Acharya Arun Gossai, spiritual leader of Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, discussed Lanka Kand on Friday evening August 20 in the Ramayana in the park held in Richmond Hill at the Arya Samaj ground. Arun is the lone son of the late Shri Prakash Gossai, a master in the narration and interpretation of the Ramayana.
The discourse about the Ramayana comes from the holy Ramcharitmanas. It consists of seven Kandw (literally “books” or “episodes”). Every evening from last Sunday thru Saturday, there was a discourse on each of the Kanda. Pandit Chunelall narrated the final Kanda on Saturday evening.
In Lanka Kand, Acharya Arun Gossai, discussed the battle between the army of Shri Ram and that of Rawan. The battle was on winning back Goddess Sita who was kidnapped by Rawan in India and taken to Lanka. The message was on the fight for justice and for right over wrong. Lord Rama defeated Rawan and reunited with Goddess Sita who went through a purity test in a huge fire. She returned to Ayodhya, India with Shri Ram for his coronation.
After the discourse, Surinamese Bablu was recognized for his contributions to Hinduism in New York. He is one of the finest singers and dholak drummers in America. He had traveled to Durban, South Africa as back up drummer for Pandit Chunelall who regularly conducts Ramayana discourse there.
Bablu and his wife renewed vows with the exchange of malas or garlands.After aarte, the large congregation was treated to prasad (mohanbhog) and bhojan (take away box) and beverage.
