Dasa Danam, Upanishad and a ‘inexperienced diamond’: Details of presents exchanged between PM Modi and US President Joe Biden

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his historic go to to the United States. On Thursday, June 22, PM Modi met US President Joe Biden on the White House. The two leaders exchanged chosen presents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced numerous presents representing India’s wealthy cultural and religious heritage. PM Modi gifted a particular sandalwood field handcrafted by an artisan from Jaipur in Rajasthan. He additionally gifted Krishna Yajurveda—a Hindu spiritual scripture’s Vaikhanas Grihya Sutram together with “The Ten Principal Upanishads” revealed by London’s Faber and Faber Ltd.

Sandalwood field and the ten donations

A craftsman from Jaipur, Rajasthan, has handmade the distinctive sandalwood field. Sandalwood from Mysore, Karnataka, is elaborately carved with natural world paintings. It is notable that sandalwood carving is an previous artwork kind fashionable in Rajasthan.

This sandalwood field accommodates ten donations. According to the Krishna Yajurveda’s Vaikhanas Grihya Sutram, an individual turns into ‘Drishta Sahasrachandro’ or the one who has witnessed one thousand full moons as soon as he completes the age of eighty years and eight months.

Because this stage of life is commemorated and honoured, an elaborate set of Vedic ceremonies are carried out. There is a customized of ten various kinds of donations or ‘Dasa Daanams’ throughout one of many rituals. The field accommodates items which are usually donated following the ceremony. 

The reward field contains Lord Ganesha’s idol. This Ganesha silver idol was crafted in Kolkata by a fifth-generation silversmith household. A diya has additionally been positioned within the field. Diya holds a particular significance in Hindu households. Diyas should not solely part of worship but additionally signify hope and resistance towards darkness or evil. The field additionally features a Tamra-Patra (copper plate) on which a shloka is inscribed.

Sandalwood field gifted by PM Modi to US President Joe Biden (Image: ANI)

An exquisitely crafted silver coconut by West Bengal’s most interesting artisans is donated in lieu of a cow for Gaudaan (reward of a cow). A aromatic piece of sandalwood from Mysore, Karnataka, is donated in lieu of land for Bhudaan (land reward). Tamil Nadu-sourced til or white sesame seeds for Tildaan. Hiranyadaan (gold donation) is a handcrafted 24K pure and hallmarked gold coin provided in Rajasthan. Maharashtra-sourced gud or jaggery for Guddaan. Rajasthan artisans have created an aesthetically pleasing 99.5% pure and hallmarked silver coin for Raupyadaan. Gujarati lavan or salt can also be introduced to the US President for Lavandaan. In addition to this, Ghee or clarified butter has been included within the field for Ajyadaan and garments for Vastradaan.

PM Modi has additionally introduced a primary version copy of the e-book ‘The Ten Principal Upanishads’ by WB Yeats, co-authored by Shri Purohit Swami. It was revealed by Faber and Faber of London in 1937 and it is among the ultimate works of Yeats.

In 1937, WB Yeats revealed an English translation of the Indian Upanishads, co-authored with Shri Purohit Swami. The translation and collaboration between the 2 authors occurred all through Thirties and it was one of many ultimate works of Yeats.

A replica of the primary version print… pic.twitter.com/yIi9QW290r

— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2023
The lab-grown diamond gifted by PM Modi to the US First Lady Jill Biden (Image: ANI)

PM Modi moreover introduced First Lady Jill Biden with a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond that possesses the chemical and optical attributes of earth-mined diamonds. The diamond is positioned in a Papier mâché – the field often called kar-e-kalamdani. The laborious paper pulp preparation often called sakthsazi in Kashmir is mixed with the intricate portray course of often called naqqashi to create the magnificent papier mâché.

kar-e-kalamdani field (Image: ANI)

Interestingly, President Biden introduced PM Modi with some particular presents, together with a classic American digital camera coupled with an archival facsimile print of George Eastman’s Patent for the primary Kodak digital camera, a hardcover e-book on American wildlife pictures, and a signed, first version copy of Collected Poems of Robert Frost.”

As the official reward, US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will current PM Modi with a hand-crafted, vintage American e-book galley from the early twentieth Century. President Biden will even reward PM Modi a classic American digital camera, accompanied by an archival facsimile print of… pic.twitter.com/OeYWYpXUQp

— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2023

PM Modi arrived on the White House in Washington DC on Wednesday for the second leg of his official state go to. The first pair was noticed conversing with their visitor for roughly a minute earlier than posing for pictures. According to the White House, the trio loved a musical tribute to India’s areas carried out by youth dancers from Studio Dhoom.