DEATH is purported to be the equalizer of mankind, levelling everyone to a lump of clay, regardless the magnitude of his wealth or his stature within society.

But there is another equalizer, and one more crucial to the dynamics of human endeavour to relinquish his own ego to a higher power and an admission that, regardless of how great one is within societal framework and the parameters

structuring the socio-economic graphs, everyone who believes in God bows to the absolute and infinite supremacy of that almighty being; albeit those of different religious persuasions may call Him by a different name, but all the major religious texts have one message, which is love of , and service to one’s fellow man.

The quest to fulfill this imperative brought His Holiness Swami Purananandaji Maharaj, a senior member on the executive committee of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, headquartered in India, to Guyana in 1955, in response to what could be termed a directive from the spiritual head of the Sangha, Jagad Guru Acharya Swami Pranavanandaji, who adjured his followers to spread knowledge and offer sanctuary to those in need throughout the world.

Spiritual/Administrative head of the Guyana Sevashram Sangha, Swami Vidyanandaji, with deputy, Bramchari Vidur, and a young acolyte.

“Big Maai,” a term of reverence to a respected woman, of Resaul Maraj Estate of Cove and John donated to the Sangha 20 acres of undeveloped land, while her son-in-law, Mr. Soogreeme Persaud of Greenfield promised to build a school, a library, and a students’ dormitory, while other supporters erected the Mandir (Hindu Temple) and Monastery. Subsequently, over the years a secondary school and other outbuildings dedicated to various deities through which the Lord manifests his multiplicity of power were erected and within less than a year the Guyana branch of the Sevashram Sangha began functioning.

Current spiritual and administrative Director of the Mission, Swami Vidnandaji, said that, although the initial initiative was to educate Hindu children, his preceptor and founder of the mission, His Holiness Swami Puranandaji Maharaji, upon witnessing the lack of opportunities for other children, opened the doors of the schools, both at the primary and secondary levels, to children of different faiths.

Swami Vidyanandaji said that, when the Government nationalised private schools and they lost full control, standards declined somewhat and some degree of desecration of their consecrated and sacred complex ensued, but that they sought for, and received, the right to choose the members of faculty, so the teachers were of the calibre in keeping with the ethos and ethics of the sangha, which, although it caters for a secular discipline, maintains the mores and values of its spiritual genesis.

Serving prashad to worshippers.

One of the highlights and most important – described as the pinnacle, of the many events of the Sangha is the 24-hour ceremonials in commemoration of Maha Shivratri, which means a celebration of the Night of Lord Shiva, which is the most important festival for the devotees of Lord Shiva, because Hindus consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on Shiva Ratri as it is believed that worship of Lord Shiva with sincerity and devotion absolves a devotee (disciple) of past sins. Hindu scriptures relate that Shivji told Devi Parvati that worship during Shivratri pleases Him the most.

Maharatri Festival is considered to be of extreme significance to women, as the sincere worship of Her Lord predisposes Devi Parvati to bless women with long, prosperous and blissful marriages.

During the twenty-four hour of this Festival the chantings of the Lord’s name in the Sri Guru Mandir, the Shiva Kund Mandir, the Laxhminaraine Mandir, the Shivalaya Mandir, the Shiva Parbat Mandir, the Hanuman Mandir, and the Krishna/Rama Mandir reverbrated in the air and created an indescribable aura of peace and tranquility that blanketed the soul with a sense of oneness with the universe — an integration with space and light that, for a time, transformed one into something greater than human as the quintessential essence of the Godhead in Man rose foremost to dominate his baser instincts.

The Ashram during the period of Shiva Ratri is the Hindu’s place of pilgrimage in Guyana. As I sat in the various mandirs I witnessed millionaires and paupers, children and adults bow their heads with equal reverence to the Supreme Lord and I wondered why this cannot be the unifying factor in the brotherhood of man throughout the world, instead of using each other’s faiths as an excuse to destroy each other.

The story of this philanthropic and monastic organisation is one of sacrifice, dedication, hard work, and commitment to the ideals of supreme founder, who said, “I cannot bear to see the degradation of youths any longer… An ideal system of education is that which is conducive to the harmonious growth of the body, the mind, the soul, and the intellect of the person who is receiving the education.”

The Ashram thrives on the concept of seva (service) to humanity, which is the bedrock on which the organisation is based. Along with spiritual activities such as Sunday morning satsangh (worship) and twice-daily puja, celebrations in a major way of other religious festivals, such as Diwali, Phagwah, Ramnavmi, Navraat, etc., the Ashram also conducts workshops, development sessions, an annual summer camp for children, fun-days, among other events structured to mould growth and development in healthy, productive and progressive ways. The organisation responds to both national and individual crises in times of natural disasters, moments of grief, personal, and in any way possible to alleviate suffering.

Although many of its students cannot afford formal education, the Hindu College, which offers tuition in English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Office Administration, Information Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Geography, History. Spanish, Hindi, Physical Education, Hindu Religious Education, and Yoga seeks the assistance of sponsors through its scholarship programme so that it does not turn away deserving students.

The flooring of the dormitory is in a very bad shape and, in view of the fact that the organisation is run through assistance programmes from those whom have benefited from its many services, it is quite likely that this will soon be rectified and the dormitory will soon have a new floor.

Some of the kudos accorded the Hindu College are as follows:

Guyana Graphic of 22 October, 1973: Chief Education Officer, Mr. G.O. Fox, recently praised the management of the privately-owned Hindu College and described the 17-year-old academic institution as ‘a model of true education in Guyana.’

On 19th July, 1958 Shri Kaka Kalekhar, a cultural ambassador and colleague of Mahatma Gandhi, said: “Swamiji is doing God’s work. He is spreading education to all without distinction. He believes in spiritual values. I am sure his work will grow in volume and importance and will be a blessing to all.”

On 2nd February 1959 Sir Patrick M. Renison, RCMG, Governor of Guyana, said: “I was very happy to come back after three years to open the Science Laboratories and to see so much growth here since my last visit.

On 20th February, 1993 USA Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. George F. Jones, said: “I feel very privileged to have visited the Ashram and to see the excellent work it is doing in the education of the Guyanese children. I hope to return soon.”

The Observer: “The Hindu College changed the academic lives of hundreds who sought its refuge, regardless of religious and ethnic persuasions. Men and women of calibre who occupy prominent positions in many fields with authority and competence all over the world owe it to the Hindu College.”

Many of the past students of the Hindu College become so enamoured of the Sangha that they never want to leave and opt to join the monastery as Bramcharis. Currently Bramchari Vidur deputizes for Swamiji as administrative head during the latter’s absences, while Bramchari Brijesh oversees maintenance of the complex.

Maha Shiva Ratri, which falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the February-March period in the English calendar. According to Shri Prakash Gossai, “This is a time of reflection where, in this mad onrush, we pause and crave, with unparalleled devotion, His divine grace.

During this festival past students of the Hindu College, of every race and religious persuasion, re-visit the source of their success and pay obeisance to the most devine preceptor, Shri Shankar Bhagwan, with equal sincerity and devotion to their Hindu counterparts.