In the state of Madhya Pradesh, is located a tiny village called ‘Gadha’, which lies in the Chhatarpur district. Every day, this place attracts thousands of devotees, who, travelling hundreds of kilometres, visit this place with what can be called the epitome of faith. The reason behind the same is the renowned Bageshwar Dham Temple, which is the abode to the miraculous ‘Swayambhu’ idol of Lord Hanuman. And as everyone knows, not only the temple, but also its Head Priest, or the ’Peethadheeshwar’ as he is called, the 26-year-old Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, are currently the talking point among people from every walk of life, all around the country.
With Shastri becoming the moot point, people have also been divided into two broad groups, the first group consists of the usual ones, who love to point fingers at anything which is associated with the Hindu faith and beliefs, who have been blaming Shastri of spreading superstitions, hatred, and of dividing the so-called secular society of India. On the other hand, are the people, the devotees of Bageshwar Balaji, who have complete faith in what Shastri does and says, and no matter what the weather is, or what the circumstances are, come running to the Dham to look at him only once, if that is made possible by their beloved Balaji.
But, amidst the controversies associated with Dhirendra, there is something which has got hidden, and which nobody pays the heed to or talks about, as while controversies attract a lot of attention, someone’s good deeds do not. And this is exactly what is happening with Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. As the country continues to discuss his miracles and ideologies, not everyone knows that every day, Bageshwar Dham organizes the ‘Annapurna Bhandara’, which feeds thousands and thousands of devotees, free of cost. The Dham actively participates in financially supporting the needy and the downtrodden. By 2030, the Dham will also construct a cancer institute and hospital, providing treatment to those who need it, but cannot afford it. Three months back, an ayurvedic dispensary has also been opened at the Dham.
Another noble cause which is taken up by Shastri and the Dham every year, is organizing the marriages of girls, who belong in poor and downtrodden families, who can only dream of a happy and fancy wedding due to their economic constraints. But with the Dham’s initiative, hundreds of girls are married off each year, without the Dham asking for anything in return. This year, like the rest, the marriages of 121 girls will be successfully arranged for, on the auspicious day of Mahashivratri, on 18th February, as part of a mega-religious festival, which began at the Dham on 12th February, and will continue till 19th February, 2023.
On 12th February itself, a press conference was organized by the Dham, in order for Dhirendra Krishna Shastri to address the press and discuss the mega-festival with them, and one got the opportunity to attend the same. And while one crucial aspect of the festival is the marriages, the other is the ‘Sanatana Dharma Raksharth Mahayagya’, which is being organized with the wishes and prayers of the welfare of the world and of India being officially announced to be a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. This is the fourth year of the mega-festival.
“This religious mega-festival at Bageshwar Dham will mark the beginning towards India turning into a Hindu Rashtra”, stated Shastri addressing the media.
The mega-festival will be attended by a number of revered Hindu religious leaders and Godmen. The festival will also witness various cultural programmes taking place, including Katha Pravachan, Bhagwat Charcha, Bhajan night, Kavi Sammelan, and Ras Leela, among much more.
“On 19th February, the mega-festival will mark its end, only to take place once again next year”, said Shastri, and added that the preparations for the 2024 will start on 20th February itself. Calling the media the ‘fourth pillar of the nation’, and himself a ‘Das’, Shastri then invited all the journalists present and their teammates to attend the festival, with folded hands, along with welcoming everyone else who would like to visit the Dham and be a part of the mega-festival.
He also mentioned that guests from the political circle, like all the MLAs from Chhatarpur and the Bundelkhand region will also be present at the event. Surprisingly, regular Hindu-bashers like Kamal Nath of the Congress also reached the Dham on the 13th of February to be a part of the same. It is also being expected that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shiv Raj Singh Chauhan, will be reaching the Dham on 18th February. Prahlad Singh Patel is also expected to attend the event, along with guests from overseas.
Coming back on the topic of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and what he means with the same, Shastri stated that for him, India as a Hindu Rashtra means one which will be home to social unity and equality, love between all, and religious harmony. Adding that while only Sanatana is a ‘Dharma’, while all others are ‘Panth’, he said that he does not have animosity with any other Panth, but what is problematic is the repeated insult of Sanatana Dharma, and in order to escape from the same, and to maintain the internal unity of India, it is extremely essential for India to be made a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.
“With India becoming a Hindu Rashtra, there will be social harmony, equality, and while there will be castes, there will not be casteism”, he added.
It is hard time for the religion of origin in India.The sanatan dharm which had been scientific and instrumental in bringing the lives of the people at the utmost zenith, is really in shatters with all the left wingers opposing the idea of proliferation of Sanatan.Now, such young devotees are doing commendable job in propagating the nature made Sanatan Dharm to the book n corner spreading the. importance of Sanatan.Let us pledge to drive his mission for the betterment of our inner soul inculcating devotion and sparkling lifestyle.