Ananta in Art & Action: Honouring Anant Nag, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and the Spirit of Vibhuti Yoga

1. The Divine Connection: Ananta in Chapter 10
In the 10th Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita (Vibhuti Yoga), Lord Krishna unveils His divine opulences across creation, declaring in Verse 29: "anantaś cāsmi nāgānām" — "Among the Nagas, I am Ananta". Ananta (Shesha Naga) represents boundless endurance, non-poisonous purity, and the eternal support upon which Lord Vishnu reclines. In Vedantic tradition, Chapter 10 teaches us the art of seeing the unseen divine presence through visible excellence (Vibhuti) in the world. When extraordinary artistic dedication, humility, and mastery manifest in a person, we glimpse a ray of that same divine splendor. It is deeply fitting to reflect upon veteran actor Shri Anant Nag, whose lifelong journey in art embodies that same steadfast commitment to dignity and excellence.

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2. A National Triumph: The Dadasaheb Phalke Honor

At the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, Shri Anant Nag was conferred with Indian cinema's highest distinction — the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (for the year 2024) — presented by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. Spanning over five decades and more than 300 films across theatre, parallel art cinema, and mainstream commercial cinema, his craft has brought immense richness, subtlety, and grace to Indian performing arts.

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3. Deep Roots in Sanskrit & Sacred Values

Accepting the prestigious honor, Shri Anant Nag shared how his formative years were spent growing up in an ashram and mutt until the age of 12, where his spiritual foundation was established. Reflecting on his acting career, he humbly quoted a line from Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam — "udaranimittaṁ bahukṛtaveṣam" ("wearing various disguises to earn a livelihood and nourish the body") — drawing an insightful parallel to an actor's role in life.

His profound reverence for the Sanskrit language shone through as he concluded his address by chanting Sanskrit verses attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. He recited a prayer to the Motherland ("Vande Mataram... matru-seva-bhagyavan"), expressing his heartfelt wish that in every future birth — whether born as a human, animal, bird, or tree — he may forever retain the blessed fortune of serving the Mother.

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4. Love for the Nation: Janmabhumi, Karmabhumi, Dharmabhumi

In a deeply moving expression of gratitude, Shri Anant Nag dedicated his award not to himself alone, but to the entire filmmaking fraternity — producers, directors, writers, technicians — and to the millions of Indian citizens who opened their hearts to his performances over five decades. Summing up his life's devotion to Bharat, he proclaimed:

"This great country has been my Janmabhumi, Karnataka my Karmabhumi, and Bharat my Dharmabhumi."

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Conclusion

Through his humility, mastery, and spiritual grounding, Shri Anant Nag demonstrates how artistic expression can become a true seva (sacred service). Just as Vibhuti Yoga inspires us to recognize divine grandeur in every peak of human achievement, honoring Shri Anant Nag celebrates a cultural icon whose heart beats in rhythm with Bharat and its timeless Sanskrit heritage.

This is an extract of one of the Bhagwadgita sessions that Mitesh Katira conducts for professionals every Friday and Sunday from 7:00 am to 8:00 am IST, for more than 6 years. DM him if you are keen to be part of these live sessions from the next batch.

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