Culture / Dharmendra Pradhan Vows to Spread Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati’s Legacy

Angul, Aug 21: Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday pledged to carry forward the ideals of Vedanta Kesari Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, announcing that his biography and pictorial records would be disseminated across 50,000 villages in Odisha to inspire future generations.

The centenary celebration of Swami Lakshmanananda’s birth at Gurujang village in Talcher drew a large gathering of leaders, saints and devotees. A comprehensive biography in Odia and Hindi was released by the Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati Smruti Nyas.

ତାଳଚେର ଗୁରୁଜଙ୍ଗରେ ପୂଜ୍ୟ ବେଦାନ୍ତ କେଶରୀ ସ୍ୱାମୀ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମଣାନନ୍ଦ ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ଜୀଙ୍କ ଜନ୍ମ ଶତବାର୍ଷିକୀ ସମାରୋହରେ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha, ବାଚସ୍ପତି @suramapadhybjp, ପୂଜ୍ୟ ସାଧୁସନ୍ଥ ଓ ସଙ୍ଘ ପରିବାରର ବରିଷ୍ଠ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକର୍ତ୍ତାଙ୍କ ସହ ସାମିଲ ହେବାର ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ ଲାଭ କଲି । ଆଜିର ପବିତ୍ର ଅବସରରେ ମୁଁ ସେହି ମହାନ… pic.twitter.com/3NVAY4Tywg

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 21, 2026

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Speaker Surama Padhi, Rural Development Minister Ravi Nayak, MPs and MLAs from Dhenkanal, Kandhamal and Angul constituencies, along with senior Sangh Parivar leaders, joined the ceremony. Participants offered floral tributes at Swami Lakshmanananda’s statue and took part in the sacred yajna.

Pradhan described Swami Lakshmanananda as a “guardian of Sanatan culture” and a “spiritual luminary” who dedicated his life to tribal welfare, education and cultural preservation. Inspired by saint Bhima Bhoi’s philosophy of self‑sacrifice for collective upliftment, Swamiji established ashrams, Sanskrit schools and girls’ hostels in remote Kandhamal and Phulbani, promoting education, values and tradition.

He also spearheaded campaigns against illegal conversions, promoted cow protection, modern farming and afforestation, empowering local communities towards self‑reliance. Pradhan emphasised that embracing Swamiji’s ideals ahead of Odisha’s centenary as a linguistically formed state would be a moral responsibility.
Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Thanks PM Modi, Vaishnaw for Rs9,450-Cr Rail Projects In Odisha

The Sambalpur MP lauded the government’s initiative to develop Gurujang, Lakshmanananda, birthplace, into a heritage village and spiritual centre. He said true tribute to Swamiji would be to empower the deprived sections—children, women, youth and farmers—through self‑respect and sustainable livelihoods.

The ceremony was graced by revered saints, who blessed the gathering, underscoring Swami Lakshmanananda’s enduring legacy as a beacon of service and sacrifice.