In the novel Anandamath , the character who sings and explains the lyrics of "Vande Mataram" to Mahendra is Bhavananda. Bhavananda sings the hymn with great devotion and then explains to Mahendra that the "Mother" referred to in the song is the motherland itself, not a goddess like Durga. He emphasizes that the motherland is the supreme mother, above all personal relations, and that the song is a patriotic call to honor and serve the country
. Another source mentions that Satyananda, a sanyasi character, also sings and explains the significance of "Vande Mataram" to Mahendra, highlighting its patriotic and reverential nature as a call for freedom and prosperity of the motherland
. Thus, in Anandamath , Bhavananda or Satyananda are the characters associated with singing and explaining the lyrics of "Vande Mataram" to Mahendra, with Bhavananda's role being particularly detailed in the explanation of the song's meaning
