11,000 participants from 18 countries join parayana
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji led 11,000 participants from 18 countries in a collective Sampoorna Bhagavad Gita Parayana held Sunday, August 2, 2026, at CUTX Event Center in Allen, near Dallas, Texas.
Conducted under the spiritual guidance of the founder of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru, the event formed part of Swamiji’s Swarna Yatra celebrations marking 50 years of his spiritual mission in the United States.
Thousands of students collectively recited all 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita from memory. Devotees, students and members of the local community participated in the gathering, whose central theme was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” the timeless Indian principle that the entire world is one family.
Swamiji praises uninterrupted 11-year tradition
Swamiji began his blessings with “Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum” and expressed happiness that the Vishwarupa Darshana observance had continued without interruption for 11 years.
He welcomed former students who return to participate each year and described the parayana as both a yajna, or sacred offering, and a vrata sustained with commitment for more than a decade. He said a distinctive spiritual energy could be felt in the hall and encouraged devotees to remain connected with the annual gathering.
Swamiji said the opportunity to learn and chant the Bhagavad Gita in Kali Yuga was a blessing. Referring to the Gita’s traditional history, he said its teachings were imparted to Arjuna about 6,000 years ago and remained relevant to humanity.
Memorization should lead to understanding
Swamiji praised the many young children who received gold medals for memorizing the Bhagavad Gita. He said listening to the recitation was itself auspicious but encouraged students to continue working toward complete memorization and gold-medal recognition.
Memorization, he explained, was only the first step. Students should then study the meaning of the verses and understand how the Gita’s teachings apply to their lives. He urged devotees to keep the scripture in their memory, conduct complete parayanas frequently and chant at least one chapter every day without fail.
Swamiji described the Bhagavad Gita as “Manava Dharma,” or a guide for all humanity. He said its teachings were valuable for children, political leaders, scientists and anyone seeking answers to questions such as “Who am I?” and “What is the essential principle of life?”
He told participants that their presence at the gathering had become possible through the blessings of their forefathers. The spiritual merit created by the parayana, he said, benefited not only those chanting but also their ancestors.
Swamiji urged followers of Lord Krishna to overcome fear, attain inner fulfillment and use the Gita’s teachings to develop peace of mind.
Parayana dedicated to soldiers and global peace
Swamiji dedicated the parayana to soldiers who lost their lives on battlefields, regardless of the country for which they served. He acknowledged the sacrifices of soldiers working under difficult conditions and prayed that those who died in wars would attain peace.
He also led a special prayer for world peace, dedicating the chanting to all those who had lost their lives in wars, regardless of the country they served.
“God Bless India, God Bless America, and God Bless the World,” Swamiji said.
He emphasized that Indians living in the United States had a responsibility to strengthen relations between India and America through spiritual values, cultural harmony and mutual goodwill. He expressed gratitude to the United States for providing opportunities, support and an environment in which spiritual and cultural activities could flourish.
Swamiji called for a world that advances through peace, prosperity, freedom and mutual cooperation. Through the eternal teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, he prayed for compassion, selfless service and the welfare of all humanity, saying that global peace becomes possible when peace is established in every heart and every home.
The gathering concluded with Swamiji praying for Lord Krishna’s blessings and reciting the universal prayer, “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu”—may all beings in all worlds be happy, healthy and peaceful.
