Navi Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, MP Hema Malini and Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
Modi asserted that India’s spiritual culture is deeply rooted in the spirit of service and his government has been working selflessly for people’s welfare for more than a decade.
Statement Of PM Modi
“This spirit of service brings true social justice and is a symbol of true secularism. The main foundation of our spiritual culture is the spirit of service. India is not just a piece of land surrounded by geographical boundaries. It is a living land, living culture. Knowledge is spirituality and if we want to understand India, we have to imbibe spirituality,” he underlined in his speech.
He added that the inauguration of the Sri Sri Radha Madhan Mohan temple is purely the result of the efforts put in by ISCKON. It is my sheer good fortune that I have got the amazing opportunity to play a role in the temple’s opening. Dr. Sura das, president and temple trustee of Kharghar ISKON welcomed the PM as lover of cows and one of such leaders in the modern times. He noted the grand temple showcases various forms of the divine and a museum based on Hindu epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata was being constructed to cater to the interest of the new generation.
PM Modi Expresses Confidence
Modi expressed confidence that the temple complex, spread across nine acres, will become a sacred centre enriching India’s consciousness along with faith. “ISKCON followers worldwide are united by their devotion to Lord Krishna,” said Modi and highlighted that another connecting thread is the teachings of the movement’s founder, Srila Prabhupada Swami, which guide the devotees round-the-clock.
Constructed at the cost of over Rs170 crore, the temple is set to be used in an era of spiritual consciousness along with the will to be engaged in community services in the city.
Prominent business personalities, Ashok Hinduja and Shashi Kiran Shetty, founder and chairman, Allcargo Group who lead the steering committee as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, have been closely associated with the process of building the temple, guided by the vision to make a larger societal impact.
“Their determination and devotion to the cause have contributed to the development of the temple which captures the country’s cultural, spiritual and wellness heritage,” said a representative of the steering committee. The first darshan will be available at 4.30am on Thursday.
