Ancient scriptures from Vedic Shuktas to the Puranas wish for upliftment of the Nation. This cultural thread has bound us since centuries
Bharat is the oldest nation in the world. Deendayal Upadhyayaji called it ‘Swayamsiddha Hindu Rashtra’ (self-proved Hindu nation). Our sages and seers visualised nation not merely for geographical view but on the basis of character, spiritual, social and cultural foundations. Atharvaveda says: Mata Bhoomih Putro Aham Prithvya! (Earth is our mother and we the human beings are her sons). This devotion to the motherland itself develops the feeling of integration. The bond of mother and son naturally makes us a family. All sects or ways of worship in the society are our own. All the languages or dialects which are spoken in any part of Bharat are also our own. All castes in the society are parts of a ‘Virat Sharir’ having common chaitanya (consciousness). Such integration develops due to the devotion to motherland, and this is a source of strength.
All our scriptures, literature, Vedas, particularly the Atharvaveda and Rigveda, provide plenty of information about nation’s consciousness. There is a series of 63 shlokas in ‘Prithvi Sukta’ of the Atharvaveda explaining our bond with the earth. See the following shloka:
Bhadra Ichhanta rishayah, Tapo Deeksham Upaseduh Agre Run. Tato Rashtra Balam Ojashcha jatam, Tadasmai deva upsam namantu.
What the learned Rishis did for welfare of the world since beginning of the universe led to the building of nation, national strength and energy. Therefore, it is the duty of all to serve the nation with humility.
Geographical Expansion of Nation
Himalayam samarabhya yavadindu sarovaram,
Hindu sthanmiti khyat maand yantaksharyogatah
The land extending from the Himalayas to the Indu Sarovaram (the Indian Ocean) is known as Hindusthan. ‘Vishnu Purana’ also says Bharat is the name of the nation situated to the north of the sea and south of the Himalayas and its progeny is known as Bharati. The Sankalpam that we take before the beginning of any auspicious work, karmakand or anushthan also mention the greatness of Bharat and her geographical expansion.
Jambu Dwipe bharat khande bharat varshe aryavartantraga deshaik punya kshetra shashti samvatsaranam….
Cultural Nation
The ‘adhishthana’ (abode) of the nation is eternal culture. We worship all the rivers and water bodies. When we sip water during any religious ceremony we recite the following shloka:
Gangecha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswati, Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru.
Through this shloka we invoke the presence of divine waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. These rivers are considered as goddesses and we pray to them for considering us for their blessings.
Deendayal Upadhyayaji proclaimed Bharat as a nation geographically, culturally and politically since ancient time.
In 1848, German scholar Max Muller in self-imagination coined a fake principle claiming that Aryans invaded Bharat before 1500 AD and enslaved the original inhabitants of this land. Citing the remains found in Harappa he claimed that Indus Valley Civilisation was invaded. He went on claiming that the Saraswati River mentioned in the Vedas is basically in Afghanistan. He raised many questions on the credibility and originality of our scriptures also. All these lies confused people for long, but now they have been proved wrong. Baba Saheb Ambedkar also clears the doubts in this regard. He writes, “The significance and reverence extended to the seven rivers in Rigveda is very important. No foreigner can address the rivers with the felling of oneness or reverence like my Ganga, my Yamuna, my Saraswati, etc, until he/she does not have emotional as well as longer attachment with them. After this reference in the Rigveda there remains no doubt about the fake claim that Aryans invaded Bharat and enslaved the non-Aryans.”
Indissoluble Reverence to Nation
The core of our nationalism is “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. A deep conviction has been expressed towards the nation in Valmiki Ramayana also. After Lanka victory there was a suggestion that Shri Ram along with his army should stay there permanently. At that time Lanka was the wealth capital in the world. But rejecting that offer Shri Ram told Lakshmana:
“…Janani Janma-bhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi”. It means mother and birthplace are superior to heaven.
We are the worshiper of Akhand Bharat. Deendayalji said ‘Akhand Bharat is not merely a political slogan for us but a matter of belief and reverence’.
Bharat, an Adorable Land
Our ancestors have made adequate provisions to ensure that the people and the society at large are aware of the divine and glorious form of the motherland. Pilgrimage to four Dhams means conducting circumambulate to the motherland. By visiting the four Dhams one can realise how vast, revered and respected is our motherland.
Soul of the Nation
Deendayalji used to say that the parameter to decide the merit or demerit of anything is ‘Chitt Shakti’, which is deeply rooted everywhere from our Prakrati (nature) to Sanskriti (culture). ‘Chitti’ leads to uplift, progress and duty. Chitti is creation. It is the soul of any nation and also the foundation of nation building. It is impossible to think of a nation without ‘Chitti’.
Every citizen and every organisation committed to national interest comes under the preview of the ‘chitti’. How do we regard something good or bad? What is in accordance to ‘chitti’ is good and what is against is wrong. Chitti is by birth. The nation’s emergence or fall is directly linked to it. The amnesia of ‘chitti’ made us salve for centuries and its realisation liberated us. The inherent and resistance power of the society is ‘Virat’. It is the real strength of a healthy society. All components of the society are born from ‘Virat’. The feeling of detachment among different components weakens the Virat. Therefore, the regulatory powers of cultural nationalism are ‘chitti’ and ‘Virat’. Awakened ‘chitti’ and strong Virat strengthen the nation.
Murlidhar Rao (The writer is national general
secretary of BJP)
