I am delighted to be amongst you in Vrindavan today. I congratulate ISKCON for conceiving a unique project of this kind. I understand that the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, the foundation stone for which was laid on 16thof March this year, shall be an architectural marvel seeking to recreate the glory and the times of Lord Shri Krishna. It shall enable thousands of pilgrims who congregate at Vrindavan every year the opportunity of experiencing new levels of spiritual consciousness.

2. I also take this opportunity to convey my deep appreciation and respect for His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, who spread the message of Krishna consciousness all over the world. A celebrated spiritualist and author, his influence continues to resonate in the hearts of Krishna devotees all over the world even today.

3. It was the great saint and philosopher, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who, alongwith his disciples, established temples in Vrindavan and led the cultural renaissance in the fifteenth century. He was instrumental in making Vrindavan the seat of bhakti and in disseminating its principles, as enunciated in our ancient texts, throughout India. I am happy that the proposed temple seeks to continue and build on this glorious tradition.

4. Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, who has conceived this temple project, has aptly stated that this temple will not be just a mere edifice of concrete and steel, but a living and dynamic institution, and a center of learning and education. The Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir will strive to disseminate the philosophical message of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam in an easy to understand and rational manner –that message is particularly relevant for us as a society today. While we as a nation move up the developmental ladder, it is essential that our spiritual core, which forms the bedrock of our civilization, remains undiluted and strong as ever.

5. Ladies and Gentlemen, India is one of the oldest and culturally rich civilizations in the world. As we now make the transformative change from being a developing to a developed economy, there will be immense pressures on our socio-economic and moral fabric. It is, therefore, imperative that we reconnect to our spiritual dimensions. There can be no better way of doing this than spreading the Bhagvad Gita’s message of universal love and humanity. I congratulate ISKCON for their efforts in highlighting and propagating the timeless teachings of Lord Krishna across the world. 6. I am particularly happy to learn about the various initiatives that are being contemplated for the upliftment of society under the aegis of this Project, including welfare programmes for the widows of Vrindavan and the restoration, upgradation and rejuvenation of the important sites of Braj. The Akshaya Patra program through which ISKCON is providing mid-day meals to nearly 1.4 lakh children in 2160 schools in Mathura District for the last decade is a noble initiative indeed.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. Srimad Bhagavatam describes the four pillars of spirituality – truthfulness, compassion, austerity and purity. Civilized societies exist and operate within the framework of these values. Lord Krishna, through His timeless teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, has shaped the intellectual, cultural and spiritual mindscape of India for several millennia. It is, thus, only appropriate that Vrindavan strives to become a world renowned center for spiritual enlightenment, from where the message of divinity and peace resonates across all humanity.

8. I am glad to know that Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh have taken various initiatives towards making Vrindavan a hub of religious tourism. The present project adds a new dimension to these initiatives and shall hopefully generate positive spin- offs both for local society and the economy. I am confident that ISKCON will continue to partner both the Central and the State Governments in their efforts aimed at social change and reformation.

9. I once again wish the Project and the entire ISKCON team all success in their endeavors.

Following Lord Mahavira’s spiritual footprints, a chain of Jain Acharyas appeared from time to time through the centuries. They helped in nourishing Indian culture with fundamental and interminable values. Acharya Bhikshu was one of those eminent Acharyas. He stood against the misinterpretation of religious texts and doctrines. He provided true meaning to the age-old and fundamental strings of spirituality. The `Terapanth` sect was born out of that pious resolve. The ninth successor of Acharya Bhikshu was Acharya Tulsi.Acharya Tulsi was born in 1914, at a time when India was starting to transcend from a traditional to a modern nation. At the tender age of eleven, he started delving into the problems of the world and seeking solutions, and transformed into a Jain monk.Under the spiritual guidance of Acharya Kalughani, he undertook in-depth study of aagamas and other texts of philosophy and nyaya in a short span of eleven years. This made him a scholar of multiple subjects. Due to his extraordinary talent and vision, he became the successor Acharya at the age of 22. From then on, he started a journey of exploration of new vistas for human development.

  Acharyaji was a humanitarian, a peace activist, and a torch-bearer of moral awakening in our country. He rendered service for more than sixty years, during which he toiled hard for the transformation of the nation by transforming the individual. He set up a mission for `Moral awakening of the country` and embarked on a long journey walking barefoot across the nation. He travelled more than one lakh kilometers reaching out to the elite of the society and the marginalized alike and to the rural and urban belt of the country. Wherever he went, whomever he met, he echoed the voice of purity in conduct. Under the banner of Anuvrat Movement, which he led from its beginning in 1936 until his demise in 1997, Acharya Tulsi met writers, politicians, philosophers, poets and spiritual leaders. He shared his concern for national integration. He voiced his opinion against social evils like suppression of women, dowry system, torturing of widows, untouchability and veiling of women. He launched a special campaign for de-addiction. Due to Acharyaji’s inspiration, thousands of people got registered and de-addicted successfully.

Acharya Tulsi was an eloquent public speaker. Through his thought provoking and inspirational discourses, he enlightened the people. His thoughts and philosophy are contained in more than hundred books written in different languages and in varied styles. His writing espouses virtues like rationality, practicality, solution-orientation, relevance and harmony. He was a keen proponent of world peace. When the Atom Bomb was used in 1945, Acharya Tulsi wrote an article titled `Message of peace to unquiet world`. Reading about the ways Acharyaji suggested for maintenance of world peace, Mahatma Gandhi had observed and I quote: “How good it would be if the world lives in accordance with this great man`s precepts” (unquote). As recognition of Acharya Tulsi`s significant endeavour in bringing individual transformation, social reformation, religious harmony and national integration, he was conferred several honours like Indira Gandhi National Unity Award, Bharat Jyoti, Vak Pati Samman and Hakim Sur Khan Award. To dedicate his life completely in the service of humanity and spirituality, he renounced his acharya-ship willingly and appointed Acharya Mahapragya as his successor.

 He established a web of organizations to pursue his noble objectives. The Jain Vishwa Bharati Institute, the All India Terapanth Women Congregation which has around 60,000 members today, and the All India Terapanth Youth Congregation which has more than 300 branches and over 40,000 members, are working for Anuvrat, in the field of meditation, jeevan vigyan (or the science of living) and ahimsa samavaya. The ascetic group, Anuvrat, with more than 800 members, represents a strong force championing humanitarian causes. One of the important tasks undertaken by them is the editing of Jainaagamas, which is a ground-breaking achievement and I congratulate the group for the same. At this release of Tulsi Smriti Granth today, it is gladdening to see several leading spiritual lights, besides followers, attending the function. Every word inscribed in this book is an article of faith that followers should bear in their hearts for life. The lives of people in these modern times are both a matter of opportunity and challenge, of stability and turbulence. Acharyaji’s teachings and words of wisdom hold great relevance for moral upliftment of individuals and transformation of nations alike. I earnestly hope that the messages contained in the Granth will travel far and wide and imbibed by the people.

 I am also happy to learn that Acharya Mahashraman, who is the eleventh supreme head of the ‘Terapanth’, is undertaking an Ahimsa Yatra from Delhi in November, this year. I wish this expedition all success. May this journey on foot benefit the masses and people of our country.