The African continent is separated from the sub-continent of India by the Indian Ocean. Long before the invention of modern navigational ships and equipment, there has been exchange of peoples and ideas between Africa and India. Many of the cultural forms and norms found on these lands can easily trace their origin either to Africa or India. Even in religion, modern scholars are discovering that there are many similarities between the spiritual beliefs of Africans, especially in vodou (voodoo) and Hinduism itself. In both belief sys- tems devotees believe that the supreme deity manifests itself in many forms.
In both African beliefs and the Hindu religion there is a reverence for parents, preceptors and elders. It is common to see people touch their forehead to the elders' feet or even lie flat on the ground (ashtang dandwat) and then touch the elders' feet. According to Swami Veda Bharati in his publication Wanam Africa & India, "Special nature spots, rivers, streams, mountains, groves, and forests are sacred, endowed with divine energy to heal and bless. Certain animals are sacred to certain forms of divinity, at special times, and must not be harmed. "Trees and plants are sacred, some with the power to bless and heal, and must not be harmed. One must take the permission of the indwelling spirit before killing an animal or uprooting a plant. There are pilgrimages to sacred spots to fulfil special wishes."
The first Indian indentured agricultural workers arrived in Trinidad aboard the sailing ship SS Fatel Rozack on May 30, 1845. This vessel left the port of Hawrah in Calcutta and the journey to Port-of-Spain took approximately three months. The 231 indentured labourers who arrived on that first historic journey, each travelled with their make-shift suitcases known as "jahaji bundles," a square piece of cloth knotted together at the four corners to make a carrier. These "jahaji bundles" contained not only the worldly belongings of the indentured labourer, but also seeds and little cuttings of plants and trees from the Indian sub-continent. Today these trees dot the T&T countryside and can be seen at Hindu temples and other places of worship.
The Ashoka is one of the most legendary and sacred trees of India and produces one of the most fascinating flowers in the Indian range of flower essences. It is not an important forest tree but often planted for ornamental or religious purposes. Ashoka is a Sanskrit word meaning without grief, or that which gives no grief. Hindus believe that if one sits below this tree, one is relieved from worry or mental anguish. It is said that Mother Sita sat below this tree in Her times of trouble with the evil Ravana. Lord Buddha was born under the Ashoka tree, so it is planted in Buddhist monasteries. Hindus regard it as sacred, being dedicated to Kama Deva, God of Love, therefore the tree is a symbol of love for Hindus. Its beautiful, delicately perfumed flowers are used in temple decorations. There are also festivals associated with this flower.
The Bael (known as vashoka treeilva in Sanskrit) is another scared plant according to Hindu tradition and is particularly used in the worship of Lord Shiva. The Bael tree is worshipped and is considered sacred as the abode of Mother Lakshmi. Reference to the Bael is found in the work of Brihad Dharma and the leaves and fruit are given a place of importance in the worship of Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva is pleased by the offerings of leaves from the Bael tree, also known as Vilva or Bel tree. The Tulsi plant is found at every Hindu home in T&T where the jhandi or religious flag is planted. The Tulsi is associated with purity and is revered and used for all religious purposes by Hindus.
It is considered highly auspicious to have it planted in a position in the household to symbolise the religious nature of the Hindu family. In T&T a household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a Tulsi plant. Beads made out of the Tulsi stem is used by yogis and mystics and worn around the necks and wrists in an effort to purify the mind, emotions and the body. It is reputed to dispel negative influences and settle the mind. Like the Tulsi, Hindus worship hundreds of scared plants in T&T. Like people of African religion, we also worship animals. The cow, although eaten by most of the world's population, is considered sacred by the Hindus and they are free to roam the streets of Hindu India unmolested. In fact, there are special shelters and homes for abandoned cows called "gow-shala"-home for cows.
Hindus believe in the preservation of nature and the protection of animal life and in nearly every religious picture of a Hindu deity an animal mascot could be identified. Not only is the similarity between the African indigenous religion and Hinduism over the way we view plants and animals, but we also established special nature spots at the oceans, rivers and streams, where we consider divine energy exists. The Kartic celebrations at Manzanilla Beach and other water spots attract tens of thousands of Hindus annually.
Satnarayan Maharaj is the
secretary general of the
Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha