Page 2 - BHĀRATA –THE LAND OF SEERS AND SAGES

Bhārata – The Land of Seers and Sages

“A nation tends to throw out its most vivid types in that

line of action which is most congenial to its

temperament and expressive of its leading idea, and it

is the great saints and religious personalities that

stand at the head in India and present the most

striking and continuous roll-call of greatness, just as

Rome lived most in her warriors and statesmen and

rulers. The Rishi in ancient India was the outstanding

figure with the hero just behind, while in later times

the most striking feature is the long uninterrupted

chain from Buddha and Mahavira to Ramanuja,

Chaitanya, Nanak, Ramdas and Tukaram and beyond

them to Ramakrishna and Vivekananda and

Dayananda.”

(Sri Aurobindo, CWSA, 20: 246)

The Indian mind holds that the Rishi, the seer of spiritual truth is the

best guide not only of the religious and moral,

but also the practical life.