Aaradhana

 शून्य से एक शतक बनते, अंक की मन भावना ।

भारती की जय-विजय हो, ले हृदय में प्रेरणा ।।

कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना ।

दैव ने भी राम प्रभु हित, लक्ष्य था ऐसा विचारा ,

कंटको के मार्ग चलकर, राम ने रावण संहारा,

ताकि निष्कंटक रहे, हर देव ऋषि की साधना ।।१।।

कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना ।

ध्येय हित ही एक ऋषि ने, देह को दीपक बनाया, 

और तिल तिल जल स्वयं ने, कोटी दीपों को जलाया, 

ध्येय पथ पर चल पड़े, ले उर विजय की कामना ।।२।।

कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना ।

विजीगीषा का भाव लेकर, देश में स्वतंत्र्य आया,

बने समरस राष्ट्र भारत, बोध यह दायित्व लाया,

छल कपट और भेद से था, राष्ट्र जन को तारना ।३।

कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना ।

धर्म संस्कृति है सनातन, रखे जल-वायु सुहावन,

पंक्ति में पीछे खड़े का, उन्नयन हो नित्य भावन,

राष्ट्र का उत्थान साधन, विश्व मंगल कामना ।।४।।

कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना ।

शून्य से एक शतक बनते, अंक की मन भावना ।

भारती की जय-विजय हो, ले हृदय में प्रेरणा ।।

कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना ।

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) centenary celebrations, marking 100 years of the organisation in 2025–26. It is circulating under the refrain “कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना”. 

Meaning of the song

The central idea is beautifully expressed in the refrain:

“कर रहे हम साधना, मातृभू आराधना”

We are engaged in disciplined effort and in worship/service of our Motherland.

The opening couplet says:

“शून्य से एक शतक बनते…”

From zero to a century—the organisation has completed 100 years. The number 100 is not merely a number; it represents a century of sustained effort.

“भारती की जय-विजय हो, ले हृदय में प्रेरणा”

May Mother Bharati (India) triumph; let this aspiration inspire our hearts.

Verse 1 — Rama's struggle

The song then takes Sri Rama as the first example.

God's purpose was that Rama should act for the welfare of the world. Rama had to walk a thorn-filled path before defeating Ravana.

The important message is:

Great purposes are rarely achieved by an easy path. Difficulties must be accepted as part of the journey.

The ultimate purpose of Rama's struggle was that sages and others could once again pursue their spiritual practices without fear or obstruction.

Verse 2 — The Rishi who became a lamp

This is perhaps the most beautiful stanza.

“देह को दीपक बनाया, और तिल-तिल जल स्वयं ने, कोटी दीपों को जलाया”

A great rishi made his own body into a lamp. By burning himself little by little, he was able to light millions of other lamps.

The metaphor is powerful:

One person's sacrifice can awaken countless others.

The individual does not live merely for himself; he becomes a source of light for society.

Verse 3 — Independence and responsibility

The song moves from the past to modern India.

The spirit of vijigīṣā—the determination to achieve victory and overcome obstacles—helped bring independence.

But independence brought another responsibility:

India must become a harmonious nation.

The country has to be freed from:

deceit and hypocrisy,

divisions,

internal differences,

forces that keep society fragmented.

So freedom is not the end of the journey; nation-building begins with freedom.

Verse 4 — The larger ideal

The final stanza expands the vision beyond nationalism.

“धर्म संस्कृति है सनातन”

Our dharma and culture are eternal.

But this is immediately connected with practical responsibilities:

“रखे जल-वायु सुहावन”

Keep the water and air clean and pleasant.

And this line is especially significant:

“पंक्ति में पीछे खड़े का, उन्नयन हो नित्य भावन”

The person standing at the back of the queue should also be lifted up.

In other words, national progress cannot mean that only the fortunate advance. The last person must also rise.

And the final aspiration is:

“राष्ट्र का उत्थान साधन, विश्व मंगल कामना”

The uplift of the nation is the means, but the ultimate prayer is the welfare of the whole world.

In one sentence

The song says:

A hundred years of national service is not a celebration of an achievement alone; it is a renewal of the commitment to sacrifice, harmony, cultural continuity, service to the less privileged, national progress and ultimately the welfare of the entire world.

the central idea is that a life becomes meaningful when it becomes a lamp for others.