Hindus must be prepared to resist unrighteousness : Param Pujya Swami Govind Dev Giriji Maharaj

Over 20,000 devotees gathered in Goa for ‘Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav’

Ponda, Goa (Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale Nagari) – “Just sitting ideally and chanting God’s name will not change anything. Shrikrushna told Arjuna, ‘Remember Me, but fight as well.’ And even in our history we have seen that, even after independence, India was ruled for 70 years by ‘black Britishers’. Our country has been turned into a dharamshala (pilgrim inn) for all. It is now time for society to rise and resist unrighteousness (Adharma),” said Param Pujya Swami Govind Dev Giriji Maharaj, Treasurer of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Ayodhya. He was addressing a huge crowd of over 20,000 devotees at a massive spiritual and cultural congregation, the ‘Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav’, which is being held at the Goa Engineering College grounds, in Ponda.

Saints and dignitaries present on the dais during the Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav

Param Pujya Swami Govind Devgiriji Maharaj in his address further said, “It is necessary to work towards changing the laws that affect the Sanatan Dharma and strive for the laws that are needed in the country. The work of spreading Sanatan Dharma is a form of spiritual practice, a devotion to God. We must dedicate ourselves to the service of the Divine by putting forth our personal efforts and organizing ourselves. Then, the golden age for Hindus is not far away,”

Praising Sanatan Sanstha’s work over the past 25 year, P.P. Govinddevgiriji Maharaj said, “The entire work of the Sanatan Sanstha is based on spirituality, their Sadhaks are working with the understanding that India is one nation. The Bhagavad Gita is a scripture that was spoken on the battlefield, while the Sanatan Sanstha, just like the Gita, Sanatan Sanstha has created awareness from spirituality to warfare. I have witnessed a display of martial arts in this festival and I truly believe that all saints of the country should teach this to their disciples,”

This 3 day event was organized to mark the 83rd birth anniversary of Sanatan Sanstha’s founder Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Jayant Balaji Athavale and to celebrate the organization’s Silver Jubilee Year of the organisation which has been working tirelessly for last 25 years to unite Hindus and to take Hindus on Spirituality path. The event started on May 17 and concluded on May 19.

One of the central highlights was the ‘Sanatan Rashtra Sankalp Dharmasabha’, where prominent saints, spiritual leaders, social thinkers, and legal experts addressed the gathering with powerful messages calling for national awakening, defense of Dharma (righteousness), and the establishment of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

The event was attended by a host of dignitaries and spiritual leaders including Sachchidananda Parabrahman Jayant Athavale, founder, Sanatan Sanstha, Shri Satish Mahana, speaker, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, H. Devkinandan Thakurji, Founder, Sanatan Board, Mahant Ravindra Puri Maharaj, President, Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Balkananand Giri, Sadguru (Dr.) Charudatta Pingale, National guide, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Adv Ashwini Upadhyay, Supreme Court Lawyer, Mahant Rajudasji Maharaj, Hanuman Garhi Temple, Ayodhya, Pujya Dharmayashji Maharaj, Dharmasthapanam Foundation, Indonesia, Swami Anand Swaroop, and Shri Darshak Hathi from Art of Living.

Sanatan Sanstha’s spiritual successors, Shrīsatshakti Binda Singbal and Shrīchitshakti Anjali Gadgil, were also present on this occasion.

Shri Satish Mahana emphasized that protection of Sanatan culture requires not just words, but action, courage, and strength. “Sanatan Dharma has always worked for the welfare of all. However, some sects today preach violence against other religions. So it is necessary that Hindus must awaken to this reality and protect their Dharma,” he urged.

Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay highlighted the demographic imbalance and the increasing number of religious conversions. He stressed the importance of a ‘Population Control Law’, citing that he said, “Despite minorities increasing in large numbers across the country, they continue to be called minorities and enjoy special protections under laws passed by previous governments. This has led to challenges such as love jihad, land jihad, and mass conversions around 10,000 daily often funded through illegal channels. A strong population law is the only solution to prevent such exploitation,”

Whereas Sadguru Dr Charudatta Pingale called for every Hindu to become a Dharmadoot (messenger of Hindu Dharma). “The saints have the resolution to make Bharat a ‘Sanatan Nation.’ To fulfill this resolution, we must contribute our best efforts. Vibhishan was chanting the name of Rama, he was a devotee of Lord Rama. However, Hanumanji told him, ‘Merely chanting the name of Rama will not earn the Lord’s grace, only by performing the Lord’s work will His grace be bestowed” Similarly, today we must resolve to work for the protection of the Mother nation and our religion, which is the work of Lord Ram’s cause. We must be committed to become ‘messengers of dharma’ for the ‘Sanatan Nation’. said Dr Pingale.

Mahant Rajudasji Maharaj from Ayodhya stated that if Hindutva survives, the nation survives, and if Bharat stands strong, the entire world benefits. “Unlike other religions that focus on enjoyment, Sanatan Dharma alone holds the vision of universal welfare. Therefore, its protection is critical and Hindus must become assertive, even fierce if needed, for Dharma,” he declared.

Swami Anand Swaroop echoed the need to spread the valorous stories of saints and warriors like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “I see the divine glow in every seeker of Sanatan. When these spiritual ideas enter every Hindu’s heart, Bharat will naturally become a Hindu Rashtra,” he said.

Pujya Dharmayashji Maharaj from Indonesia emphasized that children must be taught the Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita. In his address he said, “The Hindu Dharma is like a diamond, precious and vulnerable. It must be guarded and passed on, our children are the torchbearers of Sanatan Dharma and must not be deprived of its teachings.”