The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjeeattendedthe celebrations of the500thyear of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s advent in Vrindavan today (November 18, 2015) organised by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Brij Vrindavan Arrival 500thAnniversary Mahotsav, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.
The President said Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was one of the greatest saints of the Bhakti movement. He was responsible for the popularity of Vaishnavism in Bengal through his Kirtans, which were unparalleled in lyricism and beauty.
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu preached and spread loving devotional service and congregational chanting through personal demonstration. He propagated the cult of devotion by personally practicing it.
The President saidliving with diversity and finding unity in diversity has been practised in India over centuries. Many people wonder how it is possible for India to accommodate so much diversity within one system of administration, one Constitution and one legal jurisprudence. The President said the answer lies in our civilisational values. India’s unity has been possible because of our cultural and civilisational values. We have inherited these over centuries and have nurtured it. It is now a part of our life.
The President said Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu preached love, equality, humanity and harmony. We must adopt this message of the great saint and recharge our society. We must retransform ourself with the message of love. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings continue to have great relevance in the contemporary world.
This release issued 2030hrs.