Guru Liven "Niven" Pillay of the Sezela Seva Subramanium Temple was killed on Sunday morning at Punjab Circle in the Navy area in Merebank. He had been stabbed.
Gopie Krishna Tagat, from the Illovo Bhajan group and a long-time friend of Pillay, said his death was a loss to the Hindu community.
“Guru Niven and I share a relationship that spans over 15 years. We got acquainted through conducting funerals and memorial services, while also assisting temples for Kavady and other religious functions,” said Tagat.
He said Pillay was well known in KwaZulu-Natal and surrounding areas.
“He served as the guru at the Sezela temple, officiating prayers as per the temple calendar. He was also a great singer, who accompanied me in services. It’s a major loss because the family and I share a close relationship. My heart goes out to Colleen, his pregnant wife, and their son.
“Last night when I spoke to Colleen, she said he wanted us to be there when his daughter was born but God acts in different ways. I think he had a premonition. Strangely, Guru Niven instructed his wife to have me conduct his funeral if anything happened to him."
He said Pillay would be missed by the community.
"It's so sad that a young talented guru that served the community with distinction passed away in this manner. To think that someone brutally murdered a humble soul, especially a priest, is beyond me. I pray that Lord Narayana grants Colleen and the family the strength and fortitude to overcome this irreparable loss; not to her but also the community,” said Tagat.