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The Hindu way of life is such that it encompasses within its spiritual range all spheres of human activity. Those who might know even little of Hindu literature would be well aware of the diversity of subjects it contains. There are literatures on sciences like architecture (stapathyaved), Medicine (ayurved), Music (ghandarvaved), Aviation (vaimanik shaastra) and many more. The Hindu seers always had something very valuable to write on all those subjects which were of prime importance to society. 

The Hindu spiritual masters and thinkers believed in assimilating within its spiritual fold all that which is of absolute necessity for the progress of Man and society. This is why in Hinduism we find Science in its spirituality and a spiritual touch to its sciences.  

Nationalism as we know it today is a necessary phenomenon for the success of every Nation. In other words it is the urge that motivates a national to strive for the success, prosperity and victory of his beloved Nation in all fields of national activity, whether war, economy or sports. 

This aspect of human life too was assimilated by our Seers into their spiritual fold. Rishi Aurobindo said,

“The country, whose young men are inspired by the glory of the past, pain of the present and dreams of the future, always moves on the path of progress”. 

Our own Param Poojaneya Guru ji once said,

“Life’s fulfillment lay in offering one’s entire being at the altar of the Motherland during the full bloom of one’s youth!” 

In Hindu spiritual philosophy bhakti is all about surrendering our petty desires, egos and attachments at the altar of our chosen object of worship or reverence. Whoever the chosen deity may be, our ultimate surrender to it will relieve us from our body-consciousness and its vices – anger, greed, jealousy, and lust. And this will result in our spiritual growth and take us nearer to the ultimate goal of Human life.  

It is therefore that in our history we find examples of Anusuya and Pundalika who attained great spiritual heights by surrendering themselves to husband and parents respectively. However it is up to the individual to choose one’s own object of worship or reverence. 

According to our spiritual masters our Motherland is also one such great deity. Maharishi Aurobindo visualized India as the living manifestation of the Divine Mother of the universe, Jaganmatha, the Adishakti the Mahamaya and the Mahadurga, who has assumed concrete form to enable us to see her and worship her. 

Swami Vivekananda has said, "If there is any land on this earth that can lay claim to be the blessed Punyabhoomi, to be the land to which every soul that is wending its way Godward must come to attain its last home, it is Bharat." 

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee described Mother India as the manifestation of Goddess Durga, in his poem ‘Vande mataram’.  

Our philosopher-poet Rabindranath Tagore eulogised India as:

(The enchanting Goddess of the world………….. Her feet washed by the blue waters of the oceans) 

Hindutva: A blend of spirituality & nationalism 

In Hindutva we find a perfect blend of spirituality and nationalism. It is in other words, ‘Bharatiya-oriented’ nationalism. Unlike the territorial nationalism of the pseudo-seculars, Hindutva recognizes the ancient Hindu culture as an indispensable part of Bharat. Also being the oldest living civilization of the world its people have the right to represent India by her ancient way of life. As Doctor ji too believed that if Hinduism perished from the subcontinent, it would not be relevant to refer to the mere geographical entity that remains as India. Thus a true Bharatiya or Indian nationalist realizes that what we call by the name of Hinduism is the soul of India. 

The concept of ‘swayamsevak’ can also be understood from the spiritual perspective. Holding the Mother land as the object of worship and reverence a swayamsevak voluntarily like any other devotee chooses to devote some of his time and energies for the service of the deity – his Mother land. Then like we have some ascetics who renounce the worldy attachments and devote their life at the service of the Lord, we have the pracharaks (full-time swayamsevaks) who choose to devote all their time and energies to serve the Mother land. While doing the work undertaken by the swayamsevak he is expected to brush aside his petty desires and egos and come together along with his fellowmen and women to work for the progress of society and nation. There may be times when things are said or done which may hurt his ego, but he is expected to exercise restrain keeping in mind the interests and well-being of the society. We find this attitude very similar to a Saint who when faced with angry or upsetting circumstances remembers his deity and silences himself.  

Thus there is no doubt that Hindutva too is a spiritual path and a true swayamsevak who commits himself to the cause would progress spiritually. Today this land of ours once revered by our sages & seers as the Dharmabhoomi, Mokshabhoomi, Punnyabhoomi, Devbhoomi, is facing its worst crisis of cultural invasion. Its integrity too is endangered. At a time like this the children of this great Mathrubhoomi of ours who devote themselves to remove her from these miseries would be performing the greatest ‘Tapasya’ of the Kali Yuga. And also the much needed one. 

Chinmay Bajekal

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