“शुभजन्मदिनं तुभ्यम्…….. शुभजन्मदिनं तुभ्यम्……..।
शुभजन्मदिने तव हे…….. सकलं मधुरं भूयात्……..॥
शुभजन्मदिनं तुभ्यम्…….. शुभजन्मदिनं तुभ्यम्……..।
शुभजन्मदिने तव हे…….. सकलं सफलं भूयात्……..॥
Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday Dear ShreeDhar… Happy Birthday to you…”
Birthday wishes echoed from all directions. The deities were rejoicing with immense joy. The Yakshas and Gandharvas were singing melodies. The Maruts (breezes) were blowing gently. Apsaras like Urvashi and Menaka were dancing gracefully, and a shower of flower petals rained down. A massive heap of gifts and presents had accumulated. The entire atmosphere was enchanting and full of music. Today, the birthday of the divine prince ShreeDhar was being celebrated in the Sudharma assembly of Heaven’s Vaijayanta Palace.
However, amidst this dazzling birthday glitter, ShreeDhar looked gloomy. During the birthday blessings, his revered father, Lord Indra, had lovingly placed a piece of his favorite sweet, Mohanthal, into his mouth, but it tasted as bitter as methipak (bitter medicine) to him. Today, the atmosphere of Heaven, which usually provided a hundred percent smart service of pure bliss, felt like an ocean of sorrow to ShreeDhar.
ShreeDhar was certain that his parents would not answer the troubling questions lingering in the palace of his mind. The reason was simple… whether it is Heaven or Earth… parents hardly have time to listen to their children’s questions. Ultimately, he made a video call to Ritudhwaj—the ultimate headquarters of history and number one in knowledge.
“Hello… Divine Soul Ritudhwaj, I offer you a thousand salutations on my birthday today,” ShreeDhar said.
Ritudhwaj replied, “Happy Birthday, ShreeDhar! Wishing you a very happy birthday… May you live a hundred years… May you have a long life… May you always remain happy…”
“How can I be happy? For the last two or three days, I haven’t even felt like eating,” uttered ShreeDhar.
Hearing this, Ritudhwaj asked, “Oh…!! Today is your birthday and you are talking like this… What is the reason for this unnecessary despair… Divine Prince…??”
Answering in a serious tone, ShreeDhar said, “O Divine Soul Ritudhwaj… Every day, I read the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana on the website gitaseva.org. Two days ago, I came across these verses:
ॐ अहो अमीषां किमकारि शोभनं, प्रसन्न एषां स्विदूत स्वयं हरिः ।
यैर्जन्म लब्धं नृषु भारताजिरे, मुकुन्दसेवौपयिकं स्पृहा हिनः ॥ (श्रीमद्भागवत…५/१९/२१)
“Even the deities praise the glory of those born in India, stating that they have attained a human birth worthy of serving the Lord. Oh! What meritorious deeds must they have performed to attain human birth in Bharata-khanda? Even we, the demigods, long for this human birth in India.”
यद्यत्र नः स्वर्गसुखावशेषितं स्विष्टस्य सूक्तस्य कृतस्य शोभनम् ।
तेनाजनाभे स्मृतिमज्जन्म नः स्याद्वर्षे हरिर्यद्भजतां शं तनोति ॥ (श्रीमद्भागवत…५/१९/२८)
“After enjoying the pleasures of heaven, if any merit remains from our past sacrifices, continuous prayers, and auspicious deeds, may we, by its influence, obtain a human birth blessed with the remembrance of Sri Hari in this Bharatvarsha. For, Sri Hari bestows ultimate welfare upon those who worship Him.”
After reading these two verses… I am deeply perplexed. Is this country of India greater than even Heaven…?? A mountain of questions has risen in my mind… What is it about India that even the gods sing praises of this land? What is it about India that even the Supreme Lord wishes to incarnate there again and again? What is it about India that opens the gates to ultimate liberation (Mukti)? O Divine Soul Ritudhwaj… today I want to know about this country of India from you.”
Ritudhwaj then smiled and said, “Okay… this is a question born out of genuine curiosity… and its answer can only be found through knowledge. Moreover, talking about India will bring me immense joy as well… So listen to the profound and weighty glories of India…” Saying this, Ritudhwaj commenced the auspicious narration of India’s greatness…
🇮🇳 The Grandeur and Identity of Bharat
India holds a unique, evergreen impression across the entire world. It is a nation filled with the fortune of majesty, illuminated by the lamp of divinity, and worshipped with the flowers of purity. It is the only country in the world that has four names: Bharat, Aryavarta, Hindustan, and India.
Among these, the name ‘Bharat’ is the most famous and favorite. This is because, in the search engine index of history, the name ‘Bharat’ has been clicked the highest number of times. The word “Bharat” is as rich and savory to speak as a dish of stuffed eggplant, so vast to write that it fills an author’s heart, and so majestic to describe that it stands as tall as Mt. Girnar in the world of literature.
- ‘Bha’ means: aura, splendor, brilliance, radiance, glow, knowledge, and fame.
- ‘Rat’ means: continuously engaged, absorbed, or in love with.
Thus, “That which is continuously engaged in spreading its splendor in all four directions is Bharat.” Similarly, “That which is always absorbed in knowledge, that which is forever a lover of knowledge… is called Bharat.” If we measure the country using the yardstick of the proverb ‘as the name, so the qualities’, the name ‘Bharat’ fits it absolutely perfectly. Since ancient times, India has been purifying the entire world with the holy confluence (Triveni Sangam) of its prosperity, culture, and righteous conduct.
In the Atharvaveda, it is stated:
माता भूमि: पुत्रोऽहं पृथिव्या: (अथर्ववेद: १२/१/૧૨)
(“The Earth is my mother and I am her son.”)
thereby giving the entire land the status of Mother India. The fifth canto (Skandha) of the Bhagavata Purana contains a detailed description of Bharatvarsha. The Markandeya Purana also features an extensive depiction of India. In the Bhumi-varga of the Amarkosha:
आर्यावर्तः पुण्यभूमिः मध्यं विन्ध्यहिमालयोः। (अमरकोष: भूमिवर्ग: – ૮/૧/૧)
India is portrayed as the perfect palace of the land of virtues (Punyabhumi). Lord Swaminarayan has also explained the glory of this Bharata-khanda (the land of India) in his Vachanamrut discourses on astronomy and geography. The voice of the Vishnu Purana describes India by stating:
उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य, हिमाद्रेश्चैव दक्षिणम् ।
वर्षं तद् भारतं नाम भारती यत्र संततिः ॥ (विष्णुपुराणम् २/३/૧)
(“The country that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bharat, and its citizens are known as Bharati.”)
Furthermore, it is sung in the national song of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh:
रत्नाकरधौतपदाम् | हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
ब्रह्मराजर्षिर्रत्नाढ्यं | વન્દે ભારતમાતરમ્ ॥
(“I bow to Mother India, whose feet are washed by the vast ocean (Ratnakara), whose crown is the mighty Himalayas, and who is richly adorned with Brahmarshis and Rajarshis.”)
🌿 Geographical Splendor and Climate Diversity
Known as one of the largest peninsulas in the world, India’s beautiful coastline stretches across 7,516.6 km. The country boasts the highest number of mountain ranges in the world. These mountain ranges extend for nearly 1,500 miles and reach heights up to 23,600 feet. Among them is the mighty Himalayas, the longest and highest mountain range in the world, which is 600 million years old. Going by the adage ‘Old is Gold’, this majestic mountain is world-renowned for its breathtaking beauty. From the Himalayan ‘Valley of Flowers’ down to Kanyakumari, more than 49,000 species of flora double its scenic beauty. To the west of India lies a vast expanse of deserts. Spread across 3,287,263 square kilometers of land, this nation stands as the seventh-largest country in the world.
Nourished by the sparkling waters of rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Narmada, and Kaveri, the country experiences incredible climatic diversity. It brings immense wonder that both piercing cold and scorching heat coexist within the same nation. Moreover, Cherrapunji, the place that receives the highest rainfall in the world, is also located in India. Amidst these various seasons and diverse climates, a total of 81,251 species of animals, birds, and insects thrive here.
Since time immemorial, this puranically acclaimed Bharata-khanda has held the place of a beautiful stage for Mother Nature. Looking in all four directions, it truly feels as though Nature herself designed this land to be her personal abode:
- In the North: Stands the king of mountains, capped with snow, looking like a treasure trove of divine beauty, alongside Kashmir—the paradise of the world.
- In the South: Lies the deep blue expanse of the Indian Ocean (Hind Jalanidhi).
- In the West: The Arabian Sea washes the lotus feet of Lord Dwarkadhish.
- In the East: Rests the dark, serene Bay of Bengal.
- In Between: Flow the ultra-pure waters of the Kalindi and Yamuna, coupled with the unparalleled beauty of the Sahyadri and Girnar ranges.
- Sacred Abodes: The famous, peaceful abodes along the Narmada and Nashik, and the naturally scenic regions nestled between the Eastern and Western Ghats.
It is as if Nature has painted a grand rangoli using all its vibrant colors to make the beauty of India truly mesmerizing.
