VAMAN AVATAR: A Civilizational and Psychological Repositioning by Bharateeyas—Part 3 By Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji (Feature address delivered at Varsha Pratipada Sansad, 2023)
WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS BHARATEEYATA?
Firstly, it is dharma. And what is dharma? Dhaarayate iti dharma. That which holds the earth and its diversity in a shared mutuality together. Which prevents civilization and the ecological system from disintegrating. Which maintains and promotes a cohesiveness in the world order which is conducive to all and which promotes the protection, freedom and perpetuity of all the cells of the global organism. It is my firm conviction that the rising of Bhaarat on the international arena provides the only opportunity for the world to be saved from its imminent demise. Bhaarat is no Bhaarat without Bharateeyata. We have divinized the earth, rivers, trees, animals—vasudeva sarvam iti of Gita. We have seen the Paramatman—the all pervasive Self, in you, in the world and everywhere. We have internalized you as being part of myself—tvameva aham. Only this type of vision of Bharateeyas can hold the world together and prevent it from disintegrating.
In the new emerging world order only Bharat can bring about this seismic shift in understanding because it has the philosophical basis and understanding. The modern world has seen many an economic giant rise up but it has never witnessed an international order guided by Sanatana Dharma wherein there is a legitimate place for all as long as they don’t threaten the existence of others.
THE LEGACY OF MAHABALI
Mahabali enslaved Bhagavan Vishnu after the three steps ordeal playing on the goodness of Bhagavan, just like the British and other outsiders played on the goodness of Bharateeyas who had always welcomed all with open arms. Lakshmi ji employed a remarkable device to free Bhagavan Vishnu and at the same time started a tradition of Raksha Bandhan.
She came and made Bali her brother and tied a Raksha on his hand. The Raksha has a twin purpose. First, is a contractual seal of protection of the sister by the brother and second the brother has to give a gift to the sister at the time of the tying. The brother is bound by these two obligations—hence the word Bandhan, which means bounded. Lakshmi ji ask for the freedom of Bhagavan Vishnu as the gift.
It will be well for Bharateeyas in the diaspora who in some cases adhere more strictly to Bharateeyata than those in Bharat itself, to tie the Raksha on Bharat Desh and to encourage Bharat Desh to honor the responsibilities of the Raksha towards its siblings in the diasporas across the globe. The diaspora can serve as hand and feet on the ground for Bharat and serve to embellish its stride across the globe.
WHAT’S PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CIVILIZATIONAL REPOSITION?
History has cast us in particular moulds. When a major player in the globe like Churchill at the time stigmatizes a whole civilization as “rascals, rouges and of low caliber” or as coolies, it catches on fast and last long. Only we, the descendants of this civilization, through our exemplary, dharmic and chastened life can live down the superimposed, superficial stain. Psychological repositioning is two pronged: first, we have to remove from our mind the inferiority complexes, if any, that were branded on us and to reinstate ourselves as Rishi Putraah. From coolie to kuleen—noble, able, and respectable, with dignity and generosity!
The second part of the repositioning can only happen when the first happens. Will Durant says “India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of mature mind, understanding spirit and a unifying, pacifying love for all human beings.” Only Bharat’s descendants can effectuate this dharmic spirit of Bharat in the mind of the non-dharmic world. We have to be able to say, like Arjuna, smrtir-labdhaa—WE TOO have regained OUR former state! I have now recovered THE ORIGINAL UNDERSTANDING OF MY SELFHOOD. I’m am Bharateeya by default, I can’t be otherwise, I can only be wise!
In order to bring about a civilizational repositioning we have THEN, to unearth the very best of Sanatana Dharma which is lying dormant in our genes, awaken it in our personalities and exemplify it to humanity. I have to be the change I expect to see in a worthy civilization. I have to myself embody the dharmic dhrishti before I can see it into reality. As descendants of Bharat, we the children in the diaspora across the world must take pride in our ancestry, civilization and sanskriti and use them to build our lives and our families, and set about enthuastically to build the respective countries in which we live. Atmano mokshartham, jagad hitaya ca.
(Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji is a direct disciple of world renowned Swami Chinmayanandaji. He is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana with responsibility for the Chinmaya Mission’s works across the Caribbean and Latin America)
Discover more from The Hindu Media Guyana
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
