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Role of women
Role of Mother
“The Mother is held as the object of
affectionate reverence in Indian Culture. She is the home-maker,
the first teacher of the child, the person who lovingly transmits
the culture of this ancient land to its heirs in their most
formative years. The mother and the father are the first examples
in social behavior that the child sees and learns to imitate.
They should teach Bhakthi and Prapatthi (adoration of God
and surrender to the Highest); they should be embodiments
of Shanti and Prema (equanimity and love). Thus, they should
aid in the spiritual awakening of the child.
Nation and
Mothers
“Everyone has a mother as the source
of his life and body. So the mother has to be strong in mind
and body, steeped in culture and good character, sanctified
by holy thoughts and full of love and dedication. Good mothers
make a good nation. They have to be repositories of Thyaga,
Yoga and Bhakthi (Detachment, Discipline and Devotion). Every
activity of theirs must be prompted by these three cardinals,”
Baba says.
“If you want to know how advanced a
nation is, study its mothers; are they free from fear and
anxiety, are they full of love towards all, are they trained
in fortitude and virtue.” This has been the message
of Baba.
The art of
making a home
Once, in His discourse to the girl-students
of His College, Baba said,
“Woman has been extolled in ancient
scriptures as well as classical poetry as Grihalakshmi, the
Goddess who brings prosperity to the home. She is the Dharmapathni,
who accompanies the husband in the fulfillment of the duties
and rights of householder’s life. In addition to keeping
the home happy, healthy and harmonious, you also have to learn
how to steer clear of hatred, malice, greed, anger, anxiety,
pride and other obstacles that come in the way of inner peace.
It is not enough if the home budget is balanced; the wife
must learn the art of having a balanced view of life, which
will not be affected by triumphs and troubles, gains or losses,
victory or defeat. This balance can be got only by placing
one’s faith in the in-dwelling God.”
Duty of the
mother
Baba counsels, “The mother herself
should look after the children during the early years instead
of placing the child in the custody and care of baby sitters
and servants. The mother must set the example in making the
shrine the heart of the household. She must enforce discipline
over the children in personal cleanliness, in humility and
hospitality, in good manners and acts of service. She must
persuade the children by example and precept to revere elders
and to allot some time both in the morning and evening for
prayer and silent meditation.
The ideal for
women
“Women should live up to the ideal
of a faithful wife and a loving mother. According to the Indian
belief and ideals of marriage, husband and wife form the right
and left halves of the same body respectively; they are complementary
parts of the same unit.”
Ref: “Sathya Sai Speaks”, Vol.
– VI, Chapter – 12
“Woman is neither meant to surpass
man, nor to be trampled under his foot. She should stand as
his equal, his companion in his joys and sorrows of life,”
Baba says.
The gentle
art of sacrifice and service
Speaking at the Maharani's Women's College,
Mysore, on 12th of Sep 1963, Baba exhorted the girl students
thus:
“Learn to adjust your likes and dislikes
to those of others, learn the gentle art of sacrifice and
service. Try to appreciate the view points of elders. They
have greater experience and greater sense of responsibility;
they may have greater forethought and know more about people
and things than you, who are fresh entrants in their household.
The family of the husband which you enter
after marriage is a good training ground; it is a Sadhana-kshethra
(field of spiritual practice). When people find fault with
you, do not fly into a rage. Examine your own conduct and
discover the faults in you; self-examination is the first
step to self-improvement and peace. Do not exaggerate the
faults of others; on the other hand, magnify your faults and
strive to get rid of them fast. Consider all faultfinders
as your friends and well-wishers, for they give you warning-signals
in time.”
Ref: “Sathya Sai Speaks”, Vol.
- III, Chapter – 24.
Mother –
man’s primary wealth
Giving the Inaugural Discourse at the symposium
on "The Role of Women in Social Change" organised
by the former girl students of the Anantapur campus of the
Institute, September, 1983, Baba said,
“The mother's lap is the first school
for every child. It is his first temple; mother is his foremost
God. Mother is every man's primary wealth. It is the duty
of every person to recognize this truth. Everyone should cherish
their parents as embodiments of the Divine. The father and
the mother are inseparable like the word and its meaning.
The mother and father may be physically separate, but spiritually,
they are one.”
Ref: “Sathya Sai Speaks”, Vol.
– XVI, Chapter - 24
Women and the
Community
Stressing on the role of women in the building
of the society and the nation, Baba says,
“Women have a very crucial role in
individual and social uplift. They are the makers of the home,
the nation and the world. They are the mothers who shape the
generation to come. So, they must enshrine in their hearts
the spiritual urge towards Light and love, wisdom and bliss.”
Women and Education
Speaking to the girl students of the Sathya
Sai College in Jaipur on the 10th of April, 1975, Baba said,
“To save at least the next generation,
women have to be educated in a well planned manner and endowed
with the wisdom, fortitude and faith that can equip them for
the great responsibility that rests upon them…
Girls who are studying in this college today
will become mothers tomorrow. It is therefore necessary that
they should equip themselves with the culture, learning and
wisdom that they will need in the future. In India, we assign
a special place to women. It is therefore all the more important
that the girls who are studying here should train themselves
in such a way that they can live up to the ideals and aspirations
of an Indian woman.
We consider women as Grihalakshmi, Dharmapathni
and so on. A woman has to maintain her house. She is not only
the housewife, but on her depends the glory or otherwise of
the whole country. That is why we say this is our motherland.
It is in this spirit that we refer to our country as Bharatmatha.
We also find that women are given the first position when
they are associated with their consort as in Sita-Rama, Lakshmi-Narayana,
Radha-Krishna and Parvathi-Parameshwara. It is only to establish
this prominence given to women in our country and to train
our young girls on these lines that we took up the task of
opening such colleges.
I expect the young girls studying in this
college to cultivate such good qualities that bring name and
fame to their families. The girls of the Sathya Sai College
should maintain the ideals of the institution and keep the
prestige of their homes, their society and their culture.
It is only then that the purpose of establishing this college
can be served.
Women students and teachers have to be ever
vigilant that they do not adopt fashions that outrage the
traditions and conventions of this country and its culture.
Do not bring dishonour to your parents or disappoint them
by acting contrary to their aspirations.”
Women must emerge from this college armed
with deep rooted virtue and firm faith in the ideals of womanhood
laid down in our sacred texts. Then only can they, as mothers,
mould their children as bright, beautiful, virtuous and strong
citizens of the world.”
Ref: “Sathya Sai Speaks”, Vol.
XIII, Chapter – 10.
Illustrious
Mothers of India
“The Puranas and Shastras (Indian scriptures)
stress the role of women as mothers and extol the mothers
who instilled high ideals in the minds of the children of
the land. The Vedas speak of Maitreyi and Gargi as great scholars
and spiritual heroines. Gargi was well revered in the assembly
of Vedic pundits for her mastery over abstruse problems of
the spirituality. In recent history, we have the mother of
Chatrapathi Shivaji who raised him on the epics and Puranas,
and brought him up as a brave representative of the best of
Hindu Culture,” Baba says.
Many a time Baba recalls many illustrious
women of India’s history to emphasize the importance
and the character of women. Speaking at the College of Home
Science, in Bangalore on 26th of July, 1969, Baba said,
“Women have proved throughout the centuries
in Indian History that they have the courage, the vision,
and the intelligence needed to dive into the depths of spiritual
science and discipline. Maithreyi, Meera, Gargi, Sulabha,
Choodala, Mahadevi, Aandal are shining examples of mighty
heroines in the spiritual realms.”
Ref: “Sathya Sai Speaks”, Vol.
IX, Chapter – 13.
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