‘Seva paramo dharma’, a Sanskrit phrase that translates to ‘service is regarded as the greatest religion’, was mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his virtual address at the Karkar Suvarna Mahotsav of Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) on Saturday. at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Prime Minister Oli said that service is placed much higher than devotion, faith and worship. He asked volunteers to follow the case for a year.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were present at the event which was attended by thousands of BAPS volunteers. Volunteers from 30 countries including UK, Europe, America, Australia, Middle East, African and Asia Pacific countries reached Ahmedabad in the program.
The event, which felicitates the service and devotion of “1 lakh BAPS volunteers” across the world, is also said to be a tribute to late Pradhan Swami Maharaj on his birth anniversary. Prakham Swami Maharaj was the guru and chief or president of BAPS. Amit Shah shared that whenever there was a difficulty in his life it was Pradhan Swami Maharaj who was the first person to assure him that with God’s blessings everything would be alright.
“Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired millions, guided people to result-oriented action and motivated everyone. He laid emphasis on values and gave us Parivar Sabha. Families who follow Parivar Sabha have unity and peace,” he asserted. describes it as a “universal Hindu organization dedicated to collective spiritual and social progress”.
Meanwhile, PM Modi said that “when organizations serve in an organized manner with lakhs of workers, amazing results are achieved”. “This type of institutional service has the potential to solve the major problems of the society and the country and remove many evils. When millions of workers are united with a common purpose, it can transform a country and society as a great force. Today as the country is moving forward with the goal of a developed India, people are coming together and there is a sense of greatness in every sector,” he asserted.
In his address to the BAPS volunteers, he asked them to “choose one issue every year and resolve to work on it with full dedication throughout the year”. “You can choose from organic farming, spreading the spirit of unity in diversity, fighting drug abuse to protect the youth, revitalizing rivers or sustainable lifestyles to protect the future of the earth,” he added.
“I appeal to volunteers to prove the authenticity and impact of the vision of Mission LiFE (India-led People’s Movement for Employment). You can participate and ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’, ‘Fit India’, ‘Vocal for Local’, accelerate India’s development. You can speed up campaigns like giving millet. Youth will give their ideas and outline their contribution to fulfill the vision of a developed India at the ‘Vikasit Bharat Yuva Neta Samvad’ to be held in January 2025. All young volunteers can participate in it,” the Prime Minister urged.
Stating that India is working towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, he said that the country’s journey in the next 25 years is as important for India as it is for every BAPS worker.
PM Modi said he had the opportunity to join BAPS and its volunteers on several occasions, including during the earthquake in Bhuj, floods in Kerala, and even during the current pandemic. The Prime Minister also told how BAPS activists helped the government and people who were displaced from Ukraine to Poland when the conflict in Ukraine was increasing. He praised thousands of BAPS workers across Europe for their quick organization that brought together overnight and helped the large number of Indians who reached Poland.
Shah also praised the organizational achievements of BAPS. Shah said that he knows how difficult it is to organize after reaching from the booth chairman to the national chairman of a political party.
Stating that BAPS temples are a cultural reflection of India, Prime Minister Modi remarked that the temples are the centers of the world’s oldest living culture.