Croatian President visits Mahamandaleshwar Swami Maheshwarananda in his Education and Research Centre in Rajasthan/India
This historic visit of President Mesic to the renowned Education and Research Centre of His Holiness Mahamandaleshwar Swami Maheshwarananda in the northern city of Jadan, was welcomed by the Indian media as a significant political and cultural gesture, being such a unique occasion for a western Head of State to visit an Indian spiritual Ashram.
On his arrival at the Ashram the President was accorded a traditional warm welcome. He performed worship at the Deveshwar Mahadev temple and inspected the Om Temple currently under construction. He expressed a wish to come to the shrine to learn meditation.
President Mesic and the Croatian Delegation were welcomed by more than five thousand joyful citizens of Jadan, showering on them colourful and fragrant rose petals as they arrived at the proceedings.
During this visit Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda introduced President Mesic to one of the greatest living Saints of India - who is also Swamiji's own spiritual Master - His Holiness Dharmasamrat Paramhans Swami Madhavananda, who blessed the President and his wife Mrs. Mesic by bestowing many prayers for prosperity on the Croatian Republic.
In his address to the assembled audience, President Mesic expressed great respect and recognition for Swamiji's humanitarian activities. It was during a recent visit of Swamiji's to Zagreb, that the President awarded him with the medal of Danica Order of Croatia engraved with the image of Katarina Zrinska, for his profound humanitarian work.
President Mesic inaugurated The Chamber of Croatian culture at the Om Ashram with an exhibition of Croatian art and national costumes. Beside Slovakian chamber this is already a second presentation of one of the world's cultures with the aim to promote mutual understanding and acceptance in a multicultural world of today.
The President said that his long held desire to visit India has now been fulfilled. However he was sorry for staying so short a time in the Ashram and he hinted at the possibility of visiting again soon and staying for a longer time.
Croatian President visits Education and Research Centre in Rajasthan/India
