The controversies stirred by the Arya Samaj spokesmen acted as a kind of catalyst for the leaders of the Sanātanī (Orthodox Hindu) community to make greater strides towards effective organization.
In 1935, in a move to demonstrate greater legitimacy, the Board became formally affiliated with the Sanatan Dharma Pratindhi Sabha based in Lahore, British India (present day Pakistan).
In that year Maraj, a self-made millionaire and sugar union leader, merged the two Sanātanī Hindu bodies, to create a much more powerful pressure group and public organization.
The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha's parishad, or council of pundits worked towards a complete coordination of temples activities and the standardization of ritual procedure.
Relatively few structured, permanent religious groups existed in Trinidad's Indian villages until the advent of the Maha Sabha school building programme.
In order to ensure uniform teaching and practices, the Maha Sabha published literature to be used at all schools and temples[citation needed].
Yet foremost on the new organization agenda was education, which its members saw as the key to promoting Hindu unity in all parts of the country, to promulgating the faith among future generations of Hindus, and to provide Indians with greater opportunities for social advancement.