14 February 2024 marked an historic day for Hinduism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated one of the grandest Hindu temples in an Islamic Arab country UAE – heralding a new age of the eternal Hindu Vaidik message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - Sanskrit phrase which means "The World Is One Family".
When the global head of the Swaminarayan BAPS Pujya Mahant Swamiji reached UAE to consecrate the Hindu temple, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the third president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, honoured him with these words-
“Welcome to the UAE. Our nation is blessed with your presence. We are touched by your kindness and we feel your prayers.”
Something extraordinary is happening with the message of India’s Sanatan Dharma world-wide.
Swami Brahmavihari Das, the moving force behind the temple’s rise and head of international relations of the BAPS, described the temple as a ‘spiritual oasis for global harmony’.
Twenty seven acres, seven hundred crores of expenses to build, the temple that will attract millions of people from all across the globe, and shall be looked with awe as a symbol of togetherness, acceptance of the other viewpoint, a symbol of peoples’ faith that shows them the path of harmonious , joyous, compassionate collectiveness.
That an Arab, Islamic country would give twenty seven acres of land for a Hindu temple still seems to be a miracle. A miracle of the power of devotion, compassion and message of harmony that was symbolised by Pujya Pramukh Swami, the legendary head of the Swaminarayan BAPS, who had dreamt of having this temple in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi temple was his dream and announced by one of his most beloved devotees Narendra Bhai Modi in 2015. The foundation stone was laid for the temple by the present head of the BAPS Pujya Mahant swami in 2019 and within four years the temple is ready for the consecration and inauguration.
The entire work- from its conceptualisation to the realisation, from intricate sculpture work, designing, decisions about the sacred murtis and Hindu motifs, was done by the saffron clad Swaminarayan sadhus , who are young, possess high academic excellence , degrees from the world known universities of Europe and America, and have joined the order of the monks at an early age – leaving behind opportunities to live in opulence and luxury. Their support base came in the form of volunteers, who came from Dubai, USA, North America, India and many other countries
It’s incredible that in such a short period, a gigantic Hindu temple, the one he dreamt of was conceived. He asked his devotees to work on this and be ready for the inauguration in a devout Islamic nation Abu Dhabi. PM Modi, himself a devotee of Swaminarayan and recipient of immense love and blessings from Pramukh Swami, declared it’s opening on 14th February. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi posted on X “The world awaits the inauguration of the Abu Dhabi Mandir by PM Narendra Modi. Visuals resplendent with its spellbinding architecture show the temple in all its grandeur,”.
No doubt that in a real sense the world is looking with awe and admiration at how a devout Islamic nation facilitated a grand Hindu temple, the biggest in the Arab land and gulf countries and became a symbol of universal brotherhood. PM Modi’s Abu Dhabi visit is taking place almost immediately after he inaugurated the Ayodhya Ram Temple with a Pran Pratishtha puja, having observed an eleven day fast -surviving only on coconut water. His devotion to the cultural and civilisational milieu of a nation that fought the foreign invasion for a millennium has mesmerised the world community and earned him appreciation from millions crossing all ideological and religious boundaries. As far as memory helps, this kind of a global appreciation and admiration hasn’t occurred for any Indian leader of any hue in the last one thousand years.
Abu Dhabi’s Hindu temple represents the best in humanity and the aspirations of the people to build a happy, peaceful earth.
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