Mother

Embodiments of love! There is no nobler quality in the world than love. It is wisdom. It is righteousness. It is wealth. It is Truth. Everything is permeated with love. Everything in the cosmos arises from love, grows by love, and merges in love.

Every human being is born from the mother’s womb. He is fostered by the mother’s love and enjoys many things in life because of the mother. He enjoys all happiness in life because of mother’s love. Hence, there is no higher divinity than the mother. But this divinity relates to the body alone…

Man has to recognize the significance of love and truth that are fundamental to human existence. The mother represents these two basic qualities

Rama attained Godhood because he was the son of Kaushalya. Lava and Kusha became heroic children because of their great mother, Sita Devi. It is the noble thoughts of the mother that make the children great. A mother may go wrong in other respects, but she will always strive for the well-being of her children. Hence every son has to love the mother as the primary duty. Then he should love the father and revere the preceptor. The mother confers the body. The father protects it. The preceptor imparts knowledge and wisdom. For every human being all three are essential for getting on in the world.

Many enlightened men have extolled the greatness and power of mothers. It is the foremost duty of children to secure the blessings of their mothers for their worldly well-being.

Divine Discourse on Eswaramma Day, May 6, 1997

 It was because Aryamba was a devoted and pious woman, and observed sacred practices that the great world-teacher, Adi Shankaracharya was born to her. For Vivekananda to achieve worldwide renown, his mother’s sacred life was responsible. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was able to preach the sacred doctrine of love to the world and achieve greatness because of his mother’s good qualities…

Mothers of those days led a pure and pious life, cherishing sacred thoughts, fostering virtues, and setting an example to the world. If the mothers are good, there will be no room for bad behavior by the children. Although parents may appear innocuous like fig fruits, they are responsible for the misbehavior of their children, like worms inside the fruits.

Divine Discourse on Easwaramma Day, May 6, 1993

As is the seed, so is the tree. Similarly some are born with noble character and some are born differently. These differences are the result of their careers in previous lives.

Divine Discourse on February 2, 1995

Contemplate on the divine name, irrespective of the religion, caste, creed or sex. You can always chant the divine name of your liking. The mother of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa taught her son good things and shaped him into a great yogi. All the mothers should take her as an example and strive to put their children in the right path. If you constantly contemplate on and chant the divine name, that itself will purify your thoughts and feelings. Never forget the divine name. If you constantly contemplate on the divine name your life will surely be sanctified.

Divine Discourse on Easwaramma Day, May 6, 2005