Bharatavarsha—a country adjacent to Meru: north of the sea and south of the
Himalayas: nine divisions of; S. to N. 1000 Yojanas, from Kumari to the
Ganges' source: E. to W. 9000 Yojanas: the Kirātas were on the East and the
Yavanas on the West: slowly the four castes grew; seven Kulaparvatas; was
peopled by the Aryas and the Mlecchas and fed by a number of rivers of ever
flowing waters like the Ganges, Sindhu: contains a number of kingdoms and
tribes: four Yugas in. Bharata (भरत) (or Bhāratakṣetra, Bhāratavarṣa)
refers to one of the seven zones of Jambūdvīpa which is situated in the
“middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.2.—Accordingly:—“Now,
there are 7 zones here in Jambūdvīpa: Bhārata, Haimavata, Harivarṣa,
Videha, Ramyaka, Hairaṇyavata, and Airāvata from south to north. Making the
division between these there are 7 mountain-ranges, bounding the zones:
Himavat, Mahāhimavat, Niṣadha, Nīla, Rukmin, and Śikharin with equal
diameter at the base and top. [...] In the zone named Bhārata there are the
great rivers, Gaṅgā and Sindhu; [...] The first of each pair flows to the
east and the second to the west. [...]”.
2 Bharata (भरत): Means "to be or being maintained"). Bharat may be
a name of Agni
a name of Rudra
one of the Adityas
Emperor Bharata, son of Dushyanta and Shakuntalā
Bharata (Ramayana), a son of Dasharatha, younger brother of Rama
Bharata Muni, the author of the Natyashastra
Bharata (Bhagavata), the eldest of a hundred sons of a saintly king by name
Rishabha Deva according to the Bhagavata purana.
Bhārata (भारत): Meaning ("descended from Bharata"). Bhārata may refer to
The Bhāratas, an Aryan tribe of the Rigveda
an early epic forming the core of the Mahabharata (allegedly comprising
about a quarter of the extended epic)
the Republic of India (properly, Bhārata GaNarājya, भारत गणराज्य).
3 Bharata (भरत) or Bhāratavarṣa refers to a region of Jambūdvīpa:
the first continent of the Madhya-loka (middle-word), according to the
2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.10. It is named after supreme lord
(cakravarti) Bharata. The Bharata region is surrounded by Himavāna Mount in
the north, and an ocean in the south, east and west directions.
Bhāratakṣetra is divided in six subcontinents by the Vijayārdha Mountain
range in the middle and the rivers Ganga and Sindhu flowing from north to
south. The mountain chain Himavana separates the Bharata and Haimavata
regions. Gaṅga and Sindhu rivers divide Bharata-kṣetra. Bharata, Airāvata
and Videha except Uttarakuru and Devakuru are the regions of labour i.e.
where spiritual effort is possible also. There are 15 regions of labour in
the Two-and-half continents (dhāi-dvīpa) namely; five in Bharata, five in
Airāvata and five in Videha regions. The region where the inhabitants
engage themselves in the six activities /occupations are called region of
labour. The Human beings living in the regions of labour are called
inhabitants of the region of labour (karmabhūmija). Jambūdvīpa (containing
the Bharata region) is in the centre of all continents and oceans; all
continents and oceans are concentric circles with Jambūdvīpa in the centre.
Like the navel is in the centre of the body, Jambūdvīpa is in the centre of
all continents and oceans. Sumeru Mount is in the centre of Jambūdvīpa. It
is also called Mount Sudarśana.
4 “The Bharatās seeking cattle passed over; the sage enjoyed the
favour of the rivers; streams dispensing food, productive of wealth, spread
abundance, fill (your beds), flow swiftly.”
अतारिषुः । भरताः । गव्यवः । सम् । अभक्त । विप्रः । सुमतिम् । नदीनाम् । प्र
। पिन्वध्वम् । इषयन्तीः । सुराधा । आ । वक्षणाः । पृणध्वम् । यात । शीभम् ॥{RV
3.33.12
atāriṣuḥ | bharatāḥ | gavyavaḥ | sam | abhakta | vipraḥ | su-matim |
nadīnām | pra | pinvadhvam | iṣayantīḥ | su-rādhā | ā | vakṣaṇāḥ |
pṛṇadhvam | yāta | śībham
5 Geographical Data: The Bhūmi varga gives some information on the
geographical data. Amarakośa gives such synonyms as–the earth–bhūmi; the
world–jagatī; India–Bhārata, the subdivisions of the Bhārata varṣa,
Janapada–an inhabited country and a country–Deśa.
(a) Bhūḥ–[Earth:] Amarakośa gives 39 words to denote the earth.
Kṣīrasvāmin explains that the word Bhūḥ etymologically signifies that
'everything is born out of this' and that the word is an indeclinable–
bhavatyasmātsarvaṃ bhūḥ, rephāntaṃ tvavyayaṃ, yathā—bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ |
(b) Bhārata varṣa (II. 7. 7; p. 71)–[India:]
Amarakośa does not provide any other details of this country. Kṣīrasvāmin
give additional information on the same with regard to its geographical or
continental positions. He mentions that Bhārata varṣa is ninth portion of
the sub-continent, Jambūdvīpa[1]. It is named after king Bharata.
The other eight countries[2] of the Jambūdvīpa are named as–
āyaṃ jambūdvīpanavamāṃśo bharatasya kṣatriyasyedaṃ bhārataṃ nāma varṣaṃ
bhūmyekadeśaḥ tathā ca—himavāṃhemakūṭaśca niṣadho merurantare | nīlaḥ
śvetaśca śṛṅgīvān gandhamādanamaṣṭamamiti
sīmāvicchinnānyanyānīlavṛttādīnyaṣṭau varṣāṇi |
119 Vyāsa bhāṣya on Pātañjala yoga sūtra (III. 26) mentions seven
continents–Jambū, Śaka, Kuśa, Kraunca Śālmala, Magadha and Puśkara.
120 ibid., mentions seven varṣas–Ramaṇaka, Hiraṇmaya, Uttarakuru,
Harivarṣa, Kimpuruṣa, Bhārata and Ilāvṛta
The divisions of Bhāratavarṣa (II. 1. 8-9; p.71): The eastern region is
defined by Amarakośa as the region falling to the south of the river
Śarāvatī, the northern as that which is to the west of the river Śarāvatī;
and the middle region as madhyadeśa.
Explaining the madhyadeśa, Kṣīrasvāmin quote Manu (2/21)–
yanmanuḥ—
himavadvindhyayorantaryatprāgvinaśanādapi |
pratyageva prayāgācca madhyadeśaḥ prakīrtitaḥ |
(c) Āryāvarta (II. 1. 9; p. 71)–
Amarakośa defines this region as the puṇyabhūmi, holy place, the region
between the Himālayas and Vindhya.
Kṣīrasvāmin supplements the statement of Amarakośa, quoting Manu's text
(II. 22)
“The land lying between the eastern and western seas and included between
the Vindhya and the Himālayas is called Āryāvarta”–
āsamudrāttu vai pūrvādāsamudrāttu paścimāt |
tayorevāntaraṃ giryorāryāvartaṃ vidurbudhāḥ ||
6 Story of Āryāvarta: A king of the dynasty of Viśvakarmā.
Genealogy. Descending in order from Viṣṇu are Brahmā, Dharma, Prabhāsa,
Viśvakarmā, Priyavrata, Agnīdhra, Nābhi, Ṛṣabha and Āryāvarta. Of these Ṛṣabha
got of his wife Jayantī twenty sons: Bharata, Kuśāvarta, Ilāvarta,
Brahmāvarta, Aryāvarta Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indraspṛk, Vidarbha,
Kīkaṭa, Kavi, Hari, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Dramiḍa,
Camasa and Karabhājana. Of these Bharata ruled over this land and gave it
the name Bhārata. Brothers of Bharata ruled different parts of this land.
Dramiḍa’s land became known later as Drāviḍa (Dakṣiṇabhārata).
7 from sanatkumara samhita
In the three worlds the most fortunate place is the earthly planets. The
best of them is Jambudvīpa. In Jambudvīpa the best place is Bhārata-varṣa.
In Bhārata-varṣa the best place is Mathurā-purī.
8 from Vishnu Purana
THE country that lies north of the ocean, and south of the snowy mountains,
is called Bhārata, for there dwelt the descendants of Bharata. It is nine
thousand leagues in extent, and is the land of works, in consequence of
which men go to heaven, or obtain emancipation.The seven main chains of
mountains in Bhārata are Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimat, Rikṣa, Vindhya,
and Pāripātra.From this region heaven is obtained, or even, in some cases,
liberation from existence; or men pass from hence into the condition of
brutes, or fall into hell. Heaven, emancipation, a state in mid-air, or in
the subterraneous realms, succeeds to existence here, and the world of acts
is not the title of any other portion of the universe.The Varṣa of Bhārata
is divided into nine portions, which I will name to you; they are
Indra-dvīpa, Kaserumat, Tāmravarṇa, Gabhastimat, Nāga-dvīpa, Saumya,
Gandharva, and Vāruṇa; the last or ninth Dvīpa is surrounded by the ocean,
and is a thousand Yojanas from north to south.
9 From Brahmanda Purana
I shall recount to you all the subjects here in the Bhārata Varṣa.This is a
mysterious sub-continent in the middle (of the universe) where the fruits
(of Karimas) are enjoyed whether auspicious or mauspicious.The
sub-continent that is to the north of the ocean as well as to the south of
the Himavān, is called the sub-continent of Bhārata where the subjects are
Bhāratī (pertaining to Bhārata).
10 From Brahma Purana
To the north of ocean and to the South of Himālayas is the sub-continent
Bhārata. The subjects are called Bhāratis.O leading sages, its extent is
nine thousand Yojanas. This is the land of holy rites to those who opt for
heavenly pleasure and absolution.The seven Kulaparvatas are Mahendra,
Malaya, Sahya, Śūktimān, Ṛkṣa, Vindhya and Pāriyātra .It is from here, O
brahmins, that the heaven is attained; one attains absolution too from
here, men attain the state of different species of animals or fall in hell
from here alone.It is from here alone that men go to heaven or realize
absolution at the end of their series of birth. Nowhere else on the earth
are holy rites prescribed for men. Listen to the nine divisions of this
sub-continent. The are Indradvīpa, Kaserumān, Tāmraparṇa, Gabhastimān,
Nāgadvīpa, Saumya, Gāndharva and Vāruṇa.Bhārata, the ninth among them, is
an island encircled by the ocean. This island extends from South to North a
thousand Yojanas.
11 Listen, O brahmins, the Bhārata sub-continent has nine sub-divisions
which are separated by oceans. They are equal to one another.They are
Indradvīpa, Kaseru, Tāmravarṇa (? Tāmraparṇa), Gabhastimān, Nāgadvīpa,
Saumya, Gandharva and Varuṇa. Bhārata surrounded by the ocean is the ninth
among them. The island extends from south to north and is one thousand
Yojanas long.In the east of it, the Kirātas stay. The Yavanas stay in the
west. O brahmins, the Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras stay in the
middle.They are sanctified by holy rites and worldly pursuits as sacrifice,
warfare, trading. Their general behaviour is intelligible through their
activities, which cause heavenly pleasures and liberation. They incur merit
and sin thereby.There are seven Kula mountains viz., Mahendra, Malaya,
Sahya, Śūktimān, Ṛkṣa, Vindhya and Pāriyātra. There are thousauds of other
mountains nearby. They are vast, lofty and beautiful. They are immense.
Their ridges are of wonderful and variegated nature. They are Kolāhala,
Vaibhrāja, Mandara, Dardala, Vātādhvaga, Daivata, Maināka, Surasa,
Tuṅgaprastha, Nāga, Godhana, Pāṇḍura, Puṣpa, Vaijayanta, Raivata, Arbuda,
Ṛṣyamūka, Gomantha, Kṛtaśaila, Śrī Cakora and hundreds of other mountains.
The populated realms are interspersed with these mountains. The Mlecchas
live in parts of this territory. Excellent waters of these rivers are drunk
by those people. O excellent brahmins, know these rivers.The following
rivers rise from the foot of the Himavān:—Gaṅgā, Sarasvatī, Sindhu,
Candrabhāgā, Yamunā, Śatadrū, Vipāśā, Vitastā, Airāvatī, Kuhū, Gomatī,
Dhūtapāpā, Bāhudā, Dṛṣadvatī, Devikā, Cakṣu, Niṣṭhīvā, Gaṇḍakī and Kauśikī.
12 From shiv purana
I shall explain the Bhāratavarṣa. South of the Himālaya mountain and north
of the ocean is the land of Bharata. O great sage, its extent is nine
thousand Yojanas. This is the land of sacred rites for attaining heaven and
salvation. So say the wise people. Heaven and hell are attained by men from
here only. I shall mention nine subdivisions of the Bhārata Varṣa to
you.Indradyumna, Kaseru, Tāmravarṇa Gabhastimat, Nāgadvīpa, Saumya,
Gandharva, Vāruṇa and the ninth is the sub-continent Sāgarasambhṛta. This
sub-continent lies North to South extending to a thousand Yojanas.To the
east of Bhārata live the Kirātas,to the south the Yavanas; to the west
Khaśas and to the north the ascetics.In the middle live the Brahmins,
Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras maintaining themselves by sacrifices,
battles, merchandise and service. There are seven Kulaparvatas viz
Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Sudāmā, Ṛkṣaparvata, Vindhya and Pāriyātra.O sage,
Vedas, Smṛtis, Purāṇas and other things issue from Pāriyātra. They dispel
all sins, it should be known, by their very sight or touch.The great rivers
issuing from Vindhya are seven, such as Narmadā, Surasā etc, and thousands
of smaller ones are all auspicious. They quell all sins. Godāvarī,
Bhīmarathī, Tāpī, and other important rivers issue from the mountain Ṛkṣa.
They dispel fear of sins immediately.The rivers Kṛṣṇā Veṇī and others issue
from Sahya Kṛtamālā, Tāmraparṇī and others issue from Malaya.Triyāmā,
Ṛṣikulyā and others issue from Mahendra. Ṛṣikulyā, Kumārī and others issue
from Śuktimat.
13 The Continent of Bharata extends to one thousand yojanas from
north to south.
There are nine divisions of the Bharata lying around the central part.
The Kirātas (tribal groups) are in The East. {have you heard
Kirataarjuniyam?} (Todays Russia, VOLGA river means in Sanskrit Ganga
Indian name})
The Yavanas (foreigners) are in The West.{ Greece}
The Brahmanas and others devoted to the Vedas and smrtis are in the central
part.
The rivers rise from the Pāriyātra Mountains.
Narmadā and other rivers flow from the Vindhya.
Tāpī, Payoṣṇikā, Godāvarī, Bhīmarathī and Krishnaveni and others flow from
the Sahya Mountains.
The rivers Krtamala and others flow from the Malaya Mountains.
The rivers Trisāmā and others originate from the Mahendra Mountain.
The rivers Kumāra and others rise from Śuktimat mountain.
The river Candrabhāgā rises from the Himālaya Mountains.
The countries Kuru and Panchala and the Madhya-desha are situated in the
Western Part. – Agni Purana 118.5 – 8
14 Hindutva literally means Indian-ness. The core of India and
Indianness is found in Vedas which is allegiance towards land of
Sapta-Sindhu and culture and civilization of Sapta-Sindhu. The definition
which Veer Savarkar gives for the word Hindu is
आसिंधु सिन्धु पर्यन्ता यस्य भारत भूमिका l पितृभू पुण्यभू च एव स वै
हिन्दुरिती स्मृतः ll
- One who refers to the Indian subcontinent as Bhaarat and considers
Bhaarat as his fatherland (or motherland) and most revered land
(Punyabhoomi) is a Hindu.
This concept of revered land has its origin in the term of "Sapta-Sindhu"
which is widely cited in Vedic and post-Vedic literature.
This concept and high reverence of Sapta-Sindhu is central concept of Vedic
literature. The most interesting part of Bhaaratiya civilization is the
process in which the radius of this Sapta-Sindhu region increased and
expanded with time.
The original Sapta-Sindhu region in early hymns of Rigveda comprises of 5
rivers of Punjab, Saraswati(in Rajasthan) and Kubha (Kabul) river in NWFP.
This land is glorified as Sapta-Sindhu. The dwellers of this land are Arya
people who are pure, rich, righteous and civilized men on earth who are
Kavis (poets) composing beautiful literature and performing grand Yagnas to
please their mighty Devas.
In later Rigveda, in nadi-stuti sukta of 10th mandala, the Sapta-Sindhu
region includes Ganga and Yamuna as well. Thus, now, this idea of
Sapta-Sindhu, its culture and civilzation comprised of entire north Indian
plains, from Bengal to NWFP.
In Puranic times post Rigveda, new Sapta-Sindhu concept became popular with
time. This is seen in famous verse
गंगेच यमुनेचैव गोदावरी सरस्वती l नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरी जलेस्मिन सन्निधिम
कुरु ll
Now, Sapta-Sindhu includes the region of Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari,
Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. Basically, entire Indian
subcontinent. Interestingly, the rivers west of Sindhu were no longer
considered as part of Sapta Sindhu region. This expansion has to be seen
with its connection with shift from Indra to Trinity elaborated in Part-1
of this series.
Sapta-Sindhu is the term which gave birth to the word "Hindu". The
Civilization of Sapta-Sindhu was referred to as Hapta-Hindu by Persians and
other outsiders. The people of this region and culture, the
Sapta-Saindhavas were referred to as hapta-Haindavas by Persians and other
outsiders. All these terms are found in Zend Avesta of Zoroastrians.
In all its context, Sapta-Sindhu has been the homeland of Sapta-Saindhavas
(Bhaaratiyas). This has been the Punya-Bhoomi (revered land) of them. This
has been the Pitrubhoomi and Matrubhoomi for them.
Thus, the very concept and identity of India or Bhaarat originated from
land of seven legendary rivers and expands with the same. The concept of
Bhaarat was Punjab and adjacent areas during Vedic war of ten kings where
Sudas is a king of Bhaarata and Sapta Sindhu. The concept of Bhaarat in
Vishnupuran was same as pan-subcontinental identity of Sapta-Sindhu.
One more defining feature which was preserved all throughout the history of
our civilization is the sense of supremacy of Arya over Anaarya people. The
famous quotation of कृण्वन्तो विश्वं आर्यम (lets make the whole world
"Arya" or civilized) denotes the same fact. Vedic memes did that, by
extending the status of "civilized/Aarya" to all the residents of Indian
subcontinent who accepted the Dharmic way of life. The land of
"Arya/civilized" automatically became Sapta-Sindhu and hence Bhaarat.
Howmuchever it is denied, this identity of civilized Arya people and
barbaric Anaarya people still exists, with different names and in subtle
forms in the subconscious psyches of Indian population.
Owing to this, sadly, Muslims and Christians are still considered as
Anaarya and Mlenchha by certain section of orthodox Indic people. Same is
true about certain section of Muslim population as well which propounded
and propagated two-nation theory, which resulted in partition of India in
1947. This exclusivity perhaps worked in medieval times, for good or for
evil, with Muslims and Christians of foreign origin. Indian Muslims and
Indian Christians, especially in post independence era, are as much Indians
as Indian Non-Abrahamics are. Hence, this strategy needs to be changed and
updated.
The concept of Arya needs to be extended to IM and IC who understand,
appreciate and follow the concept of Dharma and delineate and differentiate
their personal faiths of attaining Moksha from pursuit of
Dharma-Artha-Kaama in day-to-day life. This differentiation is of utmost
importance in Indian context. Separation of Dharma and Moksha is the true
definition of secularism in Indian context.
This origin and the true meaning of the terms "Dharma" and "Arya" and
identities of "Sapta-Sindhu", "Bhaarat" should be explained thoroughly to
every single resident of Indian subcontinent. This will generate an
enormous selective pressure on Indianization and assimilation of Abrahamic
memes into mainstream Indic society.
Just like followers of Abrahamic ideologies should Indianize themselves,
the followers of Indic ideologies must increase their inclusiveness and
expand their idea of Sapta-Sindhu once again. Christians and Muslims in
India will be able to retain their Christianity and Islam as personal paths
of achieving Moksha/Salvation without letting it interfere with their
pursuits of Dharma-Artha-Kaama of daily life in society.
If this happens, who knows, perhaps Tigris, Euphrates and Jordan rivers
will become part of Sapta-Sindhu 500 years from now.....””
15 The past to the future of BHARATHAM is so ancient, sanathana and
wide K Rajaram IRS 6 9 23
On Wed, 6 Sept 2023 at 11:36, 'N Sekar' via iyer123 <
[email protected]> wrote:
> Forwarded from a video I received in w app:
>
>
>
> Bharat is a Sanskrit name.
>
> "Bharat come from TWO Sanscrit root words - bha and rat
>
> Bha means "Gyan Roopi Prakash" or Knowledge.
>
> Rat means lipta hua - continuously involved
>
> Meaning, one who is constantly engaged in the search of knowledge.
>
> And that's why
>
> We had people who were highly knowledgeable, spiritual and enlightened
> beings."
>
> But many of us are against using this name for whatever reason.
>
> We are so scared to even say Bharat Mata ki Jai.
>
> Jai Hind, Bharat Mata ki Jai.
>
>
> N Sekar
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
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> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/210152722.4405251.1693980397533%40mail.yahoo.com
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/210152722.4405251.1693980397533%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
> .
>
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