Raebareli/Unchahar: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that as long as the tradition of sacred religious narratives continues on Indian soil, the flag of Sanatan Dharma will never bow. He said a strong Sanatan tradition would ensure that no one could harm India.
Yogi Adityanath was speaking on the third day of the Shri Shiv Mahapuran Katha organised in Unchahar, Raebareli. Describing devotion to Lord Shiva as a foundation of India’s cultural and spiritual unity, he said the Jyotirlingas spread from the Himalayas to Rameswaram reflect the country’s civilisational continuity and cultural oneness.
The Chief Minister was welcomed at the venue amid conch-blowing and the auspicious sound of damrus by Vedic scholars. State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister and Unchahar MLA Manoj Pandey welcomed him with a shawl, coconut and a vessel containing Ganga water. Yogi subsequently paid his respects to the Vyaspeeth and greeted the Katha Vyas, Pandit Pradeep Mishra. The event has been organised by Manoj Pandey.
Yogi said that in the Sanatan tradition, attaining devotion to God is considered equivalent to having one’s deepest aspirations fulfilled. Referring to the Ramayana, he said Lord Hanuman became revered across society through his devotion to Lord Ram. Similarly, devotion to Lord Shiva inspires people to pursue the path of public welfare and social good.
Shiva Devotion Unites India
The Chief Minister said India’s people may differ in their dress, food and lifestyles, but their devotion to Shiva remains a common thread. From Tamil Nadu to Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and from the Northeast to Maharashtra and Gujarat, devotees share the same spiritual connection with Lord Shiva.
He said the Jyotirlingas located across the length and breadth of the country reinforce India’s cultural unity, linking the northern, southern, eastern and western regions through a shared spiritual heritage.
Calling Lord Shiva the deity of public welfare, Yogi said Shiva is revered for consuming poison for the larger good and for removing negative forces. He described this spirit of sacrifice and welfare as one of the greatest strengths of Sanatan Dharma.
The Chief Minister called for wider dissemination of sacred religious narratives and greater participation of society in such events. He said these traditions generate positive energy that strengthens both society and the nation.
Sacred Narratives Kept Social Consciousness Alive
Yogi said Sanatan Dharma has never restricted religion merely to rituals or methods of worship. Instead, it has regarded dharma as a source of social vitality, individual responsibility and national inspiration.
Referring to difficult periods in India’s history, he said political weaknesses during the medieval era exposed the country to foreign invasions and attacks on places of faith. However, the spiritual tradition sustained through Vyaspeeths helped preserve India’s social and cultural unity.
The Chief Minister recalled the contribution of Goswami Tulsidas, saying that through the Ram Katha tradition he helped awaken social consciousness and unite society during a challenging period. Yogi said Tulsidas declined an offer to become one of the celebrated figures in Emperor Akbar’s court, making it clear that Lord Ram was his only king.
He said Ramleelas and Ram Katha became powerful instruments of cultural awakening, with the invocation of “Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai” serving as a call to collective consciousness. According to Yogi, Vyaspeeths have consistently provided society with inspiration and strengthened the foundations of national progress.
UP’s Spiritual Heritage
Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s spiritual landscape, Yogi said different places in the state represent different dimensions of India’s civilisational heritage. Ayodhya symbolises dignity and righteousness, Kashi represents consciousness, Mathura-Vrindavan embodies devotion, while Prayagraj reflects social harmony.
He also referred to Naimisharanya and Shukteerth, saying these sacred places carried forward the ancient knowledge tradition through which sages preserved the Puranic heritage for future generations.
Heritage and Development Must Move Together
Yogi thanked Manoj Pandey and his family for organising the Shiv Mahapuran Katha. He said the people of Unchahar were fortunate to have elected a representative who was working to preserve the region’s heritage while simultaneously promoting development.
The Chief Minister said the journey of heritage preservation and development was progressing together in Unchahar and would continue in the future.
Concluding his address, Yogi extended his greetings to Pandit Pradeep Mishra and the devotees attending the event and urged them to absorb the teachings of the Shiv Mahapuran in their lives. He concluded with the chants of “Namah Parvati Pataye, Har Har Mahadev.”
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