Varanasi, 17 December: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday remotely inaugurated the second edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam at Namoghat to deepen the relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu, also flagged off Kashi Tamil Express.
In the program, pundits from South India welcomed Prime Minister Modi amid Vedic chanting. On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the group of students from Tamil Nadu by calling them “Vanakkam Kashi”.
The Prime Minister said that coming to Kashi from Tamil Nadu means coming from one house of Lord Mahadev to another. The examples of Kashi and Madurai are in front of us. Both have great temple cities and both are great pilgrimage sites.
The Prime Minister said that while Madurai is situated on the banks of Vagai and Kashi is situated on the banks of Ganga. Both Vagai and Gangai have been written about in Tamil literature. When we know this heritage we also realize the depth of these relationships.
He said that I am happy that Tamil Sangamam has increased the enthusiasm among the youth through the ancient tradition. Tamil youth are going to Kashi, Prayagraj. Arrangements have also been made for Tamil people coming to Kashi to go to Ayodhya. It is a privilege to have the darshan of Lord Shri Ram who established Rameshwaram along with Mahadev.
The Prime Minister said that during the last one year, there has been a huge increase in the number of Tamil pilgrims visiting Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Due to the religious importance of Kashi, people from all over the country have been coming here. It is the center of faith, culture and spiritual awareness in India. Like Kashi, Tamil Nadu has also been a center of culture.
Modi said, Sanskrit and Tamil literature are the oldest in India. This inclusive literature creates unity and equality in the society. Kasi Tamil Sangamam will strengthen the cultural nationalism of our country.
Referring to the great poet of Tamil language, Subramanya Bharathi, the Prime Minister said that Subramanya Bharathi, who was a student of Kashi, had written that it would have been good if there was an arrangement to listen to the mantras chanted in Kashi in Kanchi city of Tamil Nadu. Today the wish of great poet Subramanya Bharati is being fulfilled.
Specially mentioning the new Parliament building, the Prime Minister said that this feeling of ‘One India, Best India’ was visible even when we entered the new Parliament building. The sacred Sengol has been installed in the new Parliament building. Under the guidance of the saints of Aadinam of Tamil, this same Sengol became the symbol of transfer of power in 1947. It is this flow of the spirit of โEk Bharat Shrestha Bharatโ, which is watering the soul of our nation today.
The Prime Minister said that India was united by saints like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya, who awakened the national consciousness of India through their travels.
The Prime Minister said that when Kashi was being attacked, King Parakrama Pandyan 1 built Kashi Vishwanathar Temple in Tenkasi and Sivakasi saying that Kashi could not be destroyed. Look at any civilization in the world; the best form of intimacy in diversity will hardly be seen anywhere.
The Prime Minister said that we should know this relationship between North and South. I have full faith that this confluence of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam will continue to strengthen our heritage and strengthen the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.
On this occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were also present.
