Prime Minister Modi participates in 200th year celebrations of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir
The event was held at Vadtal, Gujarat
The saints have made huge contribution
to our society, when the whole society and country comes together to fulfil a
purpose, it definitely gets accomplished: PM
The whole country is moving forward with a definite goal, This is the goal of
developed India: PM
The yearning and the consciousness which was there during the freedom movement
has to be there, every moment, among the 140 crore countrymen for a Developed
India: PM
The first condition for becoming a Developed India is to become “Atmanirbhar”
by being Vocal for Local: PM
The whole world is attracted by the potential of India's youth , These skilled
youth will be ready to meet the needs of not only the country but also the
world: PM
Any country can move forward only by being proud of its heritage and preserving
it , Our mantra is development as well as heritage: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today participated in the 200th anniversary
celebration of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Vadtal, Gujarat. Addressing the
gathering through video conferencing, he said it was with the grace of Shree
Swaminarayan that the 200th anniversary celebrations were being held. Welcoming
all the disciples from across the globe, Modi remarked that service is foremost
in the tradition of Swaminarayan Mandir and the disciples were immersed in the
service today. The Prime Minister said he was pleased to see the celebrations
in the media recently.
Noting that the 200th year celebrations in Vadtal dham was not mere
history, Modi remarked that it was an event of a huge importance for many
disciples including him who had grown up with utmost faith in Vadtal Dham. He
added that this occasion was a testimony to the eternal flow of Indian culture.
Shri Modi underlined that even after 200 years of establishing the Vadtal Dham
by Shree Swaminarayan, the spiritual consciousness has been kept alive and the
teachings and energy of Shree Swaminarayan can be experienced, even till date. PM
extended his warm greetings to all the saints and the disciples on the 200th
year celebrations of the Mandir. The Prime Minister was pleased that the
Government of India had released a silver coin of Rupees Two hundred (200) and
a postal stamp of the memorial. He added that these symbols will keep the
memories of this great occasion alive in the minds of generations to
come.
The Prime Minister underlined that every individual related to the
Swaminarayan is aware of his strong personal, spiritual and social relationship
with this tradition. He added that he enjoyed the divine company of the saints
in the past as well as now along with the opportunity for meaningful reflection
for the development of the nation. The Prime Minister remarked that he could
not attend the event in person due to other engagements, however, he was
mentally present at Vadtal dham.
PM Modi remarked that revered saint tradition has been the specialty of
India and a sage or saint or Mahatma had always appeared during difficult
times. He added that Lord Swaminarayan had also come at a time when the country
had become weak after hundreds of years of slavery and had lost faith in
itself. Modi highlighted that Lord Swaminarayan and all the saints of that
period not only gave a new spiritual energy, but also awakened our self-respect
and revived our identity. He emphasised the contribution of Shiksha Patri and
Vachanamrit was huge in this direction and it was the duty of all of us to
imbibe their teachings and take them forward. Shri Modi said he was pleased
that Vadtal Dham had become a great inspiration with a huge contribution to the
service of humanity and building of a new era. He added that the same Vadtal
Dham had given great disciples like Sagaram ji from the deprived society. Shri
Modi underlined that today many children were given food, shelter, education
along with services and projects in the far-flung tribal areas were being
undertaken by the Vadthal Dham. He added that important campaigns like female
education in the tribal areas were being undertaken. Shri Modi highlighted the
other services of Vadtal Dham like serving the poor, building a new generation,
preserving the Indian culture by combining modernity and spirituality. Shri
Modi lauded the saints and devotees of Vadtal Dham for never disappointing him
and undertaking the campaigns ranging from cleanliness to environment for a
better future. He added that they had accepted it as their own responsibility
and engaged in fulfilling it with all their heart and soul. Shri Modi also
noted that the disciples of Swaminarayan tradition have planted more than one
lakh trees under the Ek Ped Maa ke Naam campaign.
The Prime Minister remarked that every person has a purpose in life
which also determines one’s life. He added that this purpose influences our
mind, action and words and when one finds the purpose of life, then the whole
life changes. He said that saints and sages have made people aware of the
purpose of their life in every era. Modi highlighted the huge contribution of
saints and sages to our society and added that when the whole society and
country unites to fulfil a purpose, it would definitely be accomplished. He
added that there were many examples of the same. The Prime Minister underlined
that the religious institutions had today given a huge purpose to the youth and
the whole country was moving forward with a defined goal of developed India. Modi
urged the saints and sages of Vadtal and the entire Swaminarayan family to take
this sacred purpose of developed India to the people. Citing a reference of the
freedom movement, the Prime Minister said that the desire for freedom, the
spark of freedom kept inspiring the countrymen from different corners of the
society for a century and not a single day or single moment passed when people
gave up their intentions of freedom, their dreams, their resolutions. He added
that the same kind of desire which was found in the freedom movement, was
necessary for 140 crore countrymen every moment for a developed India. He urged
all the saints and disciples to inspire people that for the coming 25 years to
live the goal of a developed India and keep ourselves connected to it every
moment. The Prime Minister further emphasised that everyone should contribute
to developed India irrespective of their place. He added that the first
condition for a developed India was to make it a self-reliant India and no
outsider was needed to achieve this but for the 140 crore citizens of India. PM
Modi urged the disciples present at the event to contribute by promoting Vocal
for Local. Highlighting the importance of unity & integrity of the country
for a developed India, Modi remarked that vested interests were conspiring to
destroy the society. He added that it was imperative to understand the
seriousness of this attempt to defeat such attempts in an united manner.
Modi emphasised Lord Shri Swaminarayan’s teachings of how big goals are
achieved through hard penance, how a young mind has the ability to take a
decisive direction to build the nation and how the youth can and will build the
nation. He added that for this, it was necessary to create competent, capable
and educated youth. Shri Modi underlined that empowered and skilled youth is
the biggest strength for a developed India. He also added that the global
demand for India’s youth will increase further. The Prime Minister highlighted
that the demand of skilled manpower of India in the world was huge and the
whole world was attracted by the strong youth power of India. He expressed
confidence that these youth will not only be ready to fulfil the needs of the
country but also the world. Highlighting the efforts of Swaminarayan sect on
de-addiction, Modi urged the saints and disciples to contribute in keeping the
youth away from addiction and making them drug-free. He added that campaigns
and efforts to save the youth from drug addiction are always necessary not just
in India but across the globe and had to be done continuously.
Remarking that any country can progress only when it's proud of its
heritage and preserving it, Modi said “India’s mantra is development as well as
its heritage”. Shri Modi was pleased that the glory of thousands of years old
India’s heritage centres was being redeveloped which was once considered
destroyed, citing the example of Ayodhya. He also cited the examples of the
transformation of Kashi, Kedarnath, Pavgadh, Sun temple of Modhera, Somnath. He
added that a new consciousness and a new revolution was evident all around.
Shri Modi also noted that hundreds of years old stolen idols of Gods and
Goddesses were being returned to India. Citing the re-development project of
Lothal, the Prime Minister remarked that the campaign of cultural consciousness
was not only the Government's responsibility but of all the citizens who love
this land, this country, who love its traditions, who take pride in its
culture, who praise our heritage. PM was pleased that Akshar Bhuvan, a museum
of artefacts of Lord Swaminarayan in Vadtal Dham, was also a part of this
campaign. Congratulating the congregation, Modi expressed confidence that
Akshar Bhuvan will become a grand temple of India's immortal spiritual
heritage.
Shri Modi remarked that the objective of a developed India will be
achieved easily only when 140 crore Indians join together to fulfil a common
objective. He added that the guidance of our saints was very important in
completing this journey. The Prime Minister urged all the saints, who had come
from across the globe, to spread the word about Purna Kumbh, held every 12
years and a beacon of India’s heritage, to the world. He requested the saints
to educate the people across the world and explain it to the foreigners of non-
Indian origin about the Purna Kumbh to be held in Prayagraj. He urged them to
try to get at least 100 foreigners from each of their branches abroad to visit
the upcoming Kumbh Mela with great reverence. He added that this will be a task
of spreading awareness in the whole world which could be done with ease by the
saints.
Concluding the speech, Modi apologised for being unable to be present in
person and wished all the saints and disciples of Swaminarayan Mandir for the
bicentenary celebrations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 200th anniversary celebration of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Vadtal, Gujarat on 11th November 2024, through video conferencing. Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Vadtal has been influencing the social and spiritual life of people for many decades