Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat visited the ISKCON temple in New York on Friday during his ongoing three-nation US tour and participated in a food distribution initiative for homeless people.
During his visit to the temple at 26 2nd Avenue, where ISKCON was founded by Srila Prabhupada in 1966, Bhagwat offered a garland to Srila Prabhupada and inaugurated the distribution of the 100,000th meal under the Zero Hunger New York initiative, according to a post by ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner Gauranga Das on X.
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Speaking to ANI, Gauranga Das said Bhagwat’s visit was historic and highlighted the organisation’s global reach. He said ISKCON now has around 1,300 temples across 120 countries and credited Srila Prabhupada with taking Hindu Sanatana Dharma to different parts of the world.
Gauranga Das said that Bhagwat discussed ways in which the RSS and ISKCON could work together to promote global peace and harmony.
Bhagwat also penned a message describing ISKCON as an “inspiring venue” that had presented the world with the gift of “Sri Krishna consciousness”. He expressed gratitude to those who organised the event and said he was filled with a feeling of “pure sattvic love”.
Addressing devotees at the temple, Bhagwat said consciousness could help bring people together despite differences and conflicts in the world.
“In today’s world, there are so many conflicts, so many dualities. The only thing that unites is consciousness. That consciousness is Krishna Consciousness,” Bhagwat said.
ISKCON Minister of Communications and Governing Body Commissioner Anuttama Dasa welcomed the RSS chief’s visit. He said the organisation was looking at ways to promote God consciousness and Krishna consciousness values around the world, particularly at a time of growing conflicts and polarisation.
Bhagwat’s visit comes ahead of his scheduled address to the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden on August 29 at the Universal Oneness Celebration, being organised as part of the RSS centenary-year programmes.
The RSS chief arrived in New York on Tuesday as part of a three-nation outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
