Woman, the Fountain of Human Values

Asthiram Jeevanam Loke
Asthiram Youvnam Dhanam Asthiram
Daaraa Puthraadi Sathyam Keerthi
Dwayam Sthiram

This created world that we see is ephemeral. Yat Drishyam Tan Nasyam. Whatever is seen, is bound to decay with time. Wealth and youth are also transient. Transient again is all the wife and children. Ephemeral again is all the charity and progeny. Truth and one's reputation are the only two which are permanent.

Mother Moulds Children

Embodiments of Love,

Man is the chosen one in this whole world teeming with millions and millions of creation. Woman is very superior in the whole creation including man. There are many examples to prove that woman is really superior. Is it not because of the boons granted to Kausalya in the form of giving birth to Divine, Rama became famous and worshipped as God? Is it not by Sita's fostering and rearing that the twins Kusa and Lava became so great? Again, Shivaji became great and valorous because of the upbringing of his mother Jijabai. Gandhi gained reputation and fame because of the encouragement from his mother Puthlibai. Several great Rishis, warriors, various heroes and wicked people as well were born from the womb of the mother. That mother is the very embodiment of prakriti - nature.

Vedas Glorify Women

Gayatri is the very source of all Vedas. Gayatri is stree - embodiment of woman. Veda is the mother. When we see all these things, we feel that the woman has got a very high place, her birth is something very great and virtuous. The woman has been praised by the Vedas throughout the past and the present. The woman has an exalted place in the various rituals of the ancient times like Vaidika pooja, Vaidika upasana and Vaidika aradhana.

The Vedas extolled the woman as Satyavati, Angavati, Anyavati and Nidanavati, which are the attributes given for women deities while performing rituals. Satyavati declares that God is present everywhere in the universe as the unseen butter in milk. God is not different from nature. The very embodiment of Prakriti and Purusha is divinity. Therefore, Vedas proclaim that just as butter is all over milk, divinity pervades the entire creation (Prakriti). This is the true meaning of Satyavati.

Next is Angavati. There are five elements in nature, earth, water, fire, air and sky. Although these five elements are present equally everywhere, each one of them is subtler than the other. The Vedas proclaim that though these five elements differ, they are an aspect (body) of God. This is called Angavati.

The third one is Anyavati. The Vedas declare that whatever type of work or service is done, that will bring its own reward, depending on the symbolism of the deity propitiated. For example, Siva has a trishul; He has three eyes also. The one who has conch, wheel, mace and lotus is Vishnu. The one who has the peacock feather is Krishna. The one who has bow and arrow is Rama. Anyavati worship (Aradhana) teaches different types of worship depending on the symbol of the presiding deity.

The next one is Nidanavati. The Angavati Veda declares that Nidanavati can be acquired through a variety of worships. Nidanavati can be worshipped in the nine different forms - Sravanam (listening), Keertanam (singing praises), Vishnu Smaranam (thinking of God), Paadha Sevanam (worshipping the feet), Vandhanam (prostration), Archanam (ritualistic worship), Dasyam (servanthood), Sneham (friendship), Atma Nivedhanam (self-surrender). Thus Veda declares that it is easy to obtain God through these nine types of devotion.

Divinity Manifests Where Woman is Revered

Satyavati, Anyavati, Angavati, Nidanavati are supposed to be the embodiments of the woman in the ancient Bharatiya literature. The names may be different but divinity is one. The goal is the same but the paths are different. We should not think that the feminine principle is something ordinary. The feminine principle has been worshipped in many ways from ancient time. Yatra Naaryaanam Punyathe, Varchathe Tathra Devathaanaam. Wherever the woman is worshipped, revered and respected, there will manifest all the forms of divinity.

It is unfortunate today that respecting the woman is considered a shame. They think that it is something very small and insignificant. This is a kind of ignorance. We should not think in this manner at all. Woman is the Laksmi of the house. She is ardhaangini - occupying half of man's body.

People become very proud when they get title like Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan. These are very insignificant titles. The women have titles which are eternal. The house becomes a forest when the woman is not there. Men have to think today that they should not make the women shed tears. They should respect and revere them. Then only there will be prosperity and happiness. Wherever the women shed tears, that house will go to ruin. Men have to carry on their lives by respecting and revering women to the extent possible. The woman with nine different powers is the very embodiment of Adhi Sakthi. Sabda Brahmamayi, Charaacharamayi, Jyotirmayi, Vaangmayi, Nithyanandamayi, Paraatparamayi, Maayaamayi, Sreemayi are the names given to women. This principle is nectarine. So the woman has got the worthy name stree.

Stree Encompasses Three Gunas

There are three syllables in the word Stree - Sa-kaara, Tha-kaara and Ra-akaara . Just as AUM is Om, in the word stree, there is sakaara, Thakaara and Rakaara. Sakaara denotes satwic quality. That is salokya, Saameepya, and Sayujya. Sakaara gives this meaning. The satwic nature is there in the woman foremost. Thamo guna comes afterwards. This Thamo guna does not mean eating, drinking and laziness. It denotes humility, shyness and coyness. The woman in all her humility establishes the honour of the house and of the society by her obedience. Therefore people of Andhra say look at the house and then see the woman. The house will take the shape of the woman in it.

The third letter is rakaara. Rakaara denotes rajo guna. Rajo guna here does not denote fight, etc. They even sacrifice their lives when necessary. They even give up their lives for reputation. There have been many women in India who have fought and sacrificed their lives for the sake of the honour of their husbands home. That is the principle of rajo guna. They are even ready to give up their lives fighting for truth and to establish truth. That is the quality of rajo guna. Stree is the embodiment of satva, rajo and thamo gunas. The stree who is full of so many wonderful qualities of satva, rajo and thamo gunas is today considered weak and is relegated a backward place and neglected.

The Harmonising Force

It is worth mentioning that women have been responsible whether at home or abroad in bringing peace and harmony to the country. There have been emperors who have ruled the world. But nobody has ruled like Queen Victoria. She ruled the kingdom with so much courage, justice and righteousness. There was no complaints during her regime. Even in India, Indira Gandhi ruled with courage. Whatever might be the circumstances, she sacrificed even her life to get a good name for our country. Only Indira Gandhi ruled as Prime Minister for 12 years. Many people ruled just for one, two or three years.

So many types of problems are arising. Women have the strength of mind and the courage to fight for the country and bring about harmony and peace. So Valmiki who described women in many ways said that women are the very embodiment of sweetness. What is the main reason for this sweetness? It is the quality of sacrifice in her that makes it sweet. The mother is prepared to go to any length and sacrifice for the sake of the children. She will sacrifice even her life to protect her children. This sense of sacrifice is there only in the women. The father will say it is alright when the children are suffering from some disease. The mother tries hard to protect them. The quality of sacrifice makes her to be known as the embodiment of sacrifice.

Men do not have the sense of sacrifice the women have. The men come forward with initial courage. They are only showy, but the woman takes it up from the start to the end. So Valmiki said that women are the embodiment of devotion. Men he said are the embodiment of Jnana - knowledge.

Those who follow Jnana have access only to the door of God's durbar hall. They cannot go any further inside. Women, the embodiment of devotion, can go right into the harem. Devotion has got so much of right. If we analyse things from the past literature and history, we realise that so much value is given to women.

Mother Shapes and Father Nurtures

The valiant Shivaji became such a great hero because of his mother. Jijabai fostered him with good ideals. It is because of Kausalya's tutelage that Rama became so great. It is all that is in the mother that goes into the child and the child blossoms. What is the reason for Gandhi becoming a Mahatma? He also indulged in various types of activities. One day his mother was worshipping. She had taken a vow that she will not take even a morsel of food unless she hears the cuckoo sing. One day it was 12 in the afternoon. The cuckoo did not sing. The mother did not eat. Gandhi was very young then. He asked, "Why have you not eaten so far mother?" She said, "The cuckoo has not sung." Then he went to the backyard and tried to sing like a cuckoo. He came inside and said, "Mother, the cuckoo has sung, you can eat." It was not the singing of the cuckoo. The mother came out, caught hold of his ears and said, "What sin have I committed to give birth to you who is speaking a falsehood. It is a sin to consider you as my son." It is not the duty of a man. Man is the very embodiment of truth. Man should not utter falsehood under any circumstances. She felt very bad. Gandhi saw it. So this went like a dart into his heart. From that day onwards, he never uttered an untruth. It is the mother alone, not the father, who puts the child on the right path.

Parents Responsible for The Wrongs

The fathers themselves teach falsehood to the children today in the modern age. The father is sitting in the dining hall. The phone rings. "Is your father there?", the caller asks. The father asks who is the one that is speaking. If someone who he does not like is speaking, the father says tell him, "I am not available." The untruth is uttered by the father, not the mother. Today the fathers are teaching bad habits to children. When has it started? It has started from Dwapara Yuga from Dhritarashtra. He was blind to the wicked actions of his son. These fathers who do such things are not real fathers.

The father who asks the son to seek (Hari) God is the real father. A teacher who teaches spiritual knowledge is the real teacher. Such fathers and gurus who tell the truth are very rare today. Truth, righteousness, justice and love were taught to the children in the ancient days. The first guru to the child is the mother. In the tradition of Bharat, mother, father, guru and God have to be worshipped. The mother has the first place. Why does she get the first place? The mother carries the child in her womb for nine months, undergoes all trouble and pain and sacrifices everything including her blood for the child. Therefore, we have to honour such a mother. The blood, food, head and money of the child is the mother's property. It is the very strength of the mother.

That is why Marthru Devo Bhava - revere the mother as God - comes in the first place. Then she has to foster and nourish the child. Father will bring them up some how or other. The father tries to nourish the child. That is why the second is Pitru Devo Bhava - revere the father as God. Why is it that the woman is placed first? You know it. We say Seetha Rama. Does anyone say Rama Seetha? Seetha's name comes first. Then Parvati Parameswara. Does anyone say Parameswara Parvati? No. Parvati first and Parameswara next. In the same way, Lakshmi Narayana. No one says Narayana Lakshmi. What is the reason for the woman's name coming first? This is because woman is the very embodiment of prakriti - Nature. It is only through prakriti and the worship of prakriti that you can attain Paramatma. How can you reach the Paramatma if you cannot honour prakriti?

Mother's Kindness Begets God's Kindness

All the Kauravas died in the Mahabharata War. Dhritarashtra and Gandhari were very sad that all their sons died. So Krishna came there to enquire. They were very sad, overwhelmed with it. Gandhari tried to scold Krishna in many ways. "Of the 100 sons, could I not even protect one? Could you not save even one? What is the sin that I have committed? Why is it that you did not have kind looks?" Then Krishna said, "Gandhari, don't be hasty. Those sons who could not look after the honour of the mother, how could they expect a kind look from God? Have you ever seen them revering the mother?" Gandhari had tied her eyes. She never saw the children. They were not the recipients of the mother's grace. Then how can they expect the grace of God? In the Mahabharata war, the vision of the mother has been talked about in a great deal.

Mother is the very foundation of everything. A ma - Amma is the very first word. Therefore, she is called matrudevi. The four important sayings in the culture of Bharat are Matru Devo Bhava - Revere the mother as God, Pitru Devo Bhava - Revere the father as God, Acharya Devo Bhava - Revere the Guru as God, and Athiti Devo Bhava - Revere the guest as God. The mother gives birth to the children. She shows the father. Nobody has the authority to show the father. Only the mother has the authority to show the father. Then the father shows the Guru. The Guru leads the child to God. This is the ancient tradition and culture of Bharat. We have forgotten this ancient culture and tradition and have gone into the maze of untruth. Nothing is true in the world. Nothing is permanent. Only truth and reputation are permanent.

Run Away From Bad Company

How do you get this reputation? If we honour, obey, revere and love the mother, then only we can get reputation. We should not disregard the mother. If you have some kind of doubt, go to her in a nice way and clarify. Tell her in a nice way and explain. Don't hurt her at any time. No one who hurts the mother will prosper in life. If you disregard your mother now, tomorrow you will be disregarded by your children. If you cheat your friend, you will be cheated later by somebody else. So you should have the grace and love of the mother first.

Even the Russians had known this truth from ancient times. They have decided that December 8 will be Ladies Day in Russia. They give all freedom to women that day. The men have to go into the kitchen because the women go out to serve society. They go to many hospitals to serve. Mother knows only service because she is full of sacrifice. If anybody sheds tears, the mother feels and sheds tears. So the mother is full of compassion. Even the woman's heart has become hard because of changing times. What is the reason? We get such problems because of the company we keep, because the world is full of such bad elements. So, even their hearts have become hard. If they are good, everybody is good. It is very difficult to get the company of good people.

It was said by Einstein, "Tell me your company. I shall tell you what you are." You imbibe the qualities of the company you keep. We should not get into bad company. Then we get bad thoughts. Run away from bad company. Tyaja Durjana Samsargam. Discard the company of bad people. Sadhu Samagamam. Get in touch with noble company. Kuru Punyamahorathram. Do meritorious deeds day and night.

You should never entertain bad thoughts, bad company and bad actions. You are the loser if you take to bad ways. If not today, tomorrow you will reap the fruits of your actions. So be careful right from the beginning. We have got to understand the women. Women should also try to understand men. There will be the harmony, cooperation and love between men and women that brings peace in the family. People want joy in the home but they don't want an exemplary life. What is the reason? It is because the fault is in both. With one hand, sound does not come. There is sound only when both the hands meet.

Fathers Dhritarashtras Sons Kauravas

It is because of the parents that the children are not going on the right path. The mother and father do not set an ideal to the children. If the father smokes, why will the child keep quiet? He will also start smoking. Then he will also get a cigarette from the father and start smoking. If the father says, "Oh boy, it is wrong for your to smoke", then he will say, "You have done it, then why can't I do it?" So, the fathers are those who are being told by their children. If you are good, then he becomes exemplary.

You are not trying to understand the good ways of life. You cry when your children become bad. You cry when they do not listen to you. How will they listen to you? Did you listen? Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavathi. Whatever you say or do recoils on you. You belch according to the food you take. Whatever habits you have, you give them to the children. You have got to control the children. One has got to control himself first. Unless he improves, the child will not improve. Why will the children listen to him if behaves as he pleases?

In the modern age, the father does not correct the child and the child does not listen to the mother. So 99% of the fathers are like Dhritarashtras. They will accept anything that the children do. And that is why the world has come to this sorry state today.

If there are good children and take to the good and holy path, the father tells them, "Are you mad? Don't do Bhajan. Don't do charity. Don't participate in service." There are fathers who say such things. So they can be likened to Hiranyakasipu. Hiranyakasipu closed his ears when Prahlada uttered the name of Hari. So, the fathers are either Dhridhrashtras or Hiranyakasipus. They are unable to get the child on the right path and make them exemplary like Dharmamoorthis (embodiments of righteousness). They chant the Vedas, do so many things but cannot correct their children. Then who will listen to their Vedanta? He can talk a lot but cannot put them into practise. Many things can be said but few are done. It is easy to say but you cannot put them into practise, he or his grandfather. There are people who just talk but don't practise.

Spoon Full of Cow Milk, Better

We have got to realise the value of our culture. Even today, the children do not try to read the Ramayana or the Bhagavata. They read all sorts of trash and take to the bad path from young age. If the little saplings grows well, it becomes a big tree. If it becomes a little crooked, the whole tree becomes crooked. Love the child but correct him when necessary. They are very timid and feel if they give the children severe punishment, the child may run away from home and end its life. Such children better they die than live. What is the use of living with a bad name? Better die.

It is enough if you live like a swan for two years instead of living like a crow for 100 years. We want children who will get a good name in society. The father and mother will have to follow the right path if such a child has to be fostered. Prahlada's mother tried to tell him, "You should no go against your father. Try to please him." She tried to tell him in many pleasing ways. So the mother also gives advice. Today's mothers should have very pure thoughts and ideals.

Dollu, Drums and Gollu, Pebbles

We do not know when this word Adollu (for ladies in Telugu) has come. You have listened till now. Dollu is a little drum and it is said that wherever the women are, they are like the drum. You have all been sitting here for a long time. There is more noise from the women than men. Not that all women make noise. Today we are celebrating Ladies Day, from tomorrow onwards the women should lessen their talking. Not only here, even in the Bhajan hall, it is the women who talk.

Men are called magollu in Telugu. They go on turning and talk as they like. These are gollu (rounds stones), they are dollu (drums). So they do not know where to go, why to go, what to do and they are forgetting the morality. The women don't know how to keep peace and silence, get peace and silence. Things will improve if both men and women drive away these qualities.

Prahlada told his father 'you have conquered the whole world but you have not conquered you senses.' What is the use of conquering so many things? If you cannot control the wicked thoughts, then what can you achieve outside? You cannot achieve anything. You control the internal senses. Then you can very easily control the external organs.

What is the main reason for the well being of the society? Our actions are the very cause. What is the reason for our actions? Actions result from our thoughts. What is the reason for action? The mind. What is the cause of the mind? Sankalpa - thought is the cause of the mind. If the thoughts are pure, the country will also become pure. We have to inculcate ideas which are pure and good. These are human values.

Love, The Foundation of Human Values

What is that human quality? Padma Kastigir said sathya, dharma, shanti, prema and ahimsa. What is this truth? Those words which you speak with love are truth. That which comes from the heart filled with love is truth. All that you do from a heart filled with love is dharma - righteousness. The heart which is full of love and whatever it thinks is peace. Then whatever actions you do with a heart filled with love is ahimsa - non-violence. So love is the foundation for all these. There is no life whatsoever without love. So one has to foster this love.

Man is getting angry for every little thing today. Anger weakens man. It is anger which brings down the life span. It is like a saw which cuts down the life of man. Jealousy and anger should never be there. But these two diseases have spread all over the world. There is no medicine for these. The only medicine is the thought of God. You have got to strive for this. You have to propagate the idea of God in every street. You have to see that everybody follows the right path. There is no easier path. So the feminine principle is something good, virtuous and wonderful. It is only when the woman is good children of Bharat will also become great. If the nation has to prosper, the mother and father have to improve. It is very necessary today. So we have to increase the sense of peace and harmony in the world.

The house is the very basis for peace and joy. How can there be peace outside if there is no peace in the house? How can there be joy in the world if there is no joy in the house? So you should experience happiness at home. This joy should spread from home to the village, then to the state, then on to the country and to the whole world thereafter. We are only spreading asanthi - discord now. The fighting and disharmony between the wife and the husband should not go outside the house. The honour of the house being dragged to the street does not befit a person. We have to uphold the honour and dignity of the house in our forbearance and patience. This is the way one should follow.

Sai Declares A 'Stree Dinina', Womens' Day

Today everybody says he is educated. But in practice, one is uneducated. What can they do for the nation if they cannot improve their own children? How can you better the nation in this way? You have got to teach that education which brings peace and harmony in the world. That is Purushothama. That is human quality. So the mother has to lay the foundation for this human quality.

We say that this world is full of discord. From where has this discord come? It has come from within. So every time we celebrate the stree dina on November 19, we should propagate this type of thoughts. Not only good thoughts should be propagated but they should start right at the home. You should train the children with good thoughts. You have to remain peaceful even if the husband is wicked.

Ravanasura was a very wicked person. Mandodari could live long with him because of her forbearance. Mandodari used to advise Ravana in many ways. She used to tell him if the same thing had happened to him, how much he would have felt. You should not go after the wife of another person. Is there anything wrong in Rama getting angry? Don't you think they would feel just as you would feel? You just correct yourself. Don't try to make your fault as something very big.

Not d-o-g But G-O-D

Men and women should consider other's faults as very small even if they are big. Consider your fault even if it is small as something very big. We have got to see the good in others. You have got to look into the bad in you. You can improve yourself if you realise the bad in you. You will also become good if you see the good in others. But today we see the fault in others only. It is said in Telugu the bad man looks at the fault of the others and dog watches for others chappals. The dog always searches for chappals. Bad people always search for the bad in others. There is no difference between the dog and you. Such people are likened to dogs. We should not be like dogs. We should not be d o g dog, but G o d, God.

The life of man is very rare and fortunate. Embodiments of Love: There may be many faults in us. We should see that we discard them and see that they are not committed again. If we do some wrong to others, take it as thought we are wronging ourselves. We are those who are going bad. We are getting a bad name. There is no reason whatsoever for this. So all of you should have good minds. You have got to live with a good mind. What is a good mind? Is the mind sweet? No. A good mind is a mind which is full of peace, love and filled with compassion.

Once Buddha saw a corpse. He saw a sick man. He saw an old man and a decrepit man. Seeing these sights his mind was transformed. He became the Buddha. We are seeing many corpses, many sick persons, many decrepit and infirm persons. Our minds do not change. We have become stone hearted. We have got to change and transform ourselves. Then only we are human beings. We are repeating Buddham Saranam Gachami, Sangam Saranam Gachami, Satyam Saranam Gachami, Dharmam Saranam Gachami like a gramophone record. Where is the truth in us? Where is he peace in us? Nothing whatsoever.

Sai Seeks Individual Transformation in Return

Year after year you are hearing Swami's discourses. How many got transformed? Have you changed? What good deeds have you done? Where is the transformation in you? Nothing whatsoever. The change has to come. The change should be pure. You should develop pure qualities not only here (Prashantinilayam) but also outside. Then it will be worthy of coming here. What is the use of coming here spending so much money and effort? You have to discard your bad qualities. You have to inculcate good qualities. That is the true goal of life today.

This is an auspicious day dedicated for women. If women change, men will definitely change. Women should take to the right path. Then men will also take to the right path. Because the women can be a leader, she shares half the body of the man. She can change the men either today or tomorrow if she has good thoughts. So women should inculcate compassion, love and sacrifice. There is no quality greater than Sacrifice.

You know ancient history. How much compassion they had! What purity and virtue they carried in their hearts! Therefore, from then and today women are remembered. Today the women must take a step forward with determination and go forward courageously and follow the path of truth and bring all prosperity and peace to the nation and the world at large. Blessing you thus, Swami brings His discourse to a close.