Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai received a courtesy visit on Friday, 10 July 2026 from Sant Yudhishthir Lal Ji Maharaj, the ninth Peethadheesh of Shadani Darbar, Raipur, during which the religious leader conveyed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Government of India's decision to issue a ₹200 commemorative coin and a postage stamp in honour of the institution's fifth Peethadheesh, Mata Hasi Devi Ji.

CM Sai shared details of the meeting on X, writing that Sant Yudhishthir Lal Ji Maharaj 'यशस्वी प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी के प्रति आभार व्यक्त किया' — expressed gratitude towards the 'accomplished Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji' — for the national recognition accorded to Mata Hasi Devi Ji's spiritual and social legacy.

Context

Shadani Darbar is a prominent religious institution based in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, with a continuous lineage of Peethadheeshs. Mata Hasi Devi Ji, revered as the fifth in that line, is recognised for her contributions to spirituality and social service. The issuance of a commemorative coin and postage stamp by the central government represents one of the highest symbolic honours the state can confer on an individual from a regional religious tradition.

The ninth Peethadheesh, Sant Yudhishthir Lal Ji Maharaj, called on Chief Minister Sai as a courtesy visit, using the occasion to formally place on record the institution's appreciation for the recognition extended to his predecessor.

Policy Backdrop

The Government of India maintains a long-standing practice of issuing commemorative postage stamps and special coins to honour individuals who have made distinguished contributions to spirituality, culture, and social service. Such instruments serve as official acknowledgements and are circulated through established postal and banking channels, giving the recognition a wide national reach.

The decision to release a ₹200 coin alongside a postage stamp specifically for Mata Hasi Devi Ji places her legacy within this broader national framework of cultural commemoration, extending recognition from a regional religious community to the country as a whole.

Stakeholders and Impact

The honour is of direct significance to the large community of devotees associated with Shadani Darbar and to religious institutions across Chhattisgarh that draw from similar spiritual traditions. For the state's BJP leadership, the development also underscores active coordination between the state government and the Union government on cultural and religious matters.

CM Sai's public sharing of the meeting signals the state administration's alignment with the central government's approach of recognising diverse spiritual figures from smaller states and regional traditions — a pattern that has gained visibility across multiple states in recent years.

What's Next

The formal release ceremony for the ₹200 commemorative coin and the Mata Hasi Devi Ji postage stamp — including its distribution through official channels — is expected to be watched closely by devotees and cultural organisations in Raipur and across Chhattisgarh. Any state-level event to mark the official launch would likely involve senior BJP leadership and religious figures from the Shadani Darbar lineage.

The recognition of Mata Hasi Devi Ji through instruments of national commemoration may also encourage similar representations from other regional spiritual institutions seeking acknowledgement at the Union level.