Varanasi (UP), Oct 14 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday that a ‘sanyasi’ (monk) should never abandon dharma for money and must be prepared to fight, if necessary, to protect the nation and religion.
“Sanyasi ke jeevan ka dhyey hona chahiye..Dhan ke liye dharma nahi tyagunga. Chhid gaya yuddh to bomb-gole dagunga” (remember, the objective of a sanyasi’s life should be that I will not abandon dharma for money. If war breaks out, I will use bombs and shells too,” Adityanath said while addressing the centenary celebrations of the Kashi branch of Bharat Sevashram Sangha here.
He said every sacrifice made for the country and dharma was great, adding that peace required restraint, harmony, and public welfare, while protecting the nation and religion could sometimes demand a readiness to struggle.
Praising Bharat Sevashram Sangha for upholding its values and principles despite adverse circumstances, the chief minister said the organisation had linked spiritual practice with national awakening and public welfare by making national progress a means of self-development.
Adityanath paid floral tribute to Swami Pranavananda Maharaj, the organisation’s founder, and performed rituals during the programme. The chief minister said the Kashi branch, established in 1926, completed 100 years of service and national awakening. He said the organisation was promoting sanatan values and the traditions of ancient Indian sages in India and several other countries.
Adityanath said a nation’s spiritual, historical and cultural heritage came under threat when the country faced a crisis. He questioned whether foreign invaders would have desecrated and damaged the Kashi Vishwanath temple had they not succeeded in their attacks.
He also referred to the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, saying the country had suffered the consequences of internal divisions.
He said saints had sought to use spiritual practice to awaken the nation and overcome the consequences of such divisions. He said the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership reflected this national consciousness and resolve.
Recalling the association between Swami Pranavananda and the Gorakshpeeth, Adityanath said the spiritual leader had visited Gorakhpur in 1912-13 and practised meditation under Siddha Yogi Baba Gambhirnath.
He said the spiritual inspiration Pranavananda received in Gorakhpur became a driving force for his work towards national awakening across the country.
The organisation worked in areas including relief for the distressed, assistance to pilgrims, healthcare, education, tribal welfare, and the preservation of cultural values, he said.
Adityanath said an educated, principled and sensitive society was essential for building a developed India.
(PTI News)
