World loses three spiritual teachers
AS THE world fights off the deadly coronavirus, three religious leaders from different organisations have passed away.
On Friday, Sri Swami Premanandaji Puri Maharaj, the president and spiritual head of the Sri Ramakrishna Dham of South Africa, died from natural causes.
Due to the lockdown, only his immediate family and the executive from the organisation attended his funeral on Monday at the Avalon Cemetery in Lenasia, Johannesburg.
The funeral was, however, livestreamed so his followers could pay their respects.
The Sri Ramakrishna Dham of SA said it was unfortunate Maharaj, 74, died during a difficult time in the country.
“Under normal circumstances, Swamiji’s Maha Samadhi (funeral) would have been well attended by many devotees and well-wishers.”
Devotees were assured that a memorial would be held once the lockdown was over.
As a precautionary measure, the officials requested Maharaj be tested for the virus. The test was negative.
Two Fridays ago, Dadi Janki Kripalani, the head of the world’s largest spiritual organisation run by women, the Brahma Kumaris, died in Mount Abu, India, following a heart attack. She was 104.
Sister Pratiba Daya, one of the national co-ordinators of the Brahma Kumaris in South Africa, said Kripalani was fond of South Africa.
“She travelled to South Africa a number of times from early 1993 until 2006. During her trips, she met Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Ela Gandhi and others.
“She always spoke highly of the country because of its history. She felt connected here because it reminded her of the power of forgiveness and overcoming from darkness into light.
“If you look at the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) and the country’s history, she was in awe of how South Africa managed to turn around and focus on rebuilding rather than taking revenge.”
Daya said Kripalani met Mandela in 1996.
“She had a private meeting with him. It was a wonderful sight to watch.
“It felt as though two souls were meeting like old friends.”
She said while Kripalani’s life’s mission was to awaken love and truth, her death was a loss.
“She was an advocate for love and peace. She believed in the power of forgiveness. We understood with her age one day her body would not be able to go another day but certainly, we feel her kind spirit and her love surrounding us.”
On March 25, Credo Vusamazulu Mutwa, a healer, doctor, author and teacher, also died after a long illness.
The 98-year-old was laid to rest in Magojaneng in Kuruman in the Northern Cape at the weekend.
Mutwa was known for his prediction of future events, including the assassination of communist leader Chris Hani and the 1976 youth uprising.
He was also a cultural activist and an author of several books based on African customs and beliefs, including Indaba My Children.
In 2016, he received the lifetime achiever of Golden Shield Heritage Award and two years later he received the Usiba Creative and Cultural Industries Award.