Sri Swamiji inaugurates temples in Penal Ashrama, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago scripted a Datta history during this visit of Pujya Sri Swamiji to this island nation in November 2014. Trinidad became the only country (other than India) to have four Ashrama branches. Trinidad has the main Ashrama in Carapichaima town where the mammoth Hanuman ji stands. There is Datta temple & Ashrama in Princes town, and there is the Shiva temple in Aripo river forsests. A fourth Ashrama and temples were consecrated by Sri Swamiji in the southern town of Penal on the 16th November 2014. The Ashrama is named as “Sri Sachchidananda Yoga Ashrama”.
Sri Swamiji left India on 13th November and reached Trinidad on the evening of 14th November. Sri Swamiji drove to Carapichaima Hanuman Ashrama. Hundreds of devotees sang Nama Sankirtan and welcomed Sri Swamiji.
On 15th morning, Sri Swamiji took Darshana of Hanuman ji, tied a Purnaphala coconut and flew to Penal.
Sri Sachchidananda Yoga Ashrama is situated on a hillock with lush green surroundings. A large prayer hall and six shrines have been built. Murtis (idols) were sent from India. There are shrines for Dattatreya & Anagha Devi, Rajarajeswari, Ram Parivar, Ganesh ji, Shiva & Durga Mata. Guru Nilayam, community kitchen & dining, visitors quarters are also built.
Soon after arrival, Sri Swamiji visited the Yaga Shala which had commenced the consecration rituals two days earlier. The Pundit team of Vid. Pogula Shivakumar, his son and Ashrama veda school educated Vid PogulaVarun & Vid.Bhanuprakash from Canada Datta temple along with a team of Pundits from Trinidad were performing the consecration rituals.
After Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji gave a blessings message. In the evening, Sri Swamiji sang and wonderful Bhajans session was held.
16th November 2014 - Pratishthapana day.
At 9 AM, Sri Swamiji performed Yantra Pratishtha of all temples at the sacred Muhurtham. Later Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja. Sri.Sieudath Saroop and Smt.Lakshmi Saroop were honoured for their Seva to this Ashrama. Sri.Ramesh Maharaj, president of Dattatreya Yoga Centre, Trinidad, & Sri Vishnu Deonaraine who co-ordinated this visit of Sri Swamiji to Trinidad too were honoured.
Sri Swamiji then offered the Maha Purnahuti of the Pratishtha Homas. Sri Swamiji carried Kalasha first to Ganapathy temple and performed Prana Pratishtha and Kumbhabhisheka of all the shrines. Devotees came in line and offered prayers at each shrine. Annadanam was performed on all four days.
In the evening, scintillating Bhajans were held by Sri Swamiji.
On Monday, 17th November, Sri Chakra Puja was performed. Local Pundits were honoured. Smt.Nalini, Sri.Maurice Clarke gave Kriya Yoga teachings to devotees.Pujya Sri Swamiji too participated in the Nadi Shuddhi exercises. Being the last Kartika month Somavara (Monday), Ekadasha Rudrabhishekam was performed to the Shiva Lingam. Sri Swamiji offered Maha Mangalarati after the Shiva Abhisheka. Bhajans were sung in the evening. Sri Swamiji spoke about the varieties in Sri Swamiji’s Bhajans.
On Tuesday, 18th November 2014, Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja. Musicians from Ecuador played wind instruments during Puja. Sri Swamiji too joined them when they played “Om Aim Hreem Shreem Shiva Rama Anagha Dattaya Namaha”. In late afternoon, Sri Swamiji gave surprise visit to Pundit Ramsaroop’s temple. More than hundred idols of Gods and Goddesses line up the temple. Pt.Ramsaroop has been a devotee since 1978. There is Murti (idol) of Sri Swamiji in the temple. Later, Sri Swamiji visited the residence of musician devotee Dev Gocool and blessed the new Vishnu Datta temple. Sri Swamiji was enchanted with the small Murti of Swamij in front of the Vishnu Datta. Sri Swamiji remarked “this is the best idol of me I have ever seen”.
In the evening, local artists offered cultural program. Art Muni’s praise of Sri Ramachandra as in Tulsidas Ramayana, Nagara - local folk dance, Chaupal singing, Bhajan singing by Penal locals were held. The emotionally moving video of Sri Swamiji’s bird “Flight” was screened. Sri Swamij cut a cake, sat in a swing and Blessed the volunteers of the program with a certificate of participation.
With this, the consecration programs of Sri Sachchidananda Yoga Ashrama in Penal, Trinidad & Tobago concluded
Sri Swamiji travelled to Princetown Ashrama on the 19th. Sri Swamiji was received with traditional “tassa drumming”. Sri.Ramdath, founding member of the Ashrama received Sri Swamiji with Purna Kumbha & drumming by Tassa drummers.
Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja.
Sri Swamiji has been visiting Princetown since 1986. In later years, a Datta temple was installed by Sri Swamiji.
After Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji gave a Blessing discourse and assured the devotees that He would install Shiva Linga & Durga Mata murtis in coming visit to Trinidad.
Sri Swamiji arrived in Carapichaima Dattatreya Yoga Centre in the later afternoon.
On 20th November, Sri Swamiji visited Yerette, a hummingbird sanctuary in Marcas area of Trinidad. In the three hours Sri Swamiji spent there, hundreds of humming birds buzzed around to drink nectar from flowers and feeders. The tiny 4 to 7 gram birds are amazingly fast and buzzy. Hummingbirds are native of Americas and are found in wild only here. Sri Swamiji enjoyed the knowledgeful narration of the Sanctuary’s founders Theo & Gloria.
Three days program was held in Dattatreya Yoga Centre, Carapichaima from the Friday to Sunday (21-23 November). Daily morning Pujas & evening Bhajans were held.
On Sunday, 23rd November 2014, Sri Swamiji announced construction of Ram Parivar temple and Satyanarayana Swami temple adjacent to the 85 feet tall Hanuman murti. Sri Swamiji also announced major renovation works to prayer hall and the planned 12th year Kumbhabhishekam of Hanuman & other temples in early 2016.
The Bhajan sessions on all three evenings were very powerful and soul stirring.
On the morning of 24th November, Sri Swamiji performed Bhumi Puja of Ram Parivar temple & Satyanarayana Swami temple. Sri Swamiji left Trinidad on the evening of 24th November and arrived in Mysore Ashrama late night on 26th November 2014.
