PM Modi and TN Governor RN Ravi Plant Rudraksha Saplings on Raj Bhavan Premises
Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi planted saplings of Rudraksha, a sacred tree in Hinduism, on the premises of Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday. The event was part of PM Modi’s two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, where he also visited several temples and participated in religious programs.
What is Rudraksha?
Rudraksha is a Sanskrit word that means “the eye of Rudra”, a name of Lord Shiva. Rudraksha is a type of seed that grows on a tree of the same name. The seeds are used to make beads that are worn by devotees of Shiva as a symbol of protection, devotion, and spiritual power. Rudraksha beads are believed to have various benefits, such as enhancing concentration, memory, health, and happiness.
According to Hindu mythology, Rudraksha was created from the tears of Shiva, who shed them when he saw the suffering of his devotees. The tears turned into seeds and grew into trees. The trees are found mainly in the Himalayan region, Nepal, Indonesia, and some parts of India.
Why did PM Modi and TN Governor Ravi plant Rudraksha saplings?
PM Modi and TN Governor Ravi planted Rudraksha saplings as a gesture of respect and reverence for the holy tree. The event was also a way of promoting environmental awareness and greenery. Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the TN Governor, tweeted that PM Modi planted the saplings of “holy #Rudraksha” in the premises of Raj Bhavan.
Hon'ble Prime Minister Thiru Narendra Modi planted saplings of holy #Rudraksha in the premises of Raj Bhavan, Chennai, today. pic.twitter.com/MLzpxhZtbV
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) January 20, 2024
PM Modi is currently observing an 11-day Anushthan, a spiritual practice, till the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22. The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ is a ceremony of consecrating the idol of Lord Ram in the newly constructed Ram Temple. PM Modi has been visiting various temples and attending programs related to the Ramayana, the epic that narrates the life and deeds of Lord Ram.
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What else did PM Modi do in Tamil Nadu?
PM Modi arrived in Tiruchirappalli on Saturday morning and was greeted by a large crowd of supporters who chanted his name and waved flags. PM Modi smiled and waved back at them from his car. He then visited the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, one of the most ancient and revered shrines of Lord Vishnu in India. He offered prayers and received blessings from the priests. He also interacted with an elephant named ‘Andal’ in the temple premises, who played a mouth organ for him.
On Sunday, PM Modi visited the Kothandaramaswamy Temple and the Arichal Munai in Dhanushkodi, a town that is said to be the place from where the ‘Ram Setu’, a bridge built by Lord Ram and his army of monkeys, was constructed to reach Lanka, the kingdom of the demon king Ravana. PM Modi performed a puja at the temple and paid homage to the ‘Ram Setu’. He also attended the ‘Shri Ramayana Paryana’ at the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, where eight different traditional groups recited the Ramayana in various languages, such as Sanskrit, Awadhi, Kashmiri, Gurumukhi, Assamese, Bengali, Maithili, and Gujarati.
PM Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu was seen as a way of expressing his devotion to Lord Ram and his respect for the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the state. It was also a way of reaching out to the people of Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state, where his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is trying to expand its base and form an alliance with the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
How did the people of Tamil Nadu react to PM Modi’s visit?
PM Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu was welcomed by many people who appreciated his gesture of planting Rudraksha saplings and visiting the temples. Some people praised him for his dedication to Lord Ram and his respect for the local culture. Some people also expressed their hope that PM Modi would bring development and prosperity to the state and the country.
However, some people also criticized PM Modi for his visit, accusing him of trying to appease the Hindu voters and ignoring the issues of the farmers, who have been protesting against the new farm laws passed by the central government. Some people also questioned PM Modi’s silence on the recent violence in Tripura, where several Hindu temples were allegedly attacked by mobs. Some people also demanded that PM Modi should address the issue of the Cauvery river water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which has been a long-standing source of conflict between the two states.
PM Modi and TN Governor Ravi planted Rudraksha saplings on the premises of Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday, as a sign of reverence for the sacred tree and the environment. The event was part of PM Modi’s two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, where he also visited several temples and participated in religious programs related to Lord Ram and the Ramayana.
PM Modi’s visit was seen as a way of expressing his devotion to Lord Ram and his respect for the cultural and spiritual heritage of Tamil Nadu. It was also a way of reaching out to the people of Tamil Nadu ahead of the assembly elections in the state. PM Modi’s visit was welcomed by many people, but also criticized by some, who raised various issues and demands.
