(Scenes from Mother India Film)
Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 15,641
Date uploaded in London –21 April 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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National poet Subramanya Bharathi (Bharathiyaar) has praised Vedas sky high in many of his poems. In one of his poems, he says Let the drum of victory sound in all the eight directions, And let them (or us) say long live the Vedas. In another poem he says Vedas say God is One and they say The World is a delightful Keni உலகின்பக் கேணி.
There is a problem in translating the word Keni into English. What is a KENI கேணி?
If we look at the dictionary we get a small tank, a well or a moat or a cradle. What he wants to convey is the world is a place of delight. If we accept the meaning well or tank or moat, the translation won’t be good. Even the available translation from Sekkizar Adippodi Dr T N Ramachandran avoids the word Keni and gives us the general meaning life on earth is a delight.
கேணி (பெ)
1. கிணறு
3. அகழி
4. தொட்டில்
ஆங்கிலம்
1. well
4. cradle, swing
***
God is one mantra is oft quoted one:
“Ekam sat vipra: bahudha vadanti” is a phrase from the Rig Veda (1.164.46) meaning “Truth is one, the wise call it by many names,” highlighting the Hindu philosophical concept that ultimate reality is described in various ways.
***
What did Bharathiyar had in his mind when he used KENI கேணி?
I think he must have meant only Cradle/ swing.
Let me translate it with that word
3. “The Supreme Being is one only; we are
Its children; life on earth is a happy cradle/swing”
Thus spoke whose hand wrote many Vedas.
Whose is it but that of Bharat-Devi’s?
We see lovers, children, old people etc sitting on a swing in the hall of a house or from a tree or in the recreational parks swing and sing. Singing and swinging are very common in villages. Even Hindu Brahmin Weddings have Swing Ceremony until this day. Guests stand around sing when the newly wed couple are swinging. All the parks have Swings.
In Mother India film we can see the lovers singing and swinging.
3:09·Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey, …
***
முன்னை இலங்கை அரக்கர் அழிய
…………………………………………………………..
ஒன்று பரம்பொருள் நாம்அதன் மக்கள்
உலகின்பக் கேணி என்றே – மிக
நன்று பல்வேதம் வரைந்தகை பாரத
நாயகி தன்திருக் கை.
3. “The Supreme Ens is one only; we are
Its children; life on earth is a delight.”
Thus spoke he whose hand wrote many Vedas.
Whose is it but that of Bharat-Devi’s? (Translation by T N R)
***
Next question is
Where is the proof in the Vedas?
Rig Veda and Atharva Veda (Bhumi Suktam) say the Earth is a beautiful place, a happy place. Here are stanzas to ponder over:
In the Bhumi Sukta of Atharva Veda, the seventh mantra says Devas protect earth without erring. That means aliens are always watching us. Intergalactic traveller NARADA visits earth now and then. Poet prays to earth to shower sweets on us. Madhu used here is Honey; also used in all poems on Asvins in the RV.
Vedic poets always send positive vibrations. Even when they churn the wood to create fire for the Yagas, they sing happily:
We venerate with cheerful hearts the cheerful Agni , dear to all,
Burning with purifying flame RV 8-43-31
अ॒ग्निं म॒न्द्रं पु॑रुप्रि॒यं शी॒रं पा॑व॒कशो॑चिषम् । हृ॒द्भिर्म॒न्द्रेभि॑रीमहे ॥
अग्निं मन्द्रं पुरुप्रियं शीरं पावकशोचिषम् । हृद्भिर्मन्द्रेभिरीमहे ॥
agnim mandram purupriyaṃ śīram pāvakaśociṣam | hṛdbhir mandrebhir īmahe
****
There is one more mantra on Soma (Indu) which is sung happily:
7. O Pavarnana, place me in that deathless, undecaying world
Wherein the light of heaven is set, and everlasting lustre shines. Flow, Indu, flow for Indra’s sake.
8. Make me immortal in that realm where dwells the King, Vivasvan’s Son,
Where is the secret shrine of heaven, where are those waters young and fresh. Flow, Indu, flow for Indra’s sake.
RV 9-113-7/8
यत्र॒ ज्योति॒रज॑स्रं॒ यस्मिँ॑ल्लो॒के स्व॑र्हि॒तम् । तस्मि॒न्मां धे॑हि पवमाना॒मृते॑ लो॒के अक्षि॑त॒ इन्द्रा॑येन्दो॒ परि॑ स्रव ॥
यत्र ज्योतिरजस्रं यस्मिँल्लोके स्वर्हितम् । तस्मिन्मां धेहि पवमानामृते लोके अक्षित इन्द्रायेन्दो परि स्रव ॥
yatra jyotir ajasraṃ yasmim̐l loke svar hitam | tasmin māṃ dhehi pavamānāmṛte loke akṣita indrāyendo pari srava ||
यत्र॒ राजा॑ वैवस्व॒तो यत्रा॑व॒रोध॑नं दि॒वः । यत्रा॒मूर्य॒ह्वती॒राप॒स्तत्र॒ माम॒मृतं॑ कृ॒धीन्द्रा॑येन्दो॒ परि॑ स्रव ॥
यत्र राजा वैवस्वतो यत्रावरोधनं दिवः । यत्रामूर्यह्वतीरापस्तत्र माममृतं कृधीन्द्रायेन्दो परि स्रव ॥
yatra rājā vaivasvato yatrāvarodhanaṃ divaḥ | yatrāmūr yahvatīr āpas tatra mām amṛtaṃ kṛdhīndrāyendo pari srava || 9-113- 7 and 8.
***
Maypole dance.
In Vedas, we don’t find any mantra describing the world as a place of sorrow and grief. Vedic society lived happily.
Keeping it in mind Bharathi says Let us follow the Vedic life. He also feels proud to say that This country has Vedas. He even criticised people who misunderstood Vedas. “வேடம் பல்கோடி ஓர் உண்மைக்கு உளவென்று
வேதம் புகன்றிடுமே – ஆங்கோர்
வேடத்தை உண்மையென நீர் கொள்வீரென
வேதம் அறிகிலதே”
He was against Purdah system, and he says that Vedic women never had Purdah
Rig Vedic poets give us the picture of Vedic women doing May Pole dance.
***
வேத வாழ்வினைக் கடைப்பிடித்தோம் வேதம் உடையது இந்த நாடு , வெற்றி எட்டுத் திக்கும் எட்ட கொட்டு முரசே , வேதம் என்றும் வாழ்க வென்று கொட்டு முரசே
–Subham—
Tags- Proof for Bharati’s Quote, the Vedas, world, happy place, swing, cradle.Keni
Tamil and Vedas 
