Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 14

 

14) OṀ AHIMSĀ BHŨMYAINAMAH:

      OṀ (AUM) - A- HIM- SAA - BHOO- MYAI- NA--MA- HA

 

             (Ahimsa: means 'non-violence')

 

 

 

Ahimsa or non-violence has been a highly extolled virtue throughout Indian history. In fact, it is as old as the Ṛigveda itself. Even during the Vedic period, when animal sacrifices existed and the animals were believed to attain heaven, the animal meant for immolation was made unconscious before being killed, so that it did not suffer. Prayers were offered and expiations done to ward off the effects of the sin of killing the animal which was inevitable in the sacrifices. In the Upanishads it was referred as an ethical discipline and emphasizes the need for cultivating compassion, the corollary of ahimsa. The Mahābhārata often calls 'ahimsa' the highest dharma (ahimsā paramo dharmah). The purāṇās and dharma sāstrās extol it in glowing terms. It is even termed as 'sanātanadharma' (the ancient religion) by some purāṇās and also described as the gateway to dharma. The Yogasutrās of Patanjali lists it as the first virtue to be cultivated by the aspirant for yoga.

 

Ahimsa means not injuring other living beings in thought (manasa), word (vācha) and deed (kriya). This is the ideal to be relentlessly pursued by those who have dedicated their lives to the realization of the ātman (the Self). For them it is a mahāvṛata (great vow). Inimical thoughts that one harbors against others harm both. This is a fact whether one concedes it or not, as all minds being parts of the one cosmic mind, are interconnected.

 

Ahimsa can never be practiced perfectly without its complement, love. They are two sides of the same coin. Anyone who has practiced it effectively radiates a wonderful atmosphere of peace. We have kicked out the British Empire from our native land without using any weapons and only with the power of ahimsa.   In Ṛigveda Saṃhita the mantra: māvoghnataṃā śapatamprati voce deva yantam- meaning 'return not blow for blow, nor curse for curse, neither meanness for base tricks. but 'Shower blessings instead'.  'Tit for tat' and 'eye for an eye' was not our attitude and was never taught by our ancient ṛishis, seers and sages. They not only emphasized the physical non-injury but also to practice verbal or mental non-violence. They claimed this ahimsa-non-violence, is our eternal law of righteousness.

Martin Luther King, Jr (MLK), being the disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and was inspired by Gandhi's writings -he fought against racial and color discrimination by Americans toward his black people and he brought social reform and justice to black people in USA.

 

This shows how ahimsa as part of our culture and dharma, brought independence to our country without wars or violence and stands as a pinnacle virtue for Hindus. Hence, our land is 'Ahimsā Bhūmi'.