Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the historical significance of Udupi in Karnataka as the “karmabhoomi of the Jana Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party” while participating in the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana at Sri Krishna Matha. The event saw over one lakh devotees, including students, monks, scholars, and citizens, reciting shlokas from the Bhagwat Gita in unison, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere.

Udupi’s Legacy of Governance

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi recalled the contributions of former Karnataka MLA VS Acharya, highlighting Udupi’s early adoption of a governance model that would later influence BJP’s administrative approach. He said, “In 1968, the people of Udupi elected VS Acharya of the Jana Sangh to the Udupi Municipal Corporation. With this, Udupi laid the foundation of a new governance model. The cleanliness drive we are witnessing today was adopted by Udupi five decades ago. Udupi began developing a model of water supply and drainage system in the 1970s.”

By drawing attention to these initiatives, PM Modi linked the city’s local governance innovations to BJP’s broader approach to development and public service, emphasizing the continuity between Jana Sangh’s early work and the party’s contemporary governance philosophy.

Spiritual Significance and the Gita Recital

The Prime Minister highlighted the spiritual impact of the collective recital. “The world has witnessed India’s divinity as one lakh people together recited shlokas from the Bhagwat Gita. When one lakh people recite the shlokas and divine words echo in one place, the energy released gives new strength to our minds and bodies. This energy is the power behind spirituality and social unity,” he said.

He also drew connections between Udupi and Dwarka in Gujarat, paying tribute to Jagadguru Madhvacharya, the founder of Sri Krishna Matha and the proponent of Dvaita philosophy. “Three days ago, I was in Kurukshetra, land of Gita, and today I am coming to the land of Jagadguru Madhvacharya with Lord Krishna’s blessings, which has provided me ultimate satisfaction,” PM Modi said.

Personal Reflections and Cultural Links

The Prime Minister shared personal reflections on the spiritual link between Gujarat and Udupi. He noted the belief that Mata Rukmini in Dwarka worshipped the idol of Lord Krishna, which was later installed in Udupi by Jagadguru Madhvacharya. Recounting his visit to Dwarka last year, Modi described the darshan of the Krishna idol in Udupi as a soulful and spiritual experience.

Ceremonial Activities and Interactions

During the event, PM Modi interacted with seers at the Math and was felicitated by Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, the 30th pontiff of the Jagadguru Madhvacharya lineage, with a ‘raksha kavach’ and a headgear adorned with peacock feathers.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Suvarna Teertha Mantapa, located in front of the Krishna sanctum, and dedicated the Kanaka Kavacha (golden cover) for the Kanakana Kindi, the sacred window through which saint Kanakadasa is believed to have had a divine vision of Lord Krishna.

Historical Context of Sri Krishna Math

Established over 800 years ago by Sri Madhvacharya, Sri Krishna Matha is a key centre of the Dvaita Vedanta philosophy, which emphasizes duality and the distinction between the individual soul and the supreme being. PM Modi’s visit highlighted both the Math’s religious significance and its historical role in shaping regional governance and cultural identity.

By blending spirituality, history, and governance, the Prime Minister’s address at the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana celebrated Udupi as a site of religious devotion, political heritage, and social innovation, reinforcing the city’s unique place in India’s spiritual and political landscape.