Yesterday was a momentous occasion. The Lord of the Universe descended from Vaikunta into the Deity as Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda to shower His mercy on countless souls, for centuries to come. This stone temple will last for centuries serving humanity’s aspirations to evolve itself into spiritually enlightened beings to free themselves from all the sufferings of this world.

India is the spiritual leader of the world. This is because of its cultural richness designed by our great sages for a progressive human society. The foundation of such a Sanatana culture is that we are born not to die but to realize our eternal life before our body reaches the point of death. The powerful force of Kala spares no one from death. Life is a school of spiritual learning, to be lived to fulfil our deepest instinct which is to seek eternal happiness and always resist sufferings.

If we want India to lead the world spiritually, every educated person of this great country should apply his mind to understand the great Indian texts like the Bhagavad Gita. This one book is enough to guide one’s life to happiness, while living in this world and thereafter.

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the illustrious Founder and Ācharya of the ISKCON movement, demonstrated how India could lead the world spiritually. At an advanced age of 70 years, His Divine Grace set foot in the United States armed with the knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. In twelve years, he attracted lakhs of people of all nationalities to understand the essence of Gita, which is to surrender to the practice of that universal Krishna Consciousness.

Modern science, despite its tremendous contributions to the understanding of the world around us, has little contribution towards the art and science of inner peace and happiness. We should know the limitations of science but extend the modern scientific temperament to spiritual life. Scientific temperament is the universal temperament to seek the truth. Just as scientific temperament has led to material progress in the last few centuries, the very same temperament can be applied to seek the spiritual truth of the soul in this body for the world to make spiritual progress.

Spiritual revolutionaries like His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are the greatest contributors to humanity to develop this world spiritually. Just as each one of us is a microcosm of existence, in the same way, the universe is a macrocosm which can progress spiritually bringing higher intelligence to handle the material progress properly. Progress in material science is a double-edged sword. It can either benefit the entire humanity by using it properly or harm and destroy humanity like what the atom bombs can do. Only universal spiritual knowledge can give humanity the maturity to handle the fruits of material progress. Without parallel efforts to educate people in the art of leading a life of peace and happiness, one-sided material progress will be counterproductive to the cause of humanity.

Spiritual education means to educate people about the universal consciousness which is also called Krishna Consciousness, in contrast with self-centred consciousness. Krishna consciousness is soul-centred consciousness, and self-centred consciousness means body-centred consciousness.

Traditionally, temples in India were not just places of religious worship but centres of community service. This cultural complex, which has been dedicated to humanity by Rashtrapatiji is beyond just being a place of worship. It is a centre from where the universal message of peace, happiness and service to humanity will spread. Here, there will be no discrimination of materially rich or poor because we see the materially rich are also spiritually poor if they do not live their lives as per the dharma, the laws of God.

The first ISKCON temple of Bangalore North in Rajajinagar inspired the mission of Akshaya Patra, acting as a bridge to take resources from the materially rich and reach the basic needs of the poor. The Akshaya Patra mission has since then expanded today all over India to feed 1.8 million children every day to support their education.

Rajadhiraja means King of all Kings. Today we pray to the deity of Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda to inspire us with many new initiatives to serve the society with a touch of spiritualism in the coming years from this grand temple. Today’s economic progress everywhere is lopsided. Many in this country are becoming richer by the day, while the poor are becoming poorer. God is the supreme proprietor and the supreme father of all beings who provides for everyone. God considers the persons who share with others what God has given him as a great step for the soul to attain peace and happiness.

May this temple attract such punyatmas to enable the temple to expand its services to the society at large spreading the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the entire earth as one family to live in love and trust.

We are deeply obliged to His Excellency Shri Ramnath Kovind and the First Lady for gracing the Dedication Ceremony of this temple and cultural centre dedicating it to the world at large.

Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!