The Legendary Dharamveer Sewdass Sadhu

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■ The legendary Sewdass Sadhu and the story of the "Temple in the Sea" - HSS Trinidad
■ Sadhu and his "Temple in the Sea" - Susan Gosine

The Legendary Dharamveer Sewdass Sadhu: A Caribbean Hindu Hero

Dharamveer Sewdass Sadhu: Born: January 1, 1903 in India, but at age of 3 he arrived in Trinidad with his parents who came as indentured servants. He lived at Barrancore (now Brickfield) Trinidad. He built the famous "Temple in the Sea" against all odds.

Courtesy: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS, Trinidad)

By constructing a Mandir five hundred feet off the shore into the sea at Waterloo Bay, Central Trinidad almost single-handedly with “Hanumanian” effort, steadfastness and indomitable courage, even suffering colonial persecution, a poor and devout Sadhu has forever challenged and propelled the collective will and psyche of Hindu Trinidadians and indeed Hindus worldwide to infinite possibilities. The very name SEWDASS SADHU (1903 – 1970) evokes rousing feelings of unique admiration and awe and embodies the dreams and aspirations of the Hindu Samaj yet to burst forth into unified glory.

A legend! A National Hero! The indefatigable Sewdass Sadhu will forever continue to shine brilliantly in our hearts. His BIRTH CENTENARY will be observed from January 1^st, 2002 – January 1^st, 2003.

We owe a debt of pious obligation and gratitude to Sadhuji and our Pitris (PITRI RINA) to commemorate this momentous Centenary with all the pomp and pageantry it richly deserves yet promoting the deep spirituality espoused by Sewdass Sadhu.

Several spiritual and intellectual as well as cultural and social programmes can be planned with some being effectively incorporated within our exciting Utsavs, religious and cultural festivals for maximum effect.

DHARMA DHURANDHAR (Defender of Dharma) Sewdass Sadhu is ours: to cherish with pride and dignity; to present to the world as our Caribbean Hindu Hero befitting our adoration and for us to be inspired by his brilliance and forthrightness into assertive and noble action.

The Legendary Sewdass Sadhu

“When a man is born, whoever he may be, there is born simultaneously a debt to the devas, to the sages, to the ancestors, and to men.” – Yajur Veda

One century ago, Bhaarat (India) witnessed the birth of a son whose name today evokes rousing sentiments of awe and admiration among Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago. Sewdass was born on January 1, 1903 to Boodhram and Bissoondayia. At the tender age of four, he came aboard the SS Mutlah bound for a new land. He was accompanied by his parents and two younger brothers. Along with his parents, young Sewdass toiled under the Indentureship scheme at the Waterloo Estates in Central Trinidad.

Sewdass dwelled in a small village named Barrancore, known today as Brickfield, for a number of years. After the death of his parents and having served the period of his indenture, Sewdass returned to Bhaarat for the first time in 1926. He first journeyed back to Bhaarat on a Dutch ship. The First World War was just ending. The voyage was perilous. Whilst in Bhaarat, he received benediction from a pandit who was 120 years of age. Sewdass was moved to pledge to construct a mandir on his safe return to Trinidad. He subsequently visited Bhaarat on four more occasions – 1940, 1946, 1963 and 1970.

Unable to bear the separation from the country he had come to love and respect as his own home, Sewdass returned and settled among the residents at Waterloo Village in Central Trinidad. During this time, he established and managed a small grocery at his home. He held firm to his strong moral beliefs and spiritual practices. He was, hence, nicknamed Sadhu, or religious one, by the villagers.

As time passed, Sewdass Sadhu continued to nurture the dream of one day building a mandir through which he could impart the spiritual doctrines and millennia-old traditions and customs of his ancestors to the children of his village.

The realization of this long cherished dream commenced in October 1947. Sewdass Sadhu purchased a small parcel of land from Caroni (1975) Ltd. at the edge of the Waterloo Bay and began the Herculean task of clearing the land, constructing the mandir and installing the murtis (icons) for worship. For four years, residents of the village and neighbouring villages came and performed poojas at the mandir.

Then in 1952, Sewdass Sadhu was ordered by Caroni (1975) Ltd. to demolish the mandir. With a heavy heart and tearful eyes, he refused to destroy this abode of God. His refusal to comply landed him in jail for 14 days with a fine of $400 for trespassing on State land. While held captive in jail, the company employees tore down the mandir and cleared the land of all evidence of its existence.

Immediately on his release, Sewdass Sadhu declared, “You broke the mandir on the land. Then I will build my mandir on nobody’s land. I will build a mandir in the sea.”

For 17 years after, Sewdass Sadhu continued the construction of his “Temple in the Sea”. His tools were simple – two buckets and a bicycle with a carrier at the back. In the buckets, he placed rocks, sand and cement. Balancing the buckets on the two handles of the bicycle, Sewdass Sadhu would push the bicycle out to the mandir site located some 500 feet off the shore into the sea at Waterloo Bay. Sometimes family and villagers assisted him, but largely, it was an almost single handed “Hanumanian” effort.

The “Temple in the Sea” today stands out as a lasting legacy of Dharmaveer Sewdass Sadhu.

Sewdass Sadhu passed away in 1971. In 1995, a concrete statue of him clad in traditional dhoti, kurta and mala standing with his hands clasped in the reverential pranaam posture was unveiled before the 5,000 Hindus present.

For Hindus in Trinidad and the world over, this Dharma Dhurandhar (Defender of Dharma) stands as an embodiment of indomitable courage, strength and determination – in fact, the quintessence of the fulfilment of the jahaajis’ mission to the Caribbean. A poor and devout Sadhu has forever challenged and propelled the collective will and psyche of Hindu Trinidadians and, indeed, Hindus worldwide to infinite possibilities. Sewdass Sadhu is ours to cherish with pride and dignity, to present to the world as our Hindu Hero befitting our adoration and for us to be inspired by his brilliance and forthrightness into assertive and noble action.

The Temple in the Sea

Over 300 mandirs are sprinkled throughout the landscape of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Undoubtedly, one stands out above the rest for its innate exceptionality of history, design and location. It is known worldwide as the famous “Temple in the Sea”. Dharmaveer Sewdass Sadhu commenced the initial construction of the original mandir in 1952. Located some 500 feet off the shore into the sea at Waterloo Bay in Central Trinidad, the mandir was built when the sea tide was low.

Every day, for almost five years, Sewdass Sadhu transported stone boulders, gravel, sand and cement in two buckets hanging from the handlebars of his old bicycle. Steel oil drums, filled with concrete, formed the foundation of the structure. Eventually the mandir began to take shape. The area of the original structure was 1,200 square feet.

The mandir consisted of three sections – a pooja area, a kitchen and an unfinished room which was intended to accommodate guests. Murtis were installed and an OM symbol stood atop the roof. The mandir was dedicated to Lord Shesha Naaraayana – the one who dwells in the sea. For 17 years, Sewdass Sadhu laboured continuously on the construction of the mandir.

As the news spread of this “Temple in the Sea”, curious visitors and devotees throughout Trinidad began to flock to witness this spectacle. The mandir became transformed into a teerath or pilgrimage spot for devotees desirous of performing pooja and during the Hindu festivals of Kartik and Shiva Raatri.

With the passage of time, the ravages of sea blasts took its toll on the structure. The foundation has eroded considerably. With the demise of Sewdass Sadhu in 1971, the mandir fell into neglect. The structure deteriorated, paint peeled, murtis were broken and the walls began their collapse.

A plea was made to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to recognize and preserve this national symbol. Construction of the present mandir commenced and was completed in 1996.

Today, the statue of Sewdass Sadhu with his hands clasped in the reverential pranaam, which was installed in 1995 by the Hindu Seva Sangh together with over 5,000 Hindus, greets the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists who journey the world over to worship at this famous “Temple in the Sea” and to pay homage to the legacy of this historic figure and national legend Dharmaveer Sewdass Sadhu.

Sewdass Sadhu - Dharmaveer

The life of Sewdass Sadhu and his achievement of building the “Temple in the Sea” could serve as a catalyst for change not only for Hindus but for all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, and Hindus of all the Girmitia countries throughout the world. The temple epitomizes the monumental struggle of one man of immense courage who sacrificed all to fulfill his vision.

This struggle of devotion and sacrifice has now become a much larger symbol of a people’s struggle to retain their cultural and religious tradition against hostile forces and also reflects the struggle that all indentured labourers from Bhaarat had to face in the respective countries they were sent to.

We need genuine heroes to inspire and motivate us thereby awakening the dormant spirit within us. Heroes are somewhat extraordinary and perform astonishing deeds, far beyond the capabilities of the average person. They have to stand apart from the everyday world and embark on trials, dangers and adversities. Sewdass Sadhu was all of these and has blazed a trail for all of us to follow. The following inspirational, lasting and powerful messages have emerged from his actions:

§ Persevere at all times. Never give up even when the struggle may seem impossible. The ability to accept setbacks and overcome all challenges to secure victory and success for ourselves and our society.

§ Always have a deep sense of belief in ourselves and with undying faith rooted in our Sanatana Dharma and culture, miracles can be achieved.

§ Display bravery and courage at all times, even under the most adverse conditions.

§ Be concerned about the welfare of others and do things that would also benefit others by undertaking sacrifices.

Sadhuji was a man devoted to his swadharma and served principles larger than himself. He took the divine energies within him and brought it to manifestation in the form of the “Temple in the Sea” so that we could all benefit. The above values if inculcated in our lives will serve us well and could also develop us into good citizens for the task of nation building.

By Susan Gosine

Indian immigrant Siew Dass Sadhu has become somewhat of a legend in Trinidad and Tobago. He has a $1.5 million temple in the sea named after him and a pristine statue of himself clad in a dhoti, (loincloth) standing reverently at the top of a pedestal at the entrance to the temple.

On Indian Arrival Day last year, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday unveiled a plaque at the base of the statue in Sadhu's honour. It is now a tourist attraction and a shrine for worshippers.

Each year, hundreds of people gather at the site to celebrate Indian Arrival Day with the Hindu Seva Sangh. And the smiling Sadhu welcomes them with clasped hands.

At the age of four, a young boy by the name of Siew Dass accompanied by his parents left their homeland in India and sailed across the ocean to a destiny unknown. Little did he know that his name would be whispered with reverence on the lips of many or that he was destined to change the lives and history of the people in a humble village in Central Trinidad.

After the deaths of his parents and having served his indentureship period, Siew Dass accepted his return passage to India but was unable to stay away from the country he came to love and respect as his home.

He returned to Trinidad, and settled among the residents in Waterloo Village in Central Trinidad.

He loved the lush green sugar cane in the village and the clean fresh air. It was near the sea where he could perform his poojas undisturbed by the intrusion of noise from the town.

Siew Dass was of strong religious and moral beliefs. When he returned to Trinidad, he brought with him the "firm religious beliefs and traditions of his forefathers" and fought desperately to hold on to those beliefs against a society that scorned and ridiculed him.

He was nicknamed Sadhu (religious one) by villagers who laughed at him because he stood up for what he believed. Today, the name Siew Dass Sadhu is looked upon with great respect and awe.

Sadhu has come and gone, but his memory lingers on in the minds of those who were fortunate to know him. He has left an indelible mark on the earth when he single-handedly took tons of sand, cement, stone and bricks into the Gulf of Paria, to construct a mandir 500 feet into the sea at Waterloo Bay.

His dream was to build a temple and teach his children and the young ones in the village the principles of Hinduism and how to worship and perform poojas.

This dream brought him humiliation and shame, but nevertheless bore fruit before he bade this "cruel" world good-bye. In 1947, Sadhu asked Caroni (1975) Ltd. To purchase a parcel of land at the edge of the Bay, to build a temple. His wife, Samdaye, said he was given verbal consent by a Mr. Mark Millan, to build the temple.

An elated Sadhu began the herculean task of clearing the land and building the temple. For four years the temple with its murtis was used by residents and people from neighbouring villages to perform poojas.

In 1952, Sadhu was ordered by Caroni Limited to demolish the temple. With a heavy heart and tearful eyes, he told the authorities that the temple was a House of God and was built for worship. "I cannot break it down," he said.

Sadhu's refusal to comply landed him in jail for 14 days. He was fined $500, which he paid at $20 a month. While he was in jail officials of Caroni Limited demolished the temple and cleared the debris.

Sadhu told Samdaye: "They say the land is company land and they don't want me to build my temple on it. Then I will build my temple in nobody's land. I will build my temple in the sea where nobody will have to break it down and nobody will say the land is theirs."

One week after his release he began to build his temple in the sea. Each day for almost five years Sadhu journeyed from his home to the site on a bicycle with two buckets of material which he dumped into the sea to build a road.

He was laughed at and called a "mad man" by villagers as he toiled day and night. Finally the work was done, and Sadhu stood back and looked at his work with pride.

The stone temple had a kitchen and rest room. Murtis were in place and the symbol Om beckoned from atop the roof. It was time to perform pooja. News of the temple in the sea spread to all corners of the country and visitors and worshippers travelled long distances to see the spectacle.

Many visited the temple on Sundays to perform prayers. For over 30 years the temple in the sea was used by devout Hindus and served as a pilgrimage spot during Kartik and Shiva Raatri. His dream realized and his heart content, Sadhu quietly passed away in 1971.

In May 1993, he received recognition for the first time when the Hindu Seva Sangh held a march in honour of his memory. Over 5,000 followers walked from St. Mary's Junction, Freeport, to the banks of the Waterloo Bay where an inaugural ceremony was held by the late Swami Satchichnanda at the temple ruins. The procession made a brief stop at Sadhu's home.