PM Modi says Bhakti is not fear, it is enthusiasm; Devotion is not despair, it is hope and confidence.
NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (The CONNECT) – Taking forward his Dev to Desh message given during the Sri Ram Pran Pratishtan event at Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, the new generation now wears its “culture proudly on its forehead”.
Modi said today’s youth understands the importance of both spirituality and start-ups and is capable of both. As a result, pilgrimages like Kashi and Ayodhya are witnessing a large number of young people.
He was addressing a programme marking the 150th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada, founder of the Gaudiya Mission, who played a pivotal role in preserving and spreading the fundamental tenets of the Vaishnava faith. The Prime Minister paid tributes to the statue of Acharya Srila Prabhupada and released a commemorative stamp and a coin in his honour.
Throwing light on the awareness of the young generations of India, the Prime Minister said that it is natural for a country to build the Chandrayaan and also illuminate Chandrashekhar Mahadev Dham.
“When youth lead the country, it can land a rover on the moon, and nourish the traditions by naming the landing spot ‘Shivshakti’. Now Vande Bharat trains will also run in the country, and Vrindavan, Mathura and Ayodhya will also be rejuvenated”, he stated. He announced the beginning of the construction of the Ganga Ghat in Mayapur, Bengal under the Namami Gange scheme.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the contribution of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for creating the conditions of experiencing the joy of devotion. “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the touchstone of love for Krishna. He made spiritualism and meditation accessible for the masses”, the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi pointed out that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed the way of reaching God through joy. The Prime Minister recalled his personal experience when at one stage of his life, he felt that despite fully living the Bhakti there was a void, a distance. He said that it was the joy of Bhajan Keertan that enabled full immersion in the moment.
“I have personally felt the power of the Chaitaya Prabhu’s tradition”, said PM Modi. Today also, he said, ‘I was clapping as a devotee, not as a PM when the keertan was on’. “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu made the lyricism of Krishna Leela as well as their importance to understanding life”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister recalled his views on India’s spiritual consciousness that he delivered at the centenary of the Gaudiya Mission in 2016. He underscored the importance of roots and said that the biggest manifestation of distance from one’s roots is forgetting one’s capabilities and strengths.
He said this happened with the glorious tradition of Bhakti also. He said many people consider Bhakti, rationality, and modernity as contradictory. He stressed “Bhakti is a grand philosophy given by our sages. It is not despair but hope and self-confidence. Bhakti is not fear, it is enthusiasm” Devotion is not despair, it is hope and confidence.” He said Bhakti is not defeat but a resolution for impact.
Modi said Bhakti involves getting a victory over oneself and working for humanity. He said due to this spirit India never attacked others for the expansion of its borders. He paid tributes to the saints for reintroducing the people to the glories of Bhakti.
“Today, in the Amrit Kaal of independence, the country is taking forward the resolve of the saints by taking the pledge of ‘freedom from the mentality of slavery’, ” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said, “The confidence to endure and remain immortal through sacrifice is derived from the practice of Bhakti Yoga.” The Prime Minister emphasized, “Today, with this same confidence and devotion, millions of Indians have embarked on a spiritual journey, ushering in an era of prosperity for our nation. We treat the nation as ‘dev’ and move with a vision of ‘dev se desh’”, he added.
The Prime Minister underlined that India’s speed and progress are being discussed everywhere today and we are at par with developed countries in modern infrastructure and hi-tech services. “We are even surpassing big countries in many fields”, he added, noting that Indians are being seen in leadership roles.
PM Modi said that Yoga is reaching every home in the world and the trust in Ayurveda and Naturopathy is also growing. He Modi credited the energy of India’s youth for the change in the outlook and emphasized that they take along both knowledge and research together.
The Prime Minister said the harmony between development and heritage will continue for 25 years of Amrit Kaal. “With the blessings of the saints, we will build a Viksit Bharat, and our spirituality will pave the way for the welfare of the entire humanity”, Modi added.
