SHRI PRAKASH GOSSAI

BHUVANESHWAR MANDIR

A message from the
President-Shri Prakash Gossai

“LIGHTING THE TORCH OF HINDUISM IN NEW YORK CITY”

The dream of coming to America filled our hearts for years as we aspire for a better way of life than that experienced in Guyana. America is the “land of golden opportunities”. America is the answer to higher education and to career opportunities. America is the answer for a secure future for our children. America creates opportunities and paves the path for a higher standard of living. We reached America with zeal but unfortunately; many of us leave our religion behind.

Like many others, I too came to America seeking a better standard of living. However, the thirst for the practice of Hinduism could not be quenched without the establishment of a temple where the echoes of chanting the name of Lord Shri Ram will forever reside in the reservoirs of our soul. Indian culture played a predominant role in my family’s life in Guyana and the practice of Hinduism on an everyday basis has been essential to the successful nurturing of our family life. But how do we start a temple where our fellow Hindus join together and chant the name of Lord Shri Ram? There were several considerations such as finding the right place and paying the rent and maintenance. Meeting the appropriate financial requirement was no mean task for a newcomer to New York City. However, these hurdles could not prevent us from seeking to bathe in the river of love for Lord Shri Ram.

Fortunately, as faith has prescribed, I met a group of fellow Hindus who shared similar emotions regarding the practice of Hinduism. Together, in 1984 we started Satsang in the basement of a building in Brooklyn. Little did we know that this basement would grow into one of the most prominent Hindu temples in the United States of America. With the auspices of our divine Lord Shri Ram, the basement Satsang blossomed into fruition, giving birth to Bhuvaneshwar Mandir at 307 Stanhope Street, Brooklyn, New York, in 1987. In 2004, Bhuvaneshwar Mandir was relocated to a new venue at 86-06 101 Avenue, Ozone Park, Queens. New York.

Our primary goal was to reach Hindus across New York City and the United States so that we can support the mission of fellow steadfast Hindus in restoring Dharma and every day practice of Hinduism in America. Our work at the Bhuvaneshwar Mandir started within the local community. However, with overwhelming joy, we realized that the Hindus of our community, despite coping with life in America, were thirsty for the nectar-like essence of Hinduism. Bhuvaneshwar Mandir was the solution to quench their thirst as families after families reached Brooklyn each Sunday morning from near and far. The attendance growth brought tears to my eyes each Sunday morning, as I get ready to lead this humble Mandir in prayers in the name of Lord Shri Ram.

Not only did our attendance increased at a rapid pace, but also the work of Bhuvaneshwar Mandir spread like wildfire across the United States. The Bhuvaneshwar Mandir is recognized as a pinnacle of Hinduism as it is one of the very first Guyanese Hindu temples established in the United States. Soon thereafter, we were invited to travel across the country to read Yagnas and do pujas for families who could not attend a temple in other states. As the resounding word of Truth and Dharma that is echoed by Bhuvaneshwar Mandir continued to leave the lips of Hindus across the country, a strong demand for our humble teachings of the Holy Scriptures came from different continents. We soon found ourselves doing Yagnas in Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados, Venezuela, Canada, England, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, etc.

As the devotees of Bhuvaneshwar continued to grow on a worldwide basis, I felt an urge and aspiration to learn more in order to bring our devotees and myself closer to Sanatan Dharma. I found that this urge could not be easily satisfied with intense reading of the scriptures and intellectual conversations. Rather, I needed to absorb myself with the likes of Swamis and Rishis of our motherland India. With the blessings of Lord Shri Ram, I was able to find respite in the wealth of knowledge of the sages in India. I studied there for more than a year, realizing that the treasury of knowledge of our great religion will never be empty as long as the sun continues to shine and the moon continues to radiate its glow at midnight. As I contemplated many nights during long teachings and intellectual conversations of Sages and Swamis, I felt blessed for such a divine opportunity. I pray that this opportunity will avail itself to all the humble devotees of Hinduism. However, I realized that this might not be possible so I made a steadfast commitment to myself to bring back this experience to our people so that they too can share the divine teachings of Lord Shri Ram.

As the demand for our teachings and chanting of the Lord’s name continue to gain recognition on a global basis, we decided to record bhajans so that devotees can enjoy the music of Bhuvaneshwar Mandir at their homes, in their cars, and everywhere they go. Further, we pursued other avenues of spreading the glories of Lord Shri Ram by writing stories and articles in several publications. We realized that what we know is merely a drop in the ocean of knowledge and we can never know too much. Both our recordings and writings are widely acclaimed as devotees savor the word of the divine Lord each day of their lives.

As Bhuvaneshwar Mandir continues to grow each day, each month, and each year, the programs at the temple also grew. Among many programs held at the Mandir there are classes in music, religious studies, dance, debates, public speaking and after school programs for all children. These are conducted regularly especially for our Youths. We realized that our youths of today are faced with many challenges living in New York City. As such, we place significant emphasis on their religious molding and teachings. It is up to us to ensure that the flags of Sanatan Dharma will continue to soar higher each day after we are no longer and our youths become the torchbearers of Hinduism.

At the Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, we aim to create new paths and set new standards in our teachings of Hinduism. While we undertake our pujas and yagnas as our ancestors did and carry on every religious tradition in its brightest form, we also attempt to ensure that our devotees understand the meaning of all pujas and rituals so that they can leave the mandir with a true understanding of the teachings of the holy scriptures. Only in this fashion can they apply these lessons in their daily lives. Further, we view religion from an intellectual standpoint. We go beyond reading the scriptures and telling the virtuous stories of our Lord. We aim to examine each point from a philosophical perspective and apply each concept to every day life. We feel that this is essential in ensuring that every devotee can share and understand the teachings of our scriptures in the same manner.

As a humble devotee of Lord Shri Ram, I feel most fortunate to be given the opportunity to aid in the safekeeping of Sanatan Dharma among our people. My humble parents have encouraged and guided me throughout my early years to thread the path of religious observances. The fruition of their teachings have reached and touched not only my heart but to millions of hearts around the world. As I conclude this spirited review of Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, my heart is overwhelmed with joy. It is my fervent hope that we will continue to band together as a family and keep the torch that we lit in 1984 burning ever so radiantly as we continue our mission to protect and teach Sanatan Dharma around the world.

RAAMAYA RAAM BHADRAYA, RAAMACHANDRAYA VEDH SE
RAGHUNAATH-AAYA NAATHAAYA, SEETAAYA-H PATYE NAMAH

I bow down to Lord Rama, the blessed, the auspicious, the gracious, the fountain of intelligence, having the brilliance of the moon, who is the creator and destroyer of all, who is the Lord of the Raghus, who is the Lord of all and the beloved of Seeta Maa.

Jai Shri Ram