Unique Nature of Motherhood

"The mother is the pillar of the home, of society, of the Nation and so of Humanity itself" BABA!

Sri Lalitha Sahasranama sthothram begins with the mantra, "Sri Matre Namaha" pranams to the Universal Mother! Mother is the bedrock and foundation of the home, society and nation. As such she is the basis of humanity itself! We worship all goddesses of our Hindu culture as our mothers. Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripua Sundari is extolled as the universal mother, the energizing principle of every creature in this universe. She is called Shakti, the driving force of all beings in this universe. According to Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama Stothram she is all in all. She has created the trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara and allotted to them their duties of creation, protection, and destruction. It is said that she has created the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu! Sahasra Nama Sthothra describes,"Karangul nakhothpanna Narayana dasakrthyai namonamaha".

Our Vedas and Upanishads consider the Supreme Being as male or Purusha and Prakriti as female. Purusha is potential energy while Prakriti is kinetic energy. Unless potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy creation cannot be achieved. Purusha transforms himself into that dynamic force for the purpose of creating the universe, all it's creatures, fauna and flora, the ' sthavara and ' jangama' objects. In other words Nature is created in all its wonder and diversity! That is the reason why Nature is called as the manifestation of God and we worship various forms of Nature. We call Nature and earth as our mother goddesses as the Providence has created it in such a way that they offer every blessed thing for man for his mundane existence. The Five Elements--Pancha Bhutas, Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Akasa are the life supporting divine ingredients that our Divine Mother had bestowed on us long before human existence happened on earth.

In one of the Upanishads the almighty power of Shakti, the mother goddess is clearly indicated. The Devas were puffed up with pride after their victory over the asuras or demons. Shakti wanted to snub them and reveal their helplessness without her grace and blessings. She placed a blade of dry grassland asked the Devas to exercise their individual power on it. Vayu tried his best but could not move it to even a fraction of an inch! Agni came but could not ignite it! Varuna failed to moisten the blade! Indra, the king of Gods and all others failed miserably in exercising their powers! Shakti then told them that it is HER POWER instituted in them that works wonders!

In the SIKSHA VALLI of Taittiriya Upanishad, the Vedic Preceptor, after training and instructing the student in Gurukulavasa, gives a piece of advice regarding how he should conduct himself in society and life. Asking him to speak the Truth and act according to Dharma, he ordains that he should never neglect his duties to Gods and Pitrus--ancestors. Then he wants the student to consider the Mother, Father, Teacher, and the Atithi--Guest as gods respectively! "Satyam vada, Dharm am chara......Deva Pitru karyabhyam napramaditavyam Matru Devo Bhava Pitru Devo Bhava Avharya Devo Bhava Atithi Devo Bhava."

What is the uniqueness of the Mother? She is the personification of supreme self sacrifice! She is prepared to sacrifice herself for the sake of her child. She bears untold suffering from the time of her pregnancy till the child is delivered. Sometimes she has to die so that the child may survive. The child is the flesh of her flesh. She is the embodiment of selfless Divine Love that does not expect any reward in return for the Love shown for her children! She is the perfect example of what the Lord said in the GITA! "Karmanye vadhikarasthu maphale shu kadachana" Bhagawan says " The Mother brings forth and trains the emotions and the intelligence and fosters and feeds the child during the critical first few years of life" one can repay any debt but not the debt owed to one's Mother! A home where the Mother sheds tears can never prosper!  Swami says, "whoever claims to be the devotee of God must have the credential of reverence for Mother!" Mother and Motherland are considered greater than heaven or Swarga!  "Janani janma bhumischa swargadapi gariyasi." Parents must love their parents and set an example to their children.

The great Bhakta Pundarika made Lord Panduranga wait on the brick while he served his parents! Garuda released his Mother from the servitude of his aunt Kadruva!  Dharmavyada served his parents and is glorified in the Mahabharata! The influence and the guidance of the Mother works wonders on the individual. Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi owed their name and fame to the noble qualities of their Mothers! Chatrapathi Shivaji's Mother Jijiya Bai was an influence in his life and greatness! The saying, " The Hand that rocks the Cradle Rules the world" is aptly said of the Mother!

Swami's Love for His Mother was very great and indescribable. It was because of the word he gave her, he stayed in Puttaparthi till the last! The hospital, well, and school were started at Parthi as per the wishes of His Mother Eswaramma! Today they have grown gigantic proportion as the Super Specialty Hospital, Drinking water Supply, and Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning benefiting lakhs of people in the Nation! Bhagawan says, "Let the children, even grown up boys and girls, touch the feet of the Father and Mother every morning before the daily tasks are started." Five minutes in the shrine room and namaskarams for parents--Upanishads recommend this as the basic requirements of our culture. The MOTHER is the high priest of this House of God!

Is not MOTHER and MOTHERHOOD unique? Let all our love, respect, adoration and service be for our dear Mother, and reach the Lotus Feet of our Lord as an offering!!!