Vande Mataram: Why the Rishi Bows to the Matribhoomi
dharmasutra
Editor & Curator
The Modern Noise
In the last few days, the airwaves have been thick with the sound of “Vande Mataram.”
As the nation marks the 150th year of this potent mantra, the conversation has predictably turned into a political battlefield. Debates rage in Parliament about who honored it, who divided it, and whether it is “mandatory” or “exclusionary”.
But if we step away from the noise of the Samsara (the world) and step into the silence of the Shastra (the scripture), we find a very different perspective. To the Dharmic mind, the Nation (Rashtra) is not merely a geopolitical map drawn by men. It is a living, breathing Devi—a manifestation of the Divine itself.
The Shastra Speaks: Gold vs. Mother
The most profound definition of patriotism in Sanatana Dharma comes from a moment of supreme temptation in the Ramayana tradition.
After the great war, Ravana is defeated. The city of Lanka—built of solid gold, overflowing with wealth and luxury—is captured. It is a prize that any conqueror would seize. Lakshmana, dazzled by its opulence, suggests to Bhagavan Rama that perhaps they should stay and rule this golden empire.
Shri Rama’s response is the eternal Sutra of Indian patriotism:
अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते ।
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ॥Api svarnamayī Laṅkā na me Lakṣmaṇa rocate | Jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī ||
Translation: “O Lakshmana, even this golden Lanka does not appeal to me. The Mother and the Motherland are greater than Heaven itself.”
The Dharmic Analysis
Why did Shri Rama compare the Motherland to Swarga (Heaven)?
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna teaches that our relationship with the world is not one of ownership, but of service (Seva).
When we say “Vande Mataram” (I bow to thee, Mother), we are practicing what the Gita calls Svadharma (One’s own duty).
- Gita 2.31: Krishna reminds Arjuna that for a warrior/citizen, there is no higher Shreyas (good) than a righteous battle for the protection of Dharma and the land.
- The Earth is Divine: The Atharva Veda declares, “Mata Bhumih Putroham Prithivyah” (The Earth is my Mother, I am her Son).
The controversy we see today arises because the modern mind sees land as “property.” The Dharmic mind sees land as “Prithvi”—a Goddess who sustains us. “Vande Mataram” is not a political slogan; it is an act of Bhakti Yoga. It is the recognition that the soil that feeds us has a claim on us.
Application: How to Sing It Today
It is easy to sing Vande Mataram with our lips, but how do we sing it with our Karma?
If we claim the Motherland is divine, then our actions must reflect worship:
- Saucha (Cleanliness): We cannot bow to the Mother and then dirty Her streets. Civic cleanliness is a spiritual duty.
- Satya (Truth): We cannot sing of Her glory and then engage in corruption. A corrupt citizen is a traitor to the Mother.
- Seva (Service): Just as Rama rejected the gold of Lanka to serve Ayodhya, we must prioritize the welfare of our community over personal “golden” ambitions.
Closing Thought
As the debates continue in the news, let us anchor ourselves in the wisdom of Rama. Nations are built not by the shouting of slogans, but by the silent, sacrificial love of sons and daughters who believe that their land is indeed garīyasī—greater than heaven.