Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Shri Bageshwar Dham Medical Science and Research Institute in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, on February 23. The event was attended by Bageshwar Dham Chief Pandit Dheerendra Krishna Shastri, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, and other dignitaries.
The institute will be built on a 10-acre site, with the first phase featuring a 100-bed facility. A cancer hospital, valued at over ₹200 crore, will provide free treatment to underprivileged cancer patients. It will be equipped with cutting-edge medical technology and staffed by specialist doctors.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi commended Dheerendra Shastri for his philanthropic hospital initiative and extended his best wishes to the people of Bundelkhand. He also highlighted that certain individuals, including political figures with a colonial mindset, take pleasure in ridiculing Hindu Dharma, with foreign powers supporting such efforts to weaken India’s spiritual roots.
“In the present times, we observe a certain section of leaders who mock religion, deride it, and engage in divisive tactics. On numerous occasions, foreign powers also attempt to weaken our nation and its spiritual foundations by lending support to such individuals. Those who harbour animosity towards the Hindu faith have, in some form or another, existed for centuries. Those who remain trapped in a colonial mindset persistently attack our beliefs, our temples, our saints, our culture, and our values. They show utter disrespect towards our festivals, traditions, and customs. They even dare to cast aspersions upon a religion and culture that are inherently progressive. Their agenda is to fragment our society and disrupt its unity,” PM Modi said.
Referring to Dheerendra Shastri as his younger brother, PM Modi praised Shastri for spreading the “mantra of unity” across the nation for a long time. He further commended Shastri’s noble initiative of establishing a cancer institute, emphasizing that, along with the blessings of spirituality, people would now also receive the gift of a healthy life.
“In these circumstances, my younger brother, Dhirendra Shastri Ji, has long been enlightening people with the mantra of unity across the nation. Now, he has taken yet another noble resolution in the service of society and humanity—he has resolved to establish this cancer institute. Thus, here in Bageshwar Dham, not only will bhajans and prasad be offered, but the gift of a healthy life will also be bestowed,” PM Modi said.
He further emphasized that Hindu institutions and temples, beyond serving as centers for worship and meditation, have also been hubs of scientific exploration, social philosophy, and collective awareness. Highlighting the Hindu principle of selfless service, Prime Minister Modi stated that Hindu Dharma has contributed to the world through the science of Ayurveda and the practice of Yoga.
“Our temples, mutts, and sacred sites have always served as centres of both worship and meditation. At the same time, they have also been hubs of scientific inquiry, social thought, and collective consciousness. It was our sages who bestowed upon us the science of Ayurveda, as well as the discipline of yoga—both of which are now celebrated across the world. Our belief is simple: There is no greater religion than selfless service, my friends. In other words, to serve others, to alleviate their suffering, is the essence of true religion. Hence, it has been our long-standing tradition to serve all living beings with the conviction that divinity resides in every human—Narayan in man, Shiva in every being,” PM Modi said.
Ironically, in India, where Hindus form the majority, there has been a troubling trend of ridiculing Hindu beliefs and traditions by labeling them as ‘regressive,’ disparaging saints, and unfairly branding Hindus as intolerant—despite their deeply ingrained secular and pluralistic values. While left-liberal groups have consistently maligned Hindu saints, many Hindu-led organizations, guided by these very saints, are dedicated to selfless service, operating hospitals, schools, and relief initiatives.
Hindu institutions have long been pillars of both spiritual enlightenment and social welfare. Across the country, numerous healthcare facilities run by Hindu temples and organizations provide treatment to millions of underprivileged individuals, upholding the “Sanatan” tradition of compassion and embodying the principle of “Niswarth Seva” (selfless service).
Hindu Organizations Leading Charitable Healthcare Initiatives
Hindu temples and organizations have a long-standing tradition of contributing to social welfare through various initiatives, including hospitals and cancer care centers. These efforts reflect their deep commitment to selfless service. With the establishment of the Bageshwar Dham Medical Science and Research Institute, another institution has joined the ranks of Hindu organizations providing free healthcare for the underprivileged. Let’s explore some of these impactful initiatives:
Ramakrishna Mission
Founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897, the Ramakrishna Mission is a renowned Hindu organization dedicated to humanitarian work. It operates charitable hospitals and dispensaries across India, offering subsidized or free healthcare equipped with world-class technology and infrastructure. The Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Kolkata provides specialized medical care for the underprivileged. Additionally, the organization runs educational institutions such as the Ramakrishna Mission Student’s Home, which offers free education, food, and accommodation.
Shri Chaitanya Saraswat Math
Based in Nabadwip, West Bengal, this Gaudiya Vaishnav mutt actively engages in charitable initiatives, particularly in healthcare. It provides free medical services through mobile health units and organizes camps offering free check-ups and medicines for the needy. The mutt also supports education and promotes sports development.
Siddhi Vinayak Temple Trust
The famous Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Mumbai carries out several healthcare initiatives through its trust. It operates a dialysis center in Prabhadevi and a free cancer hospital in Miraj. The trust also runs educational programs, including online and offline libraries, as well as a Book Bank Scheme that provides free textbooks to economically disadvantaged students from 11th to 15th standard in Arts, Commerce, and Science across Maharashtra.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trust contributed ₹5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. In 2013, it donated ₹25 crore to support drought-affected regions in Maharashtra.
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
Under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas, this Hindu institution runs the Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, which offers free pediatric healthcare services to underprivileged children.
Gorakhnath Temple
Led by Mahant Yogi Adityanath, who is also the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur manages the Guru Shri Gorakshanath Chikitsalaya—a 300-bed hospital equipped with a 10-bed ICU and ventilators, ensuring affordable healthcare for the needy. Additionally, under the Gorakhnath Temple’s leadership, the Maharana Pratap Shiksha Parishad oversees more than 47 educational and health institutions across eastern Uttar Pradesh.
ISKCON
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known for promoting the teachings of Bhagwan Krishna, is also deeply involved in social welfare. It operates free health clinics, hospitals, and mobile medical units across India. The Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road, Mumbai, and its satellite center in Vrindavan provide free medical care. ISKCON is also offering free healthcare services at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
These initiatives highlight the significant role Hindu organizations play in healthcare and social service, ensuring that medical care and education reach those who need them the most.
Hindu Temples: Pillars of Support in India's Covid Battle
Hindu temples and organizations have consistently supported people and governments during various crises, and a recent example of their dedication to societal well-being beyond religious boundaries was evident during the Covid pandemic.
In 2021, the Hindu Samaj Temple in Bangkok, Thailand, mobilized resources to assist India in combating the second wave of the Coronavirus. The temple collaborated with the Indian embassy and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to send oxygen equipment to India.
Several Hindu temples in the United States, including the Shree Radhey Shyam Temple in Bloomingdale, Georgia, affiliated with SGVP Gurukul USA, raised funds directly for medical aid to the SGVP Holistic Hospital in Ahmedabad, India. These temples contributed to providing the SGVP Hospital with a steady supply of medical oxygen, including on-site liquid oxygen storage, oxygen generation plants, ventilators, and oxygen concentrators.
Similarly, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in London raised £600,000 ($830,000) through a bikeathon to help India fight the pandemic. The BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi also played a crucial role in establishing a supply chain for oxygen tanks and cylinders, ensuring the delivery of over 440 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen.
In April 2021, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Vadodara transformed its Yagnapurush Sabhagruh into a Covid-19 care center, equipped with 500 beds, oxygen facilities, ICU beds, and ventilators.
In Puri, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration converted its Nilachal Bhakta Nivas into a Covid-19 Care Centre with 120 beds. Meanwhile, the Pawandham Temple in Mumbai's Kandivali repurposed its four-story building into a quarantine center with 100 beds. The Mahavir Temple in Patna provided free oxygen cylinders to Covid patients, and a Jain temple in Mumbai was also converted into a Covid care facility. The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra set up an oxygen plant worth Rs 55 lakh to assist with the crisis.
These examples reflect the unwavering commitment of Hindu temples and organizations to social welfare, beyond their spiritual duties. Numerous temples also provide free or subsidized education and healthcare, including medical check-ups and camps, serving not only Hindus but people of all religious backgrounds.
The Niswarth Seva of Hindu temples vs the ‘Mother Teresa Syndrome‘
It's notable that while many Hindu temples and organizations provide free services with no hidden agendas, such as converting non-Hindus to Hinduism for financial gain, "tickets to heaven," or promises of miraculous solutions for the poor and vulnerable, there have been instances where certain "saints" have exploited the disadvantaged. These individuals "harvested souls" in exchange for minimal health support.
There are numerous reports of Christian missionaries targeting poor and vulnerable Hindus, including tribals, to convert them to Christianity by offering free healthcare, money, jobs, and other incentives. OpIndia has covered several cases where the modus operandi involved offering food, money, jobs, and false claims of miracle cures, while disparaging Hinduism to manipulate individuals into conversion. In contrast, Hindu temples and organizations focus on providing selfless social services aimed at alleviating suffering and fostering unity, without coercion or deceptive methods of conversion.
While Hindu saints, who dedicated their lives to promoting Hindu teachings and uniting people, have faced contempt and vilification from secular governments and their supporting systems, Mother Teresa, who supported communist dictators like the Albanian despot Enver Hoxha and the controversial Emergency in India, was awarded the Padma Shri, Bharat Ratna, and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
Contrary to the popular narrative of Mother Teresa as a savior and advocate for the oppressed, she was more aligned with the oppressors. She endorsed brutal regimes like the Duvaliers of Haiti, describing them as "friends of the poor" during her 1981 visit, despite their tyrannical rule and the millions of dollars they stole from Haitians.
Mother Teresa, the head of the Missionaries of Charity, also reportedly offered a "ticket to heaven" to dying patients, coaxing them into Christianity on their deathbeds. She took pleasure in the deaths of those she persuaded to "accept" this promise of salvation, under the guise of offering comfort. Her so-called charitable efforts, which appeared to be selfless, were often about converting vulnerable individuals to Christianity.
What kind of charity comes with the condition of religious conversion? Behind the veil of providing food and care to the poor, Mother Teresa was actively pushing to "harvest" souls for Christianity. Christopher Hitchens, in his book The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice (1995), exposed the grim reality of neglect and suffering in Teresa's medical facilities in Calcutta. Patients were subjected to inadequate care, with no proper diagnoses or treatments, and were often kept from proper hospitals. Sisters working under Teresa were instructed to secretly baptize dying patients, using their acceptance of a "ticket to heaven" as consent for conversion.
Interestingly, Teresa amassed so much money in her Vatican Bank account that, according to Susan Shields, if she had withdrawn it, the entire Vatican Bank would have emptied.
There have also been reports of baby-selling involving Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, suggesting that the "business" of charity continued beyond Teresa’s influence.
In India, while Hindu saints, temples, and organizations face criticism from the left-wing, their dedication to selfless service remains steadfast, providing free healthcare, education, and other forms of support with no expectation of anything in return. In contrast, Mother Teresa, who received accolades like the Padma Shri and Bharat Ratna from the Congress government and was hailed as a "messiah," was effectively harvesting souls under the pretense of helping the poor. While Hindu saints and organizations were largely ignored by previous "secular" governments, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bageshwar Dham to lay the foundation for the Bageshwar Dham Medical Science and Research Institute signals a new era where Hindu saints and temples will be recognized for their selfless service and receive the appreciation they deserve.
Comments