Adi Shankaracharya contributed immensely to strengthen Sanatana Dharma in Bharat: Col Kini

New Delhi, 3 November (H.S): Post June 2013, in Uttarakhand’s natural calamity, thousands of small entrepreneurs who solely were depended on the pilgrims, lost their livelihood. In order to preserve the age old tradition and to protect the quintessence of Sanathana Dharma as propagated by the first Guru Adi Shankaracharya, Delhi based NGO Faith Foundation led by Col Ashok Kini initiated the six-month long journey, the first ever Holy Soil collection Yatra, on 14th Feb 2014, that commenced from Kaladi in Kerala, the birth place of the great seer Adi Shankaracharya. The soil collection concluded at Kedarnath with the team of 27 members of youth, as ?Mission Kaladi to Kedar.? This mission also aimed at the upliftment of the Uttarakhand economy, thereby protecting its cultural heritage.

Col Kini had personally interacted with all the main Shankaracharyas and had taken their blessings for yatra. The team comprised of members from all over India and three young priests from Ujjain, who all came as volunteers. This correspondent was also a part of the initiative taken by Col. Ashok Kinni, as media advisor, and made all possible contribution in this spiritual task.

At the end of the spiritual tour, Shankaracharya’s Samadhi Sthal whichhad been washed off by the devastating flood was spiritually reconsecrated by Col Kini’s team on the first anniversary of flash floods.

During interaction Col Kini said, “Adi Shankaracharya has contributed immensely to strengthen the Sanatana Dharma in Bharat. Dedicating his Samadhi at his last seen place in Kedar by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a befitting honour to the sage of the nation” said Col Kini.

Team travelled across the length and breadth of the country covering more than 30,000 km by road, visiting 24 states from ?Shankara Hill?, Kashmir in the north to Kamakhya temple, Guwahati in the east and also visiting Pashupati Nath Temple, Nepal. Col Kini could manage to get the soil from Sarvagya Sharada Peet located in POK. Throughout the trip, Col Kini and his team members delivered inspirational lectures on spiritual teachings of Shankaracharya to the youth in schools and colleges and also at public gatherings.

The team’s aim was to revive the Sanathana Dharma?s spiritual roots and reinstate Kedarnath as the prime place of pilgrimage, which was appreciated by all sections of the society both in India and abroad.

Col Kini made many appeals to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand as well as the Prime Minister of India, which were ultimately accepted resulting in the reconstruction of Shankaracharya Samadhi, foundation stone for which was laid by the Prime Minister and the work has commenced with other projects in Kedar Spiritual Complex.

Governors of Goa, Maharashtra, Orissa and Uttarakhand too offered soil along with many other dignitaries and devotees of Adi Shankara. The Minister Ashwini Chaube who was inside the Kedar temple during the raging flash flood, also took part in this holy soil offering when yatra was passing through Baxar, his home constituency in Bihar. Chaubeji, after having been elected as Member of Parliament, also honoured the team members at Bihar Sadan in Delhi and wished the team success, while it was on its third part of Yatra from Delhi to Kedar.

Faith Foundation has also started National Philosophers Day celebration in Delhi in memory of Adi Shankara which is celebrated on his birth Anniversary every year.

“The devotional fervour of lakhs of Shankara’s devotees that today the Samadhi Sthal is getting rebuilt in Kedar. I am very happy and thankful to Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand whose efforts have made this historical event” Kini said. Team members and thousands of devotees across the nation have expressed their thanks to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be dedicating the rebuilt Samadhi Sthal to the Nation on 5th Nov, said Col Kini, who hails from Kanhangad in Kerala.

Col Kini has served Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as his comptroller in President House. He has also served as the Advisor to Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik last year.