President Vladimir Putin, on Friday night, concluded a highly productive visit to New Delhi that marked bilateral consensus on firming up the already-strong bonds of India-Russia friendship. The visit saw bilateral agreements in many sectors, with a focus on strengthening cultural and people-to-people contacts as well.
Behind the limelight, two exchanges brought forth the deep cultural connections which the two countries share.
On Thursday, after President Putin’s arrival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted his ‘friend’ for a private dinner at his official 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence.
The Prime Minister used the occasion to strengthen spiritual bonds between India and Russia and gifted Putin a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita. The globally-revered Bhagavad Gita has been translated into a number of languages, including Russian. The Hindu scripture continues to find followers and readership among academics, spiritualists, and cultural enthusiasts globally.
Sharing details about the gift, the PM posted on X: “Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world.”
Russian translation of Yoga-Vasishtha gifted
While PM Modi gifted the revered Gita to the visiting Russian leader, another spiritual exchange took place as well in New Delhi, giving a boost to the Indo-Russian cultural ties.
Cheremin Sergey, Russia’s Minister for External Economic and International Relations, was presented with a newly published Russian translation of the ancient Indian Sanskrit classic, Yoga-Vasishtha.
Yoga-Vasishtha has been translated into the Russian language jointly by the Rishi Vasishtha Institute, Moscow, and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi. Dr Shashi Bala, Dean of the Centre of Indology at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and Olga Vlasenko, Dean of the Rishi Vasishtha Institute, led the joint project.
Not long ago, the fourth volume of Yoga Vasishtha was also launched at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi, as part of the ongoing multi-volume project.
Yoga-Vasishtha, attributed to Sage Vasishtha, is considered one of the country’s most profound philosophical texts. It is a compilation of a spiritual discourse from Sage Vashishtha to Prince Rama.
One can find answers to universal questions of human existence in the text, while also receiving guidance on overcoming sorrow, ego, fear, and dissatisfaction through self-knowledge and inner clarity.
Scholars believe the Russian translation of Yoga-Vasishtha will provide inspiration to future generations of Russian readers, encouraging deeper reflection on universal consciousness and shared human values.