Durban — Tributes have poured in for Guru Sivasri Rathakrishna Kurukkal Muthuiyer, resident priest of Umgeni Road Hindu Temple, who died this week.
Muthuiyer, 76, who served at the temple for 36 years, passed away in his sleep. He had been battling heart disease for 15 years and had undergone bypass surgery.
His son Ananthan Rathakrishnaiyer said his father went through his normal routine of going to bed at 9pm, but passed away two hours later.
“My mom called to say that he was having some discomfort while sleeping, and just as I arrived, he took his last breath.”
Muthuiyer was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and was raised by his mother when his father passed away when he was 3. Rathakrishnaiyer said his father faced many hardships in Sri Lanka being raised by in a single-parent household.
His father studied for the priesthood from the age of 7 and his determination and dedication saw him matriculating and furthering his studies in accounting.
“While studying and practising as an accountant, he continued with his priesthood studies and completed them under the leadership of Parameswara Kurukkal. He learnt Hindu philosophy and also achieve a diploma in astrology and numerology in India. He had a natural flair for maths and science.”
In 1975, Muthuiyer married his wife, Amirtheswary, in Sri Lanka and they had three children, Anand, Shanthi and Jayavani, and 6 grandchildren.
He came to South Africa in March 1987 to serve the Umgeni Road Temple as head priest after the death of V M Reddy.
“Many people have said his coming to South Africa was not a coincidence, but rather divine intervention, to fulfil an important role here.
“He touched the lives of many people, the young and the elderly including professionals in government and business. He achieved this with simplicity and humility. His radiant smile and warmth was sufficient for people to feel better.”
Muthuiyer was instrumental in renovating the temple and helping families in need of guidance.
“When my father first arrived at the temple it was a desolate place, but after many years under his guidance, the temple was attracting people from all over the world.”
Most have attributed the temple’s growth to his tireless efforts and endeavours. “Some of the key achievements were the building of our main hall, the front boundary wall, air-conditioning for the main temple, drilling and installation of the borehole and the yagasalai. These were achieved through donations from devotees.”
He also initiated the Murugan Skanda Sasthi Prayer at the Temple.
“He arranged funds and imported the first Surapathma to South Africa to enact the Surasamharam. Besides serving Umgeni Road Temple, he also assisted to uplift many community-based temples in South Africa by doing consecrations, which now stand at 27 temples.”
Among his many achievements, he officiated over 7000 weddings and 20000 car prayers in his more than three-decade priesthood. “In many instances these weddings include the second and third generation within these families.
“He assisted countless families with advice, guidance, astrology reading, conducting prayers, counselling and conducting hospital visits to bless devotees in need.
“My father was passionate about being a priest, it was not a job but a calling. He didn’t care about material gain but more about how he could help others. He would never turn anyone away if they didn’t have sufficient things for a prayer, he would always make a plan.”
Many expressed that Muthuiyer was more than just a priest, he was their father, grandfather and God.
“My father was God to all of us, he was part of many families' lives and important events. He was gentle, kind and humorous,” said Rathakrishnaiyer.
Sunday Tribune