The executive of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha on Thursday held purificatory and atonement rituals at the Carapo Shiv Mandir in Arima, following the desecration and vandalism of the temple recently.
Pundit Rishi Maharaj, who officiated at the prayer service, noted that the ceremony was necessary to beg for forgiveness over the disrespect, dishonour and vandalism of the temple.
Also attending was Dr Rampersad Parasram Dharmacharya.
Attorney and MP for Chaguanas West Pundit Dinesh Rambally, speaking during the ceremony, called for unity of all religious organisations and citizens regardless of position, creed, religion or race to unite to “free ourselves of the evil plaguing the country.”
“By this unity, we do not expect that there will be a removal of all of our differences, but we do expect that we can mutually respect our sectarian differences and appreciate the spiritual truths,” Rambally said.
He added: “The biggest blow which we can strike against the evil in our land would be uniting of our people of all races religions and communities. By this, we will again begin to foster an acute disposition towards being our brother’s keeper, something which seems to have become lost on us.”
The Carapo Shiv Mandir, which was vandalised and desecrated by unknown intruders.
RALPH BANWARIE
He said the Carapo Mandir has played an important part in developing Hindu spirituality.
“The recent desecration has not set it back. If anything, this mandir now serves as a beacon of faith and religious persistence. It has shown us how to abide by our dharmic duties in face of adversity It has shown us the depths of Hindu concepts and traditions so that upcoming generations will have a precedent to follow,” he said.
He said on a national level, the desecration of the mandir and the murtis illustrate the growing evil in society.
“This evil is no longer outside our homes and our places of worship. We cannot outrun this evil. We cannot make a dash past it and then lock ourselves inside the safety and comfort of our homes and temples. This evil, if left unchecked, will continue to break down doors as they did in this temple,” he said.
He said when, “we see the increasing crimes being committed against our mothers, fathers, sisters, daughters and sons in such a callous, heinous egregious and evil manner, we must appreciate that T&T is no longer a paradise.”
Rambally added, “We know that the perpetrator of this crime is bright enough to know that beef is a prohibited item in the Hindu way of life because the cow is sacred to Hinduism. To cook beef in the temple is a very calculated attack on Hindus. Nonetheless, we have done the necessary prayers to ask forgiveness from the divine and for atonement so that the effects of such wanton desecration can be mitigated.”
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