LAST Tuesday Hindus from all over Guyana and in the Diaspora, along with some special guests, converged at the Guyana Sevashram Sangha headquarters at Cove and John on the East Coast of Demerara to commemorate the auspicious festival of Shivraatri – the Night of Shiva, and to pay homage to Bhagwan Mahadeo.The transcendental ambience of the Ashram is one that has provided solace and comfort to many troubled souls. Its aura of peace and spiritual bliss has encapsulated, enervated, and elevated many who subsequently became devotees, and a few chosen ones who take vows to pursue the life of a sanyasi.

Former President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said, in the video production on the Life of His Holiness Guruji Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj, the first Swami of the Caribbean and a giant among men and monks, that as a young man, long before he became Minister of Finance or President, he often sat under the trees and submerged himself in the ambience of peace and spiritual tranquility of the Ashram.

So has great Shiva devotee, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is convinced that it is only by the devotion to Lord Shiva that he learned to practice at the Ashram, and the guidance of Guruji, that he has achieved all that he has today.

Academic excellence and service to man

The Guyana Sevashram Sangha, commonly known to everyone as the ‘Cove and John Ashram’, has been described as the spiritual and academic capital of the Caribbean. It is certainly the holy place of pilgrimage in Guyana for Hindus who journey from all over Guyana and all over the world, especially to celebrate Shivraatri, to this holy place that has been sanctified by the great sacrifices of the monks and devotees who have worked unremittingly and made tremendous sacrifices to serve mankind through educational, spiritual and empowerment pursuits.

It is an amasing phenomenon that the Hindu College takes children with the lowest assessment passes who did not gain entrance to recognised high schools, some of them with serious disciplinary problems, and churn out the most rounded personalities who straddle the world today in achievement at the highest levels in various spheres of endeavour.

What is interesting to note is that a top female student of the Hindu College several years ago, Cliffon Chichester, had transferred to the Hindu College from President’s College by her dad, a former principal of PC, because she had been doing badly at what is supposed to be Guyana’s premier institution of learning.

Through this local branch of the universal Bharat Sangha, Guyana has produced the only monks originating from the western hemisphere and today they serve the Lord in various parts of the world. It is a miracle to see the transformation of what was once 20 acres of swampland donated by Mrs. Resaul Maraj, ‘Big Mai’, largely through unremitting toil and sacrifices of the monks, bramcharis and devotees of Hindu dharm. It is an even greater miracle to witness what is achieved from extremely little resources at the Ashram. Food is cooked for thousands with the most basic of kitchen facilities, with no modern equipment, such as a simple blender, where even a grater to strip carrots had to be borrowed because the one at the Ashram was falling to pieces. Until Mrs. Seeta Sharma of the Sharma Foundation donated a washing machine to the Ashram, washing had been done for dozens of boys at the dormitory in the most primitive way, yet the environment is kept scrupulously clean by a handful of very dedicated and committed adherents of Hinduism who have followed their religion’s precepts of service to mankind without expectation of reward.

Under the stewardship of Guruji, after the departure of His Holiness Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj, founder of the Guyana Sevashram Sangha, despite the trying times when the Sangha’s schools were usurped and converted to public institutions, with a consequential degradation of its once pristine standards, the complex continued its transformation into a modern institute of academia and theology.

The Ashram boasts the only Gurukul in Guyana, with boys from all over the country living in the dormitory.

Soon to be established is an orphanage that will house and nurture children who have been left alone to fend for themselves.

Place of Pilgrimage

From the inception of its establishment the Ashram has been Guyana’s place of pilgrimage for Hindus, especially during the auspicious Shivraatri festival.
During Shivraatri observances, Hindus flock the Ashram from all parts of the world, and last Tuesday was no exception.
The Bharat Sevashram Sangha celebrates Maha Shiva Ratri at all its worldwide Sanghas for 24 hour worship, commencing at 5:30 hrs on Shivraatri morning with Shri Shri Guru Aarti and Procession with the Tulsi Plant and concluding the following day at 5.30 hrs with the concluding Aarti.
Every year the Guyana Sevashram Sangha is blessed with the presence of its spiritual and administrative head, His Holiness Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj (Guruji).
During the twenty-four-hour observances devotees from every part of Guyana, and even outside of Guyana, make what has become an annual pilgrimage to pay obeisance at the holy feet of Lord Shiva and seek His divine blessings.
Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj, the founder of the Guyana Sevashram Sangha, had been sent by the Bharat Sevashram Sangha to Trinidad, where he was working when he was sent an invitation to establish a mission of the Sangha in Guyana. He came for a brief visit on a one-way ticket but never returned. He had just been gifted land in Cove and John by great devotee, lovingly and respectfully called ‘Big Mai’, the wife of businessman Resaul Maraj, to build the Ashram.
Today the Guyana Sevashram Sangha and its various arms in Guyana stand testimony to the courage, determination and commitment of Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj and his disciples – a shrine of many miracles.
Every year the Ashram invites everyone in the fraternity of humanity to join with its devotees to seek the blessings of the great Lord of the universe, Lord Shiva, and incarnate Sri Sri Guru Maharaj, founder of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, during the auspicious observances of Maha Shiva Ratri. Some adherents who always grace the occasion are Indi Beharry, Presidential Advisor Charles Ramson and his wife Leila, their son Charles (Jnr) and his wife Alana Seebarran, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, former President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, among a galaxy of devotees of Lord Shiva. Former Finance Minister Sasenarine Kowlessar, a product of the Sangha’s gurukul system, is the annual Master of Ceremonies during these auspicious occasions. For the first time this year Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was absent from Shivraatri celebrations at the Ashram as he was deputising for President Ramotar at Cabinet.
During the Shri Shri Guru Puja and aarti last Tuesday, the venerable Guruji expounded on the way ancient Hindu philosophies, propagated down the centuries through various theological instruments, and quoting extensively from the Gita, elucidated on the dynamics of religion as it shapes existence on planet earth, especially on the lessons it imparts for perfect leadership. According to Guruji, the Ashram was established on the principles that all religions should be respected because they all chart one path to the supreme Father; and he adjured everyone to be the best they could be within the pathway they choose to reach the Lord.
Guruji elucidated on the consequences of one’s karmic destiny and warned that leaders who do not practice self and sense control influence in a negative way ordinary minds which are swayed by destructive influences.
AG renders bhajan during feature address
Representing President Donald Ramotar, who was out of town on state business, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall spoke of the nation’s dilemma at this juncture and expressed the hope that the blessings of the Supreme Lord will move the country in the right direction, so that all Guyanese should unite to chart a pathway to peace and progress.
Alluding to the religious and cultural diversity of the Guyanese nation, Nandlall posited that few countries in the world practice such religious and cultural tolerance and affords such freedoms as Guyana does. Here he drew a nexus with Christians celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus at Christmas, Muslims celebrating the birth of Prophet Mohamed (OWBP) during Youman Nabi celebrations; and the auspicious Shivraatri observances where Lord Shiva is propitiated by Hindus. He urged all Guyanese to continue to celebrate the beautiful tapestry of diversity in the land.
He recalled the years of yore when the people of this nation did not enjoy these freedoms; when, to access education or jobs it was a requirement to change one’s religion and name; and subsequently the other challenges that oppressed the nation. Among these he reflected on the challenging years when even the possession of the foods and requisite paraphernalia to sustain one’s religious and cultural traditions made simple people into criminals.
The AG urged his audience to always revere those who struggled and prevailed over the dark and destructive forces, with the blessings of the Supreme Lord. He entreated that vigilance and resolve should be strengthened to ensure that the victories that were so hard-won should never be lost.
Guyana’s guardian of the law celebrated his birthday on the auspicious day of the Shivraatri observances and he concluded his address with an ode to Shivaji, sung mellifluously and melodiously, mesmerising his audience. It seemed the Lord himself was guiding his faultless rendition, because he had only that morning re-acquainted himself with the words and melody of that old but appropriate bhajan, yet his performance was flawless, as was the synchronisation of the background chorus by the accompanying musicians.
US diplomat with great heart and blessed soul
Also delivering remarks at the religious function was Mr. Bryan Hunt, Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy. He is not afraid to acknowledge that Guyana’s past has had a very negative period and that the country is showing progress under the current administration, even while recognising that there is yet much to be done; and that the best way this can be achieved is by a holistic approach to development by all political, entrepreneurial and social stakeholders.
Hunt stressed the universality of religion and the absolute imperative for religion to be a bonding and not a divisive factor in the family of mankind.
This radical and revolutionary concept, he reflected, is premised on the plank of religious practices not being about doing what feels right, but about doing what is right. These, he said, are universal truths that should dictate the universal principles that mould and guide the actions of mankind.
Essaying the question of why youths are taking divergent paths that create pain and destruction in the universal family of mankind, Hunt posited that religion should be premised on messages of common humanity that proffers selfless service – something greater than self, which he said is the common spiritual thread of all religions.
He encouraged devotees to turn to Lord Shiva in times of need, noting that the entire world is currently in need of the Lord, and entreated the audience to follow the paths created by the Supreme Lord, whereby the universal family of mankind can co-exist in peace and harmony.
Rendering bhajans during the Shri Shri Guru havan were Bhaiji Ramnauth, Mangal, Shashi and Nareshwar. As every year, the students of the Hindu College chanted from the Holy Ramayan.