Kolkata. Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended a religious program at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Mayapur in West Bengal’s Nadia district, not in his official capacity, but as a follower of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Addressing the people gathered on the occasion of the 152nd holy incarnation day of Bhaktisiddhant Saraswati, the 19th century Vaishnav revivalist and founder of Gaudiya Math, Amit Shah, in his short speech, also extended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s good wishes to the devotees attending the ceremony and shared the message of devotion related to the occasion.
He said, I spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning. I told him that today I was going to Mayapur to attend the 152nd birth anniversary of Bhaktisiddhant Saraswati. He greeted you all heartily and gave the message of ‘Hare Krishna’ to all of you. A little while ago I was addressed as the Home Minister of India. I have not come here as the Home Minister of India. I have come here today as a humble devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Home Minister Shah said that the Bhakti movement started by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was strengthened and institutionalized by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, who played an important role in spreading Vaishnava philosophy in modern times. That Bhakti movement was not only taken forward, he said, but also transformed into a modern medium to inspire youth to engage in the betterment of the world.
He further said that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed the spiritual path to people steeped in ignorance and helped spread the message of devotion throughout India and beyond.
Home Minister Amit Shah said, there are both good and bad aspects in a human being, but when a person loses his existence and becomes one with Lord Krishna, then everything becomes good. Following this path, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lit the lamp of devotion in the lives of many people in the eastern and north-eastern parts of India through Kirtan, dance, devotional music and the message of Gita.