Chinmaya Mission
of Reunion Island
The Temple A commitment to Hinduism…like no other
In this issue, our team takes you on a journey to discover Hinduism on Reunion Island. Our host? The Chinmaya Mission of Reunion Island. The Chinmaya Mission is an international organization created in 1953 by followers of Vedanta. The association has been present on Reunion Island for 32 beautiful years. The spiritual and philosophical quest is deeply felt among the Reunionese brothers and sisters of different ethnic communities.
Reunion Island Chinmaya Mission was founded on December 11, 1982 under the leadership of Swami Pranavananda. Its purpose is to facilitate and promote by all means, especially by charitable and humanitarian works, the study of religion, philosophy and metaphysics as expounded in the Vedas and other sacred texts of India. The site of the association is located on five acres of land at la rue Sainte Vivienne, in the French Quarter of Sainte Suzanne which is 13 mins from Saint Denis, the administrative capital of Reunion Island.We were part of a three-person delegation headed by Swami Pranavananda, the head of Chinmaya Mission Mauritius and Reunion.
The Discovery
A green gate with a sign mark the beginning of your stay at Chinmaya Mission Reunion. The street leading to the center is itself soothingly serene, and the location is anchored in a garden of exotic island flowers and a large orchard of fruits and vegetables like litchis and tomatoes. And not too far away you will also find a popular waterfall called the Cascade Delices.
Within the center, there is accommodation for 5 residents, a large satsang hall and a temple in the higher ground of the green field. The temple has a yellowish color that blends into the greenish surrounding. At 6 am and 6 pm, a bell is rung to announce the beginning of the day and the dusk. During the day, a visit to the vegetable garden is prerequisite. The center is located on an elevated plain away from the busy streets, making the air pure and refreshing.
The Temple
The Mahabhishegam of Chinmaya Mission Temple was held on September 9, 2007 in the pious presence of Vedic sages including Swami Pranavananda and Swami Adwayananda, with the participation of Br Akhilesh and Br Shripad. The presiding god is Lord Vigneshwara, i.e. Lord Ganesha. There is also a shrine to Shri Sundara Murti, a Shiva Lingam. Both are carved in stone. The very holy Tulsi surrounds the temple, along with a number of flowering bushes and many saplings.
Sustaining the values of Hinduism
If the Chinmaya Mission is so alive and in constant motion, it is because of its dedicated and knowledgeable members. During our stay, they have demonstrated selfless attitude and a zealousness to learn and be awakened. Hinduism in Reunion Island is getting better. The temples are becoming more attuned to the traditional oriental art and the devotees are becoming wiser to the Indian values and philosophy. Unquestionably, the Chinmaya Mission in Reunion is built on a deep devotional impulse that will live on for years.