LETTER-1
Dear Editor
As a member of the Hindu community I feel ashamed and deeply sorry for the conduct of the Hindu priest who has been convicted for the indecent assault on 2 victims.
His behavior is not at all acceptable under the Hindu norms or not even under humanitarian law.
We Hindus migrated in large numbers in early 1980’s formed the Hindu society of Victoria to propagate of our eternal religion and principles through good conduct,non violence(ahimsa) and love .
However the priest’s conduct has been a blackmark in our endeavours .
On behalf of the Hindus in Australia I want to say sorry to the Australian public and pardon us for this one man.
Nava ILANKO
Founder member
Hindu society.
Melbourne
LETTER-2
Dear Editor
Priest Premakanthan Rajaratnasarma from the Shri Shiva Vishu Temple in Carrum Downs has been found guilty of indescent assault on a 23-year-old woman around July 2004, as reported in the True Local news of 7 June 2011.
Ardent members of the Hindu Community, whilst stunned at this allegation, are now amazed at the courts findings. A popular saying amongst Hindus goes “Sirf Upar waleh hi sab saaf dekhta hai”, translated roughly it means that only the good Lord can see the reality clearly…what has transpired is known only to He, the Alleged and the Victim.
The Hindu Society of Victoria’s image would remain untarnished despite all these….
Yogen Laxman
Life Member and Trust Director
HSV Charitable Trust
Melbourne
LETTER-3
Dear Editor
How light can a sentence get for a filthy male that has abused female youth? Whilst sentencing Premakanthan the so-called “Hindu” priest for an 18 month jail sentence (suspended for two years), his supposed health issues and eventual guilty plea (which came after several years of pleading not guilty) were taken into account.
As an Australian born eastern girl, I would like to know why this man’s abuse of power, family history of sexual abuse, the psychological trauma his victims experienced and the horrendous acts of sexual assault were not deeply considered in his sentencing. Surely, if they were considered, he definitely would have had a much harsher outcome. The fact that temple authorities were quick to jump on the “support the priest” bandwagon has discouraged my Hindu friends from frequenting the temple site. Attempts were made to get the victims to drop their case.
This shows that temple authorities acknowledge the priest was wrong for why would attempts be made to someone to get the case hushed up. They had a weak case. Imagine if these vulnerable girls were in need of the cash and actually dropped the case? This vulgar being would still be inviting vulnerable young women to have their “horoscopes checked” and would claim he has a divine gift to cure their problems by sexually molesting them.
These victims could be your own friend, sister, mother or daughter. This draws attention to a greater issue in the modernised Hindu religion. You must beware of those that claim to have magical powers. Spirituality and science go hand in hand. What cannot be validated scientifically, logically or through your conscience is clearly something to be avoided. Listen to your instincts and common sense.
The so-called caste superiority as an excuse to abuse others is a groundless claim for power and in western terms it is simply racism and hegemony. All humans are equal.
AAS
Clayton
(Slightly edited)
2 Responses
I am a very devoted bhakta and I was so hurt that a priest could act unethically. In our Thamil belief, the vibhooti or thiruneeru is the holliest of powders. As a woman, I cant even enter the temple during my menses. We call this that we are in a theetu state. To apply the most holy powder in the private part of a lady is wrong. We cant do that. It is like making dirty the vibhooti. The vibhooti is so holy. We learn this in thevaram and bhajan from a small age. I expect the priest to know how holy this powder is.
This is one song about our vibhooti http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDPPPIa8-vU&feature=youtube_gdata_player My mother used to tell me as a child when we think the statue is a rock, we don’t htink what we are doing. When we think kadavul or swami is in the statue, we try to do the right thing because we love and are afraid of swami.
Please everyone think for 1 minute what we are doing. Thank you
Anonymos
Homebush, NSW
Dear Editor,
I found this article real tragic. I mean I was recently drawn into the Hare Krsna movement and I was blessed with a chance to really see Hinduism in its birthplace. It was an awesome trip and i learnt that healing’s in all religions. I was lucky to see the sacred neem leaf ritual. It was a life changing holiday.
I came back & checked out the Hindu temple. The temple staff and priests were great and I was told that the Carrum Downs temple was one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere and I mean, i used to smoke a plant to experience other dimensions. Now I meditate at home, the Carrum Downs temple & Hare Krsna . I’d really like to see the temple continue with the ancient Hindu healing sessions. I honestly really think the healing powder art should be taught to people and passed onto the future generations. I;m afraid it might go extinct like a lot of the old day technologies. I reckon a room in the new temple building should be used for healing sessions. I honestly think it would be a big hit & the temple should give it a go. I can only suggest the temple management could hire a female assistant for a priest that might be working on a girl in the healing sessions. The presence of female staff or a priestess could stop sexual assaults and stuff.
Krsna knows best and can help the girls.
Cheers
Daniel Curtis
Seaford, Melbourne
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