Definition
Bhārata Mātā is a compound word made up of the modifier Bhārata (referring to what roughly corresponds to modern India) and the root word Mātā (meaning mother). It can be translated as Mother India and is usually personified as a mother goddess representative of the nation. Like the goddess Durgā, she is usually accompanied by a vāhana, and the colors of the Indian national flag often form part of her depiction, either as the flag in her hand or as the colors of her robes or as background.
The Genesis of the Icon
Bhārata Mātā is a relatively modern goddess, whose genesis can be traced back to the time of the colonial rule in India as well as into times preceding it. The conception and visualization of the goddess were spurred by an attempt to embody the nation as an icon and to position it as the rallying point for the diverse population of the country that was, at that time, under the British rule. The representation of the nation thus effected and propagated during the...
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Mahanta, B. (2018). Bhārata Mātā. In: Jain, P., Sherma, R., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_494-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_494-1
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