Gods of the South-West
By Ariti Jankie
The back waters of the south western districts of Trinidad are
opening up in more ways than one. In recent years, the government has placed emphasis on road works and infrastructure in Penal, Barrackpore and Siparia; areas that had been completely neglected for decades.
With better roadways, more people are likely to discover a church in Siparia that draws worshippers of all religions. On Good Friday, Siparia takes on a new life when Hindus make the pilgrimage to seek miracles at the feet of Siparee Mai. She sits in the Roman Catholic Church on Church Street and after Good Friday returns to being the saint La Divina Pastora.
The legend of Siparee Mai began when an immigrant worker from India spotted her as a young girl on mornings. She grew with the day and by evening was an old woman. The area became sacred and a church was built on the site. Mother Siparee is believed to be the Goddess Durga and was first seen on the Friday before Easter.
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| La Divina Pastora |
The church thrives with annual donations from the Hindu and Muslim communities.
A similar occurrence took place in the 1940s in Patiram, Penal when a labourer named Manickchand accidentally struck a stone with his cutlass. Instantly, milk oozed from the stone.
Manickchand was puzzled and did not want to tell anyone but that night he saw in a dream that the stone was a Shiva Lingam, that is, a representation of the God Shiva. He broke the news the next morning and scores of people from neighbouring villages converged on the site. A small thatched hut was built over the stone by Nancoo, the owner of the land.
The building was renovated and later extended with an adjoining hall made of aluminium roof, brick walls, and concrete floors. The temple is privately-owned and cared for by Ramlochan Nancoo and Sanicharie Nancoo (now deceased). The lingam symbolises the energy of the Shiva, the creator. It has never been removed from its original position since it was discovered in the 1940s, and is literally rooted in the earth from which it seems to grow by the natural accretion of mineral material. Devotees claim the lingam was a wishing stone that bestows anything that the pure-hearted devotee desires.
Not one Sunday passes when scores do not visit Pattiram Trace Mandir nor any Hindu religious festivals fail to be celebrated there. Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar often made the trek to the stone lingam to worship, her ancestors being devout Hindus.
The 85-foot tall Hamuman murti in Waterloo. Central Trinidad, commands attention and attracts local and foreign tourists. Another is in the making at Rochard Road not far from here another farmer stumbled upon a stone shaped in the likeness of the elephant god Shri Ganesh, remover of obstacles.
On February 18 this year, 55-year-old Jagmohan Seepersad was cutting grass when his brushing cutlass hit a stone and a white substance flowed just like what happened more than 40 years before at Pattiram Trace. The farmer realised that it was milk coming out of the stone and continued clearing the area until he found the stone in the shape of an elephant with the markings of the ancient Hindu symbol, “Om” on the forehead.
Jagmohan dropped his cutlass, fell to the ground and began chanting the Sanskrit mantra “Om Shri Ganesh Aye Namah”.
He then hurried to his home, half a mile away to tell his wife, Leela Ramdeo.
Jagmohan’s daughter-in-law Sita said in an interview, “The whole family went to see the stone and became very emotional. We have been holding the hand of Shri Ganesh as we struggled over the years and this is a sign that Ganapatti is pleased with us.”
The family did not want to tell anyone but soon word got out and hundreds turned up to offer milk, water, flowers and fruits.
Local contractors have since cleared the dirt-road that leads to the empty plot of land where the murti lies. The site is about 50 feet from the dirt road, and a quarter-mile from Rochard Main Road.
The family each year hosted extravagant nine-night yagnas and felt that God had come in answer to their prayer. For many years the family has been praying to Lord Ganesh, and has received countless small miracles.
“It is clear in my mind that this murti means that God is calling on his devotees to lean on him, and to reap the benefits of devotion to him,” said Sita.
Ganesh is easily identified with an elephant head and is known as Vinayaka worshipped as the remover of obstacles. He is also known as the patron of the Arts and Sciences and the god of intellect and wisdom.
Born in poverty, struggling to make ends meet, facing scorn and humiliation every day made believers of the people in the rural districts. They see God in everything and everywhere and the special sightings may be dismissed by others but to them, there is evidence that God is among them. Faith is all they have.
