A SPIRITUAL MOMENT, PART 2: TEMPLE OF ARUL MIHU NAVASAKTHI VINAYAGAR

In my last week’s post I spoke of my connection to Lord Ganesha,  I truly believe it is more than coincidence that Ganesha  has popped up many times in my life:

A random trip to the beach:

A visit to a an art shop while in India the first time.  The shop owner was showing us some lovely sandalwood carvings by an artist who put “surprises” in his work. One in particular, a delicate shell, intrigued me:

To open it, you take a special pin and insert it  on the side.  When the shell opens:

Shiva and Ganesha

Of course this is now part of my personal collection.

When I first saw the name of the Arul  Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, located in Victoria, Mahé,  Seychelles,  I felt a sudden frisson.  Why?  There were clues in the temple’s adornment seen at the top of this post.

Ganesha has many forms and many names – Ganesh, Ganapati, Vinayaka, Pillaiyar and Binayak – and Vinayagar. So here I was once again coming upon the diety that has deeply touched me.  In addition, the temple is a traditional Dravidian architectural style known for its multi colored facade and intricate carvings – like the ones I fell in love with in Southern India – the Meenakshi Temple complex in Madurai:

 

The Meenakshi Amman Temple complex was built in stages between the 12th and 18 Centuries and it is a marvel of color, symmetry and spiritual power.  The  major watchtowers           (gopuram) are covered in over 33,000 unique painted figurines of Hindu deities, demons and mythical creatures,

The Aril  Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple in Mahé is  actually  a replica of the Madurai temples – it was built in 1992.  It is a major spiritual center for the Hindu community living in the area.   I was humbled to walk inside and listen to the pujari (head priest who comes from Tamil Nadu in Souther India) as he performed the daily prayers (pujas)  and offerings to Lord Ganesha) while musicians played soft devotional music  in the background
One last note .  Yesterday  I went to an art store nearby my home to have a papyrus painting rehung as its wire had broken.  This was not on a street I had been before.  As I walked back to my car, I came to this:

 

 

 

This is the Hindu Temple  of North America.  Its main deity is  Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati – also known as Ganesha.  It is made of granite quarried in India and is modeled in the classical South Indian Dravidian style including  a 50 foot tall gopuram tower over the main entrance   It was consecrated on Jul 4, 1977 and is one of the earliest traditional Hindu Temples built in North America.
I do not believe in coincidences – things happen for a reason.  This is bashert – one of my favorite Yiddish words meaning “meant to be.”
To close, here is my favorite  Ganesh mantra  (Gayatri Mantra) that I chant.  It soothes my soul and brings me calm – take a listen below:

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha
Taat Savitur Varanyam
Bhargo devasya dheemi
Dhio yonah prachodayat

Translation:

You who are the source of all power,
Whose rays illuminate the world,
Illuminate also my heart and my mind
So that they too can do your work!.

You can hear  it here:

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