Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar, the culmination of the five-year centenary celebrations of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was inaugurated on Wednesday 14 December in Ahmedabad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The opening marked the public dedication of the month-long festival spread over 600 acres that include inspiring attractions, insightful exhibitions and enlightening programmes that are free to all visitors.
Prime Minister Modi and Mahant Swami Maharaj commenced the auspicious inauguration ceremony amid the chanting of Vedic mantras and puja from the Sant Dwar, the majestic 380-foot-wide entrance gate honouring the great sages and saints of India. The Hon. Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat, the Hon. Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel, and senior swamis of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) also participated in the ceremony.
Upon entering the festival grounds, Mahant Swami Maharaj and the Prime Minister were greeted with a colourful welcome dance by hundreds of BAPS children and youths. The Prime Minister then offered his heartfelt tribute by placing flowers before the beautiful 30-foot sculpted image of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
The PM recalled his special relationship with Pramukh Swami Maharaj, saying he was treated as a son by the “great saint” who built many temples all around the world. Modi said the pen with which he signed the nomination papers to contest his first state assembly election from Rajkot was sent to him by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
“After that he used to send pens to me every time to sign nomination papers and he even sent pens with BJP colours when I fought the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi,” Modi said.
Modi said from his younger days, he had been observing Pramukh Swami Maharaj from a distance and never imagined that he would get an opportunity to meet him. Recalling his first meeting with Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1981, Modi said he (Maharaj) neither discussed religion nor spirituality, but only spoke about service to humanity.
Modi, who was a volunteer during the Macchu dam disaster in Morbi in 1979, recalled how Pramukh Swami Maharaj and other seers were engaged in rescue and relief operations and were even picking up the dead bodies.
The PM also made a mention of the 2001 earthquake and the attack on Gandhinagar's Akshardham Temple in 2002. "After the attack when I called up Pramukh Swami Maharaj to ask about the well-being of the seers and others inside, he was inquiring if I was okay," said Modi. The chief minister's bungalow where he used to reside was less than half a kilometre away from the temple.
Modi, who spent nearly three hours at the Pramukh Swami Nagar, said the historic programme is not going to be just big in terms or numbers or attendance but also about how one feels godliness there.
Modi drew a parallel between Swami Vivekanda, who expanded the Ram Krishna Mission, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He said here one can have a feel of Vasudev Kutumbakam.
His birth centenary was also celebrated at the United Nations and that shows the relevance of his teachings, Modi said.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Modi said, removed distinctions of high and low from the society and served for the benefit of the society in good and bad times.
The PM had one more anecdote to share. He said there had not been a single year when Pramukh Swami Maharaj did not send him a pair of clothes to stitch kurta-payjama. The tradition is being followed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, he said. Mahant Swami Maharaj is Pramukh Swami Maharaj's successor and is heading the centenary celebrations.
Mentioning that he feels good coming here and feels blessed to be part of such an event, Modi concluded by saying he does not want to become tamsi (angry) but wants to lead a satvik (frugal) life.
Spread over 600 acre, Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar, specially created for the celebrations, is a confluence of art, science and spirituality. It has been set up over a period of a couple of months by a team of nearly 80,000, including sadhus and volunteers.
A replica of the Akshardham Temple of New Delhi, an adventure land for children, light and sound shows, glow garden and national and international conferences will be the attraction of the celebrations that will be open for the general public from December 15 to January 15. 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.
