Heroic mothers and noble sons

6 May 1996, Easwaramma Day, Brindavan

Published English.

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This visible universe is made up of three (, and ). This is the reason for describing the cosmos as . The term has three components: “", "" and "". "" signifies the Sathvik quality. This comprises qualities like forbearance, compassion, and love. "" signifies 'the which includes qualities like modesty, bashfulness, fear and patience. "" signifies the represented by such qualities as courage, sacrifice and the adventurous spirit. Every being born in the world has only feminine qualities. Merely on the basis of the physical form, a distinction is made between men and women. The three qualities in the term are to be found both in men and women.

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Role of the mother The term should not be treated lightly. The lists seven attributes to the feminine principle' Fame, Wealth, Speech, Wisdom, Intelligence, Fortitude and Determination. The Mother principle, which embodies these seven potencies, is highly sacred. Wherever you turn, you will see manifestations of the feminine principle in Nature.' When any person goes abroad, the first question that is put is: "What is your Mother-tongue?" No one asks, "What is your Father-tongue?" This shows how much importance is attached to the role of the mother. The mother, fosters the child in the womb and goes through all travails to protect the child. There is no greater love in the world than maternal love. Hence the ancients accorded the highest honour to the mother and declared: "" (Esteem the Mother as Divine) and. "" (Esteem the father as Divine). For every person the first preceptor is the mother. It is from the mother that a child learns its first words of speech, the first steps in movement and many other primary lessons in behaviour. Hence, the mother stands out as the reflected image of (Nature).

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Heroic women in Indian history Despite the evidences of recognition of the greatness of the feminine principle, women have been described as (the weaker vessel). This appellation is applied to women because of the secondary status accorded to women in the performance of (sacrifice) and other rituals, though participation together with men was permitted. Women could not perform sacrifices and rituals by themselves. Even charitable and religious acts could be performed by women only in association with their spouses.

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Though the term is applied to women in this specific context alone, women are not weak at all in terms of strength or ability. We have innumerable examples of the strength displayed by women in the world. As against three potencies attributed to men, women are said to have seven potencies (according to the ). Can you call as weak , who made the Lord of Death restore to life her dead husband? Can , who transformed the Divine Trinity , and into three babies and played with them, be called an (weak woman)? was a great lady who stopped the sun from rising, because her husband was predestined to die the next morning. Could she be termed as ? No. Was , who bore with fortitude for 14 years all the ordeals her husbands went through, a weak woman? Can , who shared with all hardships of life in the forest and achieved ultimate victory, be called weak? Can , who could carry on the debate with the is a dauntless spirit, be called a weak woman?

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There are any number of such heroic women in recorded history. Though physically women may appear weak, in reality they are full of strength. As the embodiment of the three , women are endowed with exceptional strength. Even in the spiritual field women display their boundless capacity.

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The mother is the first teacher of speech. The first words taught to the child are , (mother, father). Then the teaching of the alphabet starts. The first lessons are: "" or "." The teaching of language begins with the teaching of names of the Divine - and . In ancient times, the mother occupied the place of the first preceptor for the child. Unfortunately, in the world today, what are the parents teaching to the child? They are teaching them "A, B, C, D." Nor is that all. They go on to teach the child some meaningless stuff like: "Ba Ba black sheep!" (laughter). The mothers imagine that they are teaching something wonderful to the children. This is wrong. Teaching of the alphabet should begin with learning the names of the Lord.

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Ancient mothers taught Truth and Righteousness This was the way the mothers in ancient taught their children. The ancient teachings exhorted the people "" (Speak the Truth, adhere to Righteousness). No mother taught the child to speak untruth. No mother would think of asking the child to follow unrighteousness. Their sole desire was to see that their children secured happiness by leading worthy and meritorious lives. Hence, in the attitude towards parents, the children should give the primary place to the mother.

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Today, we need to promote such ideal mothers. This is all the more necessary because the modern trends are disturbing. The tendency (among the affluent families) is to entrust the child from birth to a nurse or an . The child does not get the love of the mother. The child has no knowledge of what a mother means.

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In ancient times, Queen was teaching the children from their infancy the greatness of (detachment). She used to sing a lullaby while putting the children to sleep:

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Placing you in the cradle of On the bed of the great saying '' Swinging to the music of Awareness, dear child, May the Gods lull you to sleep! The four are the four chains of the cradle. May your heart be filled with the nine forms of devotion.

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Because the mothers in ancient times filled the child with devotion and detachment, stood out as a land of sacrifice, of wisdom, of and contentment. Because today mothers do not bring up the child in this spirit, this sacred land is ceasing to be one of sacrifice and is becoming a pleasure-loving nation. The pleasures are turning into breeders of disease. Sacrifice in ancient times made this country the (land of ). Our goal should be to become , not (victims of disease).

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There may be bad sons but bad mothers are rare Embodiments of Divine love! You must be prepared to make even the supreme sacrifice for showing your gratitude to the mothers. Even the , and others, owed their advent to their mothers. Everyone should pray for sacred mothers who will bring forth good children. There may be bad sons in the world but bad mothers are rare. Most mothers today lament over the bad behaviour of their children. No son who has caused distress to his mother can come to anything good. The Telugu saying is: "There can be no prosperity in a home where the mother sheds tears." Today we need sons who will please their mothers.

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Women in various places observe what is called Ladles' Day. The day should not be observed only by making speeches or holding . They should endeavour to help the poor and the destitute. Helpless women who have no means of livelihood should be taught some occupation like tailoring to enable them to earn an income. Slum dwellers should be helped to keep their huts dean. The environment also should be cleaned to help the children grow in a pure atmosphere. Proper housekeeping should also be taught to those people. Disease is caused mainly by unhygienic surroundings Moreover the air, the water, the mind, everything is polluted. This pollution is causing several, new types of diseases.

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Example of In the past, mothers used to play a big part in moulding their children. For instance, there is the example of . He was a native of . He justified his name by being a great scholar ( means ocean of knowledge). He belonged to a very poor family. His mother brought up her son at the expense of her own food. Pursuing his studies under the most adverse circumstances, he completed his education and found a job on a salary of 50 per mensem. In due course, he rose to an eminent position by dint of hard work.

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One day he approached his mother and said: “Mother, I have reached an eminent position thanks to your blessings and guidance. I am now able to fulfill any of your wishes." The mother said: “Not yet, my son. I have three desires but I shall tell them in due course." Reaching a still higher position after sometime, renewed his appeal to his mother. The mother said: “Our village is poor and the village has no school. Please set up a school here so that the children will not have to go outside for their education. That school will be an ornament for me." The son carried out her wish.

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Later, the mother revealed her second wish. She wanted to set up a small hospital in the village to serve the villagers. She said this would be her second ornament she wanted from him. He set up a hospital as desired by his mother. In the following years, rose to greater eminence, but remained as humble and free from conceit as ever. He asked his mother what her third desire was. She said that he would build a small rest house () for travellers passing through the village to stay. built a small community hall in the village.

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Today's educated persons get puffed up over their petty educational attainment. It was his mother's teachings which made practise humility.

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Not penance, not rituals, not pilgrimages Are of any avail in crossing The ocean of human existence. Only service to the good Can take one across. (Sanskrith ).

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