Bhakti Cult Preaches Equality, Helps Develop Religious Bond: President
Puri, Feb 20: Bhakti cult preaches equality and helps develop religious bond among people of various cast and creed and gives priority to human values, President Ramnath Kovind said here on Sunday.
The President was inaugurating the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Srimat Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Goswamy Prabhupad and world Vaishnav conference at Saradhabali near Gundicha temple. The celebration will continue for three years in and outside the country.
Addressing the saints, the President named almost all the preachers of Bhakti cult including Meera Bai, Santh Kabir, Guru Nanak, Guru Rabi Das, Sur Das, Goswamy Tulasi Das, Ramanujacharya, Shankar Deb, Sant Gyaneswar, Sant Tukaram, Eknath and Narayan Dutt and said they all championed the cause of humanity, equality and service to mankind.
Their message, Kovind said, went beyond India. Swamy Vivekanand at the Chicago world religious conference highlighted the essence of Hindu faith.
President Kovind lauded the Goudiya mission’s work across the world to enlighten people about the Bhakti cult which promotes peace and service to humanity. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Manav Kalyan message is important for humanity, he said.
The President was all praise for doctors, nurses and medical staff who during pandemic risked their lives and served people. ‘Our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers have rendered selfless service during the Corona pandemic. The country is indebted to them,” he said. Many of them lost their lives while treating Covid patients. They are the best example of service to mankind and humanity which our saints have been preaching, the President said.
Bhakti Sundar Sanyasi the chief of the mutt said Prabhupad was born in this place in 1874 and then he stayed at Mayapuri and established four important Bhakti shrines in the country. He published a number of books in English and other Indian languages on Bhakti cult and on Chaitanya Deb’s preaching.
On this occasion a book on biography of Prabhupad Bhakti Sidhant Goswamy Saraswati was unveiled by the President. Others who addressed the conference include union minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, Bhakti Sundar Sanyasi.
Earlier in the morning President along with his wife Savita Kovind and family members went to Chaitanya Goudia mutt located alongside Grand road and offered prayers to Radha Krishna, the presiding deities of the mutt, and paid floral tributes to Srimat Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Goswamy the founder of Chaitanya Goudia mission.
Only forty saints who were tested RT-PCR negative allowed to welcome the President in the mutt. Around six hundred saints from various parts of the country attended the conference. Authorities deployed 40 platoons of police including 200 officers to provide for security of the President during his two day visit.
