Nationalism in the Vedas




 Happy Republic day to all


### **Nationalism in the Vedas**


**“May no thief or corrupt ruler govern us.”**

*(Yajurveda 1.1)*


**“May we all be those who offer sacrifice for our motherland.”**

*(Atharvaveda 12.1.62)*


**“Let us always strive for self-rule.”**

*(Ṛgveda 5.66.6)*


**“May we conquer all directions with the bow—that is, with the means of warfare.”**

*(Yajurveda 29.39)*


**“May we repel the attacking enemy.”**

*(Ṛgveda 1.8.4)*


**“The Earth is my mother, and I am her son.”**

*(Atharvaveda 12.1.12)*


**“O human being, serve this mother-earth.”**

*(Ṛgveda 10.18.10)*


**“Salutations to Mother Earth, again and again our salutations to Mother Earth.”**

*(Yajurveda 9.22)*


The entire **12th Kāṇḍa of the Atharvaveda** is a clear indicator of national duties.


**“Whether in villages, forests, assemblies, councils, or battlefields,

may we always speak well of you, O Mother Earth.”**

*(Atharvaveda 12.1.56)*


O Motherland! Whether we are in your villages, forests, assemblies (councils, parliaments), or on the battlefield, wherever we may be, may our thoughts and speech about you always be noble and auspicious. May concern for your welfare ever remain in our minds.


**“May we remain free from disease and illness, ever ready in your service, O Earth.

May the products born and prepared within you alone be used by us.

May our life be long.

May we, endowed with knowledge, be ready to offer even our lives in sacrifice for you when required.”**

*(Atharvaveda 12.1.62)*


What could be a higher form of **national duty (national dharma)** than this?

The Vedas also instruct us to earnestly strive for the growth and prosperity of the nation.


Where prayers are offered to God for individual, familial, and social welfare, every patriot should also pray:


**“O God! Grant us a supremely prosperous and glorious nation.

May we always remain illustrious through Your gracious gifts.”**

*(Atharvaveda 6.39.2)*


The progress of a nation depends on the cultivation of these virtues:


**“Truth, vast and noble knowledge, valour and strength, disciplined vows such as brahmacharya,

the capacity to endure pleasure and pain, heat and cold, honour and dishonour,

wealth and food, self-sacrifice, service, and the spirit of benevolence—

these are the qualities that sustain the Earth.”**

*(Atharvaveda 12.1.1)*


All these sentiments are encompassed in one word—**Dharma**.


— *Compiled by*

**Dr. Vivek Arya**


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who Worships You

Image
  **Who Worships You** **Ṛgveda 1.14.5** *īḷate tvām avasyavaḥ kaṇvāso vṛktabarhiṣaḥ | haviṣmanto araṃkṛtaḥ ||* **Meaning:** O Supreme Lord! Those who seek Your protection (*avasyavaḥ*); the wise and discerning (*kaṇvāsaḥ*), who praise You and acquire knowledge of every particle; those who have cleared the undergrowth of their hearts—cutting away desires—and prepared the throne of the heart for You (*vṛktabarhiṣaḥ*); those whose lives have become pure like a sacred oblation (*haviṣmantaḥ*); and those who are adorned by the observance of yama and niyama, or who have renounced worldly indulgences (*araṃkṛtaḥ*)—such people alone worship (*īḷate*) You. Many people worship the Supreme according to their respective beliefs. Even thieves and robbers vow offerings to deities for success in their misdeeds. The *Bhagavad Gītā* classifies devotees into four categories: “Four kinds of virtuous people worship Me, O Arjuna—the distressed, the inquisitive, the seeker of worldly gain, and the wise...
Read more

The Nature of God According to the Vedas: A Simple Explanation from Maharshi Dayanand’s Perspective

Image
  **• The Nature of God According to the Vedas: A Simple Explanation from Maharshi Dayanand’s Perspective •** Maharshi Swami Dayanand Saraswati (1825–1883) clearly explained the nature of God based on the Vedas in his great works such as *Satyarth Prakash*. His aim was to free people from superstition, mythological imagination, and un-Vedic beliefs, and to help them understand God in His true form. The Vedic concept of God as presented by him can be understood through the following points: --- ### **1. God is One, Not Many** According to the Vedas, there is only one God. Everything in the universe—nature, living beings, planets, humans, and animals—is governed and controlled by one Supreme Being. If there were many gods, there would be conflict, disagreement, and disorder among them. However, the universe operates in perfect order—the sun rises and sets on time, seasons change systematically—this proves the existence of one supreme controlling power. Maharshi Dayanand clearly state...
Read more

Vedic Nationalism

Image
  Vedic Nationalism “Mā naḥ stena īśataḥ” (Yajurveda 1.1) May corrupt and thieving people never rule over us. “Vayaṁ tubhyaṁ balihṛtaḥ syāma” (Atharvaveda 12.1.62) May we all be ever ready to offer sacrifice for our motherland. “Yatemahi svarājye” (Ṛgveda 5.66.6) Let us always strive for self-rule (swarajya). “Dhanvanā sarvāḥ pradiśo jayema” (Yajurveda 29.39) With the bow—symbol of warfare and defence—may we conquer all directions. “Sāsahyāma pṛtanyataḥ” (Ṛgveda 1.8.4) May we repel and drive back the attacking enemy. “Mātā bhūmiḥ putro ’haṁ pṛthivyāḥ” (Atharvaveda 12.1.12) The earth is my mother, and I am the son of this motherland. “Upa sarpa mātaraṁ bhūmim etām” (Ṛgveda 10.18.10) O human being! Serve this motherland with devotion. “Namo mātre pṛthivyai, namo mātre pṛthivyai” (Yajurveda 9.22) Salutations to the motherland—our repeated salutations. The entire 12th Book of the Atharvaveda is devoted to national duties. “Ye grāmā yad araṇyaṁ yāḥ sabhā adhi bhūmyām…” (Atharvaveda 12.1...
Read more