It was a cherished dream for the young couple from Kazakhstan to tie the nuptial knot as per the Vedic tradition.
Vitaly Tsurkan, a 29-year-old man born in an Orthodox Christian family and a video engineer by profession, and Alfiya Tsurkan, a Muslim by birth and psychologist by profession, had their marriage solemnised according to the Vedic traditions at Dayananda Bhavan founded by Acharya Narendra Bhushan at Chengannur on Monday.
Vedic Acharya Veda Prakash and Kalamala Bai of Dayananda Bhavan, assisted by Purohit Sree Krishna Bharati, conducted the ceremony in a spiritually charged atmosphere in the forenoon.
Vitaly and Alfia, both hailing from Almaty in Kazakhstan, fell in love seven years ago and were deeply inclined to learn about Hinduism and Shaiva Sidhantha after getting into contact with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) centre in their home town. Browsing the website of ‘Hinduism Today', they came to know about the Nandinatha Sampradaya's Kailasa Parampara at Kauai Aadheenam Guru Sannidhanam in Hawaii in the United States of America.
Vitaly said they became disciples of the Kauai Ashram chief Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, who had advised them to undergo a three-year master course in Hinduism offered by the Ashram.
Meanwhile, the couple got married as per the civil law of Kazakhstan a year ago. Alfia had given up her profession as a psychologist “after realising from their spiritual guru's writings that according to Sudha Saiva Sidhantha the women are not supposed to work outside. Instead, they should learn to undertake vocations at home such as tailoring, painting, and various other art work and handicrafts which can supplement their family income,'' she said.
It was their eagerness to meet their Sadguru (preceptor), Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, was what brought them to Kerala. They heard that he was coming to address a century-old Hindu religious meet at Cherukolpuzha in Pathanamthitta district. They met the Swami at Thiruvalla two days ago.
On their request, their religious teacher, Saravananatha Swami of Kauai Ashram, contacted G.K. Nair, journalist and representative of Hinduism Today in Kerala, to make arrangements to solemnise the wedding of the Kazakhstan couple according to Vedic rites.
The couple are planning to visit various Siva and Murukan temples in Tamil Nadu before returning to their homeland by February 29.
They are so attracted by the Indian spirituality and culture that they wish to come and live in the country for some time later.
