Hindu pandits will chant 5,000 mantras on Thursday, as part of purification and atonement rituals that are to be performed at the Carapo Hindu Temple which was desecrated on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Legal Advisor to the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Dinesh Rambally, who is also a member of the Pandits’ Parishad, said yesterday the temple was a site of pilgrimage for many Hindus.
Rambally said when vandals cooked corned beef on the compound last weekend and stole items, they conducted an act of sacrilege at the holy site.
He said the atonement ceremony will involve the chanting of mantras and making offerings to Lord Vishnu. This atonement, according to Rambally, must first be undertaken. He said upon completion, the SDMS will advise of its position moving forward.
Yesterday, the SDMS issued a statement signed by Secretary-General Vijay Maharaj and the secretary of the Pandits’ Parishad Pundit Rishi Maharaj, extending an invitation to pandits and devotees to attend and participate in the function at 3 pm at the Caparo Shiv Mandir.
It read, “The SDMS unequivocally condemns the recent acts of vandalism/burglary/desecration, criminality and religious atrocities committed at the Carapo Shiv Mandir SDMS branch 59, Carapo, Arima.
“As a result of those shameless, heinous and demonic misdeeds, we would like to appeal to our Hindu brothers and sisters and by extension, all those who denounce this gross disrespect and blasphemy, to allow natural justice to prevail as we seek refuge at the feet of Bhagwan. In an effort to restore purity and atonement for the events that transpired, the Pandits’ Parishad, in collaboration with our parent body and affiliate arms on the advice of the Dharmacharya and senior pandits guided by our scriptures, will be undertaking the necessary religious ceremonies.”
President of the temple, Naresh Timal, said the desecration at the temple was heartbreaking for many devotees.
“We were having a Mother’s Day programme and because of this, we had to cancel. The members were disappointed because after so long, because of the pandemic, they would be meeting and gathering. Nevertheless, they are looking forward to having the service restored at the Mandir,” he said.
Timal said the 100-plus devotees at the Mandir were standing in solidarity to ensure everything moves forward.
“I am saddened by these acts carried out in this place of worship. This will continue to make us stronger. United we stand together and we will continue to grow. We leave everything in the hands of the Lord because we believe in Karma. This will not stop us. It will not deter us.”
Vice President of the temple, Hansraj Ramdhanie, said a number of valuable items were stolen from the temple when it was robbed twice last week.
To add salt to the wound, thieves cooked corned beef in the pots used to prepare parsad and ate their sacrilegious meal inside the temple.
In Hinduism, the cow is representative of divine and natural beneficence and is, therefore, protected and venerated. Hindus, therefore, do not eat any products made from cow meat.
Ramdhanie said devotees found the facility broken into on Friday and made a report to the police.
He said the door was smashed in during a second attempt on Saturday morning and ring stoves, gas tanks, appliances and jewellery used to adorn the murtis were stolen.
Ramdhanie said the temple managers will erect burglar proofing among other measures to keep the criminals out of the place of worship in future.