Cultural Values Cannot Be Broken, Says Pawan Kalyan

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan stated that no group, including interest groups from the West, can break India's cultural system. He also said some people among Indians try to influence them with ideas from Europe, but the reverse is also possible: India can influence others. This influence, according to him, is a result of Sanatan Dharma, which has its roots in Vedic knowledge and the Bhagavad Gita.

He said this during the closing ceremony of the Lakshakanta Geeta Gana program held at Sri Krishna Math, Udupi, Karnataka. He reached Mangalore by special flight and came to Udupi via road. Temple officials and priests welcomed him with Poornakumbha honours.

Pawan Kalyan had darshan of Lord Krishna from Kankana Kindi and again from Navagraha Kindi. He felt that attending these ceremonies was a blessing from a previous birth, and that the divine power drew him to Udupi. He said he follows Nishkama Karma and finds strength in the Gita. He said even if he doesn't understand every verse of the Gita, his life is guided. Elections, he said, don't make a difference to his resolution, and the struggle would continue based on truth.

He called upon the youth to always keep the Bhagavad Gita with them for solace and self-confidence. He termed Udupi as a “spiritual power center” for India.

Pawan Kalyan said the devotional contributions of Madhvacharya and Kanakadasa rise above caste boundaries. He said the Gita is a philosophy that has shaped the world. He congratulated the many people who handwritten copies of the Gita. He said cow protection is part of Indian tradition and mentioned that he runs a cowshed with 60 cows. His belief, he said, teaches him to protect culture without hate.

He added that people must safeguard their religion before it comes under attack. He said that in Tamil Nadu, people face legal struggles to practise their religious traditions. Before the recent AP elections, he faced doubts like Arjuna, but he remembered the Gita and focused on the state's interests. This led him to contest only 21 seats.

Requests From Religious Institutions

• Earlier, he attended the 38th graduation ceremony of Putthige Vidyapeetham and the first graduation ceremony of Padigaru Vidyapeetham. The representatives from the Math urged the Andhra Pradesh government to include the history of Shankara, Ramanujacharya, Basavanna, and Madhvacharya in school textbooks.
• They also called upon him to assist in the identification of more Thyagaraja kirtans since, out of the 24,000 songs composed, only 700 are known. They sought a committee to locate the rest.
• Head of the Parya Puttige Math Sugunendra Tirtha requested Pawan Kalyan to take steps to include the essence of the Gita in textbooks. The event felicitated Pawan Kalyan with the title “Abhinava Krishna Devaraya.” Member of Thitide Board B. Anand Sai also visited the program. Udupi as a Spiritual Hub Pawan Kalyan said he respects Udupi because it is a spiritual hub of India. He said that Lord Krishna is eternally present there with grace and Sanathana Rakshaka Hanuman guides the devotees. He added that Jagadguru Srimadhwacharya has taught many generations with enormous knowledge. He said the initiatives such as writing one crore handwritten Gita verses under the guidance of Sugunendra Tirtha Swamy and mass recitation by one lakh voices inspire devotees around the world. He said that Bhagavad Gita gives strength to society and strengthens national spirit. He concluded the message with: “Jai Shri Krishna. Jai Hanuman. Jai Hind.”