On May 11th 2024, in a beautiful ceremony hosted by Mayor Frank Scarpitti and his colleagues, attended by MP Paul Chiang, invited guests and members of the community at large, City of Markham honoured the memory of the late Shri Amar Erry by dedicating the grand Atrium in the beautiful Aaniiin Community Centre.
Earlier in January 2021, the city had lowered its flags for 3 days mourning the passing away of Amar ji.
The site of the tribute, the new community centre located on a 13-acre parcel bordered by Mumbai Street and 14th Avenue – the home of the Vedic Centre – is a bonus. For photos click: Amar Erry Atrium | Flickr
A remarkable coincidence that preserving the memory of a person we were inspired by is precisely what Mr. Amar ji devoted his adult years when, after arriving in Canada, he persuaded his colleagues to not just build a regular temple but to build an Edifice commemoratingthe core Principles enunciated by the ancient sages and Rishis of India emerging from deep meditative states.
A coalition of his committed colleagues soon started receiving widespread community support including, for the first time, a $1 Million Provincial Government grant and a $1.5 Million Bank loan. An abiding partnership also formed between Diaspora separated by nearly three generations represented by, among others, Amar Ji’s close allies Shri Anand Rupnarain and Shri Doodie Ross. This partnership, to last not just for decades but well into the next century, is the very cornerstone of the Vedic Centre.
The vision of a monument incorporating core Vedic principles took form under the genius of the Design Consultant, Anupam Banerji, assisted by his Architect and Engineering colleagues like Shri Om Arora..
The following is a reap of the Organising Principles of the Centre’s architecture:
1 A 12 feet high glazed glass crown at the apex of the Edifice – a symbol of Agni – a geometric rendering of Light and Fire. The sacred Fire ceremony is at the center of all worshipful ceremonies from childbirth to marriages to end of life commemorations and to major life events in between. During full moon nights, it lights up the inner sanctum with a soft glow helping an ecumenical mix of Meditators often led by Mr. Erry. The unique deign of the larg犀利士 e skylight also resonates with one of Amar ji’s favourite Mantras …… lead us from death to immortality, from darkness to light. Brihadaranyka Upanishad (1.3.28)
2 The Agni symbol emerges from a 12-sided circular base representing 12 of the 108 known Upanishads which are the summaries of the most ancient scriptures know to man – Vedas – which form the four corners of the large square with triangular openings at the corner to let laser-like beam of light to enter the inner sanctum.
3 The 12 Upanishads alsoadorn the giant Circle on the East representing the Cosmos enclosing the temporal activities within. These Upanishads are ĪśāVasyo, Katha, Kena, Svetasvatara, Praśna, Mundako, Māṇḍūkya, Aitareya, Taittirīya, Chāndogya, and Bṛhadāraṇyaka.The 12th window perhaps represents the Brahma Sutra which elucidates Kaushitaki, Jabala, Mahanaryana, and Maiitri Upansishads.
4 The 3 skylights, behind the Namaste sign at the entrance, represent the three attributes Gunas of Primordial Matter Prakriti – all that comes into existence –TAMAS (Inertia), RAJAS (euphoric activity), and SATTVA (Purity). In ever shifting combinations and proportions, Tamas in the service of Rajasik Guna leads to stagnation but Tamas in the service of Sattvic Guna leads to stability.
5 The glass enclosed cylindrical columns on either end of building represent the twin Principle of Pure Consciousness – Paramatma and small c individual consciousness – Atman. There is no precise word in any language for Atman. Soul, Self, Spirit are all approximations. It is alluded to in the Shastras as that which cannot be expressed by speech for it is that by which speech is expressed, it is not that which can be explained or even understood by the mind for it is that by which the mind understands in the first place.
6 The cylindrical column on the left, an embodiment of the Silent Witness, only enables entry and exit into the building – Essence to existence back to Essence – whereas once inside, the West column enables deeper journey within.
7 Since the Centre faces North, the large stage for cultural activities also face North, but the main platform for spiritual practices faces East
Many Scholars have extolled the symbolism of Vedic principles in the Centre’s architecture as being one of the finest in North America and perhaps unique even among new Indian temples which are often dedicated to a particular lineage.
The Centre is our inheritance and as its custodians it behoves us to preserve it for future generations. May we be single minded in protecting this heritage sacrificing our personal perspectives, differences in opinions, likes, dislikes, and founding ownership.