Mother is the best spiritual guide

Devotion or bhakti comes in many forms, and while we seek external guidance, we fail to look at home first. Puranas say mathru bhakti, or walking in the path laid down by one’s mother is by far the best way to receive divine blessings and attain moksha. The next person of influence is one’s father. 

Clearly, one’s parents are the best guides to help one achieve true bliss in life. Even a guru, comes only after one’s parents. Next in line is pati bhakti, or spousal love. There is this interesting story about Koorthazhwar, one of the Vaishnavite saints. 

Born into a royal family, Koorathazhwar renounced his feudal throne and worldly possessions and journeyed to Srirangam in order to become a disciple of Sri Ramanuja, the great preceptor. His wife, who willingly went along with him, agreeing to give up royal attachments, however packed Koorathazhwar’s golden plate from he partook his daily meals in their travel kit, without her husband’s knowledge. 

When Koorathazhwar wanted to halt for the night near a forest, she resisted, prompting him to ask her, “Why should you worry where we halt, we have no earthly possessions— unless you have stored something heavy under your belt?”  When he found the plate, he grabbed it and flung it far into the forest, saying, “Now, we can be truly free and think only of our guru.”

Andal, Koorathazhwar’s wife is therefore said to be one of the finer examples of pati bhakti. We also have bhakti as exemplified by Shatrughuna. To him Bharata was the ultimate idol, not Rama. However, a mother’s position is unassailable, and she is the best spiritual guide one can have.

WHY MOTHER IS BEST 

Science has shown us that an unborn baby can react, enjoy music etc., even while in the womb. Our purnas have been saying this for centuries. Prahalada too listened to numerous devotional lectures while still in his mother’s womb, and he chose to walk in the path of righteousness, even when his own father threatened him and tried to force him to renounce God. There is also the story of Sage Narada, who recounts to Vyasa his experiences from a previous birth where his mother used to regale him with moral stories while going about her daily puja and household chores. 

Scholars have said that traditionally, the high status accorded to women, specially mothers is derived from the fact that women have the capacity for unconditional, selfless love. It is the mother who teaches one the importance of sharing, the first, baby step to renouncing worldly possessions. In a family, it is the mother who is always balancing out the ego of other members, thereby putting one on the path to achieve equipoise. 

Ego and greed are the biggest stumbling blocks to one’s material and spiritual journeys. One has to learn to let-go and the best teacher to help is none other than a mother. From puranas to popular culture, a mother is always shown as the one who overcomes pride, is selfless, ever ready to sacrifice everything for her family and never veers from the correct path. 

As they say, mother knows best. This is why Vaishnavites seek refuge in Mahalakhmi. A true seeker does not have to do severe penance to reach Her. Instead, a heart-felt appeal to ‘Thaye ’(Amma) is enough to make Her turn Her eyes on the devotee and bless him and remove his burden of sin.