, and meeting places were severely damaged or destroyed. A large proportion of our daily food on Naitauba comes from our extensive organic gardens and orchards. Almost all of these have been totally destroyed. The ashram has ample supplies of dried foods, but for the coming many months fresh fruits and vegetables will have to be imported. Some can come from within Fiji, but as many other Fijian islands suffered similar damage it is likely that much will have to be expensively imported from other countries. As you can understand, we have no idea yet what it will take to repair the damage and restore Adi Da's Holy Island-Hermitage, but we do know that the cost will be enormous. We are still in the process of developing a fuller picture of the scope of the damage so that we can begin to estimate costs, but we estimate that we need around $500,000 USD to 'jump-start' the process of repairing and rebuilding.
How to donate to Cyclone Tomas Relief > Here is a partial list of immediate needs:
Further restoration and development needs:
Our need is great and urgent, and we most gratefully welcome any contributions you can make. Ten percent of all contributions will be donated to Fiji Government relief programs for cyclone victims on neighboring islands, and a further seven percent will be dedicated to guaranteeing the off-island preservation in perpetuity of sacred artefacts that His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj used during His physical lifetime, as well as original manuscripts, art work, photos, and audio-visual recordings.
Countless numbers of large and small trees were uprooted in every part of the 2500 acre island, including at Adi Da’s Forest-Hermitage, which He named “Lion’s Lap”, and where He spent a great deal of time in the final years of His physical Lifetime. It is hard to comprehend the destruction there. More than half of the hundreds of trees lie toppled and broken in vast heaps. Huge waves whipped up by the storm engulfed Adi Da’s residence, smashing through windows and walls, filling parts with debris, and totally transforming the adjacent beach. Just to remove the debris at Lion’s Lap will take many workers weeks of work, and this is only one small part of what we have to do there and elsewhere on the island.
When large trees are blown over their massive root balls rear up, tearing huge holes in the ground. In many places where this has happened these root balls have ripped up roads, smashed guard rails, disturbed the foundations of buildings, and broken underground water, phone, and electrical lines, so much of the initial effort on the island will involve opening access to the various sacred structures and residences, and repairing and reconnecting the basic services. Access beyond the two areas where most of us live is still limited and difficult.
What is needed to fully restore and protect the Sacred island of Naitauba is far beyond the means of Adi Da’s formal devotees. Therefore we reach out to anyone and everyone who is heart-moved to respond. We very much look forward to your financial help and any other offerings in the form of skills and ideas for further support. Thank you!
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How to make a donation To make a pledge toward the Naitauba Relief effort, please email us with the amount you can donate. Or donate now by check, PayPal, or credit card (also through PayPal).
The Holy Domains of Adidam is a US-based non-profit tax exempt religious organization If you are not a United States resident and would like to make a tax deductible donation in your country, please contact us at the above address or email us.
Further information about Cyclone Tomas
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