Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the first phase of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham project in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi.
Modi said the Kashi Vishwanath Dham was a symbol of ancient India's religious traditions. Modi said, “It is said in our Puranas that as soon as one enters Kashi, one becomes free from all bondage. Blessings of Lord Vishweshwara, a supernatural energy, awakens our inner soul as soon as we come here.”
Modi declared, “When you come here, you will not see only faith. You will also feel the glory of your past here. How antiquity and novelty come alive together, How the inspirations of the ancient are giving direction to the future.”
Modi said the expansion of the temple area would allow more devotees to worship. “Earlier the temple area here which was only 3,000 square feet, it has now become about 5 lakh square feet. Now 50-75,000 devotees can come to the temple and temple premises,” the prime minister said.
Modi said those who wanted to visit Varanasi earlier to see the religious sites found it difficult due to lack of transport options and space. Modi said the elderly and handicapped in particular found it difficult. He said the new infrastructure work would reduce inconvenience for such people.
In addition to praising the people of Varanasi and those who worked on the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the prime minister lavished praise on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, referring to him as a 'Karmayogi'.
Modi referred to the attacks and atrocities perpetrated by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb on Varanasi. “The invaders attacked this city, tried to destroy it! The history of Aurangzeb's atrocities, his terror… Who tried to change the civilization on the strength of the sword. But the soil of this country is somewhat different from the rest of the world. If Aurangzeb comes here, Shivaji also stands up! If any Salar Masood moves here, then brave warriors like King Suheldev make him feel the power of our unity. Even during the British era, what the people of Kashi did to Hastings, it is known to the people of Kashi,” the prime minister said.
“The inauguration of Kashi Vishwanath Dham will give a decisive direction to India, will lead to a brighter future. This complex is a witness of our capability, of our duty. Nothing is impossible if you have the thought, the determination,” Modi said.
A total of 23 buildings will be inaugurated in phase 1 of the project. These will provide a variety of facilities to the pilgrims visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, including Yatri Suvidha Kendras, tourist facilitation centre, Vedic Kendra, Mumukshu Bhavan, Bhogshala, city museum, viewing gallery and food court.
