Interfaith Collection of Prayers and Support for Covid-19 Crisis in India

The second wave of COVID-19 spreading across India has pushed the nation into chaos. Patients are being turned away from hospitals as they struggle to keep up with the shortage of oxygen tanks and hospital beds, and crematoriums and funeral sites are overwhelmed with dead bodies.

As people across India struggle to grapple with the devastation of the virus and their immeasurable grief, interfaith communities are stepping up to offer support. Just one example is happening in Delhi, the country’s capital, where Gurudwaras – the Sikh houses of worship – are organizing ‘oxygen langars’ – sites with facilities where up to 80 people can take oxygen at one time or refill their oxygen tanks for free. Gurudwaras in other parts of India are also operating COVID-19 helplines and delivering food and oxygen for free to affected households. In another example, the Jahangirpura mosque in Vadodara, the third-largest city in Gujarat state, has been converted to a 50-bed makeshift hospital to help ease the pressure, after a shortage of beds and oxygen was reported.

People from across the world are also trying to help the Indian community during this difficult time. In Britain, volunteers at three Hindu temples raised more than 600,000 pounds ($830,000) last weekend by racking up 20,127 kilometers (12,506 miles) on stationary bikes, or roughly three times the distance from London to New Delhi.

IFYC is collecting prayers and meditations from diverse faiths to show our solidarity with the people of India, as well as links to charitable organizations that people can support. If you’d like to add to this list, please email Silma Suba at [email protected]

Prayers and Reflections from Diverse Faiths:

Janice D’Souza, Evaluation Coordinator at NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, offers a prayer from her Christian faith.

O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Shivam Gosai, Mental Health Clinician at Arlington Youth Counseling Center, offers a Hindu prayer.

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niraamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Meaning:
1: Om, May All be Happy,
2: May All be Free from Illness.
3: May All See what is Auspicious,
4: May no one Suffer.
5: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

Eboo Patel, Founder and President of IFYC, offers a reflection from his Islamic faith.

As an Indian American immigrant, I have family and friends I care about in India who I am deeply worried about. Everyone in India who is scared and suffering is in my prayers. The Qur’an described itself as a “healing” and asks all of us to be “a special mercy upon all the worlds”. This is the spirit and commitment India needs now.

Harleen Kaur, Education and Community Engagement Manager at The Sikh Coalition, has been illustrating Sikh prayers to provide comfort and solace to the community for the past year. She shares some of her work and Sikh prayers.