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Neha Nidhi
In the past, people would seize a hunting area, agricultural land, or pasture by claiming it was
the location of their ancestor’s grave. Ancient people created burial as a significant ceremony to
assert their ownership over territory. Later, people made up tales to lay claim to territory.
The Maori claim that their national hero, Maui, often went canoe fishing and caught a large
fish. The South Islands of New Zealand was represented by the canoe, while the large fish stood
in for the North Island. The Maori thereby claimed New Zealand through a cultural mindset, or
myth.
Similar to this, it is stated that in Nepal, at the commencement of time, a large Lotus blossomed
in the midst of a lake, from which Adi Buddha emerged. He was self-created; he was
Swayambhu. The Kathmandu Valley was created after the lake dried up. The Swayambhunath
Stupa is located on a mountain that was once a lotus blossom. Thus, Buddhism claims a claim to
Nepal through mythology lore and Buddhist narrative.
Similar to this, claims to India are made through cultural tales. The idea of Bharat Mata,
originated in the early twentieth century, was the most well-known. Before that, different
concepts were used to establish India. For instance, the idea of Aryadesha—the territory
inhabited by the Aryas—was present in Vedic times. From the Northwestern Gangetic plains,
this changed and gradually spread to the Deccan region. It was mentioned in many dharma
shastra as being the territory of the black buck.
The sacred Buddha Kshetra, or India, was created after the Buddha was cremated and his
remains and hair were interred in various locations throughout India. The term Jambudvipa is
used for the first times to describe the Indian continent in Ashokan edicts. Bharatvarsha is the
chosen word in the decrees of the Jain monarch Kharavela. The Buddhists and Jains claimed
India in this way.
According to the Hindu school of philosophy, Shiva danced literally holding Sati’s corpse in his
arms till Sati’s body split into countless pieces and scattered across various regions of India. The
numerous Shakti Sthala and Shakti Peeth were born as a result of this. Again, the Indian
subcontinent in South Asia fits this description. Bangladesh and Pakistan are home to several of
Sati’s bodily parts. They joined Akhanda Bharat as well.
The Ramayana as well as Mahabharata serve as a further cultural link between these areas and
India. There is recurring reference in the masterpieces of horses moving on the country to be
reclaimed by Aryan rulers. While Krishna of the moon dynasty links east India (Kuru, Magadha)
and west India, Rama of the sun dynasty links north (Kosala, Videha) and south (Kishkinda,
Lanka) (Gandhara, Dwarka).
As a result, we can observe how cultural myths have been developed in order to link the land to
a citizen and their imagination. Never undervalue the impact of these narratives. Remember
that Abraham’s family is buried there, Jesus walked there, and Muhammad rose from Israel to
meet Allah. Israel is a land mass that’s also claimed by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. These
myths offer these religions the moral justification to contend for it. As a result, mythology
might be seen to be crucial to politics and land rights. Never undervalue the impact of a good story.
