Ram, Krishna & Shiv unite India, says Yogi

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Shiv represent the spiritual forces that bind India together.He was speaking after hoisting a saffron ‘Dharma dhwaj’ atop a Shiv temple in the Ram temple complex in Ayodhya.Amid Vedic chants, the CM performed rituals at the Shiv temple and later offered prayers and aarti at the sanctum of Ram Lalla. The ceremony marked another symbolic moment in the evolving religious landscape of Ayodhya following the consecration of the Ram temple earlier this year.“Shri Ram has become a medium to unite us. Ram connects North India with the South, Krishna connects the East with the West, and Lord Shiv, through the 12 Jyotirlingas, connects every part of India.

These three are the forces that unite India, and this unity is our greatest strength,” Yogi said.Invoking socialist thinker Ram Manohar Lohia, the CM said Lohia believed that no force could harm India if it stood united under the spiritual legacy of Ram, Krishna and Shiv. He, however, cautioned against divisive tendencies, urging people not to confine great personalities within caste boundaries.“Those who attempt to divide society on caste lines commit a grave sin.

Division weakens the nation, while unity strengthens it. The day 140 crore Indians move forward with collective faith and purpose, no force in the world can obstruct India’s progress,” he said.Referring to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Yogi described it as one of the most significant mass movements in Indian history. He said the struggle, spanning nearly 500 years, witnessed participation from all sections of society — from saints and tribal communities to urban citizens and industrialists — united by the aspiration to see a grand temple of Lord Ram at his birthplace.“The movement broke barriers of caste, region, and language. It united people across the country, and even today, wherever you go — from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat, from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu — the chant of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ resonates,” he said.Yogi also highlighted key milestones, including the SC verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, the Bhoomi Pujan performed by PM Modi in Aug 2020, and the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla on Jan 22, 2024.

He said these events marked historic achievements for millions of devotees in India and across the world.Yogi said the transformation of Ayodhya reflects a “new era,” adding that the city now evokes the grandeur of the Treta Yuga. He attributed this to the collective will of followers of Sanatan Dharma and the efforts of what he described as a “double-engine government.”He also recalled how weather concerns, including heat and storm warnings, loomed over the ceremony but eased, calling it “divine grace.”

“When one approaches the divine with humility and devotion, obstacles are removed. But arrogance is always humbled,” he remarked.Yogi further said that hoisting the saffron flag atop the Shiv temple symbolises India’s spiritual resurgence. Drawing from mythology, he noted that Lord Ram worshipped Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram before proceeding to Lanka, while Lord Shiva narrates Ram’s story to Goddess Parvati — underscoring their spiritual interconnectedness.Senior leaders and dignitaries, including state ministers, legislators, and members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, were present during the ceremony, which was conducted by general secretary Champat Rai.Yogi urged citizens to preserve the legacy of the temple movement and pass on its significance to future generations, stating that the world is increasingly looking at Ayodhya as a symbol of faith, resilience, and unity.