Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 38

 

 

38) OṀ DHANYA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

      OṀ (AUM) - DHA - NYA - BHOO- MYAI-

                                               -NA--MA- HA

 

(Dhanya: means- fortunate, blessed, happy, thankful, glorious, opulent)

 

 

 

Great devotee Sri Ramadās sang many kērtanās (devotional songs) on Lord Rāma. One of the famous ones is 'Tāraka mantramu korina dorikenu, dhanyudanaitini Orannā" (meaning 'I got the tārakamantram and I am blessed'). Our mātrubhōmi has blessed so many of saints and devotees with vedāntic and spiritual knowledge. We also use the word 'dhanyavād' to thank someone. In terms of ādhyātmikam, jnānam, mantram, yogam, daivikam, upāsanam, bhāvam, yajnam, loukikam; like this in so many angles our ancient sages analyzed any situation of our lives and imparted that knowledge to us to help us advance spiritually. That is the uniqueness we find in our purāṇās and itihāsās like Rāmāyaṇam and Mahābhāratam. At the peak of spiritual height, in a state of bliss a devotee utters "I am blessed" (I have attained 'dhanyata').

 

It is not an exaggeration in saying that we have done good karma in our previous lives in order to be born as human beings, that too in India and that too as a Hindu. Because the knowledge of Brahman in Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavadgīta, Brahma Sūtrās and Dharma śāstrās are available to us in order to accomplish the ultimate human pursuit of moksha (total liberation from the cycle of transmigratory existence of birth and death). That's why every Hindu feels that his life has attained that dhanyata. God Himself incarnated as Lord Sri Krishna on our Bhārata Bhōmi and imparted us the essence of Vedas, Upanishads, and the Brahma Sūtrās in the celestial song 'Bhagavadgīta' and blessed all of us and the generations to come with spiritual knowledge. He taught the humanity Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga, in order to purify our minds and Jnāna Yoga, in order to burn all our karmas present, past and cumulated ones in order to attain moksham. In that aspect also, we are being blessed (dhanyulam).

 

Our ancient sages, rishis and seers performed religious austerities (tapas) in deep, thick forests with very strict and disciplined life styles for the welfare of humanity and for our auspiciousness. They heard the 'Veda mantras' during their deep meditations and passed on to us through teaching lineage (guru paramparaa). Without their kindness, selflessness, krupa, kāruṇyam, and dākshiṇyam, we wouldn't have been blessed with the vast, infinite, and eternal knowledge of the Vedas.

 

We can proudly say that our mother land is 'Dhanya Bhūmi'.