Kerala Hindus gift Rig Veda to Pope Francis at Vatican convention

In a remarkable moment of interfaith dialogue, Sreekumar, a writer and journalist, recalled the gift given by former Kerala Chief Minister and late CPI-M leader E.K. Nayanar to Pope John Paul II in 1997—a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Sreekumar felt that this time, the most fitting offering would be the Rig Veda itself. He emphasized the importance of the Vedas as the foundational scriptures of Hinduism, a view often expressed by the late Swami Satyananda Saraswati, a renowned Kerala Hindu leader, who believed every Hindu household should have a copy of the Vedas.

In keeping with this vision, the Kerala Hindus of North America began distributing copies of the Rig Veda, with a special presentation made at a 2023 convention in Houston. The editions, which included both Sanskrit verses and English translations, were a gift to attendees. Sreekumar, who contributed to the preparation of these editions, explained that the gift was approved after undergoing the Vatican’s security protocols.

During the event, Sreekumar personally handed the Rig Veda to Pope Francis, explaining that the sacred text symbolizes the essence of Hindu philosophy. The Pope accepted the gift with a warm smile, asking, “Is this for me?”

The event, which was part of the World Religious Convention organized by Sivagiri Mutt, also saw Swami Sachithananda, President of the Mutt, present the Pope with a replica of the Ashoka Pillar and an interfaith logo.

A significant moment of the convention occurred when Pope Francis, after delivering his speech, descended from the stage to engage with children in prayer and personal conversations, underscoring the shared values of respect and inclusivity.

In a related event, Union Minister of State George Kurien led an Indian delegation to witness the elevation of George Jacob Koovakad, a 51-year-old Keralite priest, to Cardinal by Pope Francis. Koovakad, the first Indian priest directly appointed as Cardinal, has had a distinguished career in the Holy See since his ordination in 2004.

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