PANAJI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled Asia’s tallest 77-foot bronze statue of Lord Shri Ram at the historic Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math in Canacona, drawing thousands of devotees from across Goa and neighbouring regions. The ceremony marked the 550-year Sardha Panchashatamanotsava celebrations of the ancient Math, one of the region’s most revered spiritual institutions.
All roads leading to Partagali were dressed in saffron flyers and billboards, while the entire area was fortified amid a massive turnout. Around 480 traffic police personnel, apart from the regular district police force, were deployed to regulate movement and ensure crowd safety.
Shrimad Vidyadheesh Teerth Swamiji personally accompanied the Prime Minister through the premises, explaining the historical and spiritual significance of various sites within the Math.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi expressed deep reverence for the occasion, saying the atmosphere filled the heart with deep peace. He greeted the devotees and dignitaries present and said that being in the company of saints was a spiritual experience in itself. Recalling his visit earlier in the day to the Ram Mandir and Veer Vitthal Mandir, he noted how that peace, that atmosphere, further deepened the spirituality of this ceremony.
Reflecting on the Math’s long legacy, Modi said the institution had endured “many cyclones of time” over 550 years but never lost its direction. “Though rooted in history, this Math continued to move with time. It connects sadhana with seva and tradition with public welfare,” he said, adding that the Math had, for generations, imparted the understanding that the purpose of spirituality is to provide stability, balance, and values to life.
Calling the new installations a major spiritual milestone, he highlighted that the 77-foot bronze statue of Lord Ram would stand as a lasting beacon for future generations. “Three days ago, I had the privilege of hoisting the religious flag atop the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and today, I have been blessed with the opportunity to unveil this grand statue here,” he said.
The PM also inaugurated the Ramayana Theme Park Garden being developed at the Math and released commemorative coins and postal stamps marking the Math’s 550-year journey. He said these additions would serve as permanent centres of knowledge, inspiration, and spiritual practice and help connect the younger generation with India’s timeless traditions. He praised the 550-day Shri Ram Naam Jap Yajna and the Ram Rath Yatra, describing them as symbols of the collective energy of devotion and discipline.
The Prime Minister lauded the Math’s longstanding service traditions, recalling how it supported communities during adversity by establishing temples, Maths, and shelters when people were displaced from their homes. Today, he said, this spirit continues through its educational institutions, hostels, elder care facilities, and numerous welfare programmes across states.
Touching upon Goa’s cultural resilience, Modi noted that despite historical pressures on its traditions and language, the State preserved its original identity, with institutions like the Partagali Math playing a major role. “This is the specialty of Goa, that its culture has maintained its original form amidst every change,” he said.
