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*Article in celebration of Divali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, which will
be observed as a national holiday in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday November
5, 2010.*





*Hindu sects in Trinidad and Tobago*

*by Dr. Kumar Mahabir*





Hinduism is the major religion among people of Indian descent in the
Caribbean who reside mainly in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago
(hereinafter referred to as Trinidad).

Hinduism remains one of the oldest living religions in Trinidad and the
wider world. According to the 1990 official census data, Hindus in Trinidad
form the second largest religious group in the country, after Roman
Catholics. Roman Catholics comprise 29% of the population, Hindus 24%,
Anglicans 11%, Muslims 6% and Presbyterians 3%. In a population of over one
million, approximately 238,000 persons are Hindus.

Christians are divided into sects such as Catholicism, Anglicanism,
Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism. Hindus are also separated into various
sects. Traditionally, they have been branched into four main denominations:
Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism.

In Trinidad, Hindus can be further categorised conveniently into sects such
as Sanatanist, Arya Samaj, Kabir Panth, Sikh, Shivnarine/Sieunarine, Lord
Murugan, Mother Kali, Hare Krishna, Sai Baba, Ganapathi Sachchidananda,
Radha Madav, Chinmaya Mission and the Divine Life Society. It is not a
simple task to categorise Hindus since they are often open and versatile in
their beliefs, practices and affiliations.

Adherents of the Sai Baba group resist the Hindu label although the
overwhelming majority of its followers are Hindus who retain most of the
trappings of the traditional faith. Hindus also revere Jesus Christ, whom
they consider to be another incarnation of God. Hindus are also more likely
to visit a church or mosque to pray than Christians or Muslims are to enter
a mandir.

Some Hindus choose to follow a swami who acts as a spiritual mediator or
divine guide on how and to whom to pray. Except for the Sanatanist, Lord
Murugan and Mother Kali (all of whom do not have an international spiritual
leader), Hindu sects in Trinidad have been formed by the influence of swamis
from India who possess(ed) charismatic personalities. In the Mother Kali
sect, each *poojaree* [priest] in the temple becomes a trance medium and
divine healer for the devotee.

In person, swamis are revered as divine incarnations. When absent, their
photographs and statues are placed on the altar next to deities such as Lord
Rama, Krishna and Radha, and are adulated. The only local male swami in
Trinidad is Swami Prakashananda who is the founder and spiritual head of the
local Chinmaya Mission. He does not claim divine birth, or to be gifted with
extraordinary powers, or to be an incarnation of god who has descended on
earth to save mankind. He is therefore, not worshipped.

Mother Kali, Radha Madav and Arya Samaj are the only groups that allow women
to become priests. Except for Sanatanist, all the other sects train and
ordain non-Brahmins to become priests. Unlike other Hindu sects, Sikhs and
Sai Baba devotees do not recognise priests within their fold. Members from
their congregation share leadership and ceremonial roles.

Arya Samaj, Kabir Panth, Shivnarine/Sieunarine and Sikh are the only four
sects which do not venerate images. Sikh performs the least number of
ceremonial rituals.

Not included in this selection is the group led by Swami Brahmadeo. He has a
small following in Trinidad, but does not have a temple dedicated to him.
Also excluded is the group led by Swami Amananda, the only local female
swami in the country. She is the founder and spiritual head of the Sidha
Yoga Ashram in Trinidad, which has become dormant.

Groups like the Blue Star Organisation, led by Sri Vasudeva, and the Brahma
Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre headed by Hemlata, are not sects, but rather
centres that teach yoga and meditation.

The largest of all these groups is the Sanatanist, the newest is Lord
Murugan, the most ethnically-diverse is Hare Krishna, and the most ecstatic
is Mother Kali. Most Sanatanist Hindus belong to the Sanatan Dharma Maha
Sabha. Smaller numbers follow SWAHA which is led by pundits of the Persad
family in Aranguez. The fastest growing sects are Sai Baba and Mother Kali.
However, the Shivnarine/Sieunarine and Divine Life Society have been
experiencing a rapid decline in membership.

The sect that has virtually disappeared is the Ramanandi as a consequence of
its merger with the Sanatanist. Followers of this faith are devotees of
Ramananda (1400-1470) who lived in the Indian holy city of (Benares)
Varanasi.

What is remarkable about these sects is that they do not encourage
intolerance among their Hindu denominations or other non-Hindu faiths.
Hindus believe the dictum in the *Upanishads* [3000 BCE] which proclaims
that all the paths lead to the same goal, just as cows of various colours
yield the same white milk.

            “Hindu sects in Trinidad” is the theme of this year’s edition of
the magazine being produced by the Indo-Caribbean Cultural Council. Copies
of the magazine can be obtained by e-mailing [log in to unmask], or by
calling 674-6008, 675-7707.





*Dr. Kumar Mahabir*

Chairman, Indo-Caribbean Cultural Council (ICC)**

*Assistant Professor, *University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)



10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road

San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago

West Indies



Tel:  (868) 674-6008

Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707

Mobile (868) 756-4961

E-mail: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]



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