MEET YOUR NEW RESIDENT PRIEST

Sivagama Siromani Balasubramania Mohan Sundaram Kurukkal

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our new resident priest Balasubramania Mohanasundaram (Mohan). Mohan comes from Trichy in India. His educational qualifications include:

· 6-year Course Sivagama Siromani from Allure (1983-1988); and

· 2-year Sama Vedtham from Trichy (1989 - 1991).

Mohan is well versed in daily temple activities such as:

· Conducting Abhishekams;

· Conducting regular Poojas & Homams;

· Outdoor services like Marriage, House warming and other engagements; and

· Yearly festivals like Ganesha Chaturthi, Navaratri Poojas & Rama Navami etc.

Mohan is fluent in Tamil and Sanskrit languages and has working knowledge of English.

Mohan has more than 16 years experience as a Temple Priest. Before joining the Perth Hindu Temple, Mohan was working with Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, Trichy as senior priest, taking care of all day-to-day activities, Poojas, functions, special Poojas and Alangarams on important days. He also took care of all outdoor religious activities like Kumbhabhishekam, Ganapathy Homam, Navagraha Homan, Lakshmi Homan, marriages and engagements.

From 2000 to 2003 Mohan was working at Holy Tree Balasubramaniar Temple, Singapore. As Senior Priest, Mohan was taking care of all day-to-day activities as well as outdoor services. Mohan was awarded the Best Service Award for 2003. Mohan has been highly praised by his referees from Singapore.

Mohan worked as a senior priest at the Maha Mariamman Temple (Singapore) from 1994 to 1999. This was a newly constructed temple which he joined at the time of Kumbhabhishekam. He took charge of temple day to day activities, Poojas and functions. Mohan also performed outdoor services like Ganapathy Homam, Navagraha Homan, Lakshmi Homan, Marriages and Engagements. Mohan worked at the Sri Sivan Temple, Trichy from 1990 to 1993.

Mohan is a very soft spoken and pleasant mannered priest. He is a specialist on Alangarams and was awarded the Outstanding Service Award in 1999. Mohan will be residing within the Perth Hindu Centre premises. I request all devotees to be patient with him and help him settle down in Perth and learn the ways of our new Perth Hindu Temple.

Atul Garg JP

FROM THE PRESIDENT

If the cause is Noble and the Motive is Pure, then it will happen.

Dear Devotees and Friends,

Hari Om. It is an honour and privilege to be elected as the president of the Hindu Association of Western Australia (HAWA), the largest body of all serving Hindu devotees in Perth. I have a lot to say for my inaugural President’s message. I am hoping that you will be acquainted with the future direction in which the Hindu Temple is going and the objectives that are to be fulfilled.

For those who do not know me, my name is Mukesh Mani and I come from a tiny island nation in the South Pacific called Fiji. Born in 1962, I was raised in a large family of 7 children of which I am the fifth. After completing Year 12, I joined the Royal Fiji Military Force as a career soldier, serving in the Infantry and in the intelligence fields. I was posted to the Middle East where I worked with Multinational forces performing peacekeeping duties for the United Nations in Lebanon, Egypt, Sinai and Israel. In 1985 I resigned from my military duties and migrated to my current homeland, Australia. I started my own business which currently employs 15 full time staff.

I am happily married to my wife Jan Mani and together we have raised two wonderful teenage children, one boy and one girl. I also have many other commitments in the community as a Rotarian, Member of the Council of Religious Leaders, Licensed Security Agent and the founder and past President of the Fiji Association of Western Australia. I have been involved with the Hindu Temple for the past ten years and have worked as a dedicated devotee in a variety of capacities for the welfare of the Hindu Temple. That’s enough said about me, let me bring