(Bharat Mata)
India; Indian; descendent of King Bharat, first emperor of India. (Glossary for the Vahinis)
Historical Views of the name Bharat:
There are three words Bharat, Bharata, and Bharati which we must examine, in the first instance, in the context of the meaning given to them by our historians. Later, we will see what kind of support we get for such meanings from our Srutis and Smritis.
Our ancient historians on some occasions expressed the view that the name Bharat has been derived from the name Bharata, son of Shakuntala. Yet, on other occasions, they said that the name Bharat has been derived from the name of King Manu who was also called Bharata.
In some places, historians have expressed the view that the name Bharat is synonymous with the name Jambudvīpa. In other places they have taken the word Bharat as Yoddha, or one who can fight; and in that context, they concluded that this name refers to Kshatriyas only. Amara Simha got support from the statement, ‘Lokoyam Bharat Varshaha’ and took the view that the name Bharat refers to the entire world and not any one particular country. Further, just as when one is worshipping a goddess, one uses the name of the goddess in order that his desire may be fulfilled, some historians have regarded the name Bharat as if it arose from the name of the Goddess Bharati. In addition to this, just as Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, etc. are religious names named after various individuals who first propagated them, so also they thought that Bharat was a specific name of a religious leader and that the name for this country arose from such a name.
We, also have various names like Dvaita, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita for the schools of philosophy propounded by great teachers who propounded them. Some have taken Bharat to mean a school of philosophy prominent in this country. However, the historians who have given all these interpretations never associated the name Bharat with the Vedas. On the contrary, mostly they have taken the view that Bharat is not a word which has any connection with the Vedas. They have been arguing that Bharat signifies fire. They have been preaching Agni Bharat establishing the identity of fire with Bharat. This fire was looked upon by them as something which arises in a yajna or a ceremony and they thought that Bharat was a name appropriate to the fire that is generated in the yajna. But if we enquire into the connection between agni that is generated in a yajna and Bharat, we come to the conclusion that there is no connection at all. But they argued that there is a connection between the priests and Bharat. They have established further that there is a particular class of people called Bharatas among the Aryans.
This class of Aryans who were then called Bharatas were living on the banks of river Saraswati and were worshipping it as a goddess. Because they were worshipping the river as Goddess Saraswati, they propagated the view that Bharat is an alternative name for Saraswati. This group of Aryans were worshipping agni in addition to Saraswati. Hence, they said that agni is an alternative name for Bharat. However, all these theories and ideas do not seem to have sufficient support behind them. These are worldly usages and names given in the daily context. If we accept that which is in use in our daily life as our primary authority, how can it have any basis in the Veda? The historians gave a great deal of importance to the common usage of these words and they built theories based on their own ideas. Their decisions were based mainly on the common usage of this word. We have the authority of the Rig Veda to say that the principal priests or the Ritwiks have been called by the name Bharat.
In this context, our Srutis have recognised the Ritwiks by their power of mantras and the fact that the Ritwiks were generating fire in the Yajnas. Since agni has been generated by the Ritwiks, it has been regarded as the daughter of the Ritwiks. Thus agni which is regarded as Bharat, is also the child of the Ritwiks. Because agni or Bharat has come out as a result of the power or strength of the Ritwiks, there is an alternative name for this and that is ‘Sahasa Sad Putraha’.
Having accepted that agni is generated by the power of the Ritwiks, we should ask ourselves about the process by which the Ritwiks generated fire. We know that the Ritwiks had the power to generate the fire through the mantras and through their constant contemplation of God. That is why the Ritwiks, agni, and the Purohit have also got the name Bharat.
You may like to know the significance of calling the Ritwiks by the name Bharat. The justification for calling the Ritwiks by the name of Bharat is that at the time of generating the fire, they are thinking of God in many ways and concentrating on God. Since they are completely merged with God and enjoying the Bliss of divinity they are called Bharat. In this context, our Srutis have taken the three words Bharat, Bharata and Bharati and have synthesised the three names with Ida, Saraswati and Bharati.
In this context, they had taken these three—Ida, Saraswati and Bharati—as the three aspects of God and teaching that they relate to the whole world. This is what the Veda has been teaching. Bharat has been used also for Vayu and Indra. In the earth there is agni and in the space there is Vayu, and in the sky there are sun’s rays. By using agni, Vayu and the sun and in identifying these three as phases of Bharat, the Veda has been teaching that this Goddess pervades Bharati and the entire world. We should regard these three—Ida, Saraswati and Bharati—as three phases of one and the same divine aspect. They are not distinct. This has been taught by our Veda. By looking at what is commonly seen from a worldly point of view and to say that a particular thing is air or sun’s rays and to mention them in isolation is only ignorance. You will notice that even if any one of the three is absent, it is not possible to recognise the existence of the other two. If there is no sun, there is no air and fire. If we do not have air, we shall not be able to comprehend the meaning of fire or sun’s rays. If there is no fire there is no possibility of getting air or sun.
Therefore, fire, air and sun are all inseparable aspects of Bharat and always go together. While the Sruti teaches the oneness and yet sometimes talks of agni in an isolated manner, there is a meaning for this. When we talk of the nature or Prakriti, we usually mean the gross manifestation of the created world. In addition to this, there is the subtle aspect of human nature which is also included in the word Prakriti. In this subtle aspect of Prakriti, if there is no fire, then the body will perish. It is only through fire that there is a possibility of water coming up for us. In every body air is present in the form of prana or life. If air which takes the form of life is not present in our body, then the entire life becomes extinct. In the aspect of fire and that of air or Vayu, the sun takes the place of the heart. If the heart is missing, even if one is leading a life for outward purposes, it is equivalent to death. Therefore, if there is no agni, Vayu and sun, we cannot recognise human life. In this context, in order that we may understand human life in its fullest sense, it is appropriate to use the word Bharat for all that which encompasses humanity. (SSB 1974 Part II, pp. 1-7)
Bharat denotes entire human family
The Goddess Saraswati is described as Saraswati, Bhagavati and Bharati. Saraswati means the Vak devata (Goddess of Speech). Hence every man born with the gift of speech is a Bharata.
The name is not associated with any particular individual or country. The term Bharat is applicable to the entire human family. ‘Bha’ refers to the Principle represented by Divine Knowledge. ‘Self-knowledge’ is ‘Bha.’ ‘Bharatas’ are those who take delight in Self-knowledge. Hence everyone who shines by his own sell luminous power is a Bharata.
The word is also derived from a root which means that a Bharatiya is one who is skilled in warfare (Sangramam). What does Sangramam mean? It means conquest of the opposing forces confronting him by his divine spiritual power. ‘Balam Bhavati bharatah’ are the words used in Nirukta. Balam refers to Brahma-balam (the Atmic strength), Tejo-balam (the strength of inner light), Shastra-balam (the strength derived from knowledge of the scriptures). Bharata is one who has these triple kinds of strength. The Sruti (Veda) defines bala (strength) as yajna. It follows that Bharatiya is one who has acquired strength by the performance of Yajnas (sacrifices). Hence Bharatiya is one who acquired divine strength by Atmabalam (the power of the Spirit). So, whoever one may be, whatever one’s country, he has to acquire this strength of the Spirit. (SSS Vol.23)
Bharat is of Vedic Origin and is A Sacred Name
Out of karma is born every Jiva. He grows and moves in the path of Karma. These aspects of work are equivalent to God so far as individuals are concerned. Karma is responsible for both sorrow and pleasure in this world, ‘Svayam Sarvam Vedati Iti Vedaha’. In the context of this description of Veda, it has been said that Veda will remove one’s ignorance and will enable one to become wise and acquire knowledge about everything.
While explaining the features of Agni, the Sruti has said ‘Brahman Agnihi.’ It has identified Agni with Brahmana. The Vedas have also taught that Bharat is a name synonymous with Agni. Agni is used in sacrificial rites for purifying the offerings; it is also called by the name Pavaka. So Bharati is also referred to as Pavaka or one who purifies. Further it has also been said that because agni bears Pavakas, it may also be called Pavaka vahana. In the name Pavaka vahana, there is a meaning according to which it is called Jataveda.
It becomes clear to us in this context that Veda has come with a view to expound the meaning of Bharat and to make known to people the aspect of Paramatma. In order to know for whom and from whom Veda has originated, they also referred to Agni as Jativeda in the statement ‘Agnih Jativeda.’ It is necessary to make clear to ourselves that there is no difference between the words Agni and Bharat. These are alternative names for the same thing.
In the triune aspect of God, the names Ida, Saraswati and Bharati are the three aspects that have been taken from the three Vedas, Rig, Yajur and Sama. On the same analogy, it has been established that the divine has three aspects—Sat-cit-ananda—and He is called the Sat-cit-ananda Swarupa.
In the ritual of the sacred Yajnas with which we are familiar in this country, the master of the yajna and his wife have to perform certain duties. The wife has to utter some mantras describing Agni and Veda. In this context, she uses the terms Rig, Yajur and Sama and addresses the God of Yajna as one who is Jnatha, Data and Bharat. The word Bharat is thus used in this context. In this context, we have to understand that the three words Jnatha, Data and Bharat are only alternative ways of addressing Agni. The three sacred words—Bharat, Bharata and Bharati—appear together in several places in Veda. In the Yajna, there is a word called Kusamushti and this word has a specific meaning. Here it becomes clear that Veda has come for the sake of Bharat and for giving the meaning of the term Prajapati.
It is only when we go deeply into the meaning of the Veda that we can understand the mantras that occur in the Vedas. Unless we recognise that there is a close and inseparable relationship between these words and the mantras in the Vedas and God Himself, the Vedas will appear like any other trivial writing of some unknown author and just a conglomeration of various words and letters. The Vedas are indeed much more comprehensive than a mere grouping of words and letters.
It is an ardent desire on the part of the citizens of Bharat to translate the message of the Vedic culture into their daily life. While performing religious ceremonies like naming their children, they whisper three times into the right ear of a child a word like ‘vac’. This is to tell the child that he is no different from the Veda and he is the successor to the Vedic tradition and Vedic culture. It is also common that in addition to giving a worldly name, a divine name such as Devadatta by saying ‘vedosi’ is also given.
In this manner when they say vedosi, it means ‘you are born in this world for upholding the Vedas’ ‘God has given you this human form so that you may fulfil what is contained in the Vedas’ and that is why the child is given in adoption to the Deva himself. In our tradition, it is common to adopt a child if one has no children of his own and this is called (dattaka) adoption. Giving one to God in adoption means that one is entitled to receive from God His divine strength and power and therefore, inherit His capacity. There is a further meaning here which says that the birth, growth, decline and death of the human body are all coming from Prajapati. He gives all these things as a gift for a human body.
In the aspect of Bharat is implied and latent the aspects of Agni as well. You have already been told that Agni is an alternate name for Bharat. From the sun comes agni and from agni comes Vayu and from Vayu comes rasni and from rasni comes Bharat. In this sequel we must understand that life in the body consists of these five aspects. For the breath that we inhale and exhale, the Vayu is responsible in the form of Prana. For our intelligence and thinking capacity, the sun is responsible. This is to say that there is a divine basis for all the material constituents of our body and that they can flourish only in the aspect of God. This is an interpretation given by the Vedas in this sequence of words. Agni with the name Bharat has the capacity to purify anything that it comes into contact with in addition to burning it up. This is one other aspect in the Vedas.
Because of this, Bharat the equivalent of agni, is also taken to mean the form of truth. On the basis of this, dharma has taken a form which everyone knows as equivalent to truth. That is why it has been said Satyan nasti Paro dharmaha. There is no truth which is different from dharma. Prajapati, the embodiment of truth, takes the form of dharma and gives to the world the Ashtanga Yoga calling upon them to follow the Ashtanga Yoga and thus understand the significance of Prajapati. Here we should take the word satya and divide it into ‘sa, ta, ya’. We get the meaning that ya stands for discipline or controlled conduct which is regulated life, Ta stands for tapas and if we do tapas with a rigorous discipline, then we will release the sa which stands for Satya. To reach truth, discipline, a regulated life and tapas are essential. We should not think of doing tapas alone. The tapas that we do should be controlled by various rules and regulations. Only then will we realise the truth.
The word discipline here means that one has to discipline oneself and control one’s organs. It is only the control of the outer and inner organs that constitutes discipline here. You can give them freedom only to the extent of performing specific allotted tasks. By giving it such a meaning and by performing your tasks and developing an intense desire to become one with God that becomes tapas. Through such tapas you can comprehend truth. Tapas does not mean giving up everything and going to a forest but still leading a life devoid of thought of God. If in your tapas you have not surrendered to God and if your heart does not appreciate and learn to flourish in the aspect of God, it is not possible to realise truth. If we cannot love and respect the one God who has given us life, our existence and by whose strength we live and die, and if we cannot prosper in the thought of God, we cannot reach or comprehend truth. God is the Master of everything that we see around us. It is wrong for us to think that man is the Master and that he alone is responsible for everything. While God in the form of Atma inside your body, is making you utter the word ‘I’, it is utterly foolish on your part to identify such a divine ‘I’ with your destructible and material body. Any feeling of attachment to the body and the illusion that the body is real is tantamount to death. On the other hand, the realisation that you are the Atma is tantamount to immortality and permanence.
We should fix our thoughts on the Atma, and all our actions involving the body have somehow to be reconciled to the feeling and recognition of the Atma. All prosperity and material wealth are like shadows. If these shadows are in your front and ahead of you, they will continue to be so, however much you may run to overtake them. The underlying meaning here is that this shadow of wealth or prosperity goes ahead of you always. If you do not wish to allow this shadow of wealth to be ahead of you but keep it behind you then as you go farther and farther, the shadow also moves with you, behind you and accompanies you. It does not overtake you. The inner meaning of the word Aishvarya here for which we have been using the word wealth is the aspect of Ishvara. Ishvara is one who possesses all kinds of wealth and prosperity. The only way in which you can achieve it is to have the aspect of divinity in front of you. Prosperity will then follow you. The rishis of our country realised that the aspect of truth and dharma would enable them to reach God and become one with Him. This is the way one has to spend one’s life if one wants to have Aishvarya or Iswara with him.
Our rishis realised this and they always followed the path of truth to realise God. Our rishis never worried even if their very breath of life had stopped. They were not worried even if their entire body lost its shape. They always lived in bliss because they believed that all the power in them, all that they have in them belonged to the Lord and therefore if the Lord decided to remove something from them, it was done by the Will of God. They felt that whatever they did was only for the purpose of reaching the Lord and realising Him. From the point of view of the worldly usage, Bharat was used to signify meanings synonymous with those of agni, Vayu and rasni. It has thus become necessary to recognise four different aspects namely, Mahima, Ida, Saraswati and Bharati. Prajapati is the embodiment of dharma. The name Bharat has come from him and it is not correct to give the name only to a piece of land with geographically limited boundaries. An individual may be named Rama but it does not follow that this Rama is the same Rama as the son of king Dasharatha. Similarly, we may name an individual Krishna but he would not be the same as Yashoda’s son Krishna. Similarly the name Bharat is to be taken as one of the many names of Prajapati, and this has been given to the country in which we live. Unless the country acquires all the qualities associated with Bharat or Prajapati, the name will not reflect the original meaning with justification.
Unfortunately, Historians have been explaining that this name has come from one of the names of the Kings that ruled this country or from one of the philosophers who preached in this country at one time or other. This is not correct. We find the usage of the word Bharat in several contexts in the Veda itself.
In coming to assign an origin for this name, we must ask ourselves whether the Kings came first or the Vedas. Similarly, whether the philosophers came first or the Vedas. The philosophers and their expositions came much later than the Vedas themselves. In fact, the Veda came earlier. If the word Bharat occurs in the Vedas themselves, we have to interpret that the origin of the word Bharat is in the Vedas themselves.
Therefore, the words, Bharat, Bharati, and Bharata have their origin in the Vedas. In the very beginning when one starts learning the alphabet, one prays to Goddess Saraswati and equates her with Bharati. Thus in the very beginning of our education, we use a Vedic term Bharati. Our writers have frequently been using the words Saraswati and Bharati synonymously. Saraswati, Bhagavati and Bharati have been described as ‘Purnendu Bimbanana’. This can be a description of the Vedas only because it implies something which is Purna i.e., full and only the Vedas are complete in every sense. Therefore, the word Bharati refers to the Vedas. The world itself is not complete. The only thing which is full in the universe is divinity. This aspect of fullness is to be found only in Prajapati or Brahman and therefore, when we use the word Bharati or Bharat it can refer only to the aspect of the Brahman or the Vedas. The desire and the ability to work and the knowledge of how to work, all together will represent the aspect of Bharat.
The same thing is described in terms of three different paths—namely the path of Karma, the path ofUpasana and the path of Jnana. These three have also been referred to as Sruti, Raga and Tala or the rhythm, song and the beat respectively. An appropriate combination of these three represents Bharat. We can also see that if we split the word Bharat into ‘Bha’ ‘Ra’ ‘Ta’, we can get a correct description of our country. The synthesis ofBhava, Raga and Tala—or the synthesis of the thought, the song and the beat—represents our country. The oneness of thought, word and deed is characteristic of our country. The oneness of these three aspects has also been called Triputi.
If the thought takes one form, the song another and the beat yet another form, such uncoordinated music will be very unpleasant to listen to. The song should accompany a proper thought and should be appropriate to the thought. The song must be tuned to a proper beat. Thus there should be unity between thought, song and the beat. The strength to think out some line of action and to put that thought to work and then lead the work properly to its fruition is contained in the statement that the proper study of mankind is man. If man is such that he has one thought, says something else and does something different, he should not call himself a man. In other words, if there is no co-ordination between one’s thought, word and deed one would not be possessing human qualities. In fact, such an individual may rightly be referred to as an animal. A human being should speak out the thoughts that are in his mind and should act in co-ordination with both his thought and word.
This name Bharat is a Vedic word and has been the sacred name of our country. Hence, it is essential that all citizens of this country should make an effort to justify this name. This is the reason why rishis laid down strict regulations and principles of morality and ethics for our conduct. They emphasised that human civilisation can be preserved only if we work within these limitations and controls. In this sacred land of Bharat, the quality of forbearance is the most beautiful quality which we can claim. In all our actions, that particular action of sticking to truth is the noblest act. The sweetest of all ideas we accept is the idea of love and affection to a mother. According to the traditions of our country, nothing can be sweeter than the affection for a mother. (SSB 1974 Part II, pp. 1-29)
The term ‘Bharat’ has a very sacred significance. ‘Bha’ represents self-effulgent light. One who strives for seeking the self-effulgent Atma is a Bharatiya. In the musical field also the terminology of ‘Bharat’ has unique significance-’Bha’ indicates ‘Bhavam, (feeling) ‘ra’ indicates ‘Ragam’ (tunes) and ‘ta’ indicates ‘Talam’ (beats). The combination of Bhava, raga and tala in harmony gives music that is pleasant to hear. Similarly, in all aspects such as moral, ethical and spiritual, divine thoughts should be pervading. This is the characteristic of Bharatiyas. (SEKH, p. 56)
Since ancient times, this sacred land of Bharat has shared its spiritual wealth with the rest of the world to foster peace and security. It is because of its immense spiritual wealth that Bharat continues to be a land of peace and security in spite of many foreign invasions in the past. Without Bharat there will be no trace of spirituality in this world. There is truth in the air of Bharat; there is Dharma in the dust of Bharat. The land of Bharat is suffused with love. The water of Bharat overflows with compassion. Having taken birth in this sacred land, you must uphold and sustain the principles of truth, love, righteousness and compassion.
For whose sake should you uphold these principles? Is it for the sake of society or for the country? No. You should uphold these principles for your own sake. Only when everyone fosters these principles will the country prosper. (SSS Vol.32 Part I, p. 88)
Bharat is the birthplace of spirituality, righteousness, charity, non-violence and peace. Adherence to these qualities as observed in Bharat is not found elsewhere. It is the birthplace of Saptarishis (seven sages) and the first poet, Valmiki. This is the sacred land ruled by the very embodiment of Dharma, Rama. This is the land where the Song Celestial, the Gita has been sung by Krishna. It is the land where the oneness of the individual soul and the Cosmic Soul was proclaimed. There is no other land like Bharat, the land of sacredness, righteousness and peace. Truth permeates the atmosphere of Bharat. Compassion pervades the dust of Bharat. Love fills the Ganges of Bharat. Forbearance dwells in the heart of man in this land. Such noble, divine, unique qualities are manifest in Bharat alone. ( (SSS Vol.31, p. 429)
In this country of Bharat was born Savitri,
the woman of chastity,
Who could fight with Yama, the God of Death,
and bring back to life her dead husband.
In this country of Bharat was born Chandramati,
the paragon of virtue,
Who suffered the terrible ordeals
of her husband, Harishchandra.
Sita, the devoted consort of Rama
and the divine daughter of Mother Earth,
Who demonstrated her chastity by coming out of
blazing fire unscathed, was born in this Bharat.
Damayanti, also a woman of pristine purity and
chastity, who stood by her husband Nala
Through thick and thin, was born in
the sacred land of Bharat.
This Bharat is the land of sanctity and chastity, which has given birth to such great women of exceptional character, who lent glory to Bharat as a nation of heroic women. (SSS Vol.31, pp. 103-104)
In Bharat, there have been a host of women, who have been proverbial for their chastity. Bharat is the teacher of such virtues to the whole world.
By being borne by Kausalya, Rama fulfilled His divine role;
Brought up by the noble exemplar of womanhood, Sita,
The twins Lava and Kusha achieved glory;
Fostered with love by Putlibai, Gandhi became a Mahatma,
The loving care of Jijibai made Shivaji a great warrior. (D.D 19.11.98-P2)
This day is being observed as ‘mothers’ day’, ‘ladies’ day’. From time immemorial mother is considered synonymous with God. The Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped as mothers. Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning. Another name for Saraswati is Bharati. Our country Bharat has derived its name from Bharati. There is a misconception that ‘Bharat’ refers to the name of Bharata, the son of King Dushyanta. In that case what was the name of this land prior to Bharat? On enquiry you will know that this name has originated from God. (SSS Vol.31, p. 399)
Just look back at the history of Bharat for a moment. There is no instance when Bharatiyas attacked any other foreign country. Bharatiyas always sought after justice. They protected Dharma. They considered truth as their very life. They had to resist the foreigners when they invaded them. They only protected and resisted but they never invaded any other country. Many other foreigners have looted the wealth of this country but Bharatiyas never did that to other countries. It is not only the wealth that is taken out, but the culture is also destroyed. They have also brought differences between individuals. They have burnt all affections. They have torn apart the equality. Because such conditions prevailed at that time, this is the present position of Bharat today. Just look back and understand the sacredness of the history of Bharat. The history of Bharat will tell you that the sacred quality is the main path.
The spiritual and moral wealth of this country is not realised and made fun of by the students today. They treat it as uncultured. It is not so. You should never think so. Bharat is a centre of sacrifice, beauty, fraternity, wealth and character. Bharat, which was the centre of all these sacred qualities, is now in the present position because of the effects of modern education. The people of Bharat had never known unrighteousness, injustice, falsehood and lie. All that we read today are the seeds sown by them.
We want to become the slaves to foreigners but we do not know our own innate nature. Bharat speaks of the collective community and not individual life. It is only community benefit and not individual benefit. It is only community and society, not individual. That is why Veda also says:
‘sahasra sirsha purusha:|
sahasraksha: sahasrapat|
sa bhumim vishvato vrtva|
atyatishtad dasangulam.
It is of community feeling or society. (DTB Vol.7, pp. 5-6)
India is an ancient and a great nation. In the air of Bharat, there is Truth. In the dust there is Righteousness (Dharma); in the mind there is Compassion. In the water there is Love; in the man there is Forbearance and Forgiveness. This is the reason why Max Mueller wanted to die in India. Even the people living in India have sanctity. (M, p. 229)
‘One society - the society of humanity. All men are one. If all stand together in unity and work, what an ideal nation Bharat would become! There are ninety crores of Indians. If Indians act as plus, plus, plus,’ all inclusive, then ninety crores of people can become one body. Only then will our country become an ideal one’ . (BS)
The supremely great Manu has named this Bharat as Brahmavarta, the Region of Brahma, the spiritual area where the quest of the One immanent and transcendent Principle originated and succeeded. The festive cavalcade of saints engaged in the quest began its march over the continents from this Bharat itself. Like mighty rivers from huge mountain ranges, the stream of spiritual Sadhana for the discovery of the Higher Truth sprang from this land itself. This land has announced to the world its Spiritual Message with the confidence and courage of thunder blasts emanating from the womb of clouds. When inimical forces blasted into Bharat, this holy land bore the brunt of the blow; it had to present its heroic chest before the attack and absorb the initial impact. Many times this land had to bear these invading thrusts and suffer fierce injuries. But yet, this land has not fully lost its fame and glory and its steadfast strength on this path. From this land, the embodiment of equanimity and compassion, Nanak the Great, preached his highly wonderful message of Love. His all-embracing heart blossomed in this land. The Bharatiyas, Children of this land, inheritors of this culture, spread their arms to receive in loving embrace not only the Hindu world, but the Islamic world too. Among those who shone as heroic supporters of the Hindu culture unto the last, the foremost was Guru Govind Singh. Undeterred by tortures that forced him to shed his own blood and the blood of his own beloved, deserted by those for whom he had undergone such torture, he did not utter a word of blame against his compatriots, but, entered the Deccan and gave up his life, as the King of beasts does when his heart is hurt. (BS, pp. 8-9)
The land of Bharat has been the preceptor for other nations. Other countries are looking up to Bharat to acquire peace and enlightenment. It is your bounden duty to restore glory of your motherland.
Before we gained independence only 13% of the Bharatiyas were considered as belonging to ‘backward’ classes. Over the decades, this number started swelling up to 80% of the people being classified as backward. In another 5 or 6 years it may be 100%. Something is radically wrong in terminology. Bharat is not at all ‘backward.’ For the sake of petty considerations, increasing the percentages is creating havoc in the country. In protest to the system of reservations on a communal basis, there was a nation - wide commotion earlier and many students lost their lives in self-immolation as martyrs for a national cause! (Y p.88)
Bharat is designated as Karmabhoomi, or Karma Kshetra, the Holy Land of Godward Activity. All men everywhere are pilgrims trekking towards the Holy Land of Godward Activity. Karma is the sine qua non of Bharat; it holds forth the divinity of activity and turns all activity into spiritual Sadhana. This is the reason for the names by which Bharat is known. (SV, p. 127)
To be born in Bharat is in itself your good fortune. To live here is a greater fortune. You should take pride in the fact that you are the children of Bharat. If someone were to ask you your qualification, you should proudly say, you are a Bharatiya. This is in itself the greatest qualification. There is a sacred inner meaning in this word Bharatiya. But you are not making efforts to understand this. Oh the children of Bharat! Lead your lives in an exemplary manner and radiate peace and happiness to the rest of the world. Embodiments of Love! You should never forget the sacred history of Bharat. Don’t brush it aside saying it is rather old. It is not easy to understand the subtle principles contained in our history. (SSS Vol.35, p. 101)
It is the duty of everyone to cultivate faith in the Divine, get immersed in Karmayoga and divinise his life. No Bharatiya should forget the sacredness of Bharat. Bharat is not at all a poor country. It is because this fact is not realised that the country is riddled with strife and disorder. Failing to distinguish between what is transient and what is permanent, people are ruining their lives in the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. For the sake of trivial and momentary benefits, people are sacrificing what is of lasting values.
At the time of attaining freedom, only 13 percent of the population was considered backward.
This percentage has gone on increasing over the years and today it is 80 percent! In five or six years, it may become cent percent! This is not proper at all Bharat is not made up of ‘backward classes’. Because for the sake of some petty concessions such classifications are being made. Foreign countries are regarding Bharat as a poverty stricken country. Embodiments of Divine Love! Remember Bharat is a land of plenty. No country is so well endowed with resources as Bharat. Why, then, should we call ourselves a poor nation? Nor is that all. In the fields of Education and medicine, we have to develop the spirit of sacrifice.
(SSS Vol.23, p. 146)
Bharat is a garden of multi-coloured flowers – the flowers of the spirit known as SanathanaDharma, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam. The truths they practice, the hymns they sing, the prayers they voice forth, are filling the atmosphere here with Divine Fragrance. Bharat has, throughout the ages, welcomed and respected all faiths with equal ardour. (SSS Vol.11, pp. 22-23)
In this land of Bharat, there are many noble mothers like Sumitra and virtuous wives like Urmila. Since ancient times, Bharat has attained great reputation because of such noble women. In the northern side of Bharat, we have the Himalayan Mountains as the boundary. The land is sanctified by the perennial rivers as Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. These three symbolise the triad of Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya (devotion, wisdom and renunciation). Not merely this, the great epics of this land, The Ramayana, the Bhagavatam and the Mahabharata shine as beacons illumining the path of man. They teach how man should mould his life into an ideal one.
The land is the birthplace of sacred scriptures like Bhagavad Gita, which gave the message of unity to mankind. This land has given birth to noble souls like Buddha who propagated the message of non-violence. He taught Ahimso Paramo Dharma (non-violence is the highest Dharma). The syllable ‘Bha’ stands for light, radiance and effulgence. So, Bharatiyas are those who aspire for light and divine effulgence. Hence, you should live up to your reputation and attain divinity. When you make an enquiry into the sacred history of Bharat, you will know that since ancient times this country has been propagating the sacred message of divinity and has been radiating peace and security to the other nations of the world.
To be born in Bharat is in itself your good fortune. To live here is a greater fortune. You should take pride in the fact that you are children of Bharat. If someone were to ask your qualification, you should proudly say, you are Bharatiya. This is in itself the greatest qualification. There is sacred inner meaning in this word Bharatiya. But you are not making efforts to understand this. Oh children of Bharat! Lead your lives in an exemplary manner and radiate peace and happiness to the rest of the world.
Uphold the glory of Bharat. Develop the feeling of nationality. Never forget your motherland. If someone were to ask you who you are, you need not say, I am Ramayya, Krishnayya, etc. You should proudly proclaim that you are a Bharatiya. Ramayya, Krishnayya are pettinna perlu (names given to the body), whereas Bharatiya is your puttina peru (name acquired by birth). Who is a Bharatiya? ‘Bha’ means effulgence, light and divinity. Hence, Bharatiya is one who basks in the light of divinity. Bharat is the centre of peace and security. That which is not present in Bharat is not present anywhere else in the world. Bharat has attained the highest reputation in the world. The glory of this country has to be upheld. (SSS Vol.35, p. 103)
Bharat has been teaching since ages the message of the spirit and the means to gain and ensure equanimity and joy. She has stood forth as the preceptor of the world for centuries. The prayer that Bharat has taught to its people is: Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (may all people everywhere be happy). This is the consummation of Hindu thought since immemorial. This wholesome ideal was propagated and fostered by the rulers of this land, the seers and Yogis who guided the populace, and the chaste mothers who reared generations in the atmosphere of spiritual effort.
But when the country was involved in the vicissitudes of history and the people were subjected to pressures and counted pressures, the ideals suffered a setback. The abstractions of faith received concrete form and got crystallised into specific identifiable names and forms. Each new attitude or aptitude, each new concretisation, became a special sect, and every theory enveloped itself in its own shell. Thus the one Vedic Religion became the parent of a number of sects and sets of belief, like Ganapatya centring around the concept of Ganapati, Shakteya (centring around the concept of Cosmic Energy as the expression of the Divine), Saura (centring around the concept of the Sun as the Source, Sustenance and Goal of Spiritual Achievement), the Charvaka (centring around the concept of pleasure and material prosperity) and Veerashaiva (centring around the concept of Shiva, as the Inner Motivator of all beings). Every one of these sects, and many more besides, elaborated their own rituals and modes of worship, their own priorities in spiritual attainments and their own body of doctrines about the individual, the objective world and God.
The purpose of these codes and modes was, in all cases to purify the mind and insist on the practice of high moral virtues. But this was soon ignored and importance came to be attached to superficial conformity and outer purity. The craving for personal aggrandizement and power made each sect or faith or religion, rigid and dry. There is a great need today to discover the inner spring of all faiths, the spring that fertilises the outer rites and ceremonies. A little quiet study will reveal that there is an undercurrent of moral enthusiasm and spiritual adventure. You cannot find in India a tongue that does not praise God or a hand that does not perform acts of charity. The hands of every Indian are those that give. The heart of every Indian is one that delights in God’s names. Indeed, those who are unable to appreciate the glorious legacy of Bharat can be called fools. When Vivekananda was in America, he declared, ‘God’s hands, feet, eyes, heads, mouth and ears are everywhere. There is no place in the land of Bharat where God’s presence is not felt. His footsteps are heard wherever one goes. The melody of God is heard wherever one pays heed to. The joy of God is felt in every heart. I must return to Bharat. Earlier, I had shown indifference. Now I shall go back and proclaim emphatically that every atom in Bharat is suffused with divinity. I shall sprinkle her dust o my head. I shall feel the love that stirs in every drop of river Ganges.’
Bharat is the land which is filled with Divine nature, and glows and grows with it. Bharat is the birthplace of truth and righteousness. In fact there is nothing that is not available in Bharat. The Vedas proclaim, ‘Yanna Bharate Tanna Bharat.’ That which is not present in India is not present elsewhere. It is as if the whole world is bundled and placed in Bharat. (SSB 2002, pp. 196-197)
Bharat has always given the first place to the quality of sacrifice. Mankind needs rulers inspired by the spirit of sacrifice and people filled with love of God. The history of Bharat is full of stories of sacred lives. One such is the story of Karna, a hero of the Mahabharata war. When Karna lay wounded on the battlefield, Krishna was grief-stricken, although the .Pandavas had reason to rejoice over his fall. Krishna told Arjuna that the passing of Karna would be a great loss for Bharat. No one could excel him in giving gifts. Bharat has always given the first place to the quality of sacrifice. Krishna assumed the role of a Brahmin to prove to Arjuna the readiness of Karna to make the highest sacrifice even while he was bleeding on the battlefield. Karna knocked out one of his gold-filled teeth to offer to the Brahmin the gold he wanted for making the mangala-sutra (marriage pendant) at his son’s wedding. When the Brahmin refused to accept it as it was taken from his mouth, Karna cleansed it by producing pure water from the earth by aiming an arrow at the ground. Arjuna felt humbled by this demonstration of Karna’s unrivalled magnanimity and prowess. Krishna extolled Karna’s devotion and large-hearted generosity and revealed His Divine form to Karna. He told Krishna that having seen the Divine form he had no other boon to ask before he passed away’.
Every Bharatiya should develop the spirit of sacrifice, which has been the hall-mark of Bharatiya civilization. Go can only be realised through sacrifice. All the scriptures all epics have extolled the supremacy of sacrifice. All religious practices without sacrifice are artificial rituals alone. God examines your feelings and not your external observances. Divinity can be experienced only when worship of God is done with pure heart and all one’s activities are godly.
Whatever form of worship one may adopt, it has to be: done wholeheartedly. There must be complete harmony between thought, word and deed. True humanness consists in the combination of three H’s – Heart, Head and Hand. (SSS Vol.30, pp. 201-202)
Bharat is the birthplace of spirituality, charity and righteousness. It is the abode of peace and non-violence. This sacred land is the birthplace of the Adikavi (the first poet) Valmiki and sage Veda Vyasa who classified the Vedas. This is the noble land that gave birth to Gautama Buddha, who declared, ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah’ (Non-violence is the highest norm of conduct). This was the meritorious land ruled by Rama Himself. This is the Divine land where Lord Krishna taught the Bhagavad Gita It is essential for Bharatiyas to follow the ideals of these sages and Avatars. Having taken birth in this sacred land of Bharat, we should uphold the noble virtues of truth, peace, charity and no-violence.
There is no culture greater than the culture of Bharat. The culture is eternal and universal. But today, unfortunately Bharatiyas are imitating the western culture. As a result, there is an identity–crisis. There is no greater misfortune than forgetting one’s own culture. But, the modern educated people are not inspired by this culture since they have not understood it properly. The culture of Bharat is vaster than the oceans and mightier than the mountains. In order to understand this glorious culture, you need to develop broadmindedness and universal love.
Fifty years have passed since we won Independence. What achievements do we have to show? There is hardly anything. On the contrary, crime has soared; corruption has grown beyond measure; new forms of felony are coming into existence every day. People are haunted by fear everywhere; at home, on a street, in a car or a train or a plane and in the country as a whole. What is the reason? It is because human mind is polluted by the six vices of lust, anger, greed, pride, and infatuation and jealousy. If man wants to enjoy peace and security, he has to get rid of these vices and lead his life keeping in view the welfare of society. He should give up selfishness and develop unity based on love. Only then, can the pristine glory of Bharat be revived.
Bharatiyas have achieved independence, but not unity. There are many men of sacrifice, highly educated and affluent people, eminent statesmen and politicians, and very good administrators in the country. But to what avail? There is no unity and cooperation among them. That is the main reason for the present plight of the country. They should give individual differences and work for the welfare of the society. If all the Bharatiyas stand united, none can dare to attack us. Since our unity is on the decline, others are trying to take advantage of the situation.
Unity can be achieved only through truth, non-violence, and love. My advice is that all political parties should unite for the sake of the country. It was lack of unity among Bharatiyas that was responsible for Bharat to come under a foreign yoke for many centuries. Past is past. At least in the future, take care that India never comes under foreign rule. Do not hate anybody. Love even the worst of your enemies. Develop love. Only then will the country progress. Imagine what a formidable force India will be if its entire 98 crore people stand united! Bharat will not have any problems. Very soon peace and security will prevail in this land! (SSSm Vol.7, pp. 181-184)
Bharat has been called Punya Bhumi (land of Merit), Tyaga Bhumi (land of sacrifice) and Yoga Bhumi (land of spirituality) since ancient times. Unfortunately, today it is being turned into Bhoga Bhumi (land of worldly pleasures). What we need most today is Tyaga. What is Tyaga? Tyaga is not going to forest, leaving one’s wife, children and property. Real Tyaga lies in renouncing the fruits of one’s actions and desires. Therefore, one should renounce one’s mean desires. Then only will one’s heart become pure like white cloth. God likes only such a pure and sacred heart. God does not expect anything from you. He has no desires at all. It is only you who have desires. God will be happy if you have only sacred desires. Then peace and happiness will reign supreme in your family, society an