Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined Shrimad Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Ji’s 726th manifestation festival at Magh Mela on Saturday and shared his thoughts.
Goraksh Peethadheeshwar and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attacked those claiming to be the custodians of secularism and urged people to avoid divisive forces.
Citing the situation in Bangladesh today, he said that division based on caste, sect, or religion would lead to total destruction. “No one speaks about the incidents occurring there. Those who claim to uphold secularism have the power to divide Hindu society and Sanatan Dharma, yet remain silent on events in Bangladesh, as if their mouths are sealed with tape and Fevicol. No candle march has been held over those incidents, and this should serve as a warning for us as well,” he cautioned.
The CM warned that those dividing society today can never be its well-wishers. He said that when in power, such people could think of nothing beyond their own families. They may raise many slogans again, but when given the opportunity, they would act no differently than before. Identity crises, anarchy, attacks on Sanatan Dharma, and violence in the name of riots, he said, end up burning everyone. He cautioned that this must not be allowed to repeat.
Emphasising that the double-engine government is always committed to strengthening the Sanatan faith, he urged people not to allow dividers, breakers, and weakeners to flourish. He said that if everyone moves forward with this resolve, the future belongs to Sanatan Dharma. Just as the flag flies atop the Ram Mandir, he added, the flag of Sanatan Dharma will one day fly across the world, and no one will dare to harm weak and Dalit Hindus, as seen in Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister said that Prayagraj’s holy land was developed as a centre of Sanatan Dharma by Maharishi Bhardwaj, Maharishi Valmiki, and other revered sages through penance and spiritual practices. He noted that it was on this sacred land of the Triveni that Bhakti Shiromani Bhagwan Ramanandacharya manifested 726 years ago.
He said that Prayagraj’s holy land, blessed by the infinite grace of Bhagwan Veni Madhav, the sacred presence of Bhagwan Akshayavat, and the Triveni — revered as Mother Ganga, Mother Yamuna, and Mother Saraswati —draws devotees from across the country and the world to take a holy dip at the Sangam. He added that this land represents dharma, justice, and knowledge, and seekers from across the nation gather here in pursuit of all three.
CM Yogi said that Satua Baba united everyone and noted that Bhagwan Ramanandacharya’s holy birth anniversary is observed in Prayagraj. He said that since Paush Purnima fell on January 3 this year, people from all sections were able to participate in the event.
Addressing the saints, the Chief Minister urged them to hold discussions on building a memorial-cum-temple at Daraganj, the place where Ramanandacharya Ji manifested, and assured them that the government would extend full cooperation. He said that Ramanandacharya Ji Maharaj united a divided society and called upon people to make his teachings and inspiration the guiding mantra of their lives.
Referring to Jagadguru Ramanandacharya, CM Yogi said that no one becomes great overnight. He said that greatness requires the ability to imbibe divine qualities, firm willpower, and a clear vision. An ordinary person, he said, thinks only of oneself and one’s family, with the world limited to that sphere, while a great person, endowed with divine qualities, possesses a higher vision to awaken welfare and dharma. Such individuals, he added, are guided not by selfish interests but by paramarth (selfless service). He said that Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Bhagwan embodied these ideals on earth.
The CM said that 726 years ago invaders sought to crush Sanatan Dharma. He said foreign invaders conspired to break society, divide people in the name of caste, and shatter the social fabric through various ideologies. It was during this period, he said, that Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Ji called upon people to unite across sects and religions, asserting that everyone has the right to surrender at the feet of God and that society should not be divided on the basis of caste or creed.
He said that to unite society, Bhagwan Ramanandacharya Ji accepted twelve disciples from different castes—Anantacharya Ji, Kabir Das Ji, Sadguru Ravidas Ji, Sadguru Pipa Ji, Sursuranand Ji, Sukhanand Ji, Narharyanand Ji, Yoganand Ji, Bhavanand Ji, Dhanna Ji, Sain Ji, and Gailwanand Ji Maharaj. He noted that the various streams of the Ramanand tradition continue to unite society even today.
He said that saints from many traditions present on the platform reflect the spirit of Sanatan Dharma’s unity, including those from the Ravidasia sect and the Kabir Das tradition. He added that Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Ji Maharaj guided his disciples in different paths of worship — Sagun and Nirgun — and worked to unite a divided society.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that when saints chart a complete path to unite society and the saintly community speaks from a single platform, tangible results follow. He said that the construction of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is the outcome of the collective penance and unity of revered saints, which was brought to fruition under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that since the first general election in 1952, the country has seen many Prime Ministers, all of whom contributed to national development. However, he added that the core spiritual soul of Ayodhya deserved recognition through the reinstallation of Ram Lalla, a sentiment that was realised under Modi’s leadership, thereby upholding and glorifying India’s ancient traditions.
He said that Prime Minister Modi is the first Prime Minister to visit the Ram Mandir and participate in every key milestone, including the shilanyas, pran-pratishtha, and the hoisting of the Sanatan Dharma flag after the temple’s completion. He added that Modi demonstrated to the world that great transformations require both decisive action and strong willpower.
Earlier in the morning, the Chief Minister took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam and expressed gratitude to Mother Ganga, Mother Yamuna, and Mother Saraswati. He said that such an opportunity did not exist eight to ten years ago, but with a devotee of Ram and Ganga in power, it has now become possible. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that through the Namami Gange initiative, Modi expressed reverence for the Ganga, something only a true son of India could do.
He added that around 31 lakh devotees took a holy dip on the occasion of Paush Purnima.