63) OṀ JĪVITĀRDHABO’DHAKABHŨMYAI NAMAH:

By- Devakinanda Ji

OṀ (AUM)-JII-VI-ṪAAR-DHA-BO'-DHA-KA- BHOO-MYAI-Ṇ—NA-MA-HA

ॐ जीवितार्थबोधकभूम्यै नमः

(Jīviṫa: Life; Ardha: Meanining; Bodhaka: That which teaches)

What is born has to die. Anything that has form and shape has to degrade over time. The question is how one has lived his life or how long he has lived? The vanity toward their bodies, their desire for longevity, and material indulgence the westerns have; you don't see anywhere else on the planet.

Follow NewsGram on Facebook to stay updated.

Our scriptures and sacred texts teach us that there are 8.4 million species born and every living being that is born, indeed dies. Human life is the highest species because of awareness and a human has the opportunity to redeem himself or herself in this life with the free will given to them. We have the faculties of action, freewill, and the power of knowledge. These faculties make humans different than all the other animals, which are programmed to eat, procreate and sleep. Our ancient spiritual scientists (sages, rishis, and seers) educated us to think about the temporary nature of our bodies. We take it for granted that we live forever; even as we see people around us dying. Still we live in a delusion, thinking that we won't die and will live happily ever after. But our rishis constantly remind us that we should work towards liberation while living in this body (jēvanmukta).

ALSO READ: Hindu Temples Vandalised In Bangladesh's

Only our sacred texts like the Vedas and Upanishads can answer deep philosophical questions like: what is the purpose of our universe? The reason for our lives? the meaning and purpose of life? You may not find the answers in any other religion. Our philosophy does not stop at going to heaven after death, but discusses very thoroughly karma, rebirth, and liberation. Our Vedas discuss how to get out of the wheel of birth and death (punarapi jananam; punarapi maraṇam). They laid down dharmasūtrās (do's and don'ts) for us to live by. They clearly explain about heaven (if you believe in and desire it) and the journey the jīva (pure spirit) takes after the death of the gross body, based on the results of our actions while alive. Vedas have established the four purushārthās (dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣha) as the goals of life.

Hence, our land is the one which teaches the ends to be striven for by human beings and is 'Jīvitārdhabodhaka Bhūmi'.