85 ft Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti – Celebrating Existence

Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti 2020!

Posted on April 8, 2020April 8, 2020 by rachaelathomasj

Jaya Guru Datta!

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha! Happy Hanuman Jayanti!

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For those who do not know,

“Karya” means wish or act. “Siddhi” means realizing. Therefore Karya Siddhi Hanuman is one who fulfills your wishes”.

Sri Karya Siddhi Hanuman stands majestically tall at the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre in Carapichaima. His is the 85 ft Murti which is known by people the world over and it is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. He represents strength and He represents victory. He gives Protection, Courage and He is synonymous with friendship, loyalty, compassion, bravery, purity of mind, thought and action! On a day like today thousands would make their way to the Ashrama to make offerings, give thanks, do puja, chant and glorify His name. Today however is quite different.

Today would be a day steeped in history as Hanuman devotees cannot do so! Why? We, like so much more of the global human population, are forced to stay at home to protect ourselves, our families, our communities and others because of Covid-19, the global pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on humanity by its spread and increasing number of deaths. Added to that Tuesday being Lord Hanuman’s Day was celebrated as Lord Hanuman’s Day by most of the Western world.

As I am typing this I have stopped for a view minutes to take in the Facebook Live from His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji! I am blessed to witness Poornaphala, I am blessed to witness Homa and I have been able to see many devotees from Trinidad and around the world being blessed to experience the very same! I have also been blessed to see Lord Hanuman as He stands majestically tall from a beautiful vantage point at Sri Datta Venkateswara Temple. Priceless!

Today, in Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti, I also take this time to celebrate His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – our dear Sadgurudeva, Appaji, Nada Brahma- and Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji- our dear Bala Swamiji! Both always take care of us. They always guide, They always share, They are always selfless and both show us sincerity, humility and all that is good and kind. They have made it possible for us to keep our focus in this very trying time of Covid-19 when so many are confined to their homes. If I may say, They have provided the oxygen to keep us going!

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Day after day we are given the opportunity to look at various lives from Mysore Ashrama. Appaji has given devotees an opportunity to guess the Bhajan that will be sung, day after day we are invited to participate in Puja, there is daily Kriya Yoga and this is in addition to all the other daily messages and activities to participate in.

Karya Siddhi Hanuman Msantras dattapeetham_493c0c2e63036c14292c1311f2dce5c1-page-001 — Photo Credit: Avadhoota Datta Peetham

How can we make this a true celebration?

Keep being good and doing good by being true to yourself and being your brother’s keeper
Chant Sri Hanuman Chalisa. Record your count and submit it on Avadhoota Datta Peetham. Do not just do this today but do it every day!
Chant Sri Hanumanji’s Mantras
Be thankful for life and for this lifeline we have been given
Make today count and let every day after bring added value!
Click on the links for each of the videos shared here and sing with Appaji
Use the Bhajan Mala App to learn the words for the Bhajans
Keep your focus
Keep praying and keep giving thanks

As we thank Lord Hanuman for all His blessings, let us also pray for the health of our dear Appaji- our Sadgurudeva- and our dear Sri Bala Swamiji. Appaji and Sri Bala Swamiji, thank You for all that You continue to do for us. Please accept our Humble Pranams and Prostations at both of Your Lotus Feet!

Love and Blessings, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji

Celebrating the relaunch of Trinidad Hanuman Datta Mala

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019 by rachaelathomasj

Jaya Guru Datta

Datta devotees and the followers of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda are always in search of valuable reading material that provide insight into His life, His music, His teachings and His projects. More so they are always in search of ways that His Holiness, our beloved Appaji shows us to be good and to do good. When an opportunity to get information like this presents itself it is one we must fully embrace and savour.

As such the focus of this post is to celebrate the relaunch of Trinidad Hanuman Datta Mala. It is timely, relevant and a wealth of information that is truly ours for the taking.

For those who may not be aware Trinidad Hanuman Datta Mala is an e-magazine and it is a quarterly publication that is being published under the auspices of His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Founder and Pontiff of Avadhoota Datta Peetham of Mysuru, India.

Photo Credit: Avadhoota Datta Peetham

The publication which initially existed as a print publication offers Datta devotees the world over and followers of His Holiness Sri Swamiji a more direct way to access the teachings of the publication and is now available with a click the the site http://www.dattamalatt.com

It provides a prolific introduction to His life, His teachings and His main mission, “Transformation of the mind” which He says, “is the grestest miracle.”

The Mysore Ashram is described providing readers with an opportunity to not just understand the greatness of Appaji, our beloved Sadguru but also the lengths He goes to take care of all of humanity.

Sri Swamiji as the living Nada Brahma is explained as well as the eternal principle of Dharma Prachaara and Vishwa Manava Dharma. We can all agree that Sri Swamiji’s has numerous social and charitable projects. Several of them are mentioned here including Annadanam, Shuka Vana and SGS Posts.

Insight into the life and work of junior Pontiff at Avadhoota Datta Peetham Pujya Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji our beloved Sri Bala Swamiji is provided.

Photo Credit: Avadhoota Datta Peetham

To date it contains several important messages. Key among them are the discourses from Sundar Kanda which were delivered by Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (Sri Bala Swamiji) during His visit to Trinidad in April and the Sri Rama Navami discourse given by His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidanda.

www.dattamalatt.com/post/sundar-kanda-day-1-sept-2019-issue-thdm-page-18-30

www.dattamalatt.com/post/sundarakanda

www.dattamalatt.com/post/rama-navami-message-from-pujya-sri-swamiji

Other pertinent messages are also shared:

• Sri Bala Swamiji’s message on the occasion of the Hanuman Day of Prayer www.dattamalatt.com/post/hanuman-day-of-prayer

• Understanding Abhishekam www.dattamalatt.com/post/understanding-the-significance-of-abhishekam

• The Importance of Ganapati (Ganesha)Young Satya https://www.dattamalatt.com/post/the-importance-of-ganapati-ganesha

• Preparations for the upcoming Maha Rudra Yagna www.dattamalatt.com/preparing-for-maha-rudra-yagna

• The importance of Śrī Bhagavad Gītā www.dattamalatt.com/śrī-bhagavad-gītā-1

• The importance of worshipping Lord Surya, the Sun God www.dattamalatt.com/post/importance-of-suryadeva-sun-god-worship

• Who is Rudra www.dattamalatt.com/post/who-is-rudra

• The speech that was delivered by His Holiness Param Puja Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda on the occasion of consecration of the Shiva Lingam at Aripo Datta Kashi www.dattamalatt.com/post/aripo-datta-kashi-temple

• Yoga Inspirations www.dattamalatt.com/post/yoga-inspirations

• Testimonials from several Datta devotees

We can all agree that this is truly a blessing and there is a lot of invaluable information here which you can read and which you can also share with others.

To subscribe to Trinidad Hanuman Datta Mala visit https://www.dattamalatt.com/about-contact.

Sri Guru Datta

Blessings from Appaji, Hanuman Day of Prayer, Hanuman Jayanti, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji

Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti 2019!

Posted on April 19, 2019April 22, 2019 by rachaelathomasj

Jaya Guru Datta!

Sita Ram! Happy Hanuman Jayanti 2019! Om Namo Hanumate Namaha!

sri bala swamiji — Photo Credit: Shivani Ramoutar

Today Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago join with Hindus around the world to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti! Trinidad is Hanuman Land as Lord Hanuman stands tall at Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre in Carapichaima at 85 feet tall- the tallest Hanuman murti outside of India.

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This Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti (so named because of His presence at Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre) stands tall and majestic, greeting His Guru Lord Surya as each day starts, welcomes devotees who come from around the world to see Him, He listens to them and their prayers and offers comfort, courage and solutions.

Lord Hanuman

IMG_20190419_192746 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_194404 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_192825 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_194026 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_193951 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

IMG_20190419_193659 — Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah

Like other Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, for Hanuman Jayanti 2019 devotees join in the signature colour red to make offerings of roat, dried coconut, paan leaves, flowers and host of other fruits and sweets that are offered to the revered God-dutiful servant of Lord Rama- the epitome of humility, discipline, strength and courage whose greatness we learn of in the pages of the Holy Ramayana. More so we learn of His patience, His selfless service, His commitment to duty and to helping others.

Throughout the island today Hanuman puja is being conducted today in homes, temples and various Ashramas, Hanuman Chalisa is being chanted and the name of Lord Hanuman is being glorified. At the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre today Hanuman Jayanti is being marked with all day chanting of Hanuman Chalisa by various Pundits and groups together with all day offerings by devotees visiting the Ashrama and will culminate with Hanuman Puja and Lord Satyanarayan Vrat Katha.

While Hindus are celebrating Hanuman Jayanti, Christians are celebrating Good Friday and today being Friday, Muslims had Jumaah today. It is what we in Trinidad and Tobago can describe as a true reflection of our diversity as a people.

Many can recall that Ram Navami was celebrated last Saturday. On this said Saturday-April 13- devotees of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Pontiff of Avadhoota Datta Peetham and founder of the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre held the Hanuman Day of Prayer. This was held with the blessings of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and in the Divine Presence of Junior Pontiff at Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Pujya Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji, our Beloved Sri Bala Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji’s visit many can agree was one where 4 days were well spent with priceless opportunities and beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. The 4 days were filled with a lot of activity all of which were fully meaningful and spiritually uplifting- daily Sri Chakra Puja, other daily Pujas, Homa, Abhishekam, bhajans, kirtan and discourse from Sundar Kand.

Sri Swamiji’s visit set the tone for Hanuman Jayanti and revealed several parallels between Him and Lord Hanuman- humility, devotion, purity of heart, thought and action and selfless service.

In closing keep chanting, keep praying, keep celebrating the good around you! More so as His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji always asks, “Be Good, Do Good”.

If you haven’t downloaded the app yet either visit the Google Play Store or the Apple Store and download your SGSPosts today! Let that be your gift to yourself and make it a gift you give to someone else by way of introducing them to it.

Hanuman Jayanti

Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti 2018!

Posted on March 31, 2018April 1, 2018 by rachaelathomasj

Today is Hanuman Jayanti! Screenshot_2017-04-04-11-38-02

Happy Hanuman Jayanti! Om Namo Hanumate Namaha! Jai Veer Hanuman!

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As journalist Seeta Persad so rightly said, Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago surely have eagerly been awaiting the arrival of Hanuman Jayanti. (See article http://newsday.co.tt/2018/03/30/hindus-mark-hanuman-jayanti-tomorrow/)

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Lord Hanuman means so much to so many and this is evident not just here in Trinidad but also in the way many the world over regard Him and give praises to Him. For starters He teaches us strength and patience, He teaches us about courage and humility and He offers us protection but He does so much more! The list can go on and on and will never stray from the essence that Lord Hanuman is our Blessing and He holds special significance for the thousands and more so the millions that pray to Him.

Here in Trinidad we have the 85 ft Hanuman Murti which was consecrated in 2003 but this is not just any Hanuman Murti. In addition to being the tallest Hanuman Murti in the Western World, this is a Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti. In looking at the history of this Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti I found this video that I am sure can provide meaningful insight to many devotees. It will in many respects help in shedding light on what the Newsday journalist was referring to. On this note I invite you to please have a look at it:

Moving on we can agree that indeed it is a divine blessing to hear the name of Lord Hanuman being glorified and indeed a blessing to be able to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman. Today thousands visited the 85ft Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti at the Dattatreya Yoga Center in Carapichaima. The chanting of Hanuman Chalisa was scheduled to begin at 6am this morning and it concluded after 7pm this evening. It was followed by Abhishekam, Puja and Homa.

Rightfully so there is a lot that we can learn from Lord Hanuman and a simple means of accepting these lessons comes from understanding what the Hanuman Chalisa is telling us. While the visit to the site http://aumamen.com/stotra/hanuman-chalisa can provide some ready assistance with this the link to Hanuman Chalisa for Parayana below will also provide you with peace, comfort and an abundance of postive energy.

Many present at the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Center today can attest to the fact that hundreds were able to offer their prayers to Lord Hanuman, sing Chalisa, perform Abhishekam, participate in Puja and Homa and also perform Aarti at the feet of Lord Hanuman. Today’s Hanuman Jayanti celebrations came after 5 nights of Ramayan Discourses delivered during the past week. The week’s sessions began with Pundit Abhedanand Persad Sharma on Monday and continued with Pundit Hardeo Persad on Tuesday, Pundit Jewan Maharaj on Wednesday, Swami Prakashananda on Thursday. It concluded with Pundit Bimal Maharaj on Friday.

In compiling this post finding bhajans being sung by His Holiness seemed most appropriate as His voice and His presence do more than words can ever fully express. Thankfully this morning I was able to hear and see His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Livestream (Click on Yoga Sangeeta) and this evening we were able to be at the feet of Lord Hanuman.

I love all of Appaji’s bhajans and this is one of the first I heard. It is followed by some other bhajans that are filled with meaning and positive energy. Here is my invitation to you to enjoy each of the Bhajans below and immerse yourself in Appaji’s offering!

As Hanuman Jayanti 2018 draws to an end continue putting into practice the many lessons Lord Hanuman has shared with us. As Appaji reminds us daily, “Be Good, Do Good”.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha! Karya Siddhi Hanuman Ki Jai!

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Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti 2016!

Posted on April 22, 2016April 24, 2016 by rachaelathomasj

Jai Veer Hanuman! Om Namo Hanumate Namaha! Bajrang Bali Ki Jai!

Hanuman Jayanti is one occasion that I like many other devotees the world over look forward to!

This was how the day began:

Hanuman Jayanti Greetings from Appaji- His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachidananda

This year I was able to be present at places I hold quite dearly and I was able to celebrate it with those who are extremely dear to me at firstly- the Coromandel Shiv Mandir in Coromandel Village Cedros, and later in the day at the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre at Orangefield Road in Carapichaima!

I was able to spend time with my family-immediate family, Coromandel Shiv Mandir family and our Datta family- a true blessing you will surely agree!

It was not only a day of singing praises to Lord Hanuman but it was a day of Hanuman Chalisa Chanting! All in all it was a blissful day and a day filled with devotion!

The day was filled with being there while pujas were being conducted, bhajans were being sung and the highlight of the day was spending it with people who I value! During puja at the Coromandel Shiv Mandir there was rain at one point and it was welcomed in the midst of the dry spell and soaring temperatures we have been experiencing in Trinidad and Tobag0.

When we arrived at Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre puja was in progress. Being at the feet of Lord Hanuman was a blessing and I enjoyed every moment thoroughly. The view of the moon was very inviting and capturing the pictures you see below together with the view of the stars were the final touches to an already perfect day!

Here are some pictures I took while I was at the Coromandel Shiv Mandir on Hanuman Jayanti:

csmhj10 — Puja to Lord Hanuman was in progress! My Mom (Mrs Doris Thomas) is the one in red kneeling at the Bedi!

csmhj8 — Offerings were being made to the Shiva Lingam

csmhj6 — The bedi-the flowers, sacred leaves, the tulsi tree, the fig tree, the kalsa, the lota-a beautiful sight!

csmhj1 — The murtis on the stage-Coromandel Shiv Mandir

csmhj3 — The singhasan -Coromandel Shiv Mandir

csmhj11 — Lord Ganesh, Hanuman Baba and Lord Shiva

I am grateful that both events did not occur at the same time as in the morning I was at the Coromandel Shiv Mandir and in the evening I was at the Dattatreya Yoga Centre to witness puja at the 85ft Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti.

While those were the morning pictures these were the evening pictures: