These are some of the words of a song that became a global hit in 1995. An interesting fun-fact about the song is that the person who wrote it and the person who performed it came from different religious backgrounds.
I thought it would be a fitting introduction to a series of articles I am doing over the next few weeks, about the predominant faiths present in our communities. According Dr G the top five belief systems in the world today, by number of followers are:
TOP FIVE
1. Christianity: - 2.4 billion followers, mainly in Europe, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
2. Islam: - 1.9 - 2.0 billion followers, mainly in the Middle East, North Africa, and South/ Southeast Asia.
3. Unaffiliated (No Religion): - 1.3-1.8 billion, including atheists, agnostics, and those identifying as "spiritual but not religious".
4. Hinduism: - 1.2 billion followers, mainly in India and Nepal.
5. Buddhism: - 500 million followers, mainly in Central, East and Southeast Asia
As you should know by now, The Raven Report is all about celebrating the good aspects of our communities, and while we acknowledge the polarizing narratives based on religion and the many dark deeds done in the name of religion throughout recorded history, I will not be focusing on any of that. Instead, the intention of these articles is for our communities to get to know the faiths of their brothers and sisters who share our collective journeys as the colourful individuals and families we all are.
So, to kick-off the series, I went to speak to Guru Deva at the Hindu Temple in Cravenby to learn more about the Hindu faith and how it serves the community.
For the record and because it is important to me, and should be to you too, that I try to remain as objective as possible, I should share with you that I identify in the number three slot as spiritual but not religious.
Putting the Gu and Ru in Guru
The vibe I get from Guru Deva, as he arrives at the temple to open up the gates for me, is one of cautious curiosity. I sense that his spiritual radar is beaming me up and down trying to figure out what my intentions are.
While I was waiting for him, I observe the temple and the grounds and what has become a recurring theme at our community institutions, the high security fencing and systems we’ve had to erect. The fact that holy places have to be safe-guarded like this, speaks volumes about how far we still need to go. Anyway, that’s a story for another time.
Down the road, like literally about 200 meters away, is the Cravenby Mosque, and I believe not far away in the opposite direction is a Christian church. The proximity of these different faiths is very encouraging as a sign of tolerance and in fact, as Riyaaz pointed out, the three institutions have a history of joint collaboration in the community.
Guru Deva says that Gu in Sanskrit means darkness or ignorance, and Ru means the dispeller, remover, or light. He also tells me that ignorance is the root cause of all suffering.
At this point we’re sitting face to face on two simple chairs inside the temple which has a distinctly holy vibe and features various shrines dedicated to various deities.
The Guru tells me that the core tenet of Hinduism is that “there is one truth, but many different paths.” He goes on to explain that the images in the shrines depict the primary deity that this particular temple communes with, namely Mother Shakti, regarded as the fundamental divine cosmic energy, representing the feminine, dynamic, and creative power behind the universe's creation, maintenance, and destruction.
Oh, and Hinduism acknowledges and worships both Gods and Goddesses and it also has many different denominations which I interpret as for example the different denominations in the Christian faith like, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy, etc.
I am purposely not going into extensive detail because I could literally go on forever and I find it intensely interesting. But, again, I do invite you to go online and explore, there are accredited videos and papers produced and written by authentic sources that can shed light on your personal quest for knowledge about these subjects.
Guru Deva says the temple hosts regular Sunday services where people come to worship and praise, not unlike other faiths. “We also have various committees comprised of members of the community who actively engage with the community directly. Like doing home visits, or providing spiritual guidance during challenging times like grief or financial and food security stress or sickness.”
What stands out for me about Hinduism is that it has a very relaxed vibe about itself. “We accept anyone who wants to worship with us, no matter what belief system you have, you don’t have to undergo any kind of conversion, or swear off your cultural or current belief systems. Hinduism is about spreading the light to eradicate ignorance and we do it with love and kindness and a respect for all living things.”
Some of the other key tenets of Hinduism are the concepts of karma, reincarnation and veganism. Well, I found these ideas interesting on a personal level and engaged with the Guru about it, but again, too much to say and too little space here, so please go online.
I end my chat with Guru Deva by asking him about Hinduism’s stance on violence as a means to an end from a religious perspective, and I frame the question against the current wars raging in the name of cultural differences. He is adamant, “Hinduism is the embodiment of a non-violent path, which in modern times was perfectly demonstrated by Mahatma Gandhi who took on the mighty British Imperialists and even local apartheid forces with the doctrine of non-violent protest, a path which inspired the likes of Dr Martin Luther King and South Africa’s very own Father of the Nation, Tata Madiba.
Contact Guru Deva on 084 607 7473 or at Shreeparasakthieaalayam@gmail.com should you wish to know more about the faith.
I would like to thank Guru Deva for his open invitation to me to attend the Hindu festivals, in future, to learn more and to share more with our readers. I also want to thank Riyaaz Ismail for setting up this interview and for inviting me to the upcoming Iftar (the Cravenby community’s end-of-fast meal on 14 March 2026) which I will follow up with a similar article about Islam. A look at Christianity follows thereafter.
