Discovery Of Bharatvarsha
The regions now known as India and Bharat existed long before the arrival of the East India Company. The terms “India” and “Bharat” have historical and cultural significance that predates colonial rule by centuries, even millennia.
Bharat is a name that has been used to refer to the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years. It is derived from ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas and the Mahabharata, where the region is referred to as “Bharatvarsha.” The name is believed to have originated from the legendary king Bharata, a figure from Indian mythology.
India is derived from the River Indus (Sindhu in Sanskrit). The term was used by ancient Greeks to describe the region beyond the Indus River. Over time, this term came to refer to the entire subcontinent.
King Bharata and Bharatvarsha
King Bharata, a legendary figure in Indian mythology, is considered one of the ancestors of the Pandavas and the Kauravas in the Mahabharata. The historical accuracy and exact time frame of his rule are not clearly established, as Bharata is primarily a mythological and cultural figure rather than a historical king with verifiable records. Consequently, the duration of his reign and that of his successors cannot be precisely determined.
Bharatvarsha, as described in ancient Indian texts, refers to a large geographical area that includes the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and sometimes parts of Afghanistan and Myanmar. This term represents a cultural and historical concept rather than a single political entity.
Mythological and Cultural Significance
The story of King Bharata and the concept of Bharatvarsha serve more to unify the diverse regions of the Indian subcontinent under a common cultural and mythological heritage. It symbolizes the shared history, culture, and values of the region rather than a historical reality of a single ruler controlling the entire area.
Cultural Unity: The concept of Bharatvarsha helped unify the diverse regions under a shared cultural and religious framework, particularly through the spread of Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Indian religions.
Mythological Importance: Bharatvarsha is often mentioned in ancient scriptures like the Vedas, Puranas, and epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, symbolizing the entire Indian cultural sphere.
Geographical Scope: Ancient texts often describe Bharatvarsha as extending from the Himalayas in the north to the seas in the south, and from the eastern to the western seas, emphasizing its vastness.
Conclusion
In summary, the regions referred to as India and Bharat have existed for thousands of years with rich and diverse histories long before the arrival of the East India Company. Bharatvarsha, much like the Indian subcontinent today, was not a single political entity but rather a cultural and geographical concept encompassing a wide range of cultures, kingdoms, and regions unified by shared cultural and historical ties. The term “Union of States” in the Indian Constitution reflects the political structure of modern India, while the ancient concept of Bharatvarsha symbolizes the deep historical and cultural roots of this diverse region.