While other mandirs are struggling to have a congregation, Pandit Satyanand Mahabir Dubey of the Tryambakeswar Mahadev Mandir of Charlieville has been otherwise.
I experienced this scenario first hand when I was invited to speak at a special program to mark the consecration of the Ram Mandir of Ayodhya, India on January 22. Other speaker were Devesh Maharaj, an attorney at law and Ganesh Bideshi, a retired public servant.
A graduate of UWI with a degree in English Literature, Panditji has been active as a Pandit from a very early age. He was fortunate to enjoy early training from his grand father, Mahabir Ramnath who spoke and wrote in Hindi.
Panditji also learned from Heera Sadhu who was well known for his knowledge of the scriptures and pooja beedi. Heera Sadhu lived beyond 100 years and played a significant role in training and teaching numerous pandits.
Panditji is young and connects with the youths. He also has a number of youths in the executive of the mandir. More so, he is also passionate about protecting and defending Sanatan Dharma. He is among the few pandits to look beyond the bedi and address threats to the Hindu community and Sanatan Dharma.
I had invited him to a few discussion meetings and he is known for fearlessly expressing his views.
The work at the Tryambakeshwar Mahadev Mandir is not new. It is a continuation of the work Panditji started at the Charlieville Mandir many years ago.
Panditji is never afraid to speak his mind. I think that it is more or less what endears him to his many devotees.
While Panditji has his jajmans to render service, he has chosen to look beyond to embrace the Hindu diaspora in the Caribbean, North America and the UK, all of which Panditji has visited and conducted puja and discourses.
Panditji makes regular trips to India where he is in contact with his paternal and maternal relatives. Panditji also does puja for several families when he visits India, a rare feat as few of our Pandits can make such a claim!
Panditji has resigned his job as a teacher in the secondary school system and is now a full time pandit serving his jajmans. The large crowd that showed up to mark the consecration of the Ram Mandir only demonstrates the clout and dynamism of this youthful pandits whose passion to serve has no limit.
Most unique about this Pandit is his readiness to work with all, with no fear that his organization may be high jacked. This is a rare strait among Hindu leaders who spend most of their time and energy protecting turf.
May Panditji always enjoy good health and the blessing of MaSaraswati to serve dharma.
(Dharma Rakshate Rakshitaha – Dharma protects those who protect dharma.)