- PM Modi inaugurates centenary celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Ahmedabad
- Journey from Vedas to Vivekananda can be witnessed today in this centenary celebration: Modi
- Tradition of getting a pen to file nomination from Swami Ji Maharaj has continued from Rajkot to Kashi: PM
- Our saintly traditions are not just limited to the propagation of culture, creed, ethics and ideology but the saints of India have tied the world together by emboldening the sentiment of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’: Modi
- It is taking place from 15th December 2022 to 15th January 2023 in Ahmedabad, featuring daily events, thematic exhibitions and thought-provoking pavilions.
- The entry is free and the venue will remain open 2 pm to 9 pm from Mondays to Saturdays and from 9 am to 9 pm on Sundays.
NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, DEC 14
Stating that reformist Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji believed in Dev Bhakti and Desh Bhakti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, inaugurated the month-long centenary celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha in Ahmedabad.
Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj touched countless lives all over the world with his impeccable service, humility and wisdom. @BAPS https://t.co/rZgqMnOURR
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2022
Modi recalled his association with Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the last 40 years. Describing Pramukh Swami Maharaj as a reformer, the PM said the former was a father figure to him and continues to be an inspiration.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that this grand event will not only attract the world but also will inspire and impact the coming generations. “I want to appreciate the saints and seers for thinking of a programme of this nature and at such a scale”, he added.
I am honoured to have attended the Shatabdi Mahotsav of Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj. I consider myself blessed to have interacted with him so closely. Shared my memories with him and recalled his outstanding service to humanity. pic.twitter.com/4Dri746KUe
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2022
Calling Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj a father figure to him, the Prime Minister said that people will come to pay homage to him for this ongoing event. He also mentioned that the UN also celebrated the centenary celebration which proves the eternal and universal significance of India’s spiritual tradition and thought. Highlighting the emotion of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which has been established by the great saints of India including Swami Maharaj who propagated it even further, the Prime Minister said that the journey from Ved to Vivekananda can be witnessed today in this centenary celebration.
આ અવસરે માનનીય વડાપ્રધાનશ્રીએ માનનીય રાજ્યપાલ શ્રી આચાર્ય દેવવ્રત તથા મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્ર પટેલ સાથે મહોત્સવ સ્થળ ખાતે તૈયાર કરાયેલ સંત દ્વાર, પ્રસિદ્ધ અક્ષરધામ મંદિરની પ્રતિકૃતિ, પ્રમુખસ્વામી મહારાજના જીવન પરના પ્રદર્શન, ગ્લો ગાર્ડન જેવા વિવિધ આકર્ષણોની મુલાકાત લીધી હતી. pic.twitter.com/9QaItHKCUR
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) December 14, 2022
“One can witness the rich saintly traditions of India here”, he said. The Prime Minister further remarked that our saintly traditions are not just limited to the propagation of culture, creed, ethics and ideology but the saints of India have tied the world together by emboldening the sentiment of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
The Prime Minister went nostalgic while remembering his association with Swami Ji, he said “I have been drawn to the ideals of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji from my childhood. I never thought that sometime in my life, I would get to meet him. It was perhaps back in 1981 that I met him during a Satsang. He only spoke of Seva. Each and every word got imprinted on my heart. His message was very clear that the supreme goal of one’s life should be Seva. ” He also noted the grace of Swami Ji who used to tailor his message for the ability of the receiver; this was the vastness of his personality, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister continued, everyone knows him as a spiritual person but he was a social reformer too in the truest sense of the word. The Prime Minister underlined Swami ji’s intuitive grasp of modern opportunities and his natural communication of the strength of the individual to take care of his or her problems. His key emphasis was on the welfare of society, the Prime Minister emphasised.
“HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji was a reformist. He was special because he saw good in every person and encouraged them to focus on these strengths. He helped every individual who came in contact with him. I can never forget his efforts during the Machchhu dam disaster in Morbi”, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister recalled many key events of his life when he went to meet Pujya Swami Ji.
Revisiting the past when the Prime Minister was a candidate from Rajkot in 2002, he recalled that during the election campaign he got a pen from two saints saying that Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji had requested me to sign the nomination papers using this pen. “From there till Kashi elections, this practice has continued”, he remarked. Drawing an analogy to the relationship between a father and son, the Prime Minister recalled the time when he was working as a volunteer in Kutch when Pramukh Swami Maharaj had made food arrangements for him. He also informed that in the past 40 years he received Kurta Pajama cloth from Pujya Swami Ji every year without fail. An emotional Prime Minister said that this is a spiritual connection, a father-son relationship. He said that he is certain that Pujya Swami Ji is keeping an eye on his every move in the service of the country.
“In a vindictive and vengeful world like that of today, I have been fortunate enough to be around saints like Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj who create a virtuous environment. It was like a tired person sitting in the shadow of a great banyan tree. Not ‘Rajasi’ or ‘Tamsik’, one has to continue moving while staying ‘Satvik’ ”, the Prime Minister concluded.
Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, and Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami were those present on the occasion among others.
