Vice President stresses compassion, service at Sri Sakthi Amma’s Golden Jubilee

Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday said that true spirituality lies not merely in ritual worship but in love, compassion and service to fellow human beings, as he participated in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Sri Sakthi Amma at Sripuram here.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion marking 50 years of Sri Sakthi Amma’s spiritual journey, the Vice President expressed happiness at being part of the celebrations and described Sri Sakthi Amma as a great spiritual luminary of the present age who exemplifies the principle that “Love is Divine”.

Referring to the spiritual eminence of the Sripuram Golden Temple, Shri Radhakrishnan noted that former Presidents Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Ram Nath Kovind, and more recently President Droupadi Murmu, have visited the temple, reflecting its sanctity and national significance.

He lauded Sri Sakthi Amma’s commitment to dharma and wide-ranging social service initiatives, including scholarships for students pursuing higher education, provision of drinking water in water-scarce areas, distribution of bicycles to students, and the daily annadanam programme that feeds thousands. These initiatives, he said, represent devotion in its truest form.

Highlighting environmental efforts at Sripuram, the Vice President said that more than 50,000 trees have been planted within the campus and several lakh saplings on the nearby Kailasagiri hills. He termed this a monumental contribution to humanity and Mother Earth, adding that protecting the environment is itself a form of divine service and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s environmental conservation initiatives.

Quoting poet Subramania Bharati, Shri Radhakrishnan said, “There is no greater penance than love,” and observed that loving and serving society constitutes the highest form of spiritual discipline.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President offered prayers at the Sri Narayani Temple and sought peace, prosperity and happiness for all.