The Ramayana is and has been prevalent over time immemorial not just in India but in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Philippines as the epic and it's myraid evidences albeit some of them being a little winced and wilted still can be traced to date in Mongolia, Russia, Persia, Africa, Europe etc from Japan to South America suggesting that there was a world map constituting the Bharata khanda as much more larger.
Our Sri Swamiji, His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal from Madhurapuri Ashram in Chennai, South India describes the glory of Bharata khanda from the Srimad Bhagavatham thus,
To say about this country, all the avatars of Bhagavan has happened here. Starting from Matsya avatar till today, all the avatars of Bhagavan has happened here, in this country. All the holy rivers run only in this country. Even today, tall gopuras (temple towers) that almost touch the sky and awe-inspiring temples are in this country. Such beautiful sculptures are here. Beautiful murthys full of sannidhya are here. Itihasas like Ramayana and Mahabharata, philosophical scriptures like Vedas and Upanishads, works of several Mahans who came subsequently and their kirtans are all here in this country.
Till date, innumerable Mahans have been appearing in this country. This Bharatha Desha, prior to India’s independence, consisted of several kingdoms ruled by small kings. Yet, what we call India today, was known as Bharata khanda. This Bharatha Desha, prior to India’s independence, consisted of several kingdoms ruled by small kings. When we look at Asia, there are so many countries in it. Despite there being several countries, all the countries put together is known as Asia. Similarly, even though a king was ruling South India, another was ruling Maharashtra, some other king in Bengal, another in Uttar Pradesh, and a different one in Uttarkhand, yet, all these [kingdoms] put together was known as Bharata khanda.
In Bhagavatham, it is mentioned that on the other side of the Himalayas is Rushi khanda and on this side is Bharata khanda. In the fifth canto of Bhagavatham, the map of the world is described. Rivers that are flowing and other details. The map of the world was described then itself. If we look at it as a picture, we will understand. The khanda [region] on the other side of the Himalayas was known as Rushya and this side as Bharata khanda. Why did they name it as Bharata khanda? King Dushyanth’s son, who was such a courageous child. Due to him this country is known as Bharata khanda or Bharata desha. It is a good explanation and is true as well. But, the name India was given by foreigners who came to study the culture and traditions of this land. Any civilization starts near a river. As this civilization started next to Sindhu river, they gave the name Sindhia. Sindhia slowly transformed into India. If you take the Nalayira Divyaprabandham or Thevaram or Vedas or Itihasas or Puranas, nowhere is the name India mentioned. Only Bharata khanda and Bharata desha are mentioned. Therefore, due to the [Dushyantha’s] child, this land is known as Bharata khanda, Bharata desha. But if we analyze the true reason. The term Bharata means Brahma Jnani. bhA rUpe brahmaNi ratA: iti bhAratam.
How many mahatmas! In this country, instead of saying there lived someone 100 years ago, that there was someone here or only there, there are so many mahatmas. Like one for each house. From that age till today, this land is filled with mahatmas. So the term Bharata for this land is appropriate. Jivan mukthas and rishis were born by this land. It is fascinating, isn’t it.
