extract from Trinidad express

[Guest guest]

IT'S a most beautiful site to behold.

 

One passerby described it as "like visiting India itself" while

foreigners who came in four maxi-taxis yesterday marvelled at its

beauty and serenity.

 

They were all eyeing the magnificent 85-foot-high Hanuman murti—the

largest outside India, and the exquisite architectural designs of the

pinkish/saffron (Kesari) coloured Dattatreya Mandir at Orange Field

Road, Carapichaima.

 

The artwork inside the mandir is even more colourful and artistically

designed than outside. It is simply breathtaking.

 

Bala Swamiji, who has been living at the Ashram for almost two

decades, said the structure was built according to the Dravidian

style of architecture which flourished in India between the 12th and

the 14th centuries.

 

Two grey concrete elephants provide water for devotees to wash their

feet before entering the main mandir at the northern side. It's a

novel idea, the Express was told.

 

After passing the elephants, one enters the dome—a sight for sore

eyes. The inside of the dome is of seven stages of graded

architecture, with numerous figures of musicians playing the various

types of musical instruments in seven different colours. This is

symbolic of inviting a guest into the main hall of the big mandir.

The colour schemes are the same as in India, Swamiji said. The same

architectural style is evident inside the mandir dedicated to Lord

Dattatreya.

 

Inside the main mandir there are several smaller ones dedicated

especially to Lord Dattatreya, Lord Shiva and to the Mother Goddess.

 

Subraniyam Stapatey is the main sculptor on the site. Twenty others

were brought from India to do the artwork on the mandir and to build

the Hanuman murti. It took two years to complete.

 

According to Prasadji, a member of the Ashram religious team, "the

art work and figures on the mandir all represent different spiritual

dimension as expounded in the Hindu scriptures. These were all built

in accordance to the specifications given in the Agama Shastra

(dedicated to temple building instruction)."

 

The significance of the 85-foot Hanuman, according to Prasadji,

relates to when Hanuman grew in size to cross the bridge to

Lanka. "This height signifies that devotees should all grow in height

spiritually."

 

Inside the mega-Hanuman there is a smaller Hanuman murti— "so that

devotees can perform their rituals Trinidad -style" and then complete

a pradakshina (circumambulation) around the 85-foot murti, which will

be surrounded with fountains at completion. The murti, which is of

solid concrete and iron, is expected to last for 120 years.

 

The beautiful trees around the mandir will be enhanced later on by a

herbal garden of special medicinal trees to be brought from India,

according to Bala Swamiji. "We plan to have a primary and secondary

school on site, a play park and garden with a beautiful landscape to

bring peace to all who visit," he said.

 

The mandir complex which is expected to become a tourist attraction

as well, has been described as a part of a divine gift from Swami

Ganapati to Trinidad and Tobago. "This is one part of his vision for

you people. He hopes this mandir will boost the psyche of the Hindus

and non-Hindus and bring spiritual elevation to all," Bala Swamiji

said.

 

For about half mile on the main road and Datta Drive leading towards

and around the ten-acre plot of land on which the mandir and murti

stand, hundreds of fire-red jhandis (flags) representing Hanuman were

dancing happily in the air yesterday. At the temple site, dozens of

workers, of both Indian and African descent, worked assiduously in

unity and in the blazing hot sun to achieve one goal—ensure all the

fine work and final touches on the murti and the mandir are completed

for the consecration of the murti on Monday. The consecration will be

done by Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji.

 

Come Monday, at the consecration ceremony, millions of Hanuman

mantras which were written as spiritual sacrifice by local devotees

will be made into a scroll and tied around the Hanuman by Swami

Ganapati who will also perform the vedic fire consecration ceremony .

 

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2Ffeatures%2FMighty%20Mandir.htm&mydate=2003-06-06&mypage=features