Can Worshipping Really be an Adventure Too?

And now for something never attempted in this blog... an interesting story:

Last Sunday, I took up an invitation from Vikram, one of my old students and a present tutor in the current PBL course, to see the collection of Hindu Deities that he has in his home.   I had seen them on FB and was intrigued, so I had asked him to take me to his home.     He arranged for us to meet as he came off night shift at Mercy and we would be on our way.  When I asked where we were going, he was secretive and coy, “You will see when we get there.”   We took a minibus to the bus park and started to head south, though he lives eastward, on the coast.     We had to sit in the very rear and for a tallish guy this is the roller coaster seat ..… every bump in the road is a jarring jolt and the accompanying bump launches you from your seat and into the roof!  

After an hour or more we were turning on the Timehri Road to the airport ..… and, a first for me ..... the bus went right into the village and not the airport.   The road was now a rural, dirt one.   We stopped and Vik gestured me to get out; we were there.  At first I did not see anything, but as we walked I saw a path.

Since I have such a keen grasp of the obvious, I figured it was not his home.  Vik told me that he wanted to show me “everything”.    (Well, now I was sure I wouldn’t be back by lunch.)   The grounds are quite large and there are many areas for all the different functions of the temple.  Here is the old/first altar area and building, which is now used for something else which my mind only held briefly. 

This was the temple which he first came to about three years ago; it saved his life in a very difficult time for him.   It is known in Guyana as the Timehri Temple; its more official name is “The Timehri Maha Kali Shakti Devi Temple”.  As you can see from the Welcoming sign, it is quite eclectic and welcoming.

Soon after we arrived we went to the large house where his grandfather lives, and it seemed many others lived there too.  

Here is a picture of Vik in his nursing outfit and his grandfather, not in his priestly robes.

I learned that Parsram Samaroo is Vik’s adopted grandfather. They first met on August 21st 2016, the day Vik and his mother first went there.  From this first day, says Vik, "the deities started to manifest through my body" and Parsram treated Vik like a grandson from then on.  Parsram is the founder of the temple, which he started about 50 years ago.

Vik soon “abandoned” me as he was helping to prepare for the worship at 10:30; it was now 8:30.   I sat down on a veranda with a man and two of his sons.   He had arrived earlier because he wanted to be healed from wounds he suffered from falling off his motorcycle.   There were quite extensive, and they weren’t healing.   He and his sons were quite clear that the reason was witchcraft (or evil obeah).    Winston, the father, was a quite devout Roman Catholic who attended mass regularly and knew "every priest in Guyana".   He was comfortable seeking healing here and felt no tension between faiths.    We will return for his healing ceremony.

    

I had to admit that if I had just fallen and those were my wounds weeks later,

I’d start thinking about witchcraft, too.

I have also mentioned the Guyanese tolerance of another’s religion (if not race or politics); I was not surprised by Winston’s perceived lack of doctrinal conflict.   Almost every Guyanese person, educated or not, who has an illness that lasts more than a short time, has their favorite “bush medicine” treatments.   Yes, Guyana is modern in so many ways, but there are spirits everywhere – good and evil

https://www.guyanaguardian.com/after-killing-over-a-dozen-people-guyanese-are-afraid-of-this-tree/

In the past, I have shared the link above with my students before our annual National Psychiatric Hospital trip, as the tree is on the way, and we usually stop there -- and most will not even get out of the bus!  Dr. Tony got out and touched the tree once -- and he has never been seen in Guyana again!

(I think that Tony’s resemblance to Narain, Parmeshi’s brother, is purely coincidental .....)

After chatting with Winston, I was told there was a breakfast prepared for me.  They have a partially vegetarian lifestyle that I found interesting.  They fast from meats on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but on the other days there are no food restrictions.  So I was offered a nice tomato-cucumber sandwich and slices of fresh avocado.    I was sorry that I had had a big plate of rice and beans before I left Mercy.   Because, as everywhere, the expression, “I really don’t want anything; I had breakfast earlier,” means nothing!

The pictures below are from the second meal we had before we left and right after all the members of the congregation had received a bag of fruits and sweets at the end of the worship.   I think these were the offerings presented to the deities during the service.  I was well fed.

The pictures below are from the main altar in the temple, both Christian and Islamic.   Certainly the Christian Deity was worshiped in the service and traditional hymns were sung, such as, “What a friend we have in Jesus”.  There was also at least one specific acknowledgement of Islam and Allah.   

When I asked Vic’s Grandfather he said, “Of course, we worship all the deities of the world here; how could we not?  They too are manifestations of our one God.”   This synchronicity, as in the Jungian meaning of things not connected by event but by meaning, was present throughout the Temple in the different rooms and in the rituals.   I admire the attempt and am left a little overwhelmed with the actual practice.

There was also the symbol of

the Lutheran Church in Guyana

Later, I saw Vik again and he was in his service robes.  When I asked him his role in the service, he was elusive and kept saying,  “You will see.”   His outfit marked him as a devotee practitioner who had gone through many trials and tests.   It didn’t seem that there was a name for this position, but it was obviously important to Vik and the community.  

I am not sure whether it was because I was identified with Vik, but everyone was friendly and willing to answer any of my many, many questions.   (I really had never had an experience like this.   My previous Hindu services were not as immersive and visceral.)  There was no one who told me not to do anything or go anywhere.   I was quite amazed by the lack of suspicion, when obviously I am not Guyanese or a Hindu and clearly a first-timer.   I can only imagine what the response would be from one of our Canadian Churches of first time non-white foreigner wandering around one of our churches.   This openness and apparent transparency (though not transparency of meaning) continued throughout my entire experience as you shall see.

  
   I was given the best seat in the house in the centre front row.  I was once asked to move by Vik’s grandfather to where the musicians were.  This wasn’t because I didn't belong there -- but he wanted me to move to a spot which had a bench to put my water bottle and camera.   I kept thinking there would be a rule about pictures in the temple, during service or healing rituals.  But for me, at least,  there was never a moment when I or my camera were frowned upon.  If anything, I was the one who was uncomfortable with my camera!

Leader Parsram Samaroo is given much respect as he is the founder and also a community leader and healer.   People told me how important he was in their lives and/or the lives of their families.   Many of the worshippers asked for his blessing, with incense and the same supplicant ritual as offered to the deities.  He remains a truly humble man.  Parsram exuded what I think Virginia Satir, a renowned family therapist, called all great therapists, a “non-anxious presence”.  His presence invited people to come and talk to him and be safe.

As the service started, I could see that Vik was the leader (he had the microphone!) and his grandfather was seated quietly off to the side.   And then, he started to chant.   I didn’t even know he could sing.   As it turned out he has been preparing himself to be a priest and is one of two who are next in importance to the high priest.  Vik tested my disbelief in that all his chanting in Hindi was new to him after he first came: both the chanting and the words.   (And I have trouble with 20 student names!)  A video of him chanting is linked below.  Some who have heard me read know my voice gets louder, stronger and deeper when I read in public – sort of a wrath of God.  The change in Vik’s voice was even more remarkable.

Vik's Chanting and Main Altars

The service itself seemed to consist of hymns and prayers to the major deities in the temple.  Each deity would be addressed with food and flower offerings and dancing.   Vik put me in the front row and not on the main altar part as there was going to be exuberant dancing.    (I told him that I was not worried unless I had to do any dancing – exuberant or not.)  Each of the deities was worshiped with incense and humble supplication while the chanting was going on.    There were sections dedicated to Jesus and  Allah.  This eclecticism wasn’t limited to non-Hindu faith groups; it also embraces the traditional Hindu Gods who aren’t specifically acknowledged during worship.

Vik’s personal deity is Parmeshri who was the first deity to appear to Vik in a dream; it was she who set him on his path to health and priesthood.  I asked about all her arms.  Vik responded that her first manifestation was at a time of terrible conflict and she needed those arms to defend her people.  It was a female who fought and defended them!

Parmeshri is a manifestation of Kali and the people identify her with the Great Goddess, one of whose many habitations is on the snowy peak of the same name which stands out prominently in the range of mountains separating Kullu from Chamba District. Her home is visible for many kilometres and the Gujjars, the nomadic herdsmen of the hills, give adoration to her when they bring their herds  to the higher slopes for the summer grazing.  Looking towards the peak, the nomads bow several times and then immolate a goat in her honour.

Before the service began, there were many worshipers who offered prayers, with incense and flowers, before many deities.    I was impressed with the commitment and reverence that was shown by all the worshipers; it wasn’t self-conscious or showy, just simple and devout.

Others who were sitting in the front prepared the flowers and food offerings that would be placed at the deities' feet.     After the chanting and prayers and offerings, the music would start and some in the congregation would get up and dance in front of the statue of a deity.  Vik told me that each Deity has their own particular form of dance, but to my untrained eye, they all looked the same  -- though the dancers each had their own style.

      

This woman is Vik’s mother who came with him and is now part of the community.  In the left picture, she is greeting her son as a healer.  At right, she is hold the offering of food and flowers during the chanting, prayers and singing.

Young Woman Moved to Manifest the Deity

This woman was the most and energetic dancer. 

I asked Vik later if she was the "designated dancer".  He shook his head.

Many Dancers Moved to Manifest the Deity and Give Praise

I should have videoed more, but I forgot to bring a second battery

 as I was originally expecting to be back before lunch.

Each of the dancers received attention from a woman who sprinkled them

with what I imagine was a holy water mixed with herbs.  

I am guessing it was a blessing and protection in ecstasy.

The whole service was carried out in a solemn and respectful way.   All the dancers were welcomed and supported to come forward.  And when the music stopped, so did the dancers -- almost all the time; some took a moment to compose themselves.

The service was over and almost everyone was staying; I thought they were just eating their fruit and sweets.  But I was wrong. They were waiting for the healing part of the worship to begin.

And you will have to wait, as well, for Part Two.   

Thanks Vik for introducing me (and now my readers) to many new experiences in this land of Guyana.