The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is set to take the Bhagavad Gita route of Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu’s most popular avatar, to achieve his ambition replacing that of Lord Rama adopted by Mr L.K. Advani years ago.
The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is set to take the Bhagavad Gita route of Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu’s most popular avatar, to achieve his ambition replacing that of Lord Rama adopted by Mr L.K. Advani years ago. In a closed-door meeting held here on Sunday, the BJP-RSS think-tank asked the national leadership to hold an international convention on Bhagavatha, named as Sreemath Bhagavatha Viswakeerthi Mahasammelanam, which will be inaugurated by Mr Modi after December 8 when the Assembly elections in five states will be over. The convention will follow a series of lectures on Bhagavatha, the definitive scripture praising Lord Vishnu and normally performed in Krishna temples, at 108 holy destinations across the country. Interestingly, Travancore royal family chief Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer are the patrons of the executive committee for the international convention. Though the organisers denied any political link with the convention, sources said this is the second phase of the pro-Modi campaign to popularise his secular image using Bhagavad Gita and its philosophic content. A spokesperson said, “The Bhagavatha Yajna has been held in several parts of the country and Lord Krishna is one of the best icons for ancient Indian legacy of tolerance, vigilance, self-sufficiency and equality.” The Bhagavatha Yajna will begin from the Guruvayur temple, one of the most renowned holy places in the south, famous for its miracles around Krishna, dating back to centuries. That this marks the epicentre of a political coup in the south was endorsed by several political observers. A political observer said, “Replace the words audience with vote bank and equality with the same thing that Gandhi had used to promote his philosophy, namely, anti-casteism; you get a potent formula for Modi’s prop.” The calendar of the Bhagavatha Yajna has been reportedly stage-managed by a foreign agency promoting Hindu religion across the globe. However, the cadre down south seem to be unhappy over using a scripture and a sacred ritual for political propaganda.
