Starting April 3, Educationist and UNESCO chair Prof Dr Viswanath D Karad and the man behind the world’s largest World Peace Dome will begin the distribution of 1.25 lakh copies of Srimad Bhagavad Gita to students across India.
Honourable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had recently stated, “I have nothing more valuable to give to the world than the Srimad Bhagavad Gita and the world has nothing greater to take.” Taking inspiration from the Prime Minister’s statement, it has been decided to distribute 1.25 lakh copies and it will be launched on the inauguration of the World Peace Conference at MAEER’s MIT World Peace University, Loni Kalbhor, Pune. Following this, the Bhagavad Gita will be distributed to students across various centres the nation over.
Says Prof Dr Vishwanath D Karad, Founder President, MAEER’s MIT World Peace University, “There are multitudinous reasons why students should read, understand and implement the teachings revealed in Srimad Bhagavad Gita. The book is the essence of all Vedic knowledge that truth seekers will ever be able to gather. One witnesses the truths revealed in the Gita being verified very often by modern science. With a narrative between man and God as represented by Arjun and Sri Krishna on the verge of entering the fiercest battle of a lifetime at Kurukshetra, the Gita teaches students how to handle knowledge acquired in an unbiased perspective by observing and knowing yourself and the world. The Bhagavad Gita honours one’s individual faith and choice and guides you to master knowledge and use it to elevate you in the highest achievable positions possible. Equipping students with the absolute knowledge not only increases their level of intellect, but helps them take on the world and do their duties diligently.”
The distribution of Bhagavad Gita also marks the opening of the World Peace Dome and the Srimad Bhagavad Gita Gyan Bhavan that define the true confluence of world religions, philosophy and science.
Interestingly, this volume of Srimad Bhagavad Gita being distributed by Dr Karad will also contain vital information of a few of the world’s religions with their all-encompassing values underlining the true reflection of ancient wisdom, Vasudaiva Kutumbakam and Ekam Sat Vipra Bahuda Vadanti, making one realise the singular message of all world religions being world peace and harmony.
The world’s largest peace hall is designed
Dr. Viswanath Karad himself, and is larger than the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It houses statues of philosophers, saints and scientists. It has come to life with no blueprint, sketches or a professional architect, with help from local labourers. The structure will stands for world peace and has bronze structures weighing around 1.5 tonnes kilos each made by Ram Sutar. “I had wanted to create a peace monument. This tribute to Mother India developed over 13 years into a magnificent dome and now houses the world’s largest peace library besides being the world’s largest peace prayer hall.
The memorial, which stands on the same land as the late actor Raj Kapoor's farmhouse, was purchased by Dr. Karad from Kapoor’s family two decades ago, and he began working on the hall shortly thereafter. Kapoor, in his will, had stated that his farmhouse, if ever sold, should go to an educational institution. Kapoor’s bungalow, which still exists on the land, will stand along with statues of him from his best films, a seven-pagoda tribute and the peace hall. “Something more had to be done here. The dome was destined to be on this land,” Dr. Karad said. " I am merely an instrument."
