Modi prays at Mathura temple, says country has shed slave mentality

In this race of development, Modi said, Mathura and Vrindavan will not lag behind.

Modi participated in the Sant Mirabai Janmotsav, a programme to celebrate the 525th birth anniversary of Mirabai, and released a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion. UP Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Mathura MP Hema Malini were among those present.

Addressing the crowd, Modi said when the country was going astray, Sants from different corners rose to return people to their faith. “In the south, Alvar sant and Nayanar sant, there were acharyas like Ramanujacharya. In the north were Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabirdas, Ravidas. In Punjab was Guru Nanak and in Bengal, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. All spoke different languages, had different customs and practices, still they brought the country together by spreading faith and knowledge. “

“Mathura is a meeting place for many such movements. There is no place holier than Vrindavan, no village better than Nandgaon, and no name as glorious as that of Krishna. This is the land of literature, music and culture. Even during the hardest times, this region has saved the country. But when the country became independent, the recognition this land should have received did not come its way,” he said.

On Mathura and its roots with Lord Krishna in mythological texts, he said, “This is not a normal place, this is the place of Krishna. In every grain of soil, there is Krishna. There is another reason why I was excited to visit this place. There is a connection Mathura shares with Gujarat. Krishna went to Gujarat to build Dwarka. Mirabai led the latter part of her life in Dwarka. This place is a mark of recognition for Bharat. Our Bharat has always worshipped Nari Shakti, and who understands this more than Brajvasis. We take Radha’s name for everything by saying Radhe Radhe. Mirabai has set an example for women,” he said.