Sufidar, Chennai, India

Entrance to Sufidar, Chennai, India

Perhaps the most unique of the various institutions that I have discussed to date, Sufidar in Chennai India has generally a triple focus for the devotion of the Sindhi Hindus who visit the center. In the center of the main hall, devotees focus on a murti of Shahenshah Baba Nebhraj, who lived in Sindh and was a devotee of Kali and also recited Persian poetry devotionally.  The second focus was the current living guru, Ratanchand, who established the center in Chennai and makes regular appearances and holds audience with followers for a limited time each day or so. During my visits there, the community prepared for a major celebration focusing on Shahenshah, with a special shrine created on the opposite end of the satsang hall from his murti and guests arriving from various parts of the world to celebrate the occasion.

Sindhu Sadan, Chennai, India

Exterior of Sindhu Sadan

Sindhu Sadan in Chennai is one of the Sindhi mandirs in newer areas of Chennai than the earlier Sindhi Hindu Dharmashala. The Sindhu Sadan has multiple prayer halls, each with a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib enshrined, along with a range of murtis of Hindu deities, including Jhule Lal and Nanak.

Sindhi Hindu Dharmashala, Chennai, India

 

The Sindhi Hindu Dharmashala, in the older area of Chennai (formerly Madras), was an early center for Sindhi Hindus in this part of South India. Many Sindhi Hindus have left this area of Chennai and participate at other centers. On the afternoon that I visited, a group of Rajasthani women were conducting a puja, focusing on Krishna, and virtually ignored the Guru Granth Sahib still enshrined in the main satsang hall.  The community maintained a homeopathic clinic in the center that served people in need, both Sindhis and non-Sindhis.