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The Tamil Community in Mauritius is scattered in different other sub ethnic groups like “Temoin Jevovah”, “Mission Salut et Guerison” and religious groups like Christianity, Islam and Hindus (“Indiens” in local context) due to inter religious marriage and baptism in some cases. This may sound like a fanatic talking but let us be realistic, it’s the sad reality the Tamil community is facing nowadays. The true essence of being a Tamilian is decreasing each and every year. Whom to be blamed of and why? Has anyone really think about it? Is there an appropriate platform to voice our concerns and take appropriate actions…let us analyse the situation by looking at three perspectives, that is, language, dress code, prayers, festivals and korvils.

Language

How many people from the Tamil Community speak, read and write the Tamil language in Mauritius? The answer is crystal clear very few. Whom to blame in the first place? Parents, I am sorry if I may sound rude. Just have a look at the Muslim Community, each child goes to learn the Quran and what about the Tamil Community, I am sure the parents do not even know their religious books and how will transmit the knowledge to their children? There are no appropriate institutions for children to learn about the religious books and learn the Tamil language. Tamil Language is the oldest language and very complex to learn but it is the most beautiful one. So, to preserve our Tamil tradition, children must learn from the basis and there must be a qualified guru to teach them.

Dress code

How many men wear their veshtis when attending a marriage or religious functions? Many men wear suits when attending a wedding, kurtas and trousers when attending a religious functions compared to women who wear their traditional attire (kanjivaram sarees and other styles). Men of the Tamil Community in Mauritius have become adopted westernized dress codes compared to other religious groups. Our traditional dress code forms part of your culture so to preserve same, parents must understand the importance of wearing a veshti to transmit it to the younger generations.

Spiritual

Prayers

When you conduct a prayer at home, the “Aya” does not explain the importance and significance of holding for example a “Canjee” or “Ejyum”. Therefore, how can you expect the young generation to follow the Tamil culture? Youngsters nowadays are more towards scientific based and rationality. Each prayer has both a religious and spiritual dimensions to it and it is the duty of the “Aya” to explain the significance of it. STOP THIS BLIND FAITH (Longtemps ti fer coumsa mais personne pa kone vrai raison la). Knowing the importance of having a prayer at home will only enhance the interest of the youth to make them learn the profoundness of our great Dravidian tradition.

Festivals and korvils

Many Tamilians carry the Cavadee but how many of them know the significance and importance of carrying the Cavadee? Many Tamilians perform the themidee but how many of them know the significance and importance of walking barefoot on this scared fire. How many of them know the significance and importance of a korvil and its spiritual dimensions. The Tamil culture is a very profound one, the construction of korvils, composition of devotional songs, Dravidian music and dance, the consecration of the idols, having festivals like Cavadee, Pongal, Govinden, Naravratree to name a few, all these have a scientific and spiritual dimensions to it which must be taught to the younger generations to make them more knowledgeable and make a stronger Tamil community.

I am not an expert and I am on the learning curve myself. The above article is just an analysis I am making when looking at the decadence of the Tamil Community in Mauritius. It is never too late to bring a change, the contribution of each Tamilian will make it happen.

Pottri Namah Shivayah      Shivayah Namah Om.

Written by: Tambi Anjinsen Valamootoo (a seeker of the Tamil Tradition)

The sleeping Shiva is called SayanaSivan. It was a Saturday and still now the devotees perform SANI PRADOSHAM for Lord Shivan in remembrance for His mercy towards humanity. Abisegam is an act to shower holy substances such as milk, honey, rosewater, vibhuti, sandanam, elnitannir upon the Lord murthi while reciting appropriate mandirams and the resulting liquid product obtained in the abisegum is taken as prasadam {holy food} which can refresh and cure illnesses if taken with submissive mind.Unfortunately this panjamirrtham goes to waste by wrong acts of certain priests.

AANI THIRUMANJANAM is the HOLY BATH given to Lord Nataraja in the month of AANI { 15TH June -15th July}. Lord NATARAJA-- THE ETERNAL DANCER FOR THE AWAKENING OF THE WORLD. This festival is mostly practised at Chidambaram ,Tamil Nadu. Chidambaram is the first definition of the word KOVIL\KOIL. Lord Nataraja is the first dancer of BARATHANATYAM and all barathanatyam practitioners and students in Mauritius  and elsewhere would gather around Lord Nataraja murthy and perform with great devotion the Bharathanatyam among masses for reawakening of spiritual forces to anihilate wicked forces which destroy this universe. Why should God dance? Nietsche, the famous German philosopher confessed he would not believe in a God who could not dance. Dance has become synonymous with the very divinity.One famous european dancer explained in Paris that she could not explain the dance in words as dancing is an expression towards God. The Indians are very proud of practicing their faith to God with their dances and the Tamils stay at the forefront of an oldest but true religion while performing Bharathanatyam to Lord Shiva.

At Chidambaram, we can witness Lord Nataraja still dancing in RAHASHYA ,etheric form . I have seen it as all devotees do at Chidambaram.Koil is the exalted place where Nataraja performs this permanent dance to the rythm of the cosmic sound in the form of AUM  ,the PRANAVA mantra on the breathing lay-out of NAMASHIVAYA,the essence of the five sacred syllablesand the dance interprets the five fold manifestations of creation,preservation,destruction ,illusion and salvation.Lord Nataraja activates the five functions through his dance.

In history ,many Nayanmars , Lord Sivan devotees, had met in Tillai{Chidambaram} and performed miraculous events in the presence of the Lord. In Chidambaram Manickavasagar upon supplication to Lord Shiva cured the dumb daughter of a Buddhist King who finally returned to Saivaism. The stay of Manickavasagar at Tillai, caused Lord Shiva to bless him with the greatest book on saintly life-THE HOLY THIRUVASAGAM and the LORD signed it with THIRUCHITRAMBALAM and disappeared. Thirugnanasambandar who propagated sweetest tamil by his sweetest melodies ,his eyes be-dimmed with joyful tears danced in ecstasy at the showerof grace enabling him to experience the unattainable bliss through all his five senses .The audience could see the personality of GANANADA{LordShiva} in the bodyframework of Gnanasambandar.

Saint APPAR , Thirunavukarasu Swamigal was so gratified by the Lord presence at Chidambaram that He stayed there for quite a long time ,melting in devotion,weeding in the courtyard of the shrine singing his Thevarams . This is why he is seen carrying a spade in his hand signifying that we have to clean our kovil to enable the permanent presence of God therein. In the month of Margazi{December\January} Thirumbaavai is celebrated dancing SIVATANDAVA in Tamilnadu. On MAHASHIVARATHRI Dancing Shiva is performed throughout the night at Chidambaram.

In tamil ,the word AADAVAI ,means the third of the twelve signs of the zodiac--The Midunarasi -- very good period for creating unions--marriages etc. The Thiruvasagam explains that the mystic formula NAMASIVAYA is the best approach to come closer to the Lord through OMGARAM--and SIVAYANAMA is the best means to release the soul from all imperfect bodies to enable the soul to merge with sivalingum in sayutcham. If a devotee cannot read the nayanmars psalms on the THIRUMANJANAM VAZIPAADU TIME ,the recitation of NAMASIVAYA with sincerity of the heart and mind is enough at a spread of 108 times offering scented flowers to the feet of the Lord to receive benefits from the Dancing Lord.

The philosophy of ABHISEGAM as explained by Swami Sivananda in 'Lord Shiva and his worship', Lord Shiva loves ABHISEGAM, a means to come closer to devotees reciting NAMASHIVAYA.

NA is the hand that carries the pot of fire{destruction}

MA is the foot that presses down the demon Mulayakam{salvation}

SI is the hand that holds the damaru\udukkai {creation}

VA is the left hand that moves freely to the right {illusion}

YA is the hand that shows Abhaya{ protection --soul}

In conclusion let us see the benefits of ABHISEGAM to Lord Shiva which can be reaped by devotees as prescribed by Swami Sivananda ,an expert physical and spiritual doctor.

1. Freedom from diseases
2. Freedom from imminent difficulties
3. Freedom from evil effects of certain planets occupying unfavourable positions.
4. Freedom from fear
5. Attainment of peace of mind.
6. Obtaining favourable opportunities and prosperity.
7. Elimination of enemies
8. Enjoyment of happiness
9. Fulfilment of impossible tasks
10. Overcoming death
11. Becoming oneness with God.

AUM NAMASHIVAYA.

MAY LORD NATARAJA THROUGH HIS TANDAVA SHOWER HIS GRACE FOR FRUITFUL LIVING ON ALL DEVOTEES AND FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WORLD

AMBE SIVAM

Gopalsamy Pillay Mauree  
gparama03@yahoo.com

L’immigration des Tamouls à travers les siècles.

Les Tamouls, தமிழர், sont un groupe ethnique dravidien originaire de l’État du Tamil Nadu en Inde et du nord-est du Sri Lanka.

D’un côté, les Tamouls d’Inde se sont dispersés massivement durant la période coloniale -de 1834 à 1914 - dans le cadre d’une émigration de travailleurs sous contrat, ''indentured labourers''. Les travailleurs engagés indiens ont débarqué en nombre à Maurice à partir du 2 novembre 1834 avec l’arrivée du bateau L’Atlas sur les quais de Port-Louis, avec à son bord les 72 premiers engagés, simples laboureurs, en provenance de Calcutta. Le mot ''kuli''en tamoul signifie salaire. Le peuple dravidien à été dépouillé de son culte, de sa culture propre ; ce peuple à connu toutes les humiliations possibles.

De l’autre, les mouvements migratoires contemporains sont plutôt constitués de réfugiés tamouls provenant du Nord Sri Lanka. Le contexte n’est plus celui de la période coloniale : ''C'est dans l’émergence d’une guerre civile, dans les années 1970, opposant la majorité cinghalaise, bouddhiste -74% de la population- à la minorité tamoule -12.6 % de la population- hindoue, que cette migration s’est intensifiée (Meyer, 2001).

Si les Tamouls Sri lankais ont fait le choix de s’installer en France à partir de la fin des années 1970, début des années 1980, c’est que la plupart ne pouvaient plus se rendre en Angleterre du fait du durcissement des lois sur l’immigration, et stoppaient leur voyage en France, arrivant à Paris par la Gare du Nord. C’est comme cela que l’on a assisté, entre les stations de métro la Chapelle et Gare du Nord, à la constitution progressive d’un entre soi. Et si l’on tient compte de la morphologie du quartier, cet entre-soi que les Tamouls appellent ''la Chapelle'' a toutes les caractéristiques d’une porte d’entrée. Inséré entre deux gares (Gare de l’Est et Gare du Nord), limitrophe au Nord des quartiers immigrés d’implantations plus anciennes que sont Barbès, Château Rouge et la Goutte d’Or. Les conséquences de cet événement ont causé de nombreuses migrations vers différents pays comme le Canada, le Royaume-Uni ou encore la France.

Les Tamouls sont principalement hindous, mais comptent d’importantes minorités chrétiennes et musulmanes.En 1997, la population tamoule dans le monde s’élevait à un total de 66 millions de personnes, dont 61,5 millions en Inde, essentiellement au Tamil Nadu. En 2010, cette même population etait de l’ordre de 80 millions de personnes. On trouve donc des communautés d’origine tamoule dans de nombreuses parties du globe.

 Maistry Ramalingum

Source:https://www.facebook.com/groups/334281517526727/permalink/821920325429508/

Source: Hinduismtoday.com

HOUSTON TEXAS,

June 17, 2021 (Fort Bend Independent)

Although India’s second spike of COVID-19 has been dominating news headlines, it is the country’s ancient mind-body practice of yoga that is top of mind for some. Health and wellness experts around the world are gearing up to observe the seventh annual International Yoga Day (IYD), recognized by a United Nations resolution co-sponsored by a record 177 nations. The celebration comes at a time when anxiety and psychological suffering are soaring. In the U.S., more than 42 percent of people surveyed by the U.S. Census Bureau in December reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, an increase from 11 percent the previous year. Physical isolation and fear of the COVID-19 infection are thought to have contributed to these numbers, and yoga and meditation have emerged as possible panaceas.

First proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a General Assembly address in 2014, IYD is now observed worldwide to recognize the many benefits of practicing yoga. The UN has appropriately chosen “Yoga for well-being” as this year’s event theme, focusing on the role the practice can play in fighting social isolation and depression. In Houston, the city’s Consulate General of India in partnership with a number of organizations is marking the occasion with outdoor events on Sunday, June 20 and on Monday, June 21, both free and open to the public. Sunday’s IYD event takes place at Buffalo Bayou Park while Monday’s, which will also be livestreamed, is outdoors at India House. Both events take place 6-8 p.m. and will include booths with food vendors and ayurvedic related organizations as well as a formal presentation with an address by the Consulate General of India, Houston. Top yoga teachers from Houston will both perform complicated poses and lead the public in a standard 55-minute yoga practice.

More at https://fbindependent.com/houston-to-observe-international-yoga-day-focused-on-wellbeing-amid-pande-p14858-91.htm above or visit yogadayoftexas.org

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