On the day of Mahashivratri 2025, there was a big spiritual celebration at the Isha Foundation, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah spotted joining the celebration along with thousands of followers. The celebration, which attracts everyone's attention annually for its spirituality and cultural essence, was all the more significant this time around, with the founder of the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru, making a comparison between Amit Shah and one of India's most highly regarded leaders, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Mahashivratri at Isha Foundation: A Spiritual Convergence
Mahashivratri, a day so sacred in Hindu tradition, is celebrated in devotion and reverence across the globe and is also witnessed by the Isha Foundation led by Sadhguru, one of the biggest events to be held. It is a time when seekers, spiritualists, and devotees from all parts of the globe gather for an evening of prayers, meditation, and introspection.
This year, the festival at the Isha Foundation saw an extraordinary moment of history being witnessed when Amit Shah, one of the major political personalities and Union Home Minister of India, participated in the festival. His attendance at this highly spiritual event was symbolic in itself, demonstrating the role played by spiritual practice and traditions in the life of a major political leader.
Sadhguru, famous for his provocative speeches and insightful ideas, warmly greeted Amit Shah and discussed the extreme interlinking of politics and spirituality. He emphasized the important place of inner transformation in creating a better society and how political leaders need to accept the well-being of the people on a spiritual plane too. But what really astonished the audience was how Sadhguru drew a parallel between Amit Shah and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Sadhguru's Comparison: Amit Shah to Sardar Patel
Sadhguru, famous for his profound analogies, did a remarkable drawing of parallels between Amit Shah and Sardar Patel, the two pillars in Indian political life. Patel, also called the "Iron Man of India," was instrumental in bringing India together after independence and keeping the country intact. He was the architect behind the convergence of India's disparate states as one nation on the back of diplomacy and coercive power.
During his address, Sadhguru mentioned the leadership and statesmanship qualities that Sardar Patel and Amit Shah have in common. He stated, "Just as Sardar Patel united the nation after independence, Amit Shah is striving to unite the nation in the modern era, not just through policies but through a profound understanding of the country's socio-cultural texture."
Sadhguru's words were not merely a compliment to Amit Shah, but an acknowledgment of his unwavering dedication to India's development and unity. The Home Minister's vision, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm, has been towards integrating the country, securing it, and spreading the culture of unity in diversity, just like Patel's legacy.
Spiritual Leadership Meets Political Vision
While Sadhguru's comments were insightful, they also highlighted the increasingly intersectional nature of spirituality and politics in modern India. Spirituality, as Sadhguru envisions it, is not withdrawal from the world but rather participation in it in a manner that brings about positive transformation. The Home Minister’s presence at such an event reflects a broader trend where political leaders acknowledge the value of spiritual practice for personal growth and for leading with greater empathy and vision.
Amit Shah's appearance at Mahashivratri in the Isha Foundation is an implicit acknowledgment of this increasing realization. The Home Minister, key to many of the government's most historic decisions, appears to realize that the work of a leader is more than governing; it is more about comprehending the underlying dynamics of society and the human condition.
The comparison with Sardar Patel further strengthened this notion. Patel's legacy was constructed on his strength to comprehend the socio-political environment and unite people, and Amit Shah, like him, has strived day and night to strengthen national unity, projecting a sense of oneness and mission among India's citizens. For Sadhguru, both leaders have one thing in common: the dedication to serve the country with power, resilience, and vision.
The Importance of Unity in Diversity
India, with its vast cultural, linguistic, and regional diversity, requires leaders who can bridge divides and promote a shared vision for the future. Sardar Patel’s vision of a united India was built on this understanding, and Amit Shah’s efforts as the Home Minister reflect a similar pursuit of unity through various means, including national integration and security policies. His contribution to the merger of Jammu & Kashmir post-Abrogation of Article 370, and his work towards rationalization of administration and socio-economic reform, are considered as part of this continuous effort to consolidate India's unity.
Similarly, Sadhguru's teachings at the Isha Foundation also focus on oneness—of the self with the universe and of individuals with one another. The Mahashivratri celebration was a reminder that unity is not just a result of policy decisions but of profound spiritual alignment and the collective consciousness of the people. By participating in such an event, Amit Shah symbolically recognizes the role of spirituality in creating such unity.
Conclusion: A Symbolic Moment for India
Amit Shah's attendance of Mahashivratri at the Isha Foundation was not simply an event. It was an important intersection of politics, spirituality, and leadership, with Sadhguru's likening Amit Shah to Sardar Patel further emphasizing the profound, eternally important qualities that effective leaders need to have.
In the world today, where politics and spirituality are usually at odds with each other, this was a reminder that political or spiritual leadership is born out of a common sense of human values, oneness, and service to the country. As Sardar Patel brought India together with a vision, Amit Shah's contribution to modern India is charting the course towards national integration and power based on the principles of oneness and common good.
As Mahashivratri went on at the Isha Foundation, it left us with a lasting thought: Leadership, political or otherwise, demands not only vision but also a deeper sense of connection to the soul of the nation—a realization that the spirit of oneness is above every boundary.