Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released a special commemorative coin on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Ji today via video conference. Union Minister For Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri G Kishan Reddy, among others, was present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister mentioned the happy coincidence of Janmashtami day before and the 125th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada ji. ‘It is like achieving happiness and contentment of sadhana together. He also noted that the occasion is taking place amidst the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit mahotsav. This is how millions of followers of Srila Prabhupada Swami and millions of Krishna devotees all over the world are experiencing today’, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister noted the supernatural devotion of Prabhupada Swami for Lord Krishna and said that he was also a great devotee of Bharat. He fought in the freedom struggle of the country. He had refused to take his diploma from Scottish College in support of the non-cooperation movement, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said our knowledge of yoga spread all over the world and sustainable lifestyle of India, science like Ayurveda are spread all over the world. It is our resolve that the whole world should benefit from it, Shri Modi said. The Prime Minister said whenever we go to any other country, and when people meet there saying ‘Hare Krishna’, we feel a sense of belonging and pride. The Prime Minister said that the same feeling will be there when Make in India products get the same affinity. We can learn a lot from ISKCON in this regard
The Prime Minister said that in the times of slavery, Bhakti kept the spirit of India alive. He said today scholars assess that if there was no social revolution of the Bhakti period, it would have been difficult to imagine the status and form of India. Bhakti connected the creature with God by removing the dicrimination of faith, social hierarchies and privileges. Even in those difficult times, saints like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who tied the society with the spirit of devotion and gave the mantra of ‘Faith to Confidence’.
The Prime Minister said at one time, if a sage like Swami Vivekananda came who took Vedanta to the west, then Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON took up this great task when the time of taking Bhakti Yoga to the world came. He connected Bhakti Vedanta with the consciousness of the world, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said today there are hundreds of ISKCON temples in different countries of the world and many Gurukuls are keeping Indian culture alive. ISKCON has disseminated to the world that for India, faith means zeal, enthusiasm, and gaiety and faith in humanity.Shri Modi highlighted the service work of ISKCON during earthquake in Kutch, Uttarakhand tragedy, cyclones in Odisha and Bengal. The Prime Minister also praised the efforts of ISKCON during the pandemic.
परसो श्री कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी थी और आज हम श्रील प्रभुपाद जी की 125वीं जन्मजयंती मना रहे हैं।
ये ऐसा है जैसे साधना का सुख और संतोष एक साथ मिल जाए।
इसी भाव को आज पूरी दुनिया में श्रील प्रभुपाद स्वामी के लाखों करोड़ों अनुयाई और लाखों करोड़ों कृष्ण भक्त अनुभव कर रहे हैं: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021
हम सब जानते हैं कि प्रभुपाद स्वामी एक अलौकिक कृष्णभक्त तो थे ही, साथ ही वो एक महान भारत भक्त भी थे।
उन्होंने देश के स्वतन्त्रता संग्राम में संघर्ष किया था।
उन्होंने असहयोग आंदोलन के समर्थन में स्कॉटिश कॉलेज से अपना डिप्लोमा तक लेने से मना कर दिया था: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021
मानवता के हित में भारत दुनिया को कितना कुछ दे सकता है, आज इसका एक बड़ा उदाहरण है विश्व भर में फैला हुआ हमारा योग का ज्ञान!
भारत की जो sustainable lifestyle है, आयुर्वेद जैसे जो विज्ञान हैं, हमारा संकल्प है कि इसका लाभ पूरी दुनिया को मिले: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021
हम जब भी किसी दूसरे देश में जाते हैं, और वहाँ जब लोग ‘हरे कृष्ण’ बोलकर मिलते हैं तो हमें कितना अपनापन लगता है, कितना गौरव भी होता है।
कल्पना करिए, यही अपनापन जब हमें मेक इन इंडिया products के लिए मिलेगा, तो हमें कैसा लगेगा: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021
आज विद्वान इस बात का आकलन करते हैं कि अगर भक्तिकाल की सामाजिक क्रांति न होती तो भारत न जाने कहाँ होता, किस स्वरूप में होता!
लेकिन उस कठिन समय में चैतन्य महाप्रभु जैसे संतों ने हमारे समाज को भक्ति की भावना से बांधा, उन्होने ‘विश्वास से आत्मविश्वास’ का मंत्र दिया: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021
एक समय अगर स्वामी विवेकानंद जैसे मनीषी आए जिन्होंने वेद-वेदान्त को पश्चिम तक पहुंचाया, तो वहीं विश्व को जब भक्तियोग को देने की ज़िम्मेदारी आई तो श्रील प्रभुपाद जी और इस्कॉन ने इस महान कार्य का बीड़ा उठाया।
उन्होंने भक्ति वेदान्त को दुनिया की चेतना से जोड़ने का काम किया: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021
आज दुनिया के अलग अलग देशों में सैकड़ों इस्कॉन मंदिर हैं, कितने ही गुरुकुल भारतीय संस्कृति को जीवंत बनाए हुये हैं।
इस्कॉन ने दुनिया को बताया है कि भारत के लिए आस्था का मतलब है- उमंग, उत्साह, और उल्लास और मानवता पर विश्वास: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021
The event was jointly organised by Ministry of Culture and ISCKON. “One of the cultural ambassadors of India, who paved the way for social and cultural upliftment of humankind with the aim of Kranvanto Vishwamaryam (to make the world noble)” said G. K Reddy on the occasion of the event.
The Union Minister of Culture, Sri G Kishan Reddy ji, delivered the welcome remarks virtually at the event and said “ India has also been the land of Maha-purushas who gave their lives in service of others and taught countless people the righteous path of life.The life of Srila Prabhupada Ji is in itself a story of dedication and courage and today, ISKCON, the movement founded by Swami Ji is globally known for its dedication to and propagation of Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s teachings and the Indian (Bharatiya) culture, knowledge and tradition”.
“It is due to the efforts of Srila Prabhupada Ji and his followers, today one can see thousands native people of countries like Russia, Argentina, Ghana walking in Sarees and Dhoti, chanting Sanskrit mantras, reading Srimad Bhagavad Gita and other Purnanas, play instruments like Mridanga & Khol, this is indeed a cultural revolution brought about by Srila Prabhupada Ji as the cultural ambassador of our heritage” he added. Shri Krishna Reddy further said “A deep desire to revive the spiritual culture of India, Srila Prabhupada ji during his lifetime established 8 centres in India which today has grown to 330 centres”.
Appreciating the social contributions for the society the Union Minister said “Today ISKCON’s food distribution is famous around the world. During the Covid pandemic, I had the opportunity to visit the mega kitchen in Dwarka, Delhi where I had seen how meals for 4 lakh people was being cooked and systematically distributed every day. I am happy to learn that during the pandemic ISKCON and its affiliated units in partnership with the government have served more than 25 crore plates of meals across India through their 72 kitchens. I am also happy to learn that ISKCON’s Food for Life program is the world’s largest vegetarian food relief program”.
“Through the efforts of Srila Prabhupada Ji we know that there is a tremendous interest in many countries to learn about Yoga, Indian lifestyle, music and culture. Due to this, every year thousands of international tourists and devotees visit the holy places like Vrindavan, Puri, Mayapur and thereby contribute to the development of the region. But to me – his greatest achievement was that he was an exemplary ambassador of India’s ancient civilization. This is because he carried the same traditional values you, his followers, are now promoting from – education, culture and welfare – inside and outside the shores of India”, added the Union Minister.
****
NB/SK
