Modi inaugurates Kashi Vishwanath Dham temple complex in Varanasi

Varanasi, December 14, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham temple complex in Varanasi that has been enlarged to about 5 lakh square feet from the earlier 3,000 sq. ft to facilitate around 50,000 - 75,000 devotees to have darshan.

“With the blessings of Lord Vishweshwara, a supernatural energy awakens our inner soul as soon as we come here,” he said.

He added that this whole new complex of Vishwanath Dham is not just a grand building. "This is a symbol of the Sanatan culture of India. It is a symbol of our spiritual soul. This is a symbol of India's antiquity, traditions, India's energy and dynamism," addressing the gathering.

“When one comes here, they will see not only faith but will also feel the glory of the past here. How antiquity and novelty come alive together. How the inspirations of the ancient are giving direction to the future, we are witnessing this very vividly in Vishwanath Dham complex,” Modi said.

Dwelling on the glory of Kashi, he said Kashi was imperishable under the patronage of Lord Shiva. He expressed his gratitude to every worker in the construction of this grand complex. They did not allow even the coronavirus pandemic to stop the work here.

The Prime Minister met the workers and had lunch with them.

Modi lauded the artisans, people associated with the construction, administration and those who had their homes in the city. He also congratulated the Uttar Pradesh government and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for completing the Kashi Vishwanath Dham project.

"Several times in the past, invaders had attacked this city and tried to destroy it. The city is witness to the history of Aurangzeb's atrocities and his terror. However, If there is an Aurangzeb, Shivaji is also there. If any Salar Masood comes, then brave warriors like King Suheldev make him taste the might of India’s unity. And even during the British era, the people of Kashi knew what happened to Hastings," he said.

"Kashi is not a matter of mere words, it is a creation of sensations. Kashi is that where awakening is life; Kashi is that where death is also a festival; Kashi is that where truth is the culture; Kashi is where love is tradition," he said.

Modi said Varanasi is the city from where Jagadguru Shankaracharya got inspiration from the purity of the Dom Raja and resolved to unite the country in the thread of unity. This is the place where Goswami Tulsidas created the celestial Ramcharitmanas with inspiration from Lord Shankar.

Lord Buddha’s enlightenment was revealed to the world in Sarnath here. For the betterment of society, sages like Kabirdas appeared here. When there was a need to unite the society, then Kashi became the centre of the power of devotion of Sant Ravidas, he added.

Kashi is the land of four Jain Tirthankaras, the epitome of non-violence and austerity. From the integrity of King Harishchandra to the knowledge of Vallabhacharya, Ramanand ji. From Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Samarth Guru Ramdas to Swami Vivekananda, Madan Mohan Malaviya, the holy land of Kashi has been home to sages, acharyas beyond count, he said.

"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came here. From Rani Lakshmi Bai to Chandrashekhar Azad, Kashi has been the Karmabhoomi of many fighters. Great talents like authors Bharatendu Harishchandra, Jaishankar Prasad, Munshi Premchand, musical geniuses like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Bismillah Khan are from this great city, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the dedication of Kashi Vishwanath Dham would give a decisive direction to India and will lead to a brighter future.

"This complex is a witness of our capability and our duty. With determination and concerted thought, nothing is impossible.

“Indians have the power to make the unimaginable come true. We know Tapasya, know penance and we know how to spend day and night for the country. No matter how big the challenge, we Indians can defeat it together,” he added.

“Today's India is reviving its lost heritage. Here in Kashi, Mata Annapurna herself resides.”

He expressed happiness that the statue of Mother Annapurna, which was stolen from Kashi, has now been returned after waiting for a century.

Modi said that, for him, God was in the form of people and every Indian is a part of God. He asked for three resolutions from the people for the country -- cleanliness, creation and continuous efforts for a self-reliant India.

Referring to cleanliness as a way of life he called for the people’s participation in this enterprise, especially in the Namami Gange Mission. “The long period of slavery broke our confidence in such a way that we lost faith in our own creation. Today, from this thousand-year-old Kashi, I call upon every countryman -- create with full confidence, innovate, do it in an innovative way.

“In this ‘Amrit Kaal’, in the 75th year of independence, we will have to work for what India will be like when it celebrates a hundred years of independence,” he added.

NNN