Photo uploaded by Patricia Bissessar
For this episode of our ‘Know Your Country Tour’ and while we’re still in the festive Divali mood, with today being the last day, we take a trip to Tableland near Princes Town to the Moose Bhagat Mandir.
This Hindu temple is considered to be the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere, built in 1904. It was envisioned by a Hindu priest or Pundit named Moose Bhagat, a then ex-indentured labourer and landowner four years prior to its construction and erected under the oversight of another ex-indentured labourer, Durga Dass.
Can you imagine the possible struggles of creating such an edifice in those times? Imagine the resilience it took for them to hold steadfast to their heritage and beliefs and the ability to make this foreign land their home by marking this soil with their East Indian memories and culture. Despite the hardships, it became a reality.
Prior to this time, there weren’t temples or mosques to accommodate their worship but slowly mud-hut places of worship were moulded from the ground up and covered with thatched roofs, as they were encouraged to settle in the colony. Pundit Moose Bhagat, while at a stream near his home, came upon and removed selected stones and in a vision given to him by Lord Shiva, was inspired to construct a sanctum to house the sacred stones or Lingas. Four years later, the first building was dedicated to Lord Shiva and the second, to Shree Ram.
Since their erection, descendants of the Bhagat family have ministered in and cared for the mandir. Thus, it has remained within the family’s bloodline till this very day.
We hope you enjoyed this simple, yet informative segment. Is this the first time you’re hearing about this place or have you visited there before? Let us know in the comments below.
This Hindu temple is considered to be the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere, built in 1904. It was envisioned by a Hindu priest or Pundit named Moose Bhagat, a then ex-indentured labourer and landowner four years prior to its construction and erected under the oversight of another ex-indentured labourer, Durga Dass.
Can you imagine the possible struggles of creating such an edifice in those times? Imagine the resilience it took for them to hold steadfast to their heritage and beliefs and the ability to make this foreign land their home by marking this soil with their East Indian memories and culture. Despite the hardships, it became a reality.
Prior to this time, there weren’t temples or mosques to accommodate their worship but slowly mud-hut places of worship were moulded from the ground up and covered with thatched roofs, as they were encouraged to settle in the colony. Pundit Moose Bhagat, while at a stream near his home, came upon and removed selected stones and in a vision given to him by Lord Shiva, was inspired to construct a sanctum to house the sacred stones or Lingas. Four years later, the first building was dedicated to Lord Shiva and the second, to Shree Ram.
Since their erection, descendants of the Bhagat family have ministered in and cared for the mandir. Thus, it has remained within the family’s bloodline till this very day.
We hope you enjoyed this simple, yet informative segment. Is this the first time you’re hearing about this place or have you visited there before? Let us know in the comments below.
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