The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi released a special commemorative coin of Rs 125 on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who is loving called as Srila Prabhupada.
The coin was released via video conferencing on 1st September 2021 at 4:30 pm IST. Devotees from different parts of the world joined the ceremony via video conferencing. The program was also telecasted live on many India News Channels.
Program began with Mangalacaran by students of Iskcon Gurukul, Mayapur
The program started with the recitation of prayers by the students of Iskcon Gurukul, Mayapur. They recited Mangalacaran Prayers.
Minister of Culture, Shri G Kishan Reddy glorifies Srila Prabhupada
After Mangalacaran Prayers by Iskcon Gurukul students, the program coordinator requested, Shri G Kishan Reddy who is a Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region of India to say few words on this auspicious occasion.
The honourable minister said:
“Srila Prabhupada’s life is of dedication, devotion and courage. He promoted Krishna all over the world. He promoted India’s culture, knowledge and tradition all over the world. Prabhupada gave practical solution to all the problem. And he preached the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family. Due to Srila Prabhupada one can see big number of people of different nations wearing dhoti, kurta and sari. We see them chanting Hare Krishna and speaking on puranas.
Srila Prabhupada brought cultural revolution. He is the ambassador of Indian culture and philosophy. Today Iskcon is the greatest bridge between west and east. Srila Prabhupada several times stressed the need to revive India’s spiritual cultural. Iskcon has been in the forefront in the service of downtrodden. During Covid they were cooking 4000 meals daily for people. Srila Prabhupada introduced Jagannath Rath Yatra in western world, this is one of his great achievements.
Under Prime Minister Modi India has grown. Ayurveda has become an alternative medicine. Today, India is being recognised in the world for her spirituality.
I welcome all for this event.
I thank Prime Minster Modi for releasing coin on the 125th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada.”
HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj speaks on the occasion of release of coin of Srila Prabhupada on his 125th Birth Anniversary
After the speech of the Minister, the program coordinator requested HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and Iskcon GBC to speak.
HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj said:
“Respected Prime Minster Mr Narendra Modi, Ministry of culture, I am grateful for your time. As you know this year is Srila Prabhupada’s 125th birth anniversary. Around 500 years ago, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had predicted that in all corners of the world Hare Krishna Mahamantra will be chanted.
Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Kolkata. In 1922, he met a renowned Vaisnava saint and scholar Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura who became his spiritual master. At that time, he was with Gandhiji’s movement. He was good in English, so his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, asked him to take the message of Bhagavad Gita to the western world.
This instruction was given in 1922 but he was able to go to west in 1965. He went into cargo ship, was having only Rs 40 with him. It was 35 days journey. On his way, he was thinking how to spread the message of Krishna and Chaitanya. With great struggle he reached USA. And with great struggle, he opened the first Krishna Consciousness centre in New York. Today all over the world Iskcon temple is present.
70 crore Vedic books translated by Srila Prabhupada distributed all over the world
Today even westerns devotees wear Indian Vaisnav dress like dhoti, kurta and saris. They put tilak. Srila Prabhupada translated Vedic scriptures in English language. Today more than 70 crore Vedic books translated by Srila Prabhupada have been distributed all over the world. Many renowned universities use it.
These books are today available in almost all the languages. Prabhupada translated more than 70 books. He wanted that these Vedic books should be read by whole world and not just by Indians. In this modern age also we can live as per the Vedas.
May God shower his mercy upon Prime Minister Modi and his government
We are thankful to Prima Minister Modi for his precious time. Srila Prabhupada’s desire was to make everyone in the world happy. We should take benefit of the scriptures and live happily. Along with that Srila Prabhupada started food for life. Today food for life is in all parts of the world. Lakhs are getting the benefit. During Covid pandemic, we opened camps for the people.
Influence of Vedic culture is spreading all over the world. We are thankful to the Prime Minister that he came to inaugurate world’s largest Bhagavad Gita. You are inaugurating the coin; we thank you for that.
May God give great mercy to your government. It is important that we should also have spiritual knowledge. When praja, people, take benefit of this knowledge, they get benefitted. May Lord give you strength to serve the country. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna!”
Release of Commemorative Coin of Srila Prabhupada, Founder Iskcon on his 125th Birth Anniversary
After the speech of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, the program coordinator requested Prime Minister Modi to unveil the coin on the occasion of Srila Prabhupada’s 125th birth anniversary. Everyone was eagerly waiting for this moment.
The Prime Minister released the commemorative coin with remote.
Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, speaks on the occasion of release of coin of Srila Prabhupada on his 125th Birth Anniversary
After releasing the coin, Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi spoke the following words praising Srila Prabhupada and Iskcon:
“Today is a very auspicious day. Two days back was Janmashtami and today is 125th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada. I see on my screen devotees from all over the world. It seems that lakhs of mind and body is connected to common Consciousness which is Krishna Consciousness. This is what Srila Prabhupada preached all over the world.
We all know that Srila Prabhupada was a transcendental devotee. Along with that he was a great Bharat Bhakt. He participated in non-cooperation movement of Mahatma Gandhi. He refused to take degree from Scottish college Kolkata during the non-cooperation movement.
On his 125th birth anniversary, India is celebrating 75th year of independence which we are celebrating as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Srila Prabhupada used to say that he is travelling to different parts of the world because he wanted to give great treasure of India to the world in the form of knowledge and culture. And he was doing so to serve the entire humanity.
Swamiji’s guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, saw his competence and gave him the instruction to take India’s philosophy to the western world. Srila Prabhupada took the words of his spiritual master seriously and made it his mission.
Srila Prabhupada’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)
As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, our purpose is to benefit and serve the world. To achieve this, it is important to have help of all. We can imagine if Srila Prabhupada gave so much to the world and if we all by his blessings try together then how much we will gain. Message of love can be spread to each person. How much we can give to the society and to the humanity. India’s sustainable lifestyle and ayurvedic science will benefit all.
Srila Prabhupada talked about Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Today India has made this her purpose and we are moving in that direction. Whenever I talk about Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, I tell my officials and businessmen to learn from Iskcon.
When we go to other countries people greet us by Hare Krishna. We feel so happy, so proud. We feel at home. Just imagine if we get the same response for our make in India products then how much proud we will feel. We can learn from Iskcon and achieve our make in India goal.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bound the world with Bhakti
Krishna said to Arjuna to attain knowledge and finally surrender to Krishna. This is called Bhakti Yoga which is given in Chapter 12 of Bhagavad Gita. Bhakti Yoga kept India’s culture alive when India was under subjugation. If Bhakti was not there then we do not know where would India have been.
During that period Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bound the world with Bhakti. He gave the mantra of viswas (faith) to the people. He broke caste barrier and established relationship between jiva (soul) and the Lord. In India many sages and saints have come from time to time. When world wanted Bhakti yoga, Srila Prabhupada came and Iskcon came.
Srila Prabhupada’s struggle to establish Iskcon
For Prabhupada, it was not easy to start Iskcon. He established Iskcon when he was 70 years old. This is the age when most people retire. It is very inspirational for all of us. We see people start saying they are too old to do or too young to do. But Srila Prabhupada from young age to old age continued focussing on his mission.
When he went to west to spread Krishna Consciousness, he did not have anything other than Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures. He got two heart attacks during his journey. He had no money, no place to stay and no surety of food.
In the words of Atal ji, former Prime Minister of India, kisi chamatkar se kam nahi (It is not less than a miracle).
Iskcon temples and Gurukuls all over the world
Today in different parts of the world there are many Iskcon temples and Iskcon gurukuls. Iskcon has taught umang (enthusiasm), ulas (celebration) and manavta par viswas (faith in humanity). We see in different parts of the world devotees singing and dancing in kirtan.
For others it is utsav (festival) but for us it is part of our life. This attracts people. It is giving new hope to people all over the world. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that when someone loves jiva, the soul, and does not hate anyone, he is loved by God. This thought process has been propagated by Iskcon.
Iskcon devotees doing Krishna seva and are brand ambassador of India
I remember when there was earthquake in Kutch, Gujarat, Iskcon came forward to help. Whether its natural calamity in Uttarakhand or Orissa, Bengal cyclone, Iskcon came to help. During Covid you all have been helping people.
In spite of the pandemic Iskcon served food to lakhs of people, made hospitals for Covid patients and is helping in vaccination.
I thank all the devotees of Iskcon. Iskcon devotees are not only doing Krishna seva (service) but also, they are brand ambassador of India.
Thanks to all. Hare Krishna!”
With this the program to honor Srila Prabhupada on his 125th Birth anniversary by releasing Rs 125 coin in his memory concluded.
Note: I have paraphrased the speech of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Minister, Shri G Kishan Reddy.
Watch the video of the entire program here: https://pmindiawebcast.nic.in/2021/1sep21.html
