After presiding over the Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sarangpur to pay homage to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
The revered religious leader died aged 95 this weekend.
The PM bowed before the mortal body of Pramukh Swami and offered flowers in obeisance.
He also met HH Mahant Swami, the new head of BAPS, and other senior sadhus and expressed his condolences.
Shri Modi performed arti and circumambulations in homage to Pramukh Swami.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Modi mourned the demise of Pramukh Swami, stating that 'many have lost a Guru but I, a father'.
Taking pride in his long-standing association with Pramukh Swami, he said that Swamiji has nurtured and nourished him since the time when nobody knew him in public life.
As a fatherly figure, Pramukh Swami would often point out to him his mistakes.
The Prime Minister applauded Pramukh Swami's devotion and his unswerving commitment towards every word that guru Yogiji Maharaj had uttered.
“Swamiji, he said, “has brought about a reformation not only in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya but among all sadhus. Though he is not physically with us now, but we all feel his presence through his life, teachings and works.”
The Prime Minister commended Pramukh Swami’s great life, morality and saintliness.
He concluded his hour-long visit after paying his respects to Pramukh Swami Maharaj and seeking blessings from the new head of BAPS, HH Mahant Swami, for the progress and prosperity of the nation.
Dignitaries across the country, including Sri Sri Ravishankarji, Shri Morari Bapu, Shri Ramdevji Maharaj, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Amit Shah, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Shri Arun Jaitley, Smt. Anandiben Patel and others expressed grief, pain and condolences.
Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani paid his respects by laying a wreath and offering a garland at the holy feet of Swamishri.
He addressed the gathering and expressed his pain by saying that he felt Gujarat had lost a great soul.
He also said that Pramukh Swami Maharaj, like Swami Vivekanand, had served Hinduism by constructing 1100 temples across the globe and keeping the flag of Indian culture and values flying high.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Nitin Patel also fondly remembered the selfless services of BAPS under the leadership of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, for spreading and propagating Indian culture and heritage in many countries, inspiring de-addiction campaigns and disaster relief works and other philanthropic works.
Hon. Governor of Gujarat, H.E. O.P. Kohli, expressed his regret for not getting the chance to meet him in person.
He said that the book by Dr. Kalam on the life and work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj had inspired him a lot. “It is not that India has lost a great man.
"It is humanity that has lost a great man. He was not a man of a particular country or a particular nation. He belonged to entire humanity. It is a great loss to humanity.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here