Hindu crematorium ‘will benefit community’
BRITAIN’S Asian community will benefit from an upcoming, dedicated crematorium in Buckinghamshire, where they will be able to carry out the last rites of loved ones, a leading Indian spiritual leader has said.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is the president of the Divine Shakti Foundation, an organisation that runs vocational training courses and free schools at the Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, north India.
She met community and faith leaders at the Anoopam Mission in Denham, west London last Tuesday (23), and discussed the importance of having a purpose-built crematorium for the community.
“We take our holy customs and rituals seriously. We give equal importance to the antim sanskar (last rites) along with all the sanskars (rituals),” Sadhvi Bhagawati said.
During her visit, she interacted with the spiritual head of the Anoopam Mission, His Holiness Shri Jashbhai Saheb, Bhavishaben Taylor as well as other saints and leaders of the organisation.
Sadhvi Bhagawati said, “Due to the blessings of His Holiness Pujya Yogiji Maharaj and Pujya Sahebji Maharaj, we are going to benefit from this crematorium. This is bhakti ki shakti [power of faith], this is the deep power of the soul. In this temple, you get everything you need in bhakti.”
She spoke about the importance of a spiritual connection and dwelt on Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Gyan Yoga.
Sadhvi Bhagawati added, “Here in the UK you have a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in religion every day, not every 12 years like at the Kumbh Mela. You are very lucky.
“Pujya Sahib Ji Maharaj
says that wearing saffron clothes is not the answer to everything – having a saffron heart is essential.
“Saffron is saffron, the colour of the sun. Just as the sun gives sunshine to all, a saffron-dyed sadhu gives everything to all, without discrimination. Here, all the plainclothed saints offer the same sadhuta as a saffron monk.”