• Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s words, this FAQ gives reasons why India is called Punya Bhumi. 

Why is India called Punya Bhumi is a question that got me inquisitive. I share answers in this article.  

Swami Vivekananda spoke, “If there is any land on this earth that can lay claim to be the blessed Punya Bhumi, to be the land to which souls on this earth must come to account for their Karma, the land to which every soul that is wending its way Godward must come to attain its last home, the land where humanity has attained its highest gentleness, towards generosity, towards purity, towards calmness, above all the land of introspection and of spirituality, it is India.” Lectures Colombo to Almora 3-4. 1

Swamiji added, “But we live. The same laws are here, laws adjusted and thought out through thousands and thousands of years; customs, the outcome of the acumen of ages and experience of centuries, that seem to be eternal.”CtoA 5.2 1

V Srinivas, author of Awakening the Nation-Rediscovering the spirit of India with Swami Vivekananda wrote, “All races contribute great ideas to humanity. But all races, except one have advanced their ideas by conquering other races. It is India alone that has shared her ideas without conquering others.” 1

“But India has endured through thousands of years-each misfortune, each experience making her stronger and more constant? 1

“India’s mission is to accumulate into itself all the spiritual energy of the race and share it with the world at the right time.” 1

India is a Civilizational state that stands for Spirituality and Diversity in Unity. Answers to these questions explains what makes India Punya Bhumi.

1. India exported its culture but not through the sword, earlier and today

Living examples of such export are Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan and Tibet. Proof is Indian symbols of cultural influence for e.g. Angkor Watt and Ramayana performances. Local people continue to treat India with love and respect to this date. During 1998 Kailash Yatra, the guesthouse caretaker took extra care of me since he said I had come from ‘Holy Land’. Indian Culture does not impose itself on others, it assimilates.

Six Days of India Heritage in Cambodia

Hindu Deities worshipped in Japan. Pic by Benoy K Behl. 

Yatra to Mount Bromeo, named by Lord Brahma. 

Exploring Temples of Java. U see Prambanan Shiv Temple, Java. 

Ramayana performances in Southeast Asia. Pic by Benoy K Behl.

White Tara, 17th century, Zanabazaar Museum, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Pic by Benoy K Behl.

Read  Six Days of India Heritage in Cambodia, Hindu Deities worshipped in Japan, Yatra to Mount Bromeo named after Lord Brahma, Exploring Temples of Java

People of these countries do not have animosity towards Indians as Indians have towards foreign invaders. The cultural and spiritual bond exists to this day. I met Thai ladies at Pushkar in 2018 and Japanese at Rajgir in 2012.

Starting the 19^th century India exported Spirituality, Yoga and Meditation to the West. This knowledge is used without copyright or payment of royalty.

Yoga in the West. 

Read  Ramakrishna Mission in the West became a Magnet for Intellectuals and Artists and Yoga and Meditation in the West

In the 21^st century, India shares the fruits of its efforts esp. in technology for e.g. UPI, to countries of the Global South and seeks resolution of conflict through dialogue instead of war. Even today, India’s defence preparedness is to protect itself or counter-attack its enemies, not be the first mover in war.

2. Why does Diversity in Unity exist in India?

The West (ChatGPT included) say India is the birthplace of four religions when actually India is home to nine Schools of Philosophy.  Philosophy is a western word that mainly relies on intellectual pursuit. The corresponding Indian word is Darsana that relies on direct vision of truths (experienced by ancient sages all over Bharat) and pure Buddhi (reasoning). One can choose any of these nine ways namely Nyaya, Vaisheshik, Sakhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta, Carvaka, Jaina and Buddha.

India has multiple schools of darsanas meaning ways to achieve self-realisation. Thus, Buddhist-Saivite-Jain caves co-exist at Ellora amongst other places.  They never fought like the Thirty Year’s War lasted from 1618 to 1648, “starting as a battle among the Catholic and Protestant states that formed the Holy Roman Empire.”

Thus, in a cultural sense the same Festival of Colours or Holi is celebrated in different ways across India. Read about it here Ditto about Dussehra

Because Indians accept there exist multiple ways to moksha, diversity in unity is intrinsic to their way of life. “Diversity in Unity’, because everything emerges from Oneness.” 3

Maharshi Aurobindo said in 1919, “Hinduism is in the first place a non-dogmatic inclusive religion and would have taken even Islam and Christianity into itself, if they had tolerated the process.” India’s Rebirth

3. Why are Indians Tolerant?

Simply put, they believe in co-existence.

Writing in 2018 about former President Mukherjee speech senior journalist Sandhya Jain wrote, “We believe in ‘Diversity in Unity’, because everything emerges from Oneness. Indian pluralism, or ‘sarv dharma sambhav’ (all faiths are harmonious) and ‘ekam sat, vipra bahuda vadanti’ (truth is one, the wise call it by many names) is rooted in this awareness.” Read  Our Cultural Legacy

When we accept the TRUTH is one, the source of conflict ceases to exist. It is also a reason why Indics do not convert.

4. Rig Veda verse says that let noble thoughts come from all sides

“In a hymn addressed to the Visvedevas (विश्वेदेवाः) in the Rig Veda, they prayed for noble thoughts from all directions.

आनो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वत: | ऋग्वेद – 1.89.1

कल्याणकारक विचार चारों ओर से हमारे पास आयें|

Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions.” Source

This verse implies Indics have an open mind and willing to hear points of view.

5. India is known for Spirituality. What does Spirituality mean to you?

For me, spirituality is a two-pronged approach --- the first is the need to look within yourself and the second is to be compassionate – to yourself and to others around you. Finally, my spirituality also stems from the fact that in life, I often remain detached --- I give my best to things and disassociate myself from the world --- I remain concerned, but not worried.

Spirituality also means accepting shortcomings and correcting myself. I am trying to improve myself rather than find fault with others. It also means having an open mind and listen to different points of view. For me spirituality is a combination of inward and outward looking that is powered by the Self or Atman. 2

6. What is it that APPLE founder Steve Jobs liked about Indian Spirituality?

When Apple Founder was looking for answers to the future of APPLE, he visited Neem Karoli Baba Ashram near Nainital, Kumaon. This ET article tells what happened. 

Neem Karoli Ashram. Pic by Pratima Joshi. 

Steve Jobs link to Neem Karoli Baba and Paramhansa Yogananda “Walter Isaacson writes in his biography of Jobs: ““The people in the Indian countryside don’t use their intellect like we do, they use their intuition instead, and their intuition is far more developed than in the rest of the world. Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That’s had a big impact on my work. Western rational thought is not an innate human characteristic; it is learned and is the great achievement of Western civilization. In the villages of India, they never learned it. They learned something else, which is in some ways just as valuable but in other ways is not. That’s the power of intuition and experiential wisdom. Jobs got in touch with his intuition during his trip to India.”” Economic Times

7. What is India’s Central Idea?

Every nation has a central idea. India’s is Dharma. Simply put, it means to support, nurture, duty and righteousness in all interactions. It can also mean “good conduct in the service of uncompromising national interest.”

Dharma induces a conviction that man, abiding by its tenets, conforms to the most efficient ways of right doing and right living. It upholds and sustains.

It is with reason that motto of the Supreme Court is यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ‘Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah’, Where there is Righteousness (Dharma), there is Victory (Jaya).

Dunagiri, Kumaon is where self-realized souls are said to be.

8. India was a state long before the European Nation State rose after 1648, based on the notion of a defined territory, single language and shared religion. 3

9. India’s Core Shruti (Vedas) remained whilst Smritis changed with time

V Srinivas wrote, “Shruti (core) represent Eternal Values of our civilization (to be held on to at all times). Smriti represent Ideas, rituals and conduct varying spatially and temporally (to be evolved over time).

This approach has allowed Indics to retain the core inspite of multiple foreign invasions whilst changing non-core aspects with time. Because the Vedas are not authored by any one Rishi, the absence of an individual does not determine the existence of Sanatana Dharma. To explain simply, can you visualise Christianity without Jesus Christ! 

10. India is seen as a land of Rishis, Munis, Yogis, Yoginis, Gurus and divine incarnations who served as centres of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.

11. India is a country of Pilgrimages and Yatras.  

Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra, Kumaon.

Velliangiri Hills, Coimbatore is the Kailash of South India.

12. India is perhaps the only country in the world where rivers are worshipped for e.g. Ganga, Yamuna, invisible Saraswati, Narmada, Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna and the Sindhu. 4

Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh is the source of Ma Narmada. 

13. India gave shelter to the Jews, Parsis and Syrian Christians centuries ago. India has never persecuted the Jews.

14. India is the LAND OF KARMA.

The Colonial Constitution, Politicians and Courts knowing or unknowingly are making every attempt to ensure India no longer remains Punya Bhumi. What they fail to realize that if that happens the world will be poorer.

If I missed out any insights, happy to add. As always, happy to stand corrected.

To read all articles on India Yatras

References / Also read

1. AWAKENING THE NATION-Rediscovering the spirit of India with Swami Vivekananda

2. Life is Leela, enjoy it to the fullest

3. Culture is at the root of Indian nationhood

4. Seven Sacred Rivers

5. Punya Bhumi

6. Bharat – The Land of Inspection and Spirituality

7. FAQ Karma and Reincarnation

8. To read all articles on the Bhagavad Gita

9. To read all commentaries on the Upanishads

10. Seven Systems of Indian Philosophy by Pt Rajmani Tugnait

11. How Hindu and Buddhist strains are intertwined in Japan, Thailand etc

12. India and Mongolia – Shared Heritage