Lucknow, May 14: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar as the living embodiment of religion, justice and national religion and said that she was the pioneer of the revival of Indian Sanatan culture. The courage, devotion and dedication with which she revived the pilgrimage sites from Kashi to Rameshwaram during the period of foreign invaders is a unique chapter in Indian history.
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, in a function organized at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in the capital Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Maharani Ahilyabai not only lived the Vedic proclamation of “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah”, but also gave it a concrete form. When the country was plagued by foreign invaders, temples were being demolished, then Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, without fear, without any political support, took upon herself the gigantic task of re-establishing Sanatan Dharma from North to South and East to West.
Chief Minister said that we should take inspiration from the life of Maharani Ahilyabai and dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the development of India’s ancient glory and Sanatan culture. Just as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel initiated a cultural consciousness in independent India by rebuilding the Somnath temple, the foundation of the same sentiment was laid by Lokmata Ahilyabai hundreds of years ago.
He also recalled the tradition of Adi Shankaracharya and said that the cultural unity of India is still intact through the Peethas established in the four corners. The Chief Minister said that this is a historic occasion when we are remembering his contribution. At the same time, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, grand projects are taking shape in Kashi, Ayodhya, Ujjain and now Maa Vindhyavasini Dham. Paying homage to the memory of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar is not only a historical responsibility, but also an opportunity to reawaken the consciousness of Sanatan Dharma, Indianness and reconstruction of the nation, which made India a world leader.
Chief Minister said that the grand Kashi Vishwanath temple that we see today is the form of the same temple, which Ahilyabai Holkar had built between 1777 and 1780 with her personal resources. When the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor was constructed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister himself on 13 December 2021 described it as an extended form of the work of Ahilyabai Holkar. Lokmata Ahilyabai was not limited to Kashi only. She did the work of renovation of Kedarnath Dham, Rameswaram, Somnath, Haridwar, Mahishmati and many pilgrimage places in the country. She got the ghats, wells and stepwells constructed on the rivers so that the devotees get convenience and the availability of pure drinking water remains.
Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar was a symbol of Indian women power
Describing Lokmata Ahilyabai as a symbol of Indian women power, Yogi Adityanath said that she not only made political administration religious and people-friendly, but also set exemplary examples in the field of social justice and women empowerment. Her administrative foresight and service-mindedness along with reverence towards sages and saints are still a source of inspiration.
He told how Lokmata Ahilyabai, with her administrative ability and foresight, promoted the saree industry in Mahishmati and made women self-reliant and independent. Along with this, she took exemplary steps towards women empowerment by encouraging widow remarriage and banning child marriage.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, BJP State President Bhupendra Chaudhary, State General Secretary Organization Dharampal Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Kavita Patidar, Women’s Front President Geeta Shakya, State General Secretary Amarpal Maurya, State General Secretary Govind Narayan Shukla, State Vice President Santosh Singh, MLC Anoop Gupta and State Spokesperson Samir Singh were prominently present.
