Tulsi Gabbard Visits Akshardham Temple in New Jersey; Lauds Leaders, Devotees for Bringing People Together
- The first Hindu American to serve in U.S. Congress, and president-elect Trump’s nominee to head the national intelligence, described her visit as “a wonderful breath of fresh air.”
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and the first Hindu American to serve in the U.S. Congress, visited the BAPS Akshardham temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey yesterday, (Dec. 15), at a celebration to observe the 103rd birth anniversary of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Addressing approximately 2,000 people, including devotees, representatives form Hindu temples and organizations, and local lawmakers, Gabbard, president-elect Trump’s nominee to head the national intelligence, expressed wonder at the spiritual significance of the temple and the exquisite carvings and sculptures that adorn it.
“It’s been a wonderful breath of fresh air to finally come and visit this incredible and historic Akshardham temple, and to be able to hear about the many thousands of hands and hearts that went into building this iconic temple,” she said. She talked about walking through the sprawling temple complex, and seeing the meaning behind “every single one of those sculptures — the most big and magnificent and even the small etchings — of some of the most famous stories about Krishna and Arjuna from the Bhagavad Gita.”
Among attendees at the Dec. 15 event were Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried, members of the city council and Suhag Shukla, co-founder and executive director of the Hindu American Foundation. In a post on X, she called Gabbard “a personal friend” and reiterated her support to her. “It was wonderful having Tulsi visit BAPS Robbinsville and spend time with representatives of over a dozen Hindu mandirs and organizations,” Shukla told American Kahani.” Her remarks to the assembly of close to 2000 were heartfelt and inspirational,” she added.
The BAPS also expressed its appreciation for Gabbard’s commitment to its shared cultural and spiritual heritage, and highlighted the importance of her visit. “As the first Hindu elected to Congress and the current director of National Intelligence designate, we appreciated hearing how our shared cultural and spiritual heritage shaped her life of public service,” the organization said, adding that her visit is “a tribute to the thousands of volunteers who made the Akshardham temple a reality.”
In her address to the large gathering, Gbbard described her experiences during her visit to the temple. She told the attendees how she and the other guests and temple leadership “talked a lot of peace and harmony and unity and joy.” These are the “powerful messages that we all strive to bring in our everyday lives, wherever we may be,” she said, noting that they are “timeless and also could not be more important than the times we face now.”
She talked about reading quotes on the temple walls, from Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, and many others. “Many of them have been inspired by Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita,” she said, “which continues to convey the importance and timeless lessons that apply to us all, that we can all benefit from, regardless of where we come from, or our race or religion or background or education pedigree.”
She lauded the temple leadership and the devotees for their contributions to society. “This temple, like many across the country, has to power to bring people together, to make everyone feel welcome, and to truly celebrate what is at the heart of what makes our country the greatest country, and that is freedom,” she continued. “Our freedom to worship in the way that we choose, our freedom to be who we want to be, and express ourselves in the way that we choose.” The temple is a special place, she said, “because of all of you and your hearts and your prayers that bring us all together. She encouraged everyone present “to continue to share that wherever you may go.”
She shared her favorite quote from Martin Luther King, and hoped that as she goes about her travels in Washington, D.C., and her meetings and engagements with leaders of this country, “it is my prayer everyday that I can bring that love and that light to this conversations and to the leadership that can help bring us together in a truly united and harmonious way, so we can be that light for each other and the world.”
Gabbard, who was in Capitol Hill last week, has been “struggling through her meetings with senators,” The Hill reported, adding that she could face “a difficult path” in winning confirmation to be director of national intelligence. One source told The Hill that the sit-downs were “not going well” while another source said Gabbard “was proving to be a little shallow, like a House member talking at a hearing and not someone who needs to provide the president’s daily intelligence briefing.”
One of Trump’s most enthusiastic backers, Gabbard, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve who served in Iraq, has been a longtime critic of the foreign policy establishment. If confirmed, she will be the first cabinet member to identify as a Hindu.