Tarun Vijay
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a tumultuous welcome on his arrival in UAE . He was emotional to see a sea of Indians gathered to welcome him and in honour of the host country he gave a slogan- Bharat-UAE Friendship -Zindabad.
In honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the World Government Summit, Burj Khalifa in Dubai was lit up with the words ‘Guest of Honour – Republic of India. Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum extended a warm welcome to PM Modi.
Millions from all over the world watched with glee calling the Hindu Mandir inauguration in Abu Dhabi by Modi as ‘unbelievable, incredible and unprecedented ‘. It was the finest hour for Sanatan Dharm followers to see that with full support from the ruler of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , India’s Prime Minister Modi inaugurated one of the grandest Hindu temples in an Islamic Arab country – heralding a new age of the eternal Hindu Vaidik message of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam .
When the global head of the Swaminarayan BAPS Pujya Mahant Swami ji reached UAE to consecrate the Hindu temple, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the third president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, honoured him with these words- “Welcome to the UAE. Our nation is blessed with your presence. We are touched by your kindness and we feel your prayers.” Swami ji was given full state honour befitting a Head of the State.
Something extraordinary is happening with the message of India’s Sanatan Dharma world-wide.
Swami Brahmavihari Das , the moving force behind the temple’s rise and head of international relations of the BAPS, described the temple as ‘spiritual oasis for global harmony’.
There was a sanatan dharm yagya in Abu Dhabi before the consecration of the Mandir , by the global head of the Swaminarayan BAPS Pujya Mahant Swami ji, who lit the sacred Agni of Yagna with Solar ignited flame.
That an Arab, Islamic country would give twenty seven acres of land for a Hindu temple still seems to be a miracle- a miracle of the power of devotion, compassion and message of harmony that was symbolised by Pujya Pramukh Swami, the legendary head of the Swaminarayan BAPS and who had dreamt of having this temple in Abu Dhabi. It got full support from the diplomatic soft power under PM Modi and the result is the temple of harmony and peace, rightly called as the Dharma-Lotus bloomed in the Arab desert.
The inauguration of a Hindu temple in an Arab Islamic country was simply an inconceivable idea till a few years back. It is the magic of Modi era that in Arab lands respect and love for India has increased manifold. We saw how our former naval officers were freed from Qatar and Modi is on an official visit to Qatar too after the Mandir inauguration.
UAE has given its highest award The Order of Zayed to PM Modi before he went to inaugurate the temple
This visit must serve as an eye opener ( if they really want to see the truth ) for those Indian Muslim leaders and secular segment that thrive on creating false fears among local Muslims against Modi and BJP . Arab Muslims, the original followers of Islam have presented a better, harmonious and peaceful face of their regime for their Hindu friends serving as a beacon of light for entire humanity. Will our hatemongers take a lesson from it?
So far Swaminarayan BAPS has built more than 1100 temples world wide – a feat that amazes even the bitterest critics of Hindu dharma and it bewilders them that how on the strength of pure heart, transparent spirituality and compassion for all -beyond boundaries, the ochre robed monks – radiant with an indescribable aura of Bhakti of the world’s most ancient Vedik faith keep spreading their message of love and peace unhindered.
The entire work of Abu Dhabi’s Hindu Mandir – from its conceptualisation to the realisation, from intricate sculpture work, designing, decisions about the sacred moortis and Hindu motifs, was done by the saffron clad Swaminarayan sadhus , who are young, possess high academic excellence , degrees from the world known universities of Europe and America.
No doubt that in real sense the world is looking with awe and admiration how a devout Islamic nation facilitated a grand Hindu temple, the biggest in the Arab land and gulf countries and became a symbol of universal brotherhood. Modi’s devotion to the cultural and civilisational milieu of a nation that fought the foreign invasion for a millennium has mesmerised the world community and earned him appreciation from millions crossing all ideological and religious boundaries. As far as memory helps, this kind of a global appreciation and admiration hasn’t occurred for any Indian leader of any hue in the last one thousand years.
What does this Hindu temple signify in a foreign land?
In one essence it is Sewa.
When Delhi’s Akshardham was inaugurated by the then President Dr Abdul Kalam, it was considered to be a revolution. Can you imagine a mosque or a church being declared open by a Hindu scholar? But here was a Hindu seer, who chose Abdul Kalam, a Muslim to inaugurate Akshardham because he thought this is not just a temple but a centre of India’s rejuvenation and inspiration for the young to build a greater Bharatvarsh.
Swaminarayan sadhus come from very high acedemic background. These qualified technocrats, engineers, doctors are not just trained in the ancient Hindu scriptures, Sanskrit and attain knowledge of religious duties, they are encouraged to use their professional abilities to serve the needy and help the Hindu dharma take up new challenges of a rapidly moving society. Synchronising Dharma with the demands of a global market economy and cyber age becomes their new assignment.
Abu Dhabi’s Hindu temple represents the best in humanity and the aspirations of the people to build a happy, peaceful earth.
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