Haryana Governor Shri Bandaru Dattatraya on Wednesday stressed that the teachings of the sacred Bhagavad Gita convey unity among all beings, selflessness, and dedication to the welfare of others, along with adherence to one’s duties. He highlighted that the Gita provides a pathway to equality and peace, values that humanity needs to embrace today.
The Governor was speaking at the inauguration of the Sampoorna Srimad Bhagavad Gita Parayana Yajna, organized by the globally renowned sant His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, at Punjabi Dharamshala, Kurukshetra. The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Governor Shri Dattatraya.
Remarkably, this is the first time on the sacred land of Kurukshetra that over 50 countries' NRI devotees have gathered to collectively chant all 700 shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita. Congratulating and extending his best wishes to all participants, Governor Shri Dattatraya said that the International Gita Mahotsav was recently celebrated on this holy land.
During the festival, global recitations of Gita shlokas were conducted, spreading the message of peace worldwide. The Governor lauded His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swami ji for his mission to propagate the teachings of the Gita across humanity.
These teachings, imparted by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, underline the values of selfless service, duty, and compassion, serving as a beacon for humanity. The Sampoorna Srimad Bhagavad Gita Parayana Yajna was led by His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swami ji. For the first time, devotees from over 50 countries associated with Avadhoota Datta Peetham travelled to India to collectively chant the Gita's shlokas on Kurukshetra’s sacred and divine soil.
The monumental scale of Swami ji's endeavours is evident from previous achievements such as organizing a group recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa by over 100,000 people in Tenali district in 2015, earning a Guinness World Record. Sri Swami ji also holds records for a Music Healing Concert at the Sydney Opera House and continuous mantra chanting at the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Texas, USA.
Born in South India in 1942, Sri Swami ji was initiated into the Dattatraya tradition and attained the spiritual state of Avadhoota after years of intense meditation. Following this, he established his ashram in Mysuru, Karnataka, and continues his global efforts in music, environmental conservation, and spirituality.