Ayodhya, 5 Oct (HS): Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday attended the Sri Guru Parv Maha Mahotsav and Saint Conference at the Udasin Rishi Ashram, Ranopali. Addressing the gathering, he said that the Udasin tradition is a vibrant stream of Sanatan Dharma, which has nurtured India's spiritual consciousness for centuries. A significant characteristic of Indian civilization is that knowledge wasn't confined to books. Knowledge was transformed into tradition. That tradition was transformed into culture. And then, through education, culture was incorporated into social behavior.

Education is the backbone of any civilization. And when the medium of instruction is a divine language like Sanskrit, its importance increases even more. The Shri Narayan Sanskrit College I visited today was founded in 1912 by Baba Shri Keshavram Ji Maharaj. It is a matter of joy that the saints and teachers here continue that tradition to this day.

On this occasion, I heartily congratulate Mahant Dr. Swami Bharat Das Ji Maharaj. Under his leadership, this ashram continues to progress. Sanskrit is an important foundation of this entire tradition. Sanskrit should not be considered merely a language. Sanskrit holds a vast repository of India's knowledge tradition. From the Vedas to the Upanishads, from philosophy to grammar, from Ayurveda to mathematics, from astrology to literature, from Nyaya to Mimamsa, a large part of the Indian knowledge tradition has been passed down from generation to generation through Sanskrit, and it has enriched the intellectual traditions of the world.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that if Yogi Adityanath forms the government again, he will request to teach Vedic mathematics in all the schools of the state. He said that under the patronage of the Yogi government, both the governance system and the Sanatan system are achieving excellence.

Upon reaching Ayodhya, Rajnath Singh visited and worshipped at Hanumangarhi and the Shri Ram Temple. Saints at the Udasin Ashram welcomed him with garlands and robes.

Rajnath Singh described Ayodhya not just as a geographical location, but as a center of consciousness, culture, and civilization. He said that Lord Shri Ram sanctified the land of Ayodhya and from here the message of religion, justice, and dignity spread to the entire world. Rajnath Singh expressed happiness on seeing the newly constructed building of Shri Narayan Sanskrit College. He could not inaugurate the building due to the code of conduct. Recalling the contribution of saints in the Ram Temple movement, he said that the saints endured the tortures of prison and made sacrifices; hence their sacrifice will always be remembered.

Describing Sanskrit as the language of gods and spirituality, Rajnath Singh explained the speciality of Vedic mathematics and said that Vedic mathematics is also taught in the London School of Economics.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi