Prarthana

Prarthana

 

'Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhume’, RSS Prathama is the biggest source of inspiration for volunteers as it reminds them of their ultimate objective, and asserts that the nation is a Hindu Rashtra. It underlines their commitment to the cause, despite having a series of hurdles. Most importantly, RSS Prathama reminds him that he himself has volunteered for the cause.

 

Such is the strength of Prarthana, that there would be hardly any Swayamsevak, who is not thrilled, excited, exalted and motivated after listening to the RSS Prarthana, which is always sung collectively. Prior to the current Sanskrit Prarthana, RSS volunteers used to sing Marathi and Hindi Prarthana. The current Prarthana has only one Hindi line – Bharat Mata Ki Jay! RSS has been following tradition to sing this Prarthana collectively, which has now been established as a norm. The Sangh Prarthana was first publicly sung by RSS Pracharak Yadav Rao Joshi on May 18, 1940 in Sangh Shiksha Varg held at Nagpur. Another Sangh Shiksha Varg was held during the same period in Pune, RSS Pracharak Anant Rao Kale sung this Prarthana. Initially, RSS Prarthana was in Marathi and Hindi. However, the need to have accommodative Prarthana was felt with the growth of RSS in all parts of the country.

 

A meeting in February 1939, decided to have Prarthana in Sanskrit. Sanskrit Prarthana prayer was written by Pune based Sanskrit teacher Narhari Narayan Bhide under the guidance of RSS founder Dr K B Hedgewar and M S Golwalkar alias Guruji. Narhari Narayan Bhide was born in Nagpur in 1913 but shifted to Pune due to family reasons. He joined as a Sanskrit teacher in New English School, run by Deccan Education Society. Dr Hedgewar was well aware of Bhide’s passion for Sanskrit language and asked him to write Sanskrit Prarthana in 1939. Prarthana has been a great source of inspiration for all Swayamsevaks.

 

Every shakha concludes with a recital of Prarthana. Prarthana plays a great role in psychological preparation of Swayamsevaks and reminds them of their duties and responsibilities towards the nation. Prarthana reminds all Swayamsevaks about the objective of RSS, path to achieve the goal and necessary qualities required for it.

नमस्ते सदावत्सले मातृभूमे
त्वया हिन्दुभूमे सुखं वर्धितोहम् ।
महामङ्गले पुण्यभूमे त्वदर्थे
पतत्वेष कायो नमस्ते नमस्ते ।।१।।
प्रभो शक्तिमन् हिन्दुराष्ट्राङ्गभूता इमे सादरं त्वां नमामो वयम्
त्वदीयाय कार्याय बद्धा कटीयं शुभामाशिषं देहि तत्पूर्तये ।
अजय्यां च विश्वस्य देहीश शक्तिं सुशीलं जगद्येन नम्रं भवेत्
श्रुतं चैव यत्कण्टकाकीर्णमार्गं स्वयं स्वीकृतं नः सुगं कारयेत् ।।२।।
समुत्कर्षनिःश्रेयसस्यैकमुग्रं परं साधनं नाम वीरव्रतम्
तदन्तः स्फुरत्वक्षया ध्येयनिष्ठा हृदन्तः प्रजागर्तु तीव्रानिशम् ।
विजेत्री च नः संहता कार्यशक्ति र्विधायास्य धर्मस्य संरक्षणम् ।
परं वैभवं नेतुमेतत् स्वराष्ट्रं समर्था भवत्वाशिषा ते भृशम् ।।३।।
।। भारत माता की जय ।।