Women Symbolize Sacrifice

Rama’s divinity blossomed under Kaushalya’s loving care;
Lava and Kusha [twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita] could become powerful and famous due to their noble and virtuous mother Sita;
The love and care of Jijabai made Shivaji a great warrior;
fostered with the love of his mother Putlibai, Gandhi became a Mahatma.
Is there anyone in this world who can take care of you the way your mother does?
Amma (mother) is the first word that man picks up in life. The first letter of the word `Amma’ also happens to be the first letter of the alphabet. 

(Telugu Poem)

Embodiments of Love! In this world there are many types of relationships, but none equals the relationship that exists between a mother and her child. One’s own country is called the motherland because of this intimate relationship. Similarly, one’s own language is called mother tongue, not father tongue. Between parents, the first place is given to the mother, next comes the father. In day‑to‑day life as also in the field of spirituality, mothers and women are given the highest regard. For example, when we mention the names of divine couples such as Sita Rama, Radha Krishna, Lakshmi Narayana, etc., the names of the goddesses come first. What is the inner significance of this? Mother represents nature, which is the manifest aspect of divinity. Similarly, the body and the atma [spirit], the creation and the creator, are closely interrelated. The body cannot function without the atma; the atma cannot be experienced without the body.

The Bhagavad Gita [song of God] refers to swadharma [one’s own duty] and paradharma [duties prescribed by others]. Swa refers to the atma and para to the body. But today people are under the mistaken notion that swadharma refers to the dharma [right action, duty] of one’s own caste and community such as brahmin, kshatriya, vaisya, and shudra. Swadharma is atmadharma [the action appropriate to the spirit]. The letter `sa’ denotes divinity. It also signifies the four stages such as saalokya (contemplation on God), saameepya (nearness to God), saarupya (identity with God), and saayujya (merger with God). Today man performs all his activities with faith in the external world. But all that is physical and external is temporary. Only the atma is permanent and eternal. In fact, the atma is the real mother. It is not right to forget this divine mother.

Mother is one’s first God

Mother is given the utmost importance in human life. There may be a wicked son, but not a wicked mother. Sons become virtuous, intelligent, attain exalted positions, and earn name and fame because of the noble feelings of mothers. The Vedas [scriptures] declare: matru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava, acharya devo bhava, atithi devo bhava (worship the mother as God, the father as God, the preceptor as God, and the guest as God). The mother fosters and nourishes you. She knows your choices and preferences, and fulfils all your needs. You should therefore always be grateful to your mother. Although you cannot see Rama, Krishna, Shiva, and Vishnu, you worship them because you believe in the scriptures and what the elders say. But how could you forget your parents who are responsible for your progress in life? First and foremost, you should show gratitude to your parents, love them, and respect them. Your blood, your food, your head, your money are all the gifts of your parents. You do not receive these gifts directly from God. All that is related to God is only indirect experience. You see the parents directly and experience their love. So consider your parents as God. God will be pleased and will manifest before you only when you love and respect your parents.

Children can understand the meanings of the word ‘fox’ or ‘dog’ only when they see their pictures. Similarly, one understands the existence of God only after experiencing parents. When you love and respect your parents, only then you can understand the love of the divine parents. This is what I tell you often—if you understand the ‘I’ principle in you, you will understand the ‘I’ in everybody. Vyashti (individual) has emerged from samashti (society), samashti from srishti (creation), and srishti from Parameshti (Creator). Only when you understand the principle of creation, can you understand the Creator.

It is the mother who teaches you sacred principles like love, compassion, forbearance, tolerance, and sacrifice. Mother shows you the father, father takes you to the preceptor, and preceptor directs you to God. That is why among mother, father, preceptor, and God, mother comes first.

Woman embodies virtue

When Hanuman went to Lanka [Sri Lanka] in search of mother Sita, he found her sitting under a tree in Ashokavana [Ravana’s garden] surrounded by demons. Hanuman felt very sad to see Sita being harassed by the demons. He went back to Rama and told Him, “Lord Rama, I have seen mother Sita being harassed and frightened by demons pointing sharp swords at her. She was shivering with fear like a parrot in a cage.”(Telugu poem)

On hearing this, Rama and Lakshmana immediately set out for Lanka with the army of monkeys, fought a battle with Ravana and killed him. Acting on the command of Lord Rama, Hanuman went to Sita and conveyed the good news to her. He asked Sita to permit him to punish the demons surrounding her since they had made her suffer. Sita said, “O Hanuman, it is the responsibility of the subjects to obey the commands of the king. Just as you obey the command of Lord Rama, these demons also had to obey the dictates of their king. It is not their mistake. They acted according to the instructions of the king. It is therefore rather unfair to punish these demons. In fact, I did not suffer because of these demons, but because of separation from Sri Rama.” She then narrated the following story:

Once in a forest, a tiger chased a hunter. He was tired of running and climbed up a tree. There was a bear sitting on the top of the tree. The tiger could not climb up, so it waited under the tree. It was very hungry and wanted to gobble up the hunter. It asked the bear to push the hunter down, so that it could kill him and appease its hunger. The bear refused to do so, saying that the hunter was its guest and it was its moral duty to extend hospitality to guests.

The tiger continued to wait under the tree. After some time, the bear started to doze. Noticing this, the tiger addressed the hunter, “O man, I am very hungry. It does not matter whether I eat you or the bear. I will go away once my hunger is satiated. The bear is dozing. Push it down immediately and I will eat it and spare you.” The man did not have the morality of even the bear. He thought he could escape from the clutches of the tiger by offering the bear as bait. So he committed the ungrateful act of pushing the bear down.

As luck would have it, the bear, as it was falling, caught hold of a branch, climbed back up and saved itself from the tiger. Then the tiger said, “O bear, you should never believe human beings. Although you were kind enough to give this hunter shelter and protect him, he tried to harm you. So push the ungrateful wretch down, I shall devour him.” But the bear said, “I have done my duty. Each one has to face the consequences of his own actions. I will not harm him just because he tried to harm me.”

Finishing this story, Sita said, “These demons have certainly made me suffer without knowing what is truth and what is dharma. But being the consort of Lord Rama, I cannot stoop to their level and seek revenge. I do not want to cause harm to anyone.” Hanuman said, “O mother, it is natural that you, being the consort of Lord Rama, are broadminded and noble hearted. You are the embodiment of dharma. It was wrong of me to think that you would permit me to punish these helpless demons.” Then Sita said, “Hanuman, it is not just me, all the women are endowed with noble qualities like compassion and love.”

A Telegu proverb says that the house mirrors the qualities of the housewife. Women, barring a few exceptions, never stray away from the path of truth and righteousness even in the face of adversity. When the mendicant stands at the doorstep begging for alms, the husband may drive him away, but the housewife always comes forward to give alms. There may be a dispute over property between the father and son, but the mother always tries to calm down the son with good counsel. A mother always prays for the welfare of her son wherever he may be. At times, she may be angry or have a difference of opinion, but such differences are only passing clouds.

Easwaramma—divine mother

Easwaramma, the mother of this physical body, was christened Namagiriamma when she was born. But after her marriage, Kondama Raju, the grandfather of this physical body, being a jnani (one of wisdom) and blessed with a vision of the future, started calling her Easwaramma (mother of Easwara [God]). He lived in a joint family and had two sons. The elder son, Pedda Venkama Raju, was the father of this physical body. His younger son was Chinna Venkama Raju. Two sons of his deceased brother, Subba Raju and Venkatrama Raju, also lived with him.

One day, a decision was made to divide the property, as there was some difference of opinion among the family members. At that time, this body was eight years old. Kondama Raju said he did not want any share in the property and told them to divide it among themselves. The four brothers requested Kondama Raju to spend the rest of his life staying with each one of them. But Kondama Raju said, “I do not want to stay with you, and I do not expect anything from you. Distribute everything that I have earned among you. But give me only one possession, Sathya. (Cheers) If He is with me, I do not want anything else.” Then he asked Me if I was willing to stay with him. I readily agreed.

Both of us stayed in a small room. I used to get up early in the morning, wash the vessels and cook food for both of us. After preparing some food, I used to run to Bukkapatnam to attend school. The lunch bell would ring at 1 o’clock. I would run back to Puttaparthi, serve my grandfather his lunch, eat it Myself and then rush to school for the afternoon session. I was punctual both at school and at home.

Kondama Raju, since he was endowed with wisdom, always craved for Me. One day, he called Pedda Venkama Raju to his side and told him to change his wife’s name to Easwaramma. He wanted to convey that she was the mother of Easwara, God Himself. (Cheers) Pedda Venkama Raju was not aware of the inner meaning of this name but he implicitly obeyed his father’s command and changed his wife’s name to Easwaramma.

Kondama Raju’s last desire

The new mandir [temple] was built before Kondama Raju died. He lived for 116 years; even at that ripe old age, his eyes and legs were in good condition.  He used to walk from the old mandir to the new mandir every day, without a walking stick. I used to say, “Why do you walk the distance? There may be cows and buffaloes on the way—please use a walking stick at least.” He would say that his legs were in perfect condition and that he did not need a cane.

He was an ardent devotee of Swami. He used to come to Me early in the morning at 5 o’clock. Seeing him coming at a distance, I used to cover Myself with a blanket pretending to be asleep. He would come slowly, lift the blanket, touch My feet and go away. He used to come early in the morning because he did not want anyone to notice him touching My feet. He was a little worried about what the villagers would think if they noticed an old grandfather touching the feet of his grandson.

One particular evening, I went to Puttaparthi to see him. At that time, he was sitting on a cot, deeply immersed in singing a ballad, which described Rama lamenting over the fainting of Lakshmana in the battlefield. He was very fond of this particular episode from the Ramayana. Rama lamented, “In this world I might find another mother like Kaushalya, a wife like Sita, but definitely not a brother like Lakshmana.”

This is what he was singing to himself when I entered his room. I said, “O grandfather, what are you doing?” He exclaimed, “O Swami, You have come,” and fell at My feet. He said, “Swami, I am fully aware that You are not an ordinary child, but Easwara Himself. You were born in our clan to redeem all of us. But, I pray that You fulfill a small desire of mine. Dasaratha [Rama’s father] did not have the good fortune of drinking water from Rama’s divine hands at the time of his death. But Jatayu [the bird who fought with Ravana after he had abducted Sita] was fortunate enough to be the recipient of such an act of grace in his last moments. Swami, let me also have the good fortune of sipping water from Your divine hands when my end approaches.” I promised that I would certainly fulfill his desire.

Years later, after the construction of Prasanthi Nilayam, I went to see Kondama Raju. He asked Easwaramma to get a glass of water and told her, “God has come to take me away. He made a promise that He would pour water into my mouth with His Divine hands, before I leave this body. He has come to fulfill His promise.” Puzzled by Kondama Raju’s request, Easwaramma said, “You are not suffering from any disease, you don’t even have fever or a cold. What makes you think that your end has approached?” Then Kondama Raju said, “Death occurs according to the will of God. Just as birth has no reason, death too has no reason. This is the truth of truths.”

Easwaramma did not want to argue with him. She brought a glass full of water and gave it to him. He sat down on the floor and made Me sit on the cot. Easwaramma was watching all this wondering how her father-in-law had so much love and regard for his young grandson. Kondama Raju put his head on My knees and said, “Swami, please listen to my prayer: as You know, I was conducting a small business to make both ends meet. It is possible that I may owe a paisa [Indian penny] or an anna [25 paise] to certain people. Please bless me so that I am not indebted to anyone after my death.” I said, “It shall be so,” and started pouring water into his mouth. He breathed his last as he was drinking this water and his desire was fulfilled. Before leaving his body, he told Easwaramma not to get deluded by body attachment. He said, “Bodily relationship is temporary, whereas atmic relationship is permanent. So, give up body attachment and develop attachment to the atma.”…

One Shivaratri [night of Shiva], after I had completed My discourse, the lingas [symbol of Shiva] were ready to emerge from My mouth. I sat on the chair and was in severe pain. Seeing Me suffer, Easwaramma got up from the gathering, came up to Me and said, “Swami, why do You suffer like this? Come inside, come inside,” but I said I would not come. She cried and tried to persuade Me, but I did not budge. Unable to witness My suffering, she went inside.

As soon as she left, Hiranyagarbha linga [subtle form, symbol of Shiva] emerged. All the devotees burst into thunderous applause. Listening to this, she came back, but by then many people had got up to have a glimpse of the linga and thereby blocked her view. Next day she pleaded with Me to show the linga to her. I said I had given it to somebody. She said, “But Swami, I have not seen it, and I want to see.” I told her that she would see it in the future. She said, “I do not want to put You to inconvenience,” and went away. She never liked to bother Me herself, and would entreat all devotees not to cause Swami any inconvenience.

Easwaramma used to be very worried whenever a minister came to have My darshan, thinking that they might cause Me some problem. This was only the result of her sacred love for Me and that is why she could lead a life of fulfillment and peace. In order to propagate this sacred ideal, this day is being celebrated as Easwaramma day.  Each one of you should make your mother happy; if your mother is happy, Swami is happy.

Sacrifice everything for God

Everybody should love and respect his parents. But if any relation becomes an obstacle in your path to God, there is no harm in leaving him. Here is a small example. Meera [Krishna’s devotee] was the wife of the Maharana [King] of Chittor [western India]. She was always seated in Krishna’s temple, chanting His name, and oblivious of anything else.

One day, Emperor Akbar, an enemy of the Maharana, came to the temple and offered a gold necklace to Lord Krishna. Meera accepted it and put it on Krishna’s idol. When the Maharana found out that Meera had accepted a necklace for Krishna from his enemy, Akbar, he was furious. He took it as an insult and threw her out of the temple. Meera felt very sad. Crows start cawing at the cuckoo when it begins to sing, but that does not deter the cuckoo from its singing. The people of the world are like crows. They speak as they like. But noble souls will not be affected by what others say.

Meera was in a dilemma, about whether to give up Krishna or her husband, the Maharana. She resolved that she would not give up Krishna even at the cost of her life. She then wrote a letter to Tulsidas [a saint] seeking his advice in this regard. Tulsidas sent her a reply: “From the worldly point of view, you should respect your father, mother, preceptor, and husband. But when it comes to God, everything else is secondary. God alone is important. Bharata [Rama’s brother] left his mother Kaikeyi for Lord Rama’s sake. Prahlada gave up his father Hiranyakashipu for Lord Narayana’s sake. Emperor Bali forsook his preceptor, Shukracharya for the sake of God. So, there is nothing wrong in giving up your husband for the sake of Krishna.”

Taking the advice of Tulsidas, Meera left her husband. She sang, “O mind, go to the banks of the sacred rivers Ganga and Yamuna, the pure water of which cools and purifies the body.” She started singing the praises of Krishna and proceeded toward Brindavan.

There are many such great devotees who sacrificed everything for the sake of God. Women symbolize sacrifice. The Vedas declare: immortality can be attained only through sacrifice; neither wealth nor progeny nor good deeds can confer it. You can sacrifice anything for the sake of God. But sacrifice should not be love with a selfish motive or for self-satisfaction.

The Bhagavad Gita says that a woman has seven qualities, whereas a man only has three. Therefore, never look down upon women. They are most virtuous and are the very embodiments of nature. Some women may think that they would have enjoyed greater freedom had they been born as men. This is a wrong notion; women are, in fact, more powerful than men. With all sacred feelings in your heart, respect women and be respected. Respect your mother and obey her commands.

A mother protects her children in many ways. Even after her death, she comes back and helps you in various ways. Never disrespect your mother or disappoint her. Do not hurt her feelings and try to satisfy her in all respects. Only then will the seed of devotion sprout in you. Everyone should follow the dictum, matru devo bhava [mother is God] in letter and spirit and be a recipient of his mother’s love.

Source: Sanathana Sarathi, June 1999