Prez dedicates Iskcon temple, replica of Tirumala shrine in B’luru
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said a single defining feature of the quest of ‘rishis’ in ancient times that has inspired society along with others is plurality.
Dedicating the ISKCON Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda Temple here in a ‘Lokarpana’ (inauguration) ceremony, he said religious impulse is at the heart of India’s diverse culture.
“The quest of the rishi-munis of this land in ancient times has also inspired our society along with its kings and scholars, poets and architects. If there is a single defining feature of this quest, it is plurality”, the President said.
“All competing worldviews, from ‘Advaita
Vad’ to ‘Vishishtadvait
Vad’, all have flourished under one umbrella. There are different sects, such as ‘Vaishnavism’, ‘Shaivism’ and ‘Shakta sampradaya’,” he observed. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai were among those who graced the occasion.
According to ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda Temple on Vaikuntha hill at Vasanthapura on Kanakapura Road is a traditional, stone-carved structure and a replica of the famous Sri Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh.
The dimensions, stone carvings and aesthetics are also similar.
“The deity of Lord Srinivasa is nearly the same height and has been named Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda, which means He is the king of kings,” ISKCON said.
The President said he is confident that this temple will emerge as a modern-day pilgrimage point, and will attract a large number of devotees. It is good to see that arrangements have been made to accommodate about 5,000 visitors to comfortably wait, he said.
Moreover, there will be an ‘Annadhaan’ hall where free meals will be served to all the devotees, Kovind said, adding that all the donors should be thanked for their generous contribution to this project. He said ISKCON Bengaluru has made a positive difference in the lives of lakhs of people for the last 25 years.