“Whenever an Aurangzeb comes along, a Shivaji stands up. For every Salar Masood, there is a brave warrior like Raja Suheldev to show the world the strength of India’s unity,” the PM said from the ornate courtyard of the temple which is now connected to the three main ghats of the Ganges. The corridor is 400 meters long and 75 meters wide.
Pointing to Kashi’s stamina, Modi said, “Invaders like Aurangzeb have long entered the dark pages of history, while this ancient holy city is writing a new chapter of glory.” The country is different from the rest of the world”.
The PM described the new Kashi Vishwanath Dham complex as not only a grand structure but also a symbol of “Sanatan culture”. He said that India’s spiritual spirit, ancient traditions and commitment to progress go hand in hand. If a temple is being built at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, then medical colleges are also opening in every district. If KVD has taken a grand form, then houses are also being built for the poor.
“Today only one government exists in Kashi, and it is the government of those who play the damru (percussion instrument performed by Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of Kashi),” the PM said.
Amidst slogans of ‘Har Har Mahadev’, Modi said the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor is a reflection of how the ancient city has found a way to reclaim its glory from time to time, even though “many sultanates remained and got lost”. He recalled that when the temple was demolished, Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore had ensured a new temple was built 250 years ago.
“The king of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh had donated gold to illuminate the temple. The Queen of Bengal, Rani Bhavani and the kings of Mysore and several other provinces contributed to the reconstruction of Kashi. This is the reason why temples depicting North Indian, South Indian, Nepali and all other styles can be found here,” he said.
Modi also mentioned about Kashi’s enduring relationship with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. “At the ghats of the Ganges River, sailors and vendors can surprise anyone by fluently speaking Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and other languages. The same bond keeps India’s energy intact,” he said. “The power of the destroyers cannot be greater than the power and devotion of India. The world will see us as we see ourselves.”
Before dedicating the first phase of the project to the nation, the PM performed rituals related to ‘Shivarchan’ at the temple.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP President JP Nadda and over 3,000 saints and religious leaders from across the country sat with the dignitaries at the ceremony, which was telecast live.
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