New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Srila Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada was a great devotee of Bharat and his supernatural devotion towards for Lord Krishna.

Modi released a special commemorative coin of Rs. 125/- on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada on Tuesday, via video conference. Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region, G Kishan Reddy, among others, was present on the occasion.

Modi in his virtual address on the occasion said that Prabhupada Swami fought in the freedom struggle of the country. He had refused to take his diploma from Scottish College in support of the non Co – operative movement, he said.

It is like achieving happiness and contentment of Sadhana together. He also noted that the occasion is taking place amidst the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.  This is how millions of followers of Srila Prabhupada Swami and millions of Krishna devotees all over the world are experiencing today, he said.

Modi said whenever we go to any other country, and when people meet there saying Hare Krishna, we feel a sense of belonging and pride. The Prime Minister said that the same feeling will be there when Make in India products get the same affinity. We can learn a lot from ISKCON in this regard.

Bhakti connected the creature with God by removing the discrimination of faith, social hierarchies and privileges. Even in those difficult times, saints like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who tied the society with the spirit of devotion and gave the mantra of Faith to Confidence, he said.

If a sage like Swami Vivekananda came who took Vedanta to the west, then Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON took up this great task when the time of taking Bhakti Yoga to the world came. He connected Bhakti Vedanta with the consciousness of the world, said Modi. He said today there are hundreds of ISKCON temples in different countries of the world and many Gurukuls are keeping Indian culture alive.

ISKCON has disseminated to the world that for India, faith means zeal, enthusiasm, and gaiety and faith in humanity. Modi highlighted the service work of ISKCON during earthquake in Kutch, Uttarakhand tragedy, cyclones in Odisha and Bengal. He also praised the efforts of ISKCON during Covid – 19pandemic.