Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation

PM’s address during unveiling of ‘Statue of Peace’ to mark 151st Birth Anniversary celebrations of Jainacharya Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj

  • This New Year is the year of spiritual aura, the year of inspiration. It is my privilege to attend this function and receive blessings from all of you.
  • Whereas the principles of Lord Shri Mahavir Swami’s non-violence, plurality and non-possession are being propagated through the birth anniversary festival, the messages of Guru Vallabh are also being spread to the masses.
  • I acknowledge Gachadhipati Acharya Shreemad Vijay Nityanand Surishwer ji Maharaj in particular for organizing such grand events.
  • I also had the good fortune of meeting you and seeking your blessings at Kawant village in Vadodara and Chhota Udaipur.
  • Today again, I have got the opportunity to be with you, which I consider to be my virtue.
  • Saint Acharya Shreemad Vijay Nityanand Surishwer ji Maharaj says that the land of Gujarat has given us two Vallabhs and it was mentioned just now – in the political sphere Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and in spiritual sphere Jainacharya Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj.
  • Well, I see a similarity between the two great men. Both of them devoted their lives to the unity and brotherhood of India. I am fortunate that the country gave me the opportunity to inaugurate the world’s tallest ‘Statue of Unity’ of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and today I am privileged to unveil the ‘Statue of Peace’ of Jainacharya Vijay Vallabh ji.
  • Fellow saints,mIndia has always shown the path of humanity, peace, non-violence and fraternity to the whole world.
  • These are the messages from India that inspire the world. The world is once again looking to India today for this guidance.
  • I am confident that this ‘Statue of Peace’ will become an inspirational source of peace, non-violence and service in the world.
  • Friends, Acharya Vijay Vallabh ji used to say – “धर्म कोई तटबंधों में बंधा सरोवर नहीं है, बल्कि एक बहती धारा है जो सबको समान रूप से उपलब्ध होनी चाहिए” e., religion is not a pool tied in embankments, but a flowing stream that should be equally available to all.
  • His message is very relevant to the whole world. The details of his life needs to be talked again and again and his philosophy of life is to be reiterated.
  • He was a philosopher and a social reformer also. He was a visionary and a public servant also. He was also a godlike poet like Tulsidas, Anandghan and Meera and was also the visionary of modern India.
  • Therefore, it is very important that his messages, his teachings and his essence reach our new generation as well.
  • Friends, If you go through the history of India, you will experience that whenever India needed internal light, somebody from the saint tradition has risen to the occasion.
  • A great saint has always been in our country in every period, who has given direction to the society in view of that period. Acharya Vijay Vallabh ji was a similar saint.
  • During that period of slavery, he visited villages and cities of the country on foot and tried to awaken the identity of the country.
  • Today, we are moving towards 75 years of Independence. We have presented one aspect of the freedom movement, in one form or the other before the world, through our eyes and ears, but it has to be remembered always that the groundwork of India’s freedom movement began with the Bhakti Movement.
  • The saints, mahants, rishimunis and acharyas had awakened that consciousness of the masses in every nook and corner of India through the Bhakti Movement.
  • A groundwork was prepared and that provided a great strength to the freedom movement. There were many saints in the country who were behind it and Vallabh Guru was one among them.

 

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