World is one family - The theme for the Hindumitra meeting
- Srinivasa Malladi
- Feb 14
- 6 min read
Updated: May 28
Blog 5: Blog series by Hindumitra Karen Dabrowska during her visit to India
Our last stop in the countryside was the BCT school and agricultural project. But the temple visit took precedence. Like Dr Srinivasa emphasised without a spiritual foundation there is nothing. There are two temples in Panchadarla village: a new temple and the DharmaLingeswara temple which dates back to the 13th century. Priests were active in both temples and gave us their blessing and some holy water to drink, a touch on the head with a sacred cylinder and some kumkuma, a red smearing powder for the forehead. Some asked our names as they said prayers. There was a steady stream of devotees at both places of worship.
The visit to the temples was followed by a visit to the school built by BCT (information on BCT). The children aged 7 – 10 years have separate accommodation blocks but are co-educated. Vocational training is included in the curriculum: tailoring, electrical know how, spinning and folk art.
Near the school buildings are two cottages built by American friends who donated the money for the construction. They stay in the cottages when they visit India and the rest of the time they are for the disposal of BCT. Three cheerful ladies welcomed me. Dr Srinivasa was talking to the schools’ administrators one of whom is his brother who I met at the bhogi gathering.
A sumptuous lunch was prepared by the ladies (pictured below) we met in the school mess.
We then visited the BCT’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra a farm development centre with rice fields, classrooms, and a physio therapy centre. There was no briefing from the staff at the school or the farm as there closed for Sankranti festivities.
It was a longish drive back to Visakhapatnam. After dinner at Dr Srinivasa’s house, which was once his beach front clinic, we went to a nearby ice cream parlour with a variety of flavours and also chocolate brownies. I should have opted for the brownie like Gayatri. “You didn’t come here to eat ice cream,” Dr Srinivasa said jokingly. “You still have to send me the images for your talk. I am a hard taskmaster.” He expects a lot from those involved in Hindumitra activities but is always so gracious and engaging when he makes a request it is a pleasure to serve. The images were easy to find. They were either stored on my laptop or easily sourced from the internet. The title of my talk: One light; many candles: My spiritual journey with Sanatana dharma was delivered the next day at the Hindumitra meeting with the theme the world is one family. I gave the participants a summary of my talk: We are all God’s children, part of the human family, part of the greater light. The Vedas tell us truth is one – its expressions are many.
Sanatana dharma is defined as the eternal everlasting wisdom or principle, the absolute truth. It is something we discover on our journey through life. There is nothing to convert to. For centuries India has been the custodian of Sanatana dharma.
A memorable experience on my journey with Sanatana dharma: Visit to Baba Ji’s cave.
The importance of nishkama karma. You have the right to perform your action , but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. I realised this as I was walking to Babaji’s cave – it was essential to focus on making the journey not on reaching the cave.
Visiting temples has been an amazing experience: immersive spaces to experience the spiritual atmosphere and engage the natural language of the soul.
The famous medieval explorer Hana Batatu said: the one who saw is not like the one who read. The knowledge that is in the book stays in the book. Reading spiritual books which contain descriptions of others self-realization cannot be a substitute for one’s own experience.
We need not be sad as we come to the end of our present incarnation. When our body is no longer able to serve the soul on its journey to the greater light the soul will be served by another body.
On the path of Sanatana dharma, we have to ask questions to gain an understanding of the ancient wisdom.
Perhaps everything is not known. Who really knows? Nasadiya Sukta asks.
The talk went very well. It was an honour to speak but sadly no time for a discussion at the end where members of the audience could share their views. But the programme was very full with a discussion about Hindu parenting and folk culture performances including another appearance by the Haridasu.
A magnificent one-person drama enacting scenes from the life of Jhansi Lakshmi Bai was full of emotion and conviction. The 22-year-old queen refused to cede Jhansi to the British. Shortly after the beginning of the mutiny in 1857, which broke out in Meerut, Lakshmi Bai was proclaimed the regent of Jhansi, and she ruled on behalf of the minor heir. Joining the uprising against the British, she rapidly organized her troops and assumed charge of the rebels in the Bundelkhand region. Mutineers in the neighbouring areas headed toward Jhansi to offer her support. I had the pleasure of briefly talking to the young woman who told the story of Jhansi Lakshmi Bai. She asked how her performance was and requested a picture with me.
Attendance at the function was excellent with more than 100 people. Two sadhus came and one participated in the lighting of the candles at the beginning of my talk. The attendance and the calibre of the programme show cased the achievements of Hindumitra since its establishment in 2019. Dr Srinivasa is now determined to build a strong team and carry on the work.
Being part of the activities and seeing the work of Hindumitra in Yelamanchili provided me with a penetrating flash of insight into the world of NGOs in India who work for the betterment of people’s lives without a hidden agenda. Service is Hindumitra’s motto and a genuine desire to serve the community by all who take part in the activities will ensure Hiindumitra’s continued success.
Dr Srinivasa gave me a Hindumitra diary with a page for every week of the year which I have to complete outlining my activities. May they be many.
About the author:
Hindumitra Karen Dabrowska lives in London, UK. She first became interested in Sanatana Dharma in 2020 after reading Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. In 2022 she visited Babaji’s cave where Yogananda’s master was initiated into kriya yoga. She found India an enchanting, fascinating and welcoming country which she has been visiting twice a year since 2022. She then visited Rishikesh and in it the Vasishtha Cave home of Vasishtha one of the seven immortal saints. In February 2025 she felt it to be a great honor to go to the kumbh mela a very personal spiritual experience shared with millions of people. In her own words "I felt I was part of one gigantic family and we all embarked on a pilgrimage together."
In 2023 she listened to a talk at Laxmi Narayan Temple in West London by Hindumitra Dr Malladi Srinivasa Sastry, founder of Hindumitra Foundation, and was inspired by his clear presentation of the concepts of Sanatana Dharma. The talk was a condensed version of his ten-lesson course “Bring out the best in you – the Sanatana Dharma way” which she studied online. She kept in touch with Dr Malladi by email and WhatsApp and when he heard that she was planning to visit south India in January this year she was invited to Visakhapatnam to see the activities of Hindumitra. There was a fascinating visit to Dimili village where young people gave a performance of traditional dancing and art forms. Hindumitra is keen to promote the preservation of cultural traditions. She also took part in a major Hindumitra event with the theme the world is one family in Visakhapatnam public library where Hindumitra Karen ji spoke about her spiritual journey with Sanatana dharma. The programme attended by over 100 people was very full with a discussion about Hindu parenting and folk culture performances and demonstrations.
Comments