Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 6: Prime minister, Narendra Modi, spoke to a large crowd that had gathered at Rajangana of Srikrishna Math here on Sunday February 5 through video conferencing facility. People who had occupied every inch of the Rajangana and surrounding areas, were seen cheering and clapping now and then during his address that was beamed through LED screen. In his 30-minute address, which was delivered on the occasion of 'Madhwa Navami' during the celebration of 700th birth anniversary of Madhwacharya, Modi asked the spiritual guides and ascetics to help to drive away ignorance, blind belief systems and the menace of black money from the society. "Real power comes from popular support. The only thing needed is to give this power the right direction," he felt.
Modi, in his address, requested the holy men of the country to inspire people to dedicate themselves to the causes of environmental protection and cleanliness apart from advising the citizens to worship their country in the form of mother Goddess, in addition to following their individual practices of praying to the Almighty. He said that the Indian traditions which have always drawn inspiration and guidance from saints and hermits since thousands of years has the power to provide guidance to the entire world. Modi asserted that the increasing influence of fundamentalism that is being witnessed across the globe can be affectively tackled through the Indian notion of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Whole world is one family)'.
He recalled rich contributions made by saints like Shankaracharya, Madhwacharya, Ramanujacharya, Tulasidas, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Surdas and others to bring in social reforms. He recalled that several of these spiritual leaders had laid stress on achieving liberation through social service, non-violence and following the ideal of 'work is worship'. He also gave credit to Basaveshwara, Swami Vivekananda, Dr Ambedkar, Gandhiji and Vinoba Bhave for making stellar contributions towards this end.
Pointing out that the Indians had started the tradition of finding mother even in trees and other plants and treating nature as mother god, he asked people to dedicate themselves to the cause of protection of environment. He wished that the saints will guide the society like Lord Krishna who had guided Arjuna, and work in tandem with the government and society to achieve welfare of the nation.
During his speech, Modi hailed the local administration for being one of the earliest municipalities to have banned the system of carrying night soil by civic workers on their heads.
On this occasion, Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji invited Modi to visit Udupi, saying that he was not satisfied by his appearance in electronic mode. Modi said he is overburdened by work, and if the Lord so wishes, he will surely visit the town.