Pujaries
Head Pujarie of The Shri Maha Kali Devi Mandir Inc.
170 VAN SICLEN AVENUE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11207 Pujarie Anil Mangal
Anil Mangal (Producer, Misic Director, Singer) is the Head Priest of The Shri Maha Kali Devi Mandir Inc. He was born in Guyana to Pujarie Basdeo and Mataji Rajdai Mangal, the distinguished elders of Kalimai Temple Community in Guyana, Trinidad, U.S., Canada, and U.K. Anil was nortured from childhood in the Kali way of life by his parents. He migrated to the United States in 1995. Realizing his ancestral traditions in New York needed a champion; Pujarie Anil began researching and embracing all aspects of Mariamman work, passionately. Blessed with deep understanding, intelligence and an aptitude for languages, Anil learnt to speak, read and write Tamil. Naturally gifted, he excelled in the arts of Tamil singing and drumming. Anil sings The Mariamman Thallatu and Totrams in Tamil language and plays Thappu, Undakai, and Matallam. Since 2003, Anil has dedicated himself to the revival of Tamil language arts among pujaries and devotees at the Temple. Through his norturing, Pujarie Anil is bring our youth into the sacred and artistic fold to preserve family life and ancestral dharmas, through knowledge and the arts. Pujarie Anil has been performing Mariamman Pujas in New York, Florida, Canada, U.K., Trinidad and Guyana for many years.
Pujarie Jamsie Naidu (1913-1997)
Late Guru of the Shri Maha Kali Devi Mandir (Albion, Guyana)
Pujarie Basdeo Mangal (1943-2016)
Late Guru of the Shri Maha Kali Devi Mandir (Brooklyn, New York )
Pujarie Basdeo Mangal born on February 15TH 1943 at Fyrish Road, Corentyne Berbice Guyana. At the age of nine, he becomes ill with a stomach ailment which was not curable by medicine available at the time. His mother, having full faith in Amma, took him to Albion Mariamman temple for curing. With Amma’s grace, his body was rid of all afflictions shortly thereafter. Little did he know, his life as a Pujarie was about to unfold.
Shortly thereafter, the Divine Mother chose him to carry her sacred Karagam. As he served as a karagam boy over the next five years his love (Prem) and faith (Shradha) for her grew immensely. At the conclusion of his five years of dutiful worship and servitude to the Mother, he became inspired by his birth Mother and the elders within Amma’s temple. Pujarie Mangal made a life changing decision at a very tender age where he decided to pledge his life and serve humanity. He then undertook rigorous training under Pujarie Jamsie Naidu. At the age of fifteen, Pujarie Mangal became Mother’s marlu (the main Pujari that accepts Amma’s vibrations to take care of devotees). Between the ages of twenty and twenty-one Basdeo Mangal was married to Rajdeo Mangal, they lived at Fyrish Road with his mother. They have 5 children.
In the 1970s Pujarie Mangal moved with his family to Trinidad and Tobago on a mission to carry Mariamman traditions to Hindus. A few years later Basdeo Mangal returned to Guyana where he became the head Pujarie of Blairmont Kalimai Mandir in 1980. In 1982, Pujari Mangal became one of the founding members and first vice president of the Guyana Maha Kali Madrassi Religious Organization. Pujarie Mangal believed in a unified worshipping among Mariamman devotees and carried the motto that “We must have peace and love with one another the same way we love Mother.” In 1996, he came to New York where he currently serves as the Head Pujari of the Shri Maha Kali Devi Mandir in Brooklyn. Pujarie Mangal currently is the first Licensed Madrassi Priest/President and founder of the Shri Maha Kali Devi Mandir located at 170 Van Siclen Ave Brooklyn NY 11207. The first registered Shri Maha Kali Organization in New York State.
Pujarie Mangal has received numerous awards from State and Federal elected official for his outstanding service and dedication to the Cypress Hills / East New York community.
Former New York City Brooklyn Youth Council Member Roopesh Ramjit of the 37th City Council district praised Pujarie Mangal for his outstanding job he has done in keeping youngsters off the street. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also joined NYC-BYC Ramjit in thanking Pujarie Mangal for his efforts.
