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It is true that Vande
Mataram blossomed forth in Anandamath, but it is
even more true that it was Bankim's intention
that it should blossom forth beyond Anandamath.
For Vande Mataram, the song, was composed before
Anandamath was written.
How Bankim saw the
wonderful vision that worked as a most powerful
spiritual lever in the movement for his country's
liberation, how he immortalised that vision in
the hymn are not fully known. But this much is
known that one auspicious moment arrived, in
1875, when Bankim took a holiday to escape from
the hectic life of Calcutta. He boarded a train
bound for his native town
Kantalapada.
As the city left behind, there was greenry all
around and his heart filled with joy. The
contemplation of the motherland with her rich
rivers, flowers, fruits and forests sent a
pulsating current through Bankim. In that
instant the sod was turned into divinity by
magic. His eyes and ears
became
alert, hungry. His inner eye beheld the
motherland in all her rich variety and beauty;
his inner ear listened to voices from the earth,
the air and the sky. And Nature begot her song!
She gave it to benevolent Bankim! He bowed and
received the gift. And then he reduced it to
writing, as one who
saw and
heard the whole of it.
Vande Mataram!
Those lakes, and rivers,
the sacred Ganga, Jamuna, Godavari, Saraswati,
Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri; and those groves laden
with fruits of many kinds, a very paradise on
earth; and the soft breeze which gently kisses as
it passes by; and the endless greenry....
Sujalam suphalam Malayaja
sheetalam Sasya shyamalam Mataram!
And the land bathed in
moonlight, trees and creepers gay with tender
leaves and flowers, the sweet smile and melodious
voice.....
Shubhra jyotsna
pulakitayamineem Phullakusumita
drumadala shobhineem Suhasineem
sumadhura bhashineem Sukhadam,
varadam Mataram!
And the leonine roar that
issues from multi-million throats; the blinding
flash of millions of swords leaping up in an
instant; and the spectacle of unfettered strength
triumphantly trampling the enemy under its
elephantine foot....
Koti koti kantha kalakala
ninadakarale Koti koti
bhujairdhrutakharakaravale Ke
bale ma tumi abale Bahubala
dharineem Namami tarineem Ripudala
varineem Mataram!
The ancient land of giver
of the Vedas, and those centers of devotion,
power and knowledge....
Tumi vidhya tumi dharma
Tumi hridi tumi marma
Twam hi pranah shareere
Bahute tumi ma shakti
Hridaye tumi ma bhakti
Tomarayi pratima gadi
Mandire mandire!
Jaya Durgi....Sri
Lakshmi....Sri Saraswati... motherland! the
Goddess incarnate
Twam hi Durga
dashapraharana dharinee Kamala
kamaladala viharinee Vani
vidyadayinee Namami twam
Namami kamalam Amalam
atulam Sujalam suphalam Mataram
Vande Mataram!
The one evergreen, ever
new, and endowed with riches of many kinds....
Shyamalam saralam Susmitam
bhushitam Dharaneem bharaneem
Mataram!
The song was born, Bankim
put the infant in the cradle of Anandamath. He
knew the great promise of the infant. The prophet
was aware of the historic role it would play in
times to come. |
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