President Kovind dedicates new ISKCON temple

Bengaluru: President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said a single defining feature of the quest of ‘rishismunis’ in ancient times that has inspired society along with others is plurality. Dedicating the ISKCON Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda Temple here in a ‘Lokarpana’ (inauguration) ceremony, he said religious impulse is at the heart of India’s culture.

“The quest of the rishimunis of this land in ancient times has also inspired our society along with its kings and scholars, poets and architects. If there is a single defining feature of this quest, it is plurality,” the President said. “All competing worldviews, from ‘Advaita Vad’ to ‘Vishishtadvait Vad’, all have flourished under one umbrella. There are different sects, such as ‘Vaishnavism’, ‘Shaivism’ and ‘Shakta sampradaya’,” he observed. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai were among those who graced the occasion.