Ashtottaram 48) OṀ JANMABHOOMYAI NAMAH

By- Devakinanda Pasupuleti

Janma-bhūmi is defined in the "Indian epigraphical glossary" as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prākrit, or Dravidian languages. Janma-bhūmi: – gift of land, probably made for the lifetime of a person.

Ashtottaram 48) OṀ JANMABHOOMYAI NAMAH:

OṀ (AUM)-JAN-MA-BHOO-MYAI—NA-MA- HA

ॐ जन्मभूम्यै नमः

(Janma: Birth, origin)

Follow NewsGram on LinkedIn to know what's happening around the world.

It was a profound statement when Swami Vivekānanda said, 'Nā Bhārata Bhūmi-Amara Bhūmi' ('my Bhārata land is eternal land'). It is crystal clear that it is our fortune to be born on this land. This is the land that showed tolerance, non-violence, kindness to foreigners and became vulnerable to their invasions and lost all its wealth to their barbaric, brutal, shameless, and inhumane behavior. Despite that, we know of the heroic, patriotism of our freedom fighters like Shivāji, KhadgaTikkana, Rāṇī Ruḋrama ḋevi, Alluri Sītarāmarāju, Ajit Singh and many more who stood against the foreigners and lost their lives. Mahatmā Gandhi, Vallabhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others, with their political skills and non-violence, kicked out the British rulers from our mātrubhūmi.

There are many movies and patriotic songs about our motherland in every Indian language. The most famous one of all is Mother India. I remember some movie songs in Telugu sung by the great singer Ghantasāla. One was picturized on an army soldier, on his way home: 'Nā Janma Bhūmi -Enṫo Anḋamaina Ḋeśamu, Māvūru anḋulona kammanīi praḋeśamu, Nāsāmi Rangāa' (My birth land is a very beautiful country and in that my village is a sweet place'). Another was a song by Allūri Sītaramarāju, to awaken patriotism in people:-'Telugu vēralevarā, ḋēkṣhapōni sāgarā; Ḋesamāṫa śvecchakori ṫirugubātu cheyarā' ('Wake up Oh Telugu warrior! Proceed with courage and fight to bring independence to our motherland'). Like this, there are so many songs in every Indian language to inspire patriotism. When we hear these songs we feel deep unexplained joy and the hair stands straight on our skin.

ALSO READ: Ashtottaram 47) OṀ MĀTRUBHŨMYAI NAMAH

There are so many foreign scientists, writers, and scholars who came to our motherland in order to get spiritual inspiration and also to pay tribute to our culture and way of living. There were some physicists who never went to bed without reading a verse from the Bhagavaḋgīita. Famous American writer Mark Twain visited India several times and spent days and weeks near the banks of the Ganga. He said 'If there is another life for me, I would rather be born as a beggar on the Ganges shores'.

'Jananī Janma Bhoomischa, Swargādapi Garēyaśi' -there is nothing more fulfilling than being born as a Hindu and as an Indian. I am a proud Hindu, and I am proud that Bhārata Bhūmi is my Janma Bhūmi and I owe a lot for this opportunity. Hence it is- 'Janma Bhūmi'.