Mother´s Day In India

By Pablo Ruiz

On the second Sunday of May, Mother's Day offers an opportunity for families to honour their mothers, as well as honour the mothers of their families and the mothers from different cultures. Many places in the world celebrate it on a variety of days during the months of March or May. This special day is also dedicated to mothers of all faiths, including goddesses and sacred mothers. We will examine the importance, nature and tradition of this celebration. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pablo Ruiz
• Release date: Oct 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005269807

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Mother’s Day in India

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On the second Sunday of May, Mother's Day offers an opportunity for families to honour their mothers, as well as honour the mothers of their families and the mothers from different cultures. Many places in the world celebrate it on a variety of days during the months of March or May. This special day is also dedicated to mothers of all faiths, including goddesses and sacred mothers.

It is the institution of motherhood that holds a pedestal position in Hindu society, according to the philosophy of Sanaatan Dharma. Mother's Day happens every day for Hindus. According to Hindu traditions, Hindus consider five mothers to be holy and keep them in total esteem and respect:  the Mother Earth, The cow, The religious texts, The Divine Mother, and the biological mother.

In light of this, these have been considered the sources of life which sustain humanity, and as such, to show appreciation, reverence, worship, and make provisions for their maintenance are among the duties owed by their children on earth.

The Hindi word Maa is composed of two consonants Ma and aa. The consonant symbolizes the heart, evoking feelings of love, joy and happiness, and the vowel represents the power of bliss, also known as aanand shakti. In other words, a mother is the treasure house of all success, love, and bliss. Several Hindu deities are described in Hindu philosophy as iccha shakti (she who is powerful of will), gyaan shakti (she who is knowledgeable) and kriya shakti (she who is active) including Durga Mata. So, the earthly mothers take great pains to ensure that their children are well-nourished, that her will directs their activities, and that the children gain the knowledge they need. It is for this reason that every mother plays an important role in our development as individuals. Therefore, Hinduism places paramount importance on worshiping the mother and our dependence on her is essential to thrive.

Hinduism holds mothers in the highest regard and considers them worthy of worship and respect. Without question, she is a loving, selfless mother who can sacrifice, forbear, and serve her children selflessly. There are numerous scriptural passages and episodes that praise and revere the unparalleled love that a mother has for her children, including the Maha Shiv Puran, Ramayana, and many others. The earthly mothers contribute substantially to a child's growth and development. There is no one who can assume her role, and she can never be replaced. According to scripture, a mother is worth more reverence than a father or teacher. Hence, the mother is ten times more valuable than a mere lecturer, a hundred times more valuable than a father, and a thousand times more valuable than a teacher.

In the Moksha dharma Parva, Bhishma said:

A woman is a cure for all types of calamities. In the absence of the mother, a person is deprived of protection; her presence reverses this effect. When a man who is denied, prosperity enters his house, he says to his mother: "O mother!, if you are with me, neither