UPHOLD THE DIGNITY AND HONOUR OF BHARAT MATHA (MOTHER INDIA)

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UPHOLD THE DIGNITY AND HONOUR OF BHARAT MATHA (MOTHER INDIA)

Discourse on Vijaya Dasami

The Lord of Kailasa has manifested His Divine form in front of your eyes with

the crescent moon adorning His head, the cool water of the Ganga flowing

between the matted locks, with His radiant eye in the middle of the forehead

and the purple neck gleaming like the sheen of a blackberry. He wears serpent

bracelets and a snake belt, His entire body is smeared with Vibhuti, His

forehead is adorned with a Kumkum dot, his ruddy lips glow with the juice of

the betel, diamond-studded gold earrings dangle from His ears and His whole

swarthy body glows with divine effulgence.

(Telugu poem)

Embodiments of Love!Everyday you have been listening to various speakers

dwelling on the principle of Easwara (Divinity). Many people imagine that

Easwara has a form with matted locks of hair and snakes adorning Him as

ornaments. But, this is not the true form of Easwara. Though He is

all-pervasive, devotees, out of their imagination, attribute a form to Him with

various types of ornaments.

There is a temperamental weakness among Bharatiyas to bring down the various

forms of God they adore and the idols they worship to the level of beggars.

Truly speaking, there are no beggars and there cannot be a beggar in this

sacred land of Bharat. To consider somebody inferior to you and imagine that

they expect money from you is a sign of weakness. It is because of such

narrow-minded feeling that people from other countries consider India to be a

poor country and that it is full of beggars. This is totally a misconception.

Bharat has never been a poor country. Just because people are economically

backward, they cannot be considered beggars. There are no beggars in this

world. If someone seeks financial help or asks for food, they are treated as

beggars. In fact, we are responsible for making somebody a beggar. We consider

them to be inferior to us and ill-treat them. Bharat is a land of plenty and

prosperity. You must realise that there are no beggars in this country and must

conduct yourself accordingly. Some people bring down even God to the level of a

beggar. When their desires are fulfilled they eulogise God. They pray, “Oh God,

I will offer You cash or in kind if You fulfil my desires.”

God is not poor and hence, people created by Him cannot also be poor. It is man

who makes beggars out of his fellowmen and ill-treats them. Such low and mean

practices should be given up. Some people think that Lord Venkateswara is in

need of money. They think He would do their work and fulfil their desires for

the sake of money. In this manner, they bring Him down to the level of a

beggar. It is a grave mistake. God is not a beggar. You should consider Him as

your father and mother. Cultivate love for God and your fellowmen. Never

consider someone a beggar and ill-treat him. Extend help to those who are in

distress. Develop love for God and fear of sin. Just because someone approaches

you for help, do not consider him to be weak and inferior. Do not humiliate him.

Your innate divinity will manifest before you when you develop love and respect

towards all. Treat everybody as your brothers and sisters. Never consider

anybody a beggar. It is a great mistake to think that you are the giver and

someone else is the beneficiary. There are some businessmen who try to get

their work done by offering bribe to those in power. Offering or accepting

bribe is also a great sin. Asking for bribe is the same as begging for alms. We

should not give room to such mean practices. Since ancient times, Bharat has

upheld moral and ethical values and has set an ideal to the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, such values are forgotten today. Feed the hungry with love but

do not look down upon them as beggars. Begging should not be entertained or

encouraged in this country. People may come to you and ask for food. It does

not mean that they are beggars. You do not become superior to them just because

you serve them food. Speak to them lovingly and satiate their hunger. But, never

insult them. Bharatiyas are putting their own country to disrepute by making

their fellowmen beggars. Bharat is not a poor country. Otherwise, how do we

explain the invasion of so many foreign rulers in the past? Many foreign kings

invaded this land and plundered the wealth of our country. The question of

being rich or poor arises because one compares himself with another. If someone

comes to your doorstep saying, Bhavati Bhiksham Dehi (mother, give alms), do not

treat him like a beggar. Treat him like another human being and empathise with

him. His coming to you and asking for food does not make him inferior to you.

Just because he has no money to feed himself, he does not become a pauper and

you a millionaire. If you want to uphold the reputation of the country, respect

your fellowmen. First and foremost, develop love for your motherland. Feel proud

that you are a Bharatiya. Realise that you are born in a sacred land which is

the birthplace of many noble souls. Yesterday you heard the ladies extolling

Bharat as the land of the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. You

should always keep in mind the glory and grandeur of Bharat and conduct

yourself accordingly. Only then are you eligible to be called a Bharatiya. Your

actions should match your words. Merely extolling the glory of Bharat and

conducting yourself in a mean manner is futile.Forbearance is the real quality

in this sacred land of Bharat. The nectarous feeling in this country is the

feeling towards one’s mother.

(Telugu poem)Consider Bharat as your own mother.

Develop love and reverence towards her and uphold her dignity and honour. If

you think your mother is poor, how can you consider yourself to be rich? Since

ancient times, Bharat has conferred the wealth of knowledge to all through the

sacred scriptures and epics. How can such a country be considered poor? Your

physical mother may be poor but not your motherland. This sacred land has

attained the reputation of being the greatest among all nations. You should not

show disrespect to such a great country by considering it poor and weak. The

morality and integrity that we find in Bharat cannot be found in any other

country. Bharat is like a treasure chest of gold. Having been born in such a

land, where is the need to go in search of gold and silver? But, unfortunately,

people show disrespect and disregard to such a land of gold. The educated should

take a vow to revive the ancient glory of Bharat. But, sadly, even the educated

are not able to realise the greatness of Bharat. Today if we find beggars in

the streets, it is because we have encouraged them by giving money. You should

never give money to beggars. If they are in need of food or clothes, you can

certainly give them. But do not encourage the practice of begging. Bharat has

earned great name and fame among all nations. But people in position and power

are bringing disrepute to the country by their corrupt practices. Nobody should

indulge in the bad practice of giving or receiving bribe. Even the Government

should be cautioned in this regard. They should find ways and means to stop

this practice of bribing and begging. Beggars should not be given money. They

should be provided with opportunities to become self- reliant. Extend all your

help and cooperation to the less fortunate ones and help them to come up in

life. It is not possible for all to be equal in this world. There is bound to

be inequality.Today, people out of their selfishness and self-interest have

brought down even God to the level of a beggar. When you to go to a temple, the

priest brings a plate before you expecting a few coins as Dakshina. People keep

Dakshina (offering) in the plate and receive Prasadam from the priest. This

practice of asking for Dakshina also amounts to asking for alms. Let us not

resort to such begging. Let us become rich in our thought, word and deed. You

may die for want of money, but never beg for money. The educated should teach a

lesson to those who spend their time begging in the streets. When you come

across a beggar, you should tell him, “My dear, you are the son of Bharat

Matha. Your mother is not poor, she is rich in all respects. Since ancient

times, she has been taking care of all nations. Being her son, it is not proper

on your part to resort to begging.”Do not keep coins in your pocket for giving

to beggars. You may derive some satisfaction by doling out a few coins to

beggars, but, in the process you are also bringing disrepute to your

motherland. You should uphold the prestige and honour of your motherland. You

should become an ideal and worthy son of Bharat. Be convinced that you are born

to uphold the honour of your motherland. Otherwise, what is the use of your

birth as her son?You must have heard our students sing Ramakatha in which there

is an incident wherein Lava and Kusha find their mother Sita in a sorrowful mood

and then trying to console her. They ask her, “Mother, please let us know the

cause of your sorrow. Of what use is our life if we are unable to wipe your

tears? Do not underestimate us just because we are children. In fact, we are

more powerful than Lord Rama. Hence, Oh mother! Do not shed tears. If you shed

tears, the whole country will be ruined. Being your worthy sons, is it not our

duty to remove your suffering and sorrow? We are ready to meet your interests

and give you happiness even at the cost of our lives.” Unfortunately, today we

do not find such ideal sons as Lava and Kusha. Today, people have become

weak-minded. They lack the spirit of sacrifice. Even the so-called great and

rich people have not given up mean-mindedness. I feel it is they who are making

beggars of their fellow human beings. One should never say ‘no’ when it comes to

helping others. Once, a rich person went to a Guru and requested him to grant

him wisdom. His pockets were stuffed with bundles of currency notes. As he was

seated there, the Guru sent one of his disciples to a businessman’s shop to get

a five rupee note. After some time, the disciple returned saying that the shop

was closed. The Guru sent him to another shop and again the disciple returned

empty-handed. This went on for some time. But, the rich man who was a witness

to these happenings did not offer a five rupee note from his pocket. Then, the

Guru chided him, saying “Your pockets are full of currency notes, yet you did

not have the heart to part with a five rupee note when I needed it most. How do

you expect to attain wisdom without cultivating the spirit of sacrifice?”

Immediately the businessman took out a five rupee note and offered it to the

Guru. The Guru did not accept the note, saying one should perform acts of

charity out of love and not out of compulsion. When someone comes to your

doorstep begging for food, you should invite him wholeheartedly into your

verandah, give a sumptuous meal and satisfy him. Everyone has an equal share in

all that is available in this world. Today, people lack the spirit of sacrifice.

They are experts in giving lectures on sacrifice but are not prepared to part

with even a paisa from their pockets when it comes to practising what they

preach. What is the use of preaching when you cannot translate it into action?

Manasyekam Vachasyekam Karmanyekam Mahatmanam (Those whose thoughts, words and

deeds are in perfect harmony are noble ones). You need not borrow money in

order to serve others. Share with your fellowmen whatever you have. This is how

you should uphold the honour and dignity of Bharatiyas. Today, the reputation of

the country has come down on account of people who have stooped to the level of

beggars. It is because of the educated people that beggars are on the increase.

What is the purpose of education? Is it to produce beggars? I am not in favour

of such education.One may acquire a high academic qualification such as M.A.

and B.A. and attain exalted position,One may amass wealth, perform acts of

charity and attain name and fame,One may have physical strength and enjoy a

long and healthy life,One may be a great scholar studying and preaching the

Vedas,But none can equal a true devotee of the Lord.

(Telugu poem)People lack strength and

have become weak-minded because they lack devotion for God. They do not have

love for their motherland. Consequently, they are bringing bad name to the

country. You will be called a true and worthy son of Bharat only when you

uphold the dignity and honour of Bharat Matha (Mother India). You may be a

great scholar, but your scholarship is of no value if it is not used for

protecting the honour of your country. If you go through the biographies of

noble men like RamakrishnaParamahamsa, Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore, all

of them exhorted people to give up mean-mindedness. You should proclaim with

pride, “I am the son of Bharat.” The boy who spoke earlier made a mention of

this. If you want to be called a true son of Bharat, you should lead a life of

sacrifice. If need arises you should be prepared even to forego your meal in

order to feed the hungry. The spirit of sacrifice demonstrated by Bharata in

the Ramayana is unparalleled. When Rama went to the forest, Bharata was to be

crowned as king. But he went to the forest to entreat Rama to come back to

Ayodhya and ascend the throne. Lakshmana who was with Rama in the forest,

observed the arrival of Bharata and his entourage from a distance. He became

furious with the misconceived notion that Bharata was coming to wage a battle

with Rama. In an angry tone, he said, “Mother Kaikeyi has sent us to the

forest. Now, her son does not want us to live in peace even in the forest. That

is why he is coming here with his army. If You permit me, I will teach him a

fitting lesson.” Reacting to Lakshmana’s outburst, Rama said, “Lakshmana, I

think you have developed a desire for the throne of Ayodhya. Better, you go to

Ayodhya and rule the kingdom. I will keep Bharata with Me in the forest.

Bharata is one of sacrifice and character. His spirit of sacrifice is

matchless. You have misunderstood his noble intention.”Meanwhile Bharata came

there and fell at the feet of Rama. “My dear, how are the parents?” This was

the first question that Rama asked Bharata. He did not enquire about His own

mother Kausalya, but He asked about the well-being of Kaikeyi. On hearing the

name of Kaikeyi, Bharata became furious. “It is because of that wicked woman

you are forced to live in forest. The very mention of her name fills me with

disgust. Please don’t mention her name.” Rama put His hand on his shoulders and

pacified him, saying, “Bharata, Mother Kaikeyi is a noble woman. It is because

of her that My Name is glorified and spread far and wide. Do not go by the

outward behaviour and talk ill of her. Her heart is filled with noble

intentions.” After speaking to Bharata in this manner, Rama went straight to

Mother Kaikeyi, fell at her feet and said, “Mother, by your blessings, I am

fine here. Do not worry about Me. Let Bharata be crowned as the king of

Ayodhya. Teach him the codes of governance. After the completion of 14 years, I

will come back to Ayodhya and see all of you. It is My duty to uphold the

promise made by My father. It is not enough if one listens to the command of

one’s parents. One should strictly adhere to the rules and regulations laid

down by the government and strive for the welfare and happiness of fellowmen.

Only then can one be called an ideal citizen.” As denizens of the land of

Rama’s reign, we should lead our lives in accordance with His model. Rama’s

words made an indelible impression on the mind of Lakshmana. He fell at the

feet of Rama and repented for his outburst. He said, “Brother, when I saw

Bharata and his army from a distance, I was seething with anger. Now my mind

rests in peace having known the truth and listening to Your soothing words.”

Rama advised him not to be carried away by the outward scenario but to turn

inward and strive for experiencing bliss. When Bharata started pleading with

Rama to return to Ayodhya, Rama affectionately drew him close and said,

“Bharata, no doubt your intentions are noble, but you should bear in mind the

command of our father. You must follow your mother’s advice. That is the only

way you can please Me. Share your love with not only your friends and relatives

but with one and all. Remember that Thyaga (sacrifice) alone can bestow on you

true Bhoga (pleasure).” Sage Vasishta shed tears of joy listening to the words

of Lord Rama. He said, “Rama, You are forced to live in the forest for no fault

of Yours. But, You have forgotten the injustice done to You. You are seeing only

the good in others. We are really moved by Your magnanimity. However, we request

You to establish Ramarajya (kingdom of Rama) in Ayodhya and give joy to all.”

Rama smilingly replied, “Now it is Bharatarajya, not Ramarajya. Henceforth, it

shall be called Bharatadesa (the land of Bharata).”It is because of such noble

men of sacrifice that Bharat has progressed and attained exalted position. No

other country can match Bharat in terms of dignity, honour and reputation.

People of ancient Bharat led a life of sacrifice for the welfare of the

country. There is no greater sacrifice than sacrificing for one’s own nation.

Greatness does not lie in performing acts of charity by spending crores of

rupees. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be suffused with love. You should

make efforts to alleviate the suffering of your fellowmen. Love all as you love

yourself. This is your Dharma. Dharma does not mean performing acts of charity

alone. You should fill your heart with righteous feelings and give up

selfishness and greed. Always keep the welfare of society in mind. Do not

consider your fellowmen as ‘others’. Share your love with all. Live in amity

and develop unity. Only through love can you win the hearts of others and

transform them. Hence, the need of the hour is to cultivate love and share it

with others. Develop love for God and compassion towards those less fortunate

than you. This is the essence of education. Serve your parents and make them

happy. What is the use of sharing your love with others when you are not

concerned about the suffering of your mother at home? Your foremost duty is to

love your parents and serve them. Then you can share your love with others.

This was the teaching of Lord Rama to Bharata. He told him, “Bharata, there is

no point in filling the treasury with money. You will earn a good name and win

the heart of your subjects only when you utilise the money for the welfare of

people.” Lakshmana and Satrughna were the sons of mother Sumitra. Lakshmana

followed Rama while Satrughna was always with Bharata. They served their elder

brothers with utmost love and devotion. During times of difficulties, they

stood by their elder brothers, gave them good counsel and supported them in all

respects. That was the purpose for which they were born to Sumitra. All this was

a part of God’s master-plan. Rama exhorted Bharata to give up hatred towards his

mother and love her wholeheartedly. He told him that it was all destined to

happen and she was not to be blamed. Since Rama did not relent and after His

resolve not to return to Ayodhya, Bharata prayed to Him to give at least His

Padukas (sandals) to be enthroned as His proxy. The name of Sumitra does not

find a place of prominence that it deserves in the Ramayana. She was a paragon

of virtues and, true to her name, she was a good friend of all. The sacrifice

made by Sumitra was greater compared to the sacrifice made by Kausalya. Some of

the virtues of Sumitra were not to be found even in Kausalya and Kaikeyi. Before

leaving for the forest, Rama sought the blessings of Kausalya. Then He went to

the residence of Sumitra. Rama prostrated before her and said, “Mother, I am

very happy to obey father’s command and go to the forest, but I feel sad to

leave you and go. I pray to you to shower your love and blessings on Me. I do

not require anything else.” So saying, He offered His salutations to her again

and again, took leave of her and left for the forest. Among the three queens,

Sumitra was the noblest. Even Sage Vasishta and Sage Visvamitra extolled her

noble qualities. We should accept others’ greatness and not indulge in self

glorification. In order to glorify others’ greatness, sometimes we need to be

modest and self effacing. Students!Never belittle others. Develop

broad-mindedness and treat everybody with respect. Consider others as your own

brothers. If a hungry person comes to you, welcome him with open arms and give

him a sumptuous meal. Never consider someone a beggar or a poor person. Having

been born in this sacred land of Bharat, one cannot be a beggar or a poor

person. All are rich. When you consider someone a beggar, it is only the defect

in your feeling that is reflected outside.When Lord Rama lifted Siva’s bow,

Sita’s joy knew no bounds. Her prayers were answered. Rama, being the

embodiment of love and righteousness, had the power to lift, not just one bow

of Lord Siva, but ten such bows. The four brothers, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata

Satrughna and their consorts had perfect unity and harmony among themselves.

They were like different parts of the orange fruit. One day Sumitra peeled out

the skin of an orange fruit. As she took out each part, she was saying, “This

is Rama, this is Lakshmana …” She considered each part of the fruit to

represent the four brothers and their wives. She was very happy to have such

virtuous daughters–in–law like Sita, Urmila, Mandavi and Srutakeerthi. The

daughters-in-law also served their mothers-in-law with utmost love and care.The

four brothers and their wives always had a common mind. That is why the fame of

Ramarajya spread far and wide. Having been born in this sacred land of Bharat,

you should live like a true Bharatiya. Your heart should be filled with

sweetness. Do not avoid those who need your help, on the contrary you should

always wait for an opportunity to serve. This Thyaga Bhava (spirit of

sacrifice) can alone confer on you true Bhoga (happiness). Today we are

celebrating the sacred festival of Vijayadasami. People perform various rituals

during the nine days of Navaratri festival. We should hope and pray that every

day of our life should be as sacred as these nine days. Let us all move

together, let us all grow together, Let us all stay united and share our

knowledge,Let us live together with friendship and without disharmony.

(Telugu poem) Live in

unity, make proper use of your intelligence and give happiness to your parents.

When you lead your lives in this manner, every day will be a day of festivity

and celebration. The whole world will rejoice. I wish that you put into

practice all that you have learnt during these nine days. Be always cheerful.

Never put on a face as if in deep misery. I am happy that our boys never put on

a long face; they are always cheerful. From now onwards, forget all differences

and share your love with one and all. Serve all.Bhagavan concluded His

Discourse with the Bhajan, “Rama Rama Rama Sita …”

sourced: http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/vijayadashami_Discourse.htm

Link: http://web1.mtnl.net.in/~sairam