Devotees of Radha Krishna Temple on New North Road will now have a chance to get more adept knowledge and wisdom about rituals and prayers from a priest who has been awarded a doctorate.
Acharya Dr Devrambhai Kashavlal Raval is a priest at the Radha Krishna Temple and has recently completed his doctorate from Shree Somnath Sanskrit University, Veraval, Gujarat, India. Dr Raval is already an expert in the Sanskrit language with a list of academic awards and accolades in the past and with his newly conferred doctorate, devotees will be able to understand different aspects of Hindu religion and with deeper meanings.
Dr Raval’s knowledge and experience in the field of language and the study of religion will come to great use in understanding the dynamics of faith in a fast-paced moving life.
He completed his Bachelors and Masters in Sanskrit from Gandhinagar in 2004, B Ed from Saurashtra University, Rajkot in 2006, M Phil in 2009 and completed PhD in five years from 2013- 2017.
Dr Raval can conduct any Hindu religious ceremonies that are Pujas, Katha, Satsang and wedding, etc.
Dr Raval’s topic of research in his doctorate study was ‘Panch Tantra Hetupadesh Nitisatakeshu Sarvottam Manveeya Sadagunam Chintanatmakam Adhyanaynam’ that translates to ‘In our human life how to use and implement the good virtues and properties from three Granthas (literatures) Panchtantra, Hitopadesh and Nitisatakeshu to make our life useful, successful and prosperous’.
Dr Raval says that his doctorate was a blessing from the almighty and he looks forward to devoting every ounce of his knowledge towards the betterment of the community.
“Shri Radha Krishna Temple is one of the oldest temples in New Zealand and is a place where devotees used to come even before the temple was constructed when it was just a house.
“Devotees have increased at the temple over the years, and the community wants more knowledge about the religion and want to get closer to God,” Dr Raval says.
Dr Raval recalls his early days as a teacher, back in 2006 when he taught Sanskrit language at the Shri Anandabhav Sanskrut Vedant Mahavidhyalay to students pursuing bachelors and masters degree in Sanskrit for eight years. He has taken a long journey to completing his PhD with the sole intention to gaining knowledge, and impart the same to the communities and the devotees.
“At Shri Radha Temple we host pujas, aarti, katha sessions, pravachan sessions etc. We look forward to imparting as much wisdom and knowledge about the religion, ways of living a spiritual life and how to get closer to the creator through natak, katha and hosting puja sessions with the community.
“My goal is to give every child, every devotee who seeks knowledge of the divine and guide them to the right path. This is what the temple is there for, to guide the humans to follow the right path and provide them with the knowledge and understanding of the holy books,” Dr Raval added.
Dr Raval has been the priest at Radha Krishna Temple for three years and travelled back to India on occasions to give his exams and submit papers. He looks up to his guide and mentor Dr Raj Prasad Shukla to have shown him the right direction to complete his doctorate.
“As per the modern world, religious education, practice and rituals need to change and need to adopt application of science and technology for making our life competitive and comfortable. We are fortunate to have a highly qualified and talented priest like Dr Raval at our temple, and we have confidence that he will guide us to the right path through his teachings and knowledge,” secretary of the Auckland Indian Association, Lingappa Kalburgi said.
A brief history of Shri Radha Krishna Temple:
The deities at the Radha Krishna Temple prayer hall were brought from in 1991, soon after the place was refurbished into the prayer hall of the temple. This happened under the inspiration and guidance of Pujya Bhaishri Shri Rameshbhai Oza after the land was purchased to build the Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
After the deities were installed, the regular mandir activities began under the chairmanship of Sri Amruthbhai Morar Patel, and the pujari services of Shri Ashokbhai Jeram.
The new Shri Radha Krishna Krishna Temple was planned to be built as the number of devotees to the temple increased. With the support from Auckland Indian Association Inc. and the support of the Mandir chairman and committee members, construction of the new temple started in October 2000. The final stages of the temple was completed in June 2001 and under the presidency of Harshadbhai Patel, the new temple was inaugurated between 7-9 June in 2001.
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