In this post I am celebrating His Holiness, Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji!
To some He is Sri Swamiji but to many of us He is Sadguru Deva, Appaji and Tataji!
He is the bearded Master who loves all of us and mankind unconditionally! He is the one who takes care of us selflessly, whose love transitions everything. He is the one with the priceless smile, with the overflowing energy, who gives and gives and only asks when He needs us to do what is necessary for our own good.
The past couple days have been a testimony of Appaji’s unwavering love and selflessness. His entire life is but this has been one microcosm of a much longer story that is representative of His life and transitions everything else! He is Nada Brahma, friend, teacher, Sadguru, healer, protector, Appaji, Tataji, and so much more in one physical form. He is Lord Datta!
In spite of health challenges, prior commitments, His extremely hectic schedule and so much more, Appaji came to Trinidad from Mysore for His devotees in Trinidad and Tobago and created history once again as His every action resulted in a most memorable visit that would forever be in the hearts of all whose lives have been touched by the events of this very short but blessed visit where so many blessed things have happened.
With Appaji’s Grace, an entourage of learned vedic pundits and scholars, all a part of Appaji’s mission travelled to Trinidad from Mysore, India and some from the USA and Canada to ensure that the Maha Rudra Yagam was conducted as it should be and from Day 1 of their arrival, they did excellent service.
In addition to this, devotees came from several different countries to witness the very same and some also, to see His Holiness for the very first time and to do seva. While on one hand His presence is a testimony of His greatness, His every action is a testimony of His greatness! He is the epitome of Truth, Knowledge, Bliss, Grace and Humility! He is Sachchidananda.
Appaji we pray for Your Health. Appaji thank You immensely for all You do for us moment after moment, day after day. Thank You for all that You do for all mankind! You are a blessing to us all! We love You more than words can ever say and value You immensely! You are our Appaji, Tataji to our children, Sadgurudeva to us all! Thank You for loving us, Thank You for guiding us constantly, Thank You for showing us how to live and all the reminders You share with us through social media platforms and Apps. Please accept our humble prostrations at Your Lotus Feet!
For us here in Trinidad it is indeed not just a memorable and blessed occasion but also a historic occasion as tomorrow marks the start of Maha Rudra Yagam and next week will be Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. These auspicious occasions are being held in the presence of and with the blessings of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, our Sadguru Deva (our dear Appaji) and Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (our dear Sri Bala Swamiji, junior and future Pontiff at Avadhoota Datta Peetham).
For those who are unaware, Sri Bala Swamiji arrived in Trinidad on Monday night and arrived at the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre Ashrama in the early hours of Tuesday morning. On Tuesday evening He delivered a very powerful discourse.
His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji arrived on Wednesday evening!
Ram Navami celebrations began early this morning and throughout the day. It began with the lighting of the lamp for Akhanda Rama Bhajana (sun rise to sunset) and continued throughout the day with Homas, Pujas and Satsanga for what was truly a blessed day. As many may be aware, Lord Rama’s story is very important, and He also teaches us many things.
Morning program was followed by evening Satsanga.
Indeed, this is a blessed occasion and a truly memorable one! Thank You Appaji for all blessings! Thank You for all You do for us, minute after minute and day after day!
In closing allow me to share these videos with Sri Ramachandra Ashtakam and the bhajan NamaRamayana!
In this post I am happy to share Appaji’s music with you!
His Holiness, Param Pujya Dr Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji is Nada Brahma. His music is Universal and like His messages, serve to guide us and protect us! Appaji’s music is nothing short of being full of spiritual vibrations, being therapeutic and being full of energy. Allow me to share this playlist with you!
His energy is Cosmic and Healing and nothing short of Divine! This is why we must listen to it fully and never pass up on an opportunity to listen to it and to enjoy it!
The reality is that words are inadequate to fully describe Appaji’s music and one thing we can agree on is that we are blessed to hear them, learn them, enjoy them and share them with others!
Appaji has also been imploring us to learn Bhagavad Gita and as with every other instruction by His Holiness, this too must be heeded. As such I am happy to share this playlist with you! Please feel free to share it with others.
“It’s a Happy, Happy, Happy Day! It’s a Holy, Holy Day! “
These are the words which have been playing in my head all day, because for us (meaning the devotees in Trinidad), the celebration is two-fold! The difference is, I am hearing it in Sri Bala Swamiji’s voice and the only other song I stopped to sing today was “Vande Santam Hanumantam” when I heard it in Pt Ganesh Maharaj’s TikTok video being sung by His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda!
This was one of the first bhajans of His Holiness that I heard and today I was reminded of my initial visits to the majestically tall Sri Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti which stands tall in Carapichaima. It is one many Datta devotees enjoy listening to, so I am sharing the YouTube link here.
Why is the celebration two-fold?
Let me explain:
June 9, 2022 marks the 19th Anniversary of the consecration of the 85ft Sri Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti by His Holiness Pujya Appaji.
At the time when this post is being written, it is already Jyestha Sudha Ekadasi in India. It is also the day when we celebrate the Lunar Birthday of His Holiness and we wish His Holiness a very Happy 80th Birthday!
The 85ft Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti here in Trinidad is one that reminds us day after day, how blessed we truly are here in Trinidad. No amount of words can ever say how truly grateful we are!
As the day began, for me it didn’t feel like one where I wanted to be rushing and sorting work! Yes, I know work is important and it takes so much of my time, but it was a day when I wanted a different pace and in more ways than one, I got it.
The energy, the peace and the way the entire day unfolded was proof of it!
For those wondering about Sri Karya Siddhi Hanuman, please allow me to share an excerpt from a post on Trinidad Hanuman Datta Mala, “Apart from that, Sri Appaji has always realised from His early visits, that our ancestors brought Hanuman worship in their hearts and minds and would sing his Chalisa if physical worship was not always possible, because of the difficulties they faced! This Hanuman devotion sustained them and helps us now also to overcome all obstacles!”
As described in “The Journey- Memoirs of A Devotee of Parama Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji,” by Sheetal Prasadji, a very humble and gentle soul who is widely known as a musician and author, who is Trinidadian by birth, “On that most auspicious day, Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Pontiff of Datta Peetham and Spiritual Master to countless devotees all over the world, by His Divine Sankalpa, consecrated the Karya Siddhi Anjaneya Temple and later stated, Now He had synthesized Himself with Sri Hanuman and taken permanent residence in my ‘Bhoomi’ my home land (Chapter 31).
For those wondering about the consecration day itself, please take the time to view this video posted by Hanuman Hoffman. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=YcgT5S_1360 Also take the time to view this video posted below:
With an abundance of posts on Social Media, namely on Facebook to mark this historic occasion, the energy and celebration were evident. They were all filled with so much love with several special moments and memories shared by Datta devotees. For most of the day messages and posts celebrating the anniversary of Lord Hanuman dominated social media and messages celebrating Appaji’s birthday were evident as soon as it was either morning in India or it was morning in other parts of the world.
What made my day was being able to view Puja and Purnahuti live from Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Ashrama and being able to hear Appaji’s message as before one of the live sessions concluded. It gave me renewed energy to do one of the things I love most- writing!
Today was a day of peace, a day of giving thanks and a day for counting blessings! It was also a day of positivity and gentle reminders.
Happy 80th Birthday year Appaji!
In closing I take this opportunity to wish Appaji a very Happy Birthday 80th Birthday year to You! Please accept our humble Prostrations at Your Lotus Feet!
This is a message from His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji! Episode 513 Srimadbhagavatam SGSPosts:
“Bhagīratha mounted his chariot and drove swiftly at the speed of wind. River Ganga rapidly flowed behind him purifying different lands as she flowed through them.”
Swamiji explains: What a meritorious deed Bhagīratha performed! He brought purity to all lands by bringing Ganga to Earth. Because of the existence of Ganga, all smaller tributaries and distributaries flow everywhere. You may wonder- do other rivers not have any speciality in them? Of course they have! Each river has its own speciality. But River Ganga surpasses all other rivers with its purity!
How should the auspicious river bath be taken in sacred rivers? It is incorrect to directly go and bathe in the river and cleanse oneself using soap. Prior to proceeding for a river bath, the person should bathe and cleanse himself. He should complete all his daily obligatory duties. He should then, with feelings of total purity and reverence, proceed to the river.
Washing clothes or utensils, bathing with soap, polluting the river with chemicals and factory wastes or dirtying the river by any other method are forbidden. Fetch the river water in a bucket and then use that water for your needs. It is incorrect to pollute the entire river in order to complete your tasks. A river is considered sacred and akin to nectar. A river flows through many mountains and herbs imbibing their medicinal properties. As it flows through varied types of rocks and gems, it absorbs their energies as well. It is natural mineral water. Drinking such water cures diseases. Crops grown with this water are nutritious.
Is it right to pollute such rivers? The Government’s efforts to clean the river are not yielding complete results due to lack of co-operation from citizens. They continue to pollute the river despite Government’s efforts. If at all polluted water needs to be let into the river, the water should be treated and then released. Sewage treatment plants should be set up for this purpose. When treated water is released into the river, the aquatic animals do not perish. By releasing polluted water, the plants perish, the animals are destroyed and the water is no longer fit for consumption. We are poisoning the water. We pollute the water and then blame the Government for not taking adequate steps. Government has been doing its best in this aspect.
When drainage waters are collected and left to dry, then Sun’s rays suck up the dirt and impurities. Germs are destroyed. When treated water is used for watering plants, the water enters into the earth. It gets purified there. Water table improves. We get purified drinking water again from earth.
We are careless in disposing garbage. We worry only about the cleanliness of our house when dirtying the streets and then shift the blame on to the Government. Shamelessly we use plastic covers and indiscriminately dispose them. Cows and buffaloes eat plastic and fall sick. Are we not sinning? When there are alternatives to plastic, why are we insistent on using plastic? Plastic rice and plastic noodles have flooded the markets. Let us now get back to the story.
When we go for a sacred river bath, we should at first bathe and cleanse ourselves at home. With devotion and reverence we should go to the river and dip thrice. That’s all. Applying soap and bathing in river increases the sins instead of destroying them. Sins of those who bathed earlier in those waters transfer to the person who dirties it.
“River Ganga flowed over the ashes of the sixty thousand sons of Sagara. With the touch of Ganga, these sons were purified and they reached heaven. From here originates the custom of taking the ashes of the deceased and offering them in River Ganga. She swallows up the sins”.
Yes, you have read the title correctly! This post is dedicated to announcing the Kindle publication of ‘Lotuses at His Holy Feet’. For those who are familiar with this book, it is a book of poetry that tells a story and it was written by Sheetal K Prasad, a Trinidadian by birth, who is an ardent devotee of His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. In this book Uncle Sheetal refers to His Holiness as, “my MASTER, my Lord, my sole reason for being.”
Lotuses at His Holy Feet is non-fiction and it is a testimony of Uncle Sheetal’s experiences as well as his love for His Holiness, his love for JayaLakshmi Maa and his love for Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji who we affectionately call Sri Bala Swamiji. More so it is a testimony and celebration of the greatness of the divinity each represents meaning a celebration of the greatness of our Sadguru who is the epitome of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss, as Lord Dattatreya, as Nada Brahma, as our Saviour, as the Crowning Glory of the Universe as I often times refer to His Holiness, and it is a celebration of His Mother-the Divine Mother-, His Guru as well as a celebration of Sri Bala Swamiji- Junior Pontiff at Avadhoota Datta Peetham who exudes humility, compassion and divinity.
Book Cover of Uncle Sheetal’s book!
Those who know Uncle Sheetal would know of his sincerity, his humility and his immense talent as a singer and musician. His life and messages provide us with a lot to learn. He is well-known and well-loved!
When you click on the link please take the time to read the book’s description aptly reads:
As William Wordsworth once said, “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.”
The book description goes on to say, “The verses penned here are from Sheetal K Prasad, who is widely known for his love of music, more so his love of the bhajans of His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda. It is a compilation of poetry and represents an emotional outburst that shows the great joy experienced by the author. Here he acknowledges the omnipresence of his Master, His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
This is an invitation to join the poet on this journey he narrates and immerse yourself in the peace, tranquility and rush of emotions he experiences.”
This is an invitation I extend to you with more good news! Uncle Sheetal’s book is available in Kindle Edition on all Amazon Marketplaces and these are the links below:
Even better, the awesome news doesn’t end here! You don’t need to have a Kindle to purchase the book! As I have mentioned time and time again you don’t need a Kindle device but you can click on the link that says, “Read with our Free App” that allows you to download the Free App and it can be read on your phone, laptop, tablet or desktop!
The beauty of having the book online is that all things considered having the book in Kindle format presents you with several benefits. Three (3) of the main reasons are as follows:
It is easily available by clicking on the link and making an online purchase, it doesn’t require physical storage space and considering the current situation we are faced with (the Covid-19 pandemic) having books in Kindle Edition means not having to travel physical distances to access books like this which will offer us peace of mind, tranquility and insight into the greatness of His Holiness, Jayalakshmi Maa and Sri BalaSwamiji.
As always I remind you that this is yours for the taking! Welcome the experience and enjoy the Kindle journey! Sri Guru Datta!
Today I celebrate our India Pilgrimage 2019! A little over a year ago we were blessed to be in Mysore! One year ago we were blessed to be in Varanasi! One year ago we were blessed to take bath in the Ganges! As I have said time and time again our pilgrimage to India was the blessing of a lifetime.
Had anyone told us what 2020 would be like except our Sadguru we would have questioned it because a first visit to Mysore Ashrama is a visit that will be followed by other such visits!
No one I believe would have thought that Covid-19 would bring the world to its feet. No one would have thought the travel industry would be brought to a standstill. No one would have thought life as we knew it would be replaced by the ‘new normal’.
Our visit to India was a trip that will never be forgotten! We left Trinidad on September 23 and arrived in India on September 25. We arrived at the Ashrama in the evening after a 3 hour drive. It was scenic and provided a first hand view of India as it really is- a mixture of hustle, bustle, honking horns of taxis and rickshaws, well maintained roads and businesses of all types lining the highway.
The next morning we were invited to join our Datta family from Trinidad (they had arrived a few days before) on a trip to Mekadatu where His Holiness was born. Along the way we saw so many beautiful sights- fields of flowers in full bloom, rice paddies well cultivated and maintained by hard working farmers, a buzz of activity in the marketplace, school children going to school and people in general going about their daily activities with pride and a sense of duty.
Our arrival at the temple where Jayalakshmi Maa stayed was peaceful and tranquil. The humility and the love of the people there is something which will always be with us. One thing that stood out was the peacefulness of the monkey who freely moved from tree to tree.
Had anyone told us that we would be crossing the river in a basket we might have doubted. With the water higher than it usually was, it was certainly an experience and an experience that was guided by SadGuru. There was no time to think of being afraid of anything and the peace and serenity that was with us was incomparable. The sound of the water as it moved, the monkey that moved freely, the small Hanuman temple where we were able to pay our respects and receive Darshan- all memories we will cherish!
We were fortunate to spend the night in Jayalakshmi Puram which is very sacred grounds and has a lot of spiritual significance for all Datta devotees. This journey allowed us to get a valuable understanding of the life of His Holiness and His parents, Sri Jayalakshmi Maa and Sri Narahari Teerthan Swamiji. The next morning we got the opportunity to walk through the village where His Holiness lived in His childhood days and in the afternoon we were able to visit Sri Jayalakshmi Nilayam. Our last stop before returning to Ashrama was Sogala- very sacred grounds surrounded by lush green grass and beautiful well maintained surroundings.
Our return to Ashrama occurred with us finding the Ashrama with a buzz of activity with Navatri preparations well underway. Experiencing Navatri in the Ashrama is beyond description.
It meant seeing the ladies busy sweeping from early morning, doing beautiful rangolis, looking at the ladies who led the procession each day dressed in the colour for the day with the kalasas on their heads, the dancers and singers moving in unison and then those strategically positioned at the front of the chariot carrying His Holiness and Sri BalaSwamiji. It was in every sense truly festive, celebratory and filled with energy.
It also meant seeing His Holiness beautifully dressed every morning on the chariot to Nada Mantapa where the devis would be aartied and gifted, Puja would be conducted and discourse would be given. It also meant bhajans from visiting groups who would have the privilege of performing while His Holiness conducted Puja.
Following the morning programme it meant being able to go upstairs to take the Darshan of the Divine Mother. Each day was a blessing! Following Navratri we were able to visit different parts of the Ashrama and nearby places like the Market, the temples at Chamundi Hills and the shopping area just to name a few. Added to this Divali was a memorable occasion that will always be with us.
Our journey from Mysore took us to Bangalore where the peacefulness, the divinity and the overall atmosphere reminded us of the Ashrama we had earlier left in Mysore. Undoubtedly the divinity, the positivity, the energy- everything provided insight on the spirituality and divinity of these spiritual grounds.
The next day we travelled to Varanasi, a city steeped in history and religion. Different yes, but the walk to the Shivala Ghat the next morning where we took bath in the Ganges was an experience we would never forget. The beauty of the sun over the Ganges is something we also will never forget. The steps that made it easier to step into the water were quite helpful too. It was not just about being in Varanasi but it was about being in Varanasi with His Holiness our Sadguru and with His Holiness Sri Bala Swamiji for the consecration of the Varanasi temple and for the Maha Ati Rudra Yagna. With guidance from both we were able to see holy sites and maximize the extent of our travels! Every day brought something new that was reflected in various ways! Every day provided something to treasure! The experience will always stay with us! It meant time in the presence of divinity, visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Vishalakshi Devi temple, visiting the Kedarnath temple and several other sacred places throughout the nearby areas.
If you would like to read more about our 2019 India Pilgrimage please click on the links below. Please also click on the links to the videos above and do also take the time to view the photos that have been included.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/plastic-pollution/ A simple click on the above link would help to paint the picture of the reality that mankind faces as a result of plastic pollution. One very important fact we can all attest to is that the Earth is in trouble because of our use of plastics. This is primarily due to how humans pollute the Earth because of the way plastics are used and more so because of the way plastics are disposed of.
On October 17, 2019 His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda issued a call for all ashramites to stop using plastic. To each His Holiness provided an eco toothbrush. Those who are devotees and followers of His Holiness Param Pujya Dr Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda would surely understand that His Holiness does nothing that is against nature and He also does nothing that is against mankind. Instead it is the very opposite and His love knows no bounds. His actions are always filled with thought, love, sincerity and compassion and this is always directed at all of Creation.
His visit to Antarctica https://www.dattapeetham.org/events/2013/sri-swamiji-in-antarctica-29-dec-2013-to-07-jan-2014 is an example of this. The care given to animals wherever His Holiness goes is another indication of this. Shuka Vana which is home to over 475 species of birds, the koi pond, the Bonsai Garden which has a plant for each of the 365 days of the year, the Gau Shala and His visit to various places around the world is proof of this. One particular memory which stands out in my mind is seeing squirrels and monkeys up and down trees and running around the Ashrama. The way that they are comfortable and the way that they are at peace is evident. No questions need to be asked. The truth is they may not be able to live as peacefully as this in any other part of the country.
As humans we owe it to Mother Earth (Dharti Maa) to take care of Her because she has blessed us with the food which sustains and nourishes us and the land where we make our homes. However we should not take care of the Earth because we feel obligated to but it should be because we care and we genuinely want to. One very real way of doing that is by reducing our use of plastics. It is doable and it is very possible. All it requires is firm conviction (your thought and belief process) and action (actually efforts and measures to reduce your use of plastics).
Here as some ways to help the environment: 1. Recycle- ( glass bottles, plastic bottles, paper, unused books) You can do this by checking locally in your country of residence for this. Those who live in Trinidad and Tobago can refer to this previous post (https://rachaelathomasj.com/2018/01/23/celebrating-nature-recyling) 2. Reduce wastage meaning use just what is needed. Do not use what is not needed. Do not be complacent and mismanage. Such actions will not help anyone. 3. Support animal relief efforts. Provide help at animal shelters or render assistance by helping however you can – feeding, care and the upkeep of the homes of animals. Share information on protecting endangered species and lead by example. Whether it is leather back turtles, birds, fishes or snakes, help animals that you can help. 4. Switch to eco friendly products. His Holiness set a precedent at the Mysore Ashrama. No use of plastics now means eco friendly toothbrushes, compostable garbage bags and no plastic bottles. In essence it means an opportunity to now use eco friendly water bottles that are BPA free and greater use of copper water bottles. These are products you can adopt in your everyday lives. These products are available online and many businesses in Trinidad have eco friendly bags for when you purchase goods or they allow you to bring your eco-friendly bags.
Photo Credit: Sgs Swamiji
This being said it is advisable to do some research and find out what is available where you live. Go through the internet, go through social media and see what is available for you! Here are some other things you can also look into using: 1. Bamboo cutlery 2. Compostable plates 3. Bamboo fiber cleaning towels 4. Recyclable storage bags 5. Dissolvable due free detergent 6. Reusable bottles 7. Reusable coffee cups 8. Metal straws 9. Paper wrapping Every step counts! Every action matters! Do what you can and make a difference! Save a life, help protect our Earth!
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.
• 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
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.
Sita Ram! Happy Hanuman Jayanti 2019! Om Namo Hanumate Namaha!
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.
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.
Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah
Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah
Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah
Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah
Photo Credit: Shiva Jeremiah
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.
Celebrating Existence 