Sri Bharatamata

 Ashtottaram 60

 

 

 

60) OṀ KAḶANKAṀ RAHITA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

      OṀ (AUM) - KA-ḶAN-KAṀ- RA-HI-TA- BHOO- MYAI- NA-- MA- HA

 

(Kaḷankaṁ: means- stigma, defective, impure, sin, contaminated, tainted, opprobrium;

                                                                            Rahita: means-absent, devoid of)

 

 

Kaḷankaṁ is opposite of purity, meaning- impure, contaminated and defective. The word is used in several senses such as: defective, stigma, fault, sin, impure, dosham, tainted, vice, crime, disrespect, abuse, evil and contamination. However, it is used in a technical sense too, in certain fields ofknowledge. In our Vedic literature we see words like Pavitram, Pavitrata in the opposite sense of kaḷankaṁ; both carrying the same meaning and implications. We, as Hindus, see everything as pure and equate with God in an implied meaning that every atom at microscopic level is part of the Supreme Power (Bhagavān) and to be qualified as God-  He must be Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent. Having this knowledge and understanding, the Hindus see the presence of God in living as well as non-living objects and have a 'pure- kaḷankaṁ rahita bandham'.

 

In Vedas and Purāṇās, we have epics portray Lord Sri Ramachandra Murty without any defects and His marriage relationship with Sīta was described as kaḷankarahitam. He was glorified as the one who strictly observed the 'Ekapatnī Vratam' meaning-'one wife as life partner' and the reason being that as a king He is allowed to marry as many women as He can, but even when Sīta was abducted by the demon- Rāvaṇa and he kept her in his palace for a year, and Sri Rama did not look at another woman. The same credit goes to His consort and wife Sīta, who came out of Agni (pile of fire) as a shiny diamond proving her chastity and kaḷankarahitam to the world. Our sacred literature is full of these incidents and our dharmaśāstrās enjoins what to be Kaḷankaṁ, that brings defection to one's purity. They advise purity in our thought, speech and actions showing the strict rules of a Vedic person. You need 'purity of the mind and clarity of the knowledge' is the Vedas teaching.

 

There are many relationships we have as an individual. Some are pure and kaḷankarahitam, as opposed to other relationships, like with another woman who is not your wife. Relationship between husband and wife; brother and sister; father and daughter; parents and children; between siblings; the teacher and the student; among the friends; and last but not least, between a devotee and his desired, beloved and personal god are considered kaḷankarahitam.

As a country, in the history of mankind, we have never waged war against another country with the intension of occupancy and robbing their wealth, or forcefully convert them to our religion. We do not have that kaḷatram on our hands or in our hearts.

 

Our land is ' Kaḷankaṁ Rahita Bhūmi'.