Vande Mataram was rejected because Muslims offended by calling India `` Mother Durga '' ( a Hindu goddess ) equating the nation with Hinduism , and by its origin as part of Anandamatha , a book they felt had an anti-Muslim message . Vande Mataram was rejected on the grounds that Muslims , Christians , Parsis , Sikhs , Arya Samajis and others who opposed idol worship felt offended by its depiction of the nation as `` Mother Durga '' , a Hindu goddess . Muslims also felt that its origin as part of Anandamatha , a novel they felt had an anti-Muslim message .