The most important duty enjoined on man is to love and honour his mother. The principle of motherhood is intimately associated with God, who has created the entire universe, has provided its sustenance, and who is granting man everything that he needs. Our perception of this principle must be broad and benign. If you consider your own mother as a Goddess and do not perceive another’s likewise it is indeed a great error. Also, we should realise that if we cannot have the good fortune of enjoying the love of our own mother, indeed we can never have the bounty of God’s love either. A mother who has carried that child in her womb for nine months, who has gone through all sorts of pains and troubles during the period for sustaining the child, is entitled to be protected by you. One should never forget this important duty.
In daily life and in nature we come across a number of examples to illustrate the divine nature of this mother principle. The cow converts her own blood into milk, which gives sustenance to us all. She is considered a ‘MatruMurti’ because of this. The earth keeps us in her bosom and gives us protection at all times. The earth is also known as a ‘Matru Murti’. Then there is the Angirasa, the many fluids emanating from our body that digest our food. This RasaSwarupini resides in our limbs and activates our body. She subtains our life and therefore she too is considered as a ‘MatruMurti’. The Maharshis have taught us what is desirable and what is undesirable in our life, the SreyoMarga and the PreyoMarga, through various Shastras. That is why these Rishis are also ‘MatruMurtis’. The teacher, the preceptor, who imbibes in us Sujnanam, Vijnanam and Prajnanam is also a ‘MatruMurti’. Therefore the cow, the earth, the Angiras, the Rishis, the Preceptor - all these five are the very embodiments of the divine mother.
The mother is the SarvaShaktiSwarupini and it is in order to declare to the world this divine aspect of the mother, the Navaratri festival is celebrated. In these nine days we adore and worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
Durga is ShaktiSwarupini- the physical, mental and spiritual powers are conferred by her, Lakshmi endows us with all types of Aishvarya. These are JnanaAishvarya, PranaAishvarya, VidyaAishvarya. Saraswati gives us the power of intellect, the power of discrimination, the power of word.
Our mother is truly an embodiment of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. She confers on us all types of energy and power. She provides us with all manner of wealth and help us grow and prosper. She also aspires for her children to earn fame and name through their education. All these three divine principles come and merge in our own mother. Lakshmana was able to be with Rama only because of the blessing of his mother Sumitra.
All the protection that the Pandavas enjoyed came from their mother’s love. It is God’s grace that saved the Pandavas from utter ruin. Mother’s love was the basis for that grace. This is the law of nature. Whoever adheres to this Dharma will be happy.
In the name of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati we should not worship wealth and pelf. If we love our own mother who has given birth to us, then we will have worshipped everyone else. The protection given to mother is the real protection of our life. If father is the embodiment of righteousness, mother is the embodiment of love.
Navaratri festival is intended to make us realise the importance of the mother, to love our mother, go on the path which will please our mother. On the other hand, people buy some flowers and offer worship to the idols of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, ignoring the aspect of honouring one’s mother. Mother who has given birth to you is the very embodiment of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. We should never make our mother shed tears. In other countries also there is a belief that where women are made to cry prosperity will vanish. Your duty therefore is to see that you do not hurt your mother in any way whatsoever. The entire clan of Ravana came to ruin because he made Sita weep. The complete lineage of the Kauravas was destroyed because they were responsible for making Draupadi to shed tears. Men should therefore never make women weep and wail in any way whatsoever.
(s. -p. 1/8)