OUR ANCESTORS HAD GREAT FAITH IN HANUMAN SWAMI

While a percentage of Hindus celebrated Hanuman Jayanthi on Monday, depending on their geographical locations and time zone, others within the USA observed this auspicious day on Tuesday, March 30th. Regardless of the difference in the day, Hindus globally love their Hanuman Swami. That is a fact. Hanuman Swami is the embodiment of Godliness and Ram Naam (chanting Shri Ram's name).

Throughout all the celebrations, which tallied over 171 years since our East Indian ancestors were brought to toil and sweat on the sugar plantations in British Guiana, two things were of paramount importance - and still are - their unconditional love and unflinching faith that they had in Hanuman Swami. These same values they passed onto their children and grand-children.

Today, we still love our Hanuman Swami and all that He represents: His unconditional love for Shri Ram, His selfless service to humanity, His humility, His strength, His power - in essence -Hanuman Swami's every words, thoughts and deeds - He lives, breaths and does everything for His Shri Ram. His devotion and love for Shri Ram cannot be described in words. That is why until this day, His glories and praises are sung. He is our everlasting hero.

In Guyana, all most all Hindu homes have a Jandha (red flag) proudly flying in their front yards, the red flag is a representation of Hanuman Swami. Most Hindus like to perform their annual Jandhi, where with the help of a pandit, they offer prayers and perform Puja for Hanuman Swami. This tradition was passed on to them by their ancestors. And, our folks brought this tradition to the USA. Take a drive through Richmond Hill and surrounding areas in Queens, you'll see many Hindu homes have their red flags flying highly.

When our ancestors came to British Guiana, their faith and believe in their religion kept them going throughout all the unspeakable hardships and struggles they endured on the sugar plantations. They secretly performed their Pujas, sang their chow-paees from the Ramayan and bhajans and kept their faith in their Lord Rama and Hanuman Swami. They took comfort and drew strength from Hanuman Swami.

He is so great that Saint Tulsidas penned the popular 40-verses Hanuman Chalisa, extolling His superlative qualities and praise this great servant of Shri Ram. For as long as Sanatan Dharma exists, Hanuman Swami's praises will be sung.


All of us needs to be more like Shri Hanuman Swami. May He bless us all.

(Online photos of Shri Hanuman Swami praying to Shri Ram)


Shri Ram told Hanuman Swami that He is as dear to Him as His brother Bharat..

2010 NAURATRI CULMINATES WITH RAMNAUMI

Hey there everyone!

Hindus globally just concluded the Vasant Nauratri celebrations (Vasant means Spring Season), which started on Tuesday March 16th and culminated on Wednesday March 24th with Ramnaumi. Tuesday March 16th also marked the Hindu New Year - 2067. I guess we're all in our ripe old age, according to the Hindu calender.

Nauratri is a 9 days and 9 nights of prayers, fasting and Puja all dedicated to the Universal Mother - Aadi Shakti Devi Durga Maa. Sanatan Dharma is the only religion in the world that equally worships God in the female aspect - as a Mother. And rightly so, because a mother is the primordial, quintessential and primary force in a home. It's a very difficult task to describe a mother. She is everything to a child. So too is the Universal Mother to Her children.

I hope Hindus observed the Nauratri season in the correct way it ought to be observed and not only that, but resolved to be better persons.

Here's a fervent prayer that Shakti Maa's blessings will allow us to "be good, do good and live good."

Durga Maa seated beautifully on Her lion (online)

The Spring Nauratri culminated with the observation of Ramnaumi, which is the day Shri Ram made His divine appearance in this world. Shri Ram is the Lord Saint Valmiki wrote about in the Ramayan. Ramayan means "the coming of Lord Rama" and was written ages before Lord Rama came on earth. Saint Valmiki wrote the Ramayan in Sanskrit.

Years later, it is believed that Saint Valmiki was re-incarnated as Saint Tulsidas who penned the "Ramcharitamanas." Ramcharitamanas literally means "The lake of the exploits or deeds of Lord Rama." Ramcharitamas is a powerful storehouse of knowledge and has the correct prescription for life for all.

Shri Ram's blessing to all.

Lord Rama blesses Shri Hanuman Swami