'Divali Light dispels darkness'
...Pundit Navin Omadath Maharaj urges citizens to pray for destruction of lust, greed, anger, hatred
Published: Guardian
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Pundit Navin Omadath Maharaj
In 1966 Divali was proclaimed an annual public holiday in T&T. This year, it will be celebrated on November 10. It is observed on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the month of Kaartik in the Hindu calendar. The Sunday Guardian spoke with 40-year-old high school teacher, Pundit Navin Omadath Maharaj about this significant occasion in the Hindu calendar. He has been a pundit for the past 13 years.
Q: How would you describe Divali to non-Hindus so that it resonates with them?
A: Divali is derived from the Sanskrit fusion word Dipawali, formed from dipa, “light†or “lamp†and Äval, “series, line, row.†Dipavali thus means a “row†or “series of lights.†It is marked mainly by the lighting of earthen lamps (deyas) dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness. All schools of Hindu philosophy share the belief that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite and eternal called the atman (soul).
The celebration of Divali as the “victory of good over evil†refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one’s true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things, and knowledge overcomes ignorance. Divali is the celebration of this inner light over spiritual darkness, knowledge over ignorance, right over wrong, good over evil.
Today, we live in a society and in a world at large where destruction and evil have become fairly prevalent. There are natural disasters and poverty in many areas. As non-Hindus, we can use this auspicious occasion as we do with all others, to think about the betterment of our lives, the betterment of our fellow men, and the betterment of the society on the whole.
How did you become a pundit?
I was born in the home of a pundit and at a very early age, I was inspired by my father and the other elders in the community to become a pundit. I believe that it has always been my calling to serve the people and to be a servant of my religion. My paternal great-grandfather Pundit Parmeshwar Chaubay, came from the Bihar district in India, his son, my paternal grandfather Pundit Radhey Kishore Chaubay and his son, my father, Pundit Ramesh, and his two younger brothers are all pundits so from very early, I was exposed to what the life of a pundit was.
One who wishes to become a pundit must first as a Brahmin undertake the Upanayan Sanskar or what some will call the “janeau ceremony.†In the course of this ceremony, the young Brahmin becomes a holder of the sacred thread or janeau and he pledges his life to upholding the knowledge of our scriptures. I am fortunate in the sense that I have had the benefit of having a father who is a pundit and I was able to learn a lot from him.
Being initiated into the fold of my guru, Pundit Krishendath Byragie, a rigorous and stringent course of study of scriptures and rituals of our dharma ensued. I also attended classes at the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha and was officially ordained as a pundit in 2002. The point is though, as a pundit there is continuous learning and ongoing development. The learning process never stops.
Who/what is a pundit…what makes you or qualifies you to become one? And what is your role?
A pundit cannot be defined simply. A pundit is a guru (spiritual teacher) to his godchildren. It is under his care and guidance that they hope to realise the supreme goal of life which is to be closer to God. He is responsible for the destruction of darkness from their lives by making their lives better, imparting knowledge, offering guidance, and keeping them on the right path of life, the dharmic path. The role of a pundit, however, is not limited to such alone, since he performs many religious ceremonies in his community and in the wider society. He is accessible to all who wish to seek his help and advice. There is no greater gift than service to those around us. As Hindus our religion/dharma is our identity, it defines who we are and in doing our intrinsic duty to others, we are in turn doing our duty to God, thus fulfilling the dharma of our birth.
What advice would you give to the young people of our nation…and to the older folks as well, in the context of the occasion of Divali?
As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, I ask the younger generation to remember the struggles and the sacrifices of their forefathers and the others before them to make their lives better today, and for them to enjoy greater opportunities in the field of education.
As we gain knowledge, may we remember true wisdom dawns from a matured mind. A matured mind cultivates virtues, to develop these virtues one has to elevate ones consciousness to a higher level. Only in this elevated state one can realise that all living beings are merely reflections of the supreme divinity. Only then does true knowledge dawn. I advise them to embrace the many opportunities available to them to make a positive change to society.
To older folk, I can only express my gratitude to them for all that they have done for their children and for our country. Indeed, there was an inherent sense of sacrifice and purpose of duty, feelings of warmth and compassion, eagerness to serve with the proceeding generations. If anything, I humbly ask for them to share their experiences with those of the younger generations so that our various cultural traditions can be preserved. I encourage them to continue to be visible in our communities and to share their wisdom and knowledge with us.
To everyone for this Divali, the underlying tone of the festival carries with it a deep spiritual and divine purpose. As we sit to offer our prayers, we ask for the divine blessings of health, happiness, contentment and destruction of the inner enemies, lust, greed, anger, hatred and envy. Spend time with your loved ones, your families and your friends. Divali is a festival of joy, splendour, brightness and happiness. Cherish those around you and embrace the happiness of others.
What are the biggest challenges facing Hinduism?
One of the main challenges facing Hinduism is the fact that there has been to a certain extent, a lack of understanding of the fundamental philosophical thoughts and concepts of our religion, and this has contributed to a lack of respect towards our religion to some degree in the society. It is essential for respect to be displayed to all religions regardless of our personal beliefs and opinions. At the end of the day, the objective of every religion is to mould us into better individuals.
At the same time, I believe that it is imperative for the younger generation of Hindus to become more involved in religious and cultural activities, assume leadership roles and responsibilities in our mandirs and faith-based institutions, develop a deeper understanding of our traditions and culture from a spiritual perspective, display a sense of pride, and inspire confidence in their hearts.
As Hindus we need to return to and contemplate on the basic tenets of our dharma outlined in our scriptures, live by truth, possess limitless compassion to all beings, and adopt a most charitable disposition towards all of mankind. Hinduism is not simply a religion, it is a way of life, and it carries with it a code of ethics. Hence, young Hindus need to embrace these fundamental tenets, and with this will sprout a greater sense of dedication and purpose to our religion.
What advice would you give to a young person who is wondering about becoming a pundit?
To any young person who wishes to become a pundit, I will advise him to accept his true calling. If his calling is to serve the people and to uphold our dharma, then by all means he should follow his ambition and become a pundit. At the same time, he must be willing to commit to a learning process that simply never ceases, endure great penance and sacrifice, and he must be willing to put service to the people and sense of duty to dharma/religion first.
What are your plans for the future…goals?
My goals are simple—self–enlightenment, personal and spiritual development through the grace of God and guru. I wish to continue to be there for my family and for my loved ones, and to be of service to my dharma/religion and to the people of T&T.
Where were you born, where did you grow up?
I was born in Todds Road, Chaguanas, and later on, my family moved to Lendore Village, Chaguanas.
At what schools/institutions did you receive your education?
Primary, Montrose Vedic School; Secondary, St Mary’s College; Tertiary: Valsayn Teachers’ College/Teachers Diploma; University of London (London School of Politics and Economics)/BSc Management and Info Systems; University of the West Indies/Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Technology
What would you say is your greatest virtue?
I believe that my greatest virtue is the search/quest for knowledge.
What daily motto do you live by?
Service to mankind is service to God.
Describe yourself in two words, one beginning with O, the other with M (your initials).
Optimistic and marvelous, ahem...
