The Edinburgh Hindu Temple rises majestically over the Southern Main Road, and Temple Street, Edinburgh. Its grandeur is completed by the intricate carvings and the larger-than-life depictions of Hindu deities on its outer domes.

This impressive refuge of spirituality contrasts with the hustle and bustle of mundane life surrounding it in the form of businesses, traffic and households. Looming over the landscape, the temple has beckoned to devotees of the Hindu path, serving their religious needs since 1983.

On August 18^th the Edinburgh Hindu Temple celebrated sixteen years of service to the Hindu community. The celebration also coincided with Tulsidas Jayanti (birth anniversary of Saint Tulsidas who was author of the Ramayana scripture). The Satnarayan Swami Katha was read to commemorate the occasion.

The grand and memorable ceremony was attended by 577 devotees, among whom were several non-Hindus. Spiritual leader of the mandir, Pundit Ramesh Tiwari guided the audience with his reading on the autobiography of Tulsidas or Tulsidas Jiwan Charitra. Pundit Tiwari noted that many people are treated only to the Ram Katha and know little of the life of Tulsidas. His intention, he explained, was to help enrich people by demonstrating "the effort that Tulsidas made in order to secure the Divine Grace of Shri Ram."

During the proceedings the audience was mesmerized by a young woman who flew into a dancing frenzy while performing aarti to a murti of Durga Mata, the Divine Goddess of Creation and then fell at the feet of the murti when the aarti was completed. Tiwari explained, "Many people express devotion in diverse ways. People are overcome by their devotion. Devotion is a personal thing between the devotee and God."

The Edinburgh Hindu Temple is a beautiful, air-conditioned structure, which allows the devotee the opportunity to reach sublime heights in a comfortable and peaceful ambience. However, the temple sees the need to go beyond the religious education of the community and look after its social needs also.

In the report from the executive committee of the mandir, committee member and attorney-at-law Nirmala Dhanraj described the major projects completed in 1998.

According to Dhanraj, the temple acquired the acquisition of the Radha Murti, the upgrading and expansion of the stage area, the construction of an apartment for accommodating visiting Swamis, the construction of modern ad well-fitted-out washroom facilities and the construction and equipping of an area for computer training which will be made available to both Hindus and non-Hindus alike.

The committee has also upgraded the temple's website: www.shores.net/temple, which lists upcoming activities and events in addition to various articles of interest.

Dhanraj revealed that one of the major fundraisers carded in order to deal with the temple's bills was the Gala Divali Dinner to be held on October 31^st.

Spiritual leader of the mandir, Pundit Ramesh Tiwari, established the Edinburgh Hindu temple together with a dedicated few in 1983. Pundit Tiwari started singing bhajans and film songs in his formative years and has made several appearances on television in cultural and religious performances.

His life has become a part of this holy shrine, which attracts devotees from every religion and race at the regular Sunday morning worship. He has preached to devotees as far afield as the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Pundit Tiwari has received several commendations for his promotion of Sanatan Dharma from local organizations. He has written "The Hindu Handbook", 1989 and revised editions in 1991 and 1998 as well as "Krishna The Charioteer" in 1997. He currently hosts a programme on Radio 90.5 FM, which is aired from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Pundit Tiwari's focus is on delivering a new brand of Hinduism. He said, "We are preparing people to look at Hinduism as an instrument of progress in the new millennium." During his lectures he draws examples from not only the Hindu scriptures but the Christian and Muslim as well. He believes in the Hindu concept that God has always chosen messengers to come to the world.

He delivers the scriptures in chronological order, he pointed out, from Krishna to Jesus to the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) so that Hindus may have a more panoramic view of Hinduism and to enable non-Hindus to better understand Hinduism.

This transformation of "orthodox Hindu tradition to a more user-friendly tradition which people can identify with", according to the pundit, is seen especially in the wedding ceremonies he conducts. He does so, however, without compromising any major Hindu principles. Pundit Tiwari has conducted weddings for individuals coming as far away as Nairobi, Africa.

Pundit Tiwari believes in focusing on the youth since they are "the flag-bearers of religion." He wants to make sure, he said, "that they are adequately supported by social programmes."

Youths have been encouraged in on-going participation in policy-making. Specially chosen youths from the temple recently attended a forum at the Rudranath Capildeo learning Resource Centre on policy formulation for youth development.

Every Sunday, the pundit calls on a young man or woman to make the affirmation at the end of the proceedings. "It gives them confidence in themselves," he explained.

The pundit also believes firmly in the concept, empowerment through education, especially as it is applied to women.

The Edinburgh Hindu Temple continues to bear the cherished beliefs and sustaining traditions of the ancient Hindu religion while simultaneously adapting them to the needs and lifestyle of the contemporary Hindu.

The physical structure that impresses all is, in this way, rivaled only by the spirituality and social conscience that lie within its walls.

(Update: Destroyed by fire March 2001)

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