New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the teachings of India’s Titankara have acquired new significance at a time when “many countries are mired in war” and claimed that India was earning itself a “Vishwa Bandhu in a divided world” a place.

Prime Minister Modi, while addressing the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav in New Delhi, also said that India is currently promoting truth and truth in global forums The principle of non-violence is playing an important role in its cultural image as a solution to the world’s problems. also plays a role in it.

The Prime Minister also issued commemorative stamps and coins on the day and thanked the Jain community for their blessings.

He said his government had emphasized promoting heritage and physical development when it came to power in 2014 when the country was sinking into despair, a slam against the previous UPA dispensation.

Citing the government’s promotion of Indian traditions such as yoga and Ayurveda, he claimed that the country’s new generation now sees self-respect as its identity.

He praised the dance drama “Vartaman Mein Vardhaman” performed on the occasion and said that the devotion of young people to the values ​​of Bhagwan Mahaveer is a sign that the country is moving in the right direction.

Prime Minister Modi also bowed to the Jain saints present at the auspicious occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti on Sunday and extended his best wishes to all.

“In an era when many countries around the world are at war, the teachings of our Titankara have acquired new meaning,” he said in his speech.

The Tirthankaras were the masters or preachers of Jainism.

Prime Minister Modi recalled philosophies such as Anekantavada and Syadvada, which teach people to look at all sides and accept the viewpoints of others.

He said that today, humanity looks to India to bring peace in these times of conflict.

This “new role” of “New India” is attributed to India’s growing capabilities and foreign policy. “But, I would tell you, our cultural image plays a big role in this,” he said.

“Today, we are raising the principles of truth and non-violence in global forums with confidence. We are telling the world that solutions to global problems can be found in ancient Indian culture and tradition. That is why India is giving India a place.” “In a divided world, it is ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ itself,” the Prime Minister added.

He mentioned India’s initiatives such as the ‘LiFE Mission’ to combat climate change, the ‘One Planet, One Home, One Future’ vision, as well as ‘One World, One Sun, One Grid’ and the International Solar Alliance’s roadmap.

In his speech, Prime Minister Modi also paid tribute to Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Maharaj, who passed away in February, and recalled his recent meeting with him, saying “his blessings still guide Follow us.”

Talking about the Lok Sabha polls, he said that a grand democratic festival is taking place and “the country believes that from here, a new journey to the future will also begin”.

The Prime Minister also suggested to the audience that they should use their dispensation earlier in the day, adding in a lighter tone that the saint was associated with the lotus, a flower often used at sacred events and also a favorite of the Bharatiya Janata Party. poll symbol.

“Even after 2,500 years, we are still celebrating Bhagwan Mahaveer’s Nirvan Diwas and I believe the country will continue to celebrate his values ​​for thousands of years to come,” he said.

He asked people to follow the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir as revival of these values ​​is the demand of the times.

The Prime Minister said Jainism is the path of “Jin” or the victor.

Prime Minister Modi said the event was very rare and happened at the beginning of ‘Amrit Kaal’, adding that the country was working towards making the freedom centenary a ‘golden century’.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the concept of “Amrit Khar” is not just a resolution, but also a spiritual inspiration for India.

“For India, modernity is its body and spirituality is its soul. If spirituality is divorced from modernity, anarchy will be born,” he said. Prime Minister Modi said that India is emerging from a period of corruption and despair, and more than 250 million Indians have been lifted out of poverty.

Union Ministers of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal and Meenakashi Lekhi and other dignitaries and saints of the Jain community were also present on the occasion.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)