Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Dec 8: “The Gita is not blind belief, it is a science for humanity,” said Pawan Kalyan, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister and actor, after taking part in the grand conclusion of the month-long Geetotsava celebrations at the historic Udupi Sri Krishna Math on Sunday, December 7.

Pawan Kalyan arrived in Udupi and was accorded a traditional welcome by the Paryaya Puttige Math authorities. He visited the sacred Kanakana Kindi, through which he had darshan of Lord Sri Krishna. He also offered special prayers at the Anantheshwara Temple before proceeding to the Rajangana, where the concluding ceremony of Geetotsava was held.

Calling Udupi a ‘divine powerhouse’, Pawan Kalyan said his visit to the holy town was a ‘divine call from God’. He expressed gratitude to Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Puttige Math for personally inviting him. He also appreciated the massive participation in the Geetotsava, noting that over one crore people writing the Bhagavad Gita and one lakh people reciting it simultaneously was nothing short of extraordinary.

During the event, Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji conferred upon Pawan Kalyan the prestigious title of ‘Abhinava Krishnadevaraya’ in recognition of his efforts towards the protection of Sanatana Dharma and his vision of building an ideal society. “His commitment to dharma and social welfare is commendable. Hence, we honour him with this title,” the Swamiji said.

In his address, which he began in Kannada, Pawan Kalyan offered his sashtanga namaskara to Lord Krishna and greeted the people of Karnataka. He spoke about the strength of India’s spiritual heritage and the role of the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita in preserving the nation’s culture. He said he firmly believes in Karma Yoga and performs his duties without expecting results.

The deputy CM shared that he comes from a family of devotees and that the chant ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ has always guided him, especially during difficult moments of his life. Referring to the Bhagavad Gita as a universal scripture, he said it is not confined to any one religion but acts as a guiding force for humanity. “Udupi feels like Vaikuntha. There is a powerful spiritual energy here,” he added.

Pawan Kalyan also spoke about Kanakadasa and the significance of Kanakana Kindi, stating that it symbolises how devotion is greater than caste, status or wealth. He encouraged young people, especially Gen Z, to read and keep the Bhagavad Gita close to their hearts, describing it as a source of strength in times of stress and uncertainty.

Highlighting cow protection as an important part of Indian tradition, Pawan Kalyan said he runs a goshala with 60 cows and has introduced a ‘Gokula’ scheme in his department. He appealed to every family to take responsibility for protecting at least one cow instead of merely spending on weddings, hotels and entertainment.

During the occasion, Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji made a special appeal to the Andhra Pradesh deputy CM to include Madhwacharya’s teachings in school textbooks, alongside those of Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya and Basavanna. He also urged the government to form a committee to research the lost compositions of Saint Thyagaraja and to include the Bhagavad Gita in the academic curriculum.

Pawan Kalyan later presented Tirupati prasadam to the Swamiji as a mark of respect before concluding his visit.

The grand spiritual gathering was marked by the presence of Paryaya Sri Puttige Math Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, junior Pontiff Sri Sushreendra Theertha Swamiji, Puttige Math Diwan Prasanna Acharya, several other swamijis, scholars, Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLA Yashpal Suvarna, leader Baikady Suprasad Shetty, devotees and others.