Unveiling Ceremony of Sivananda Peace Pillar (16 November 2014)

Pujya Swami Abhedanandaji attended the official unveiling of three heritage monuments at Shri Mariammen Temple Society, Mount Edgecombe Siphosethu Grounds on Sunday, the 16th November 2014 at 10:30 am. The three Heritage monuments unveiled were the Sivananda Peace Pillar, Peace Pole Monument and two 1860 Indian Life size statues commemorating the 154 years of the arrival of Indians to South Africa. Some of the high profile dignitaries that attended the function were the High Commissioner of India, Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr T. Armstrong Changsan, the Consulate General of India ,Mr. R.Raghunathan, Swami Amarnathanandaji of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha from New Jersey USA and Minister Nomsa Dube of Kwazulu Provincial Government.

The programme commenced with a classical dance performance. The India national anthem was sung followed by the South African national anthem. The chairperson of the Mariamman Temple Society paid tribute to the forefathers who had come to South Africa as indentured labourers to work on the sugar cane plantations. The crowd was enthralled as Swami Abhedanandaji brought out the powerful points on how we can all live together harmoniously by practising forgiveness, tolerance, loving and accepting all. Swamiji roared that the real Hindu is not only the one that visits temple and performs prayers but who also sees that God in the twinkle of the eye, smile of the face and heart of the other person. People change for the better when they are loved and accepted and not when they are hated or dictated upon. Swamiji discussed how the most powerful weapon in the world is love. The reporters and media were so impressed by Swamiji’s message to the public that they conducted an SABC TV interview immediately after the talk.