To attend a commemorative program honoring the 152nd Avirbhav Mahotsav of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, on 18th February 2026, India’s Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, along with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, paid a significant visit to ISKCON Mayapur, the world headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, located in Sridham Mayapur, West Bengal.
He arrived upon the invitation of the Saraswat Goudiya Vaishnav Association (SGVA), which organized a large spiritual gathering on the expansive grounds of ISKCON. The venue was chosen in view of its capacity to accommodate thousands of devotees and guests, as well as its well-established facilities for hosting large-scale devotional programs. Devotees and members of the public travelled from various parts of India to witness the occasion, turning the event into a vibrant and spiritually surcharged assembly. During his visit, Shri Amit Shah was warmly received by the representatives of the Saraswat Goudiya Vaishnav Association, led by the current president His Holiness B V Janardan Maharaj, and senior members of ISKCON Mayapur. ISKCON priests chanted Vedic hymns while other devotees engaged in kirtan.
Before addressing tens of thousands of listeners and glorifying Gaudiya Math’s founder Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, he toured the sacred temple complex and took darshan of the presiding Deities, offering his respects with folded hands. He participated in devotional observances and performed arati, expressing reverence for the spiritual heritage preserved and practiced in Sri Mayapur.
A special highlight of the visit was his brief meeting with His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, who is presently the seniormost sannyasi in the Gaudiya Vaishnava parampara and Co-director of ISKCON Sri Mayapur. His Holiness personally presented Shri Amit Shah with the devotional publication Krishna Art Book as a token of blessings from Lord Krishna. Other senior leaders from the Saraswat Goudiya Vaishnav Association and ISKCON also warmly received Shri Amit Shah and offered him tokens of honor.
In his address to the gathering, Shri Amit Shah delivered an inspiring speech in which he glorified the founder of the Gaudiya Math, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, recognizing his profound contribution to preserving and preaching the teachings of Lord Chaitanya in modern times. The Home Minister also sought blessings from assembled saintly persons and senior Vaishnava leaders, acknowledging the spiritual and cultural contributions of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
Shri Amit Shah especially appreciated the global efforts of ISKCON and paid tribute to its Founder-Acharya, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, acknowledging how he carried India’s spiritual wisdom to every corner of the world. He remarked that ISKCON has demonstrated how all modern facilities and resources can be engaged in the service of Lord Krishna, setting an example of spiritual dedication combined with organizational excellence. His words were warmly received by the assembled devotees and guests, who responded with heartfelt appreciation. Many saintly persons and devotees offered their blessings to the Home Minister, marking the occasion as one of mutual respect and shared spiritual values.
Hare Krishna
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