Coromandel Shiv Mandir – Celebrating Existence

Celebrating International Day of Families!

Posted on May 15, 2016May 23, 2016 by rachaelathomasj

Did you know that today is International Day of Families? Indeed it is!

It’s a day to celebrate not just today but everyday as with all other big occasions! Either way let’s do it now and let’s do it together! Ready, set go, let’s begin!

This is one song we can relate you I am sure you will agree! Have fun with it!

Today I celebrate my family! It is through family we learn so many things and it’s also the people we spend most of our lives with. We are not all blessed with the same experiences but what would be interesting is the answer you might come up with to this question: What does family mean to you?

Allow me to answer it myself- it’s my immediate family, my extended family, my Coromandel Shiv Mandir family, my Dattatreya family, my COSTAATT family as well as those other special people in my life (my close friends). Family means these special people who I enjoy spending time with, who I laugh with, learn from and people who I value! Family is laughter, support, being there for each other, sharing moments, creating memories, encouraging each other. It is love and togetherness! It is knowing I am always there for you as best as I can be! It’s letting you know I’m looking out for you!

Truth be told I don’t think your answer would be one specific thing but I think one thing we can all agree on is that family is everything! We laugh, we cry, we talk, at times we disagree, but we love each other and a lot of times we learn from each other. Then there are times when we all realize how much we care about each other and how much every family member means to us!

We would all have different stories to tell! This was something I really enjoyed and I am quite happy to share with you! Please have a look at this video which describes the importance of family in life :

It’s very important not to lose sight of the people in our lives that matter! Live without regrets! Time waits on no one!

family1 — Embrace our opportunities and forever be thankful for our Blessings!

In closing remember this message: Other things may change but we start and end with the family!

family 2 Happy International Day of the Family from me and my family to you and your family!

Uncategorized

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:

hjdyc4 — Puja was in progress and devotees were participating in Puja

hjdyc — A View of Karya Siddhi Hanuman Ji from where I was sitting!

hjdyc11 — A beautiful sight- Guru Paduka Puja was performed as well as Puja to Lord Satyanarayana- the light, the flowers, the coconut, the decorations of the Padukas, Hanuman Ji, Lord Satyanarayana and Appaji-0ur beloved Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachidananda Swamiji of Mysore India

Such a beautiful sight- both Murtis of Lord Hanuman are beautifully decorated. Look at them adorned with flowers. Look also at the Malas of paan leaves, the lights, the parrots, the vada! Karya Siddhi Hanuman Ki Jai! Jai Veer Hanuman!

hjdyc14 — This is another view of the beautifully decorated Lord Hanuman! Jai Veer Hanuman!

hjdyc7 — This was such a mystical sight! There was a full moon for Hanuman Jayanti 2016! I am happy I was able to get this picture!

hjdyc8 — So beautiful! So mystical! Look at how brightly the moon was shining and I am pleased I was able to get this photo of Lord Hanuman and the Moon.

hjdyc9 — The greatness of Hanuman Ji is evident! For those who do not know Hanuman Ji is the 11th incarnation of Lord Shiva! Bajrang Bali Ki Jai!

hjdyc10 — This picture like the others tells a thousand words!

In case you are still learning the Hanuman Chalisa please use this video to help you:

Please remember to save the dates: July 2nd- 9th 2016

Uncategorized

Celebrating Hanuman Chalisa Chanting at Coromandel Shiv Mandir

Posted on February 7, 2016February 7, 2016 by rachaelathomasj

Sita Ram! Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Indeed January 31, 2016 was a blessed and blissful day! If you missed this opportunity to join with us we are happy to share some of it with you via this post and if you were with us, this is our way of letting you know how meaningful your presence was to us.

It was a day Coromandel Shiv Mandir hosted the Datta Kirtan Mandali members and it was a day that we together with many other devotees were looking forward to! For those who know Coromandel is where I grew up and an opportunity to be at the Mandir and in my family home is always something I look forward to thoroughly.

We had planned on leaving earlier than we actually did but we were happy that we got there on time. Interestingly enough we met our Datta family just before we reached Chatham and were able to witness the full Hanuman Chalisa Chanting event! When the function ended we were able to spend more time with everyone-our Coromandel Shiv Mandir family, our Datta family, my family, members of the Epic ChanTTing Team and other devotees who are equally dear to us!

Here is what the official invitation looked like and we were happy to share it with as many people as we could.

12552615_10153832907502356_1916186983886358948_n — *This was created by my sister- Ria Thomas*

The Mandir as always was beautifully decorated and at the entrance we were greeted by the beautiful Murti of Lord Ganapati! Ganapati Bapa Moriya! When we got there Pundit Naresh Maharaj was concluding puja and devotees were seated, awaiting the start of the chanting!

Many would agree that Hanuman Chalisa Chanting is so therapeutic, so meaningful, and it is always filled with so much love and energy. This event is indeed a memorable one and it is considered by us all as a great blessing. It was a collective effort as teamwork was present throughout. Moreover it was a blissful, a powerful and an awesome experience. No one word could fully describe it.

Here are some of the pictures I was able to get:

csm4 — *Sri Gyan Ramlogan and Members of the Datta Kirtan Mandali as they get ready for chanting*

csm5 — *Prayer was being offered-Om Namo Hanumate Namaha*

shiv ji baba

Lord Shiva was adorned with a beautiful fresh flower Mala made by Auntie Asha Moonsammy

hanuman baba — *Lord Hanuman was adorned with another beautiful fresh flower Mala made by Auntie Asha Moonsammy*

csm8 — *Hanuman Chalisa Chanting was in progress! Jai Veer Hanuman!*

csm1 — *Standing by the Bedi was Pundit Naresh Maharaj who conducted Puja prior to the start of chanting.*

csm3 — *Devotees stood with clasped hands and sang as the Aarti was being performed.*

Every moment spent was one to cherish. We could tell that everyone enjoyed this experience because of the radiant smiles we saw, the way everyone participated in chanting and in the feedback we received following the function.

We had just over 125 devotees in our presence and chanted Hanuman Chalisa 14 times.

It was a joyous occasion too as it allowed Epic ChanTTing members to officially meet each other.

January 31, 2016 remains a memorable day for the Coromandel Shiv Mandir and its Members. From my Mom (Mrs Doris Thomas), my Dad (Mr Ranjit Thomas), and all other Members of the Coromandel Shiv Mandir to the Members of the Datta Kirtan Mandali and all Devotees, we thank you each of you wholeheartedly for chanting Hanuman Chalisa with us! May the continued Blessings of the Divine Master be with you now and always!

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

Uncategorized

Celebrating Family!

Posted on March 7, 2015March 12, 2015 by rachaelathomasj

“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege”- Charles Kuralt

At this very moment I am Celebrating Family in an official way! Otherwise I celebrate it unofficially making the most of every waking moment with those I love!

If you didn’t know then you know now- my family is my immediate family (my dad Ranjit, my mom Doris, my sister Ria, my brother Ricky, sister-in- law, Leci, my nephew Richie Lee Thomas- members of dad’s family (Thomas, Bheem, Ramlakhan, Roopnarine, Mungal, Basdeo families and aunts, uncles, cousins-Persad, Gayah,etc of my dad), Dookie- (members of mom’s family, i.e. Dookie, Ramlogan, Bocas, Mohammed families and aunts, uncles, cousins etc of my mom- Singh’s, Jagdeo’s, Bridgelal’s, Sinanan’s, Moon and Ramlakhan), Jeremiah’s-members of Shiva’s family, (i.e. Jeremiah, Singh, Carson, Pettersson families), friends, those who my posts reach, Coromandel Shiv Mandir family, Dattatreya family, former colleagues who keep in touch, those who are humane, those from all over the world (India, Australia, USA, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Guyana etc who view my blog) and those who have a heart

In this post I celebrate you! Yes indeed, I celebrate each of you!

In essence I celebrate each of you as my family!

About a month or two ago, a classmate asked about my favourite childhood memory and I said it was spending time with my family and sitting down for Sunday lunch together.

I value every smile I have seen, every hug I have shared, every time I have been able to tell my loved ones, “I love you!” and show them my love for them.

Have a look at these videos. I can identify with them so much and I am sure you will be able to!

I will remain forever happy for the blessings of my family! Every time I made you smile and heard you laugh… every time I hugged you, every time I saw you, spoke to you, got to do something for you and be on the receiving end of you doing something for me!

Grandpa, grandma, Mom, Dad, my husband, my sister, my brother, my sister-in-law, my handsome nephew,etc etc I value every minute I have had with you thus far and I cherish what is yet to! Don’t waste an opportunity to celebrate family! Time waits on none of us! From me to you, all members of my family as listed at the beginning, I celebrate you- I celebrate family!

Uncategorized

Celebrating Multiculturalism!

Posted on October 27, 2014January 12, 2015 by rachaelathomasj

We are rich in so many ways as a people and sometimes due to human nature it is something we take for granted as individuals. What does it mean to “Celebrate Multiculturalism”?

According to Dictionary.com multiculturalism is,

“noun

the state or condition of being multicultural.

the preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, as a state or nation.”

Look around us, in our country, don’t we see evidence of multiculturalism? Look at our buildings, our way of dressing, our food, and a basic thing as our calendar! It surrounds us and it is us! It is who we are as a people! As a people, we should be proud of it and we should celebrate it! Let’s celebrate it! Let me paint the picture and you enjoy looking at this story unfold!