Defining Indian Identity -Matru Devo Bhava

THE DIVINITY OF MOTHER  AND FATHER:  

Jesus taught this prayer to His disciples and it is given in The Book of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 9-13. ” Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” In relation to God whom He called “Father,” Jesus claimed the unique and distinctive relationship of “Son.” In an absolute and unqualified way, Jesus claimed that He is the Father’s unique Son. “No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son” (MATTHEW 11:27). Jesus expresses this intimacy of relationship by addressing God as “ABBA”,  the word for father in Aramaic language. Nowhere in the literature and the prayers of ancient Judaism is this invocation of God as “ABBA” to be found. The final words of Jesus when He died on the cross were,” Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit ” (LUKE 23:46).    

The Divinity of Motherhood:

My Indian Identity is directly attributable to my claim of the Divinity of my Mother. When I speak to God, I refer to the Divine Entity as my Mother and Father. In Indian literature, while speaking of parents, invariably the word mother takes precedence over the word father. In my prayers, I address God as my Mother and Father. My traditions, my rituals and Cultural practices stress the Divinity of Mother. The river I worship is Ganga Ma (Mother Ganges), the cow I worship is Go Mata, the provider of my linguistic identity is Telugu Talli, the country of my origin is Bharat Mata. The following prayer is an example of my belief in a Divine, Universal Mother:    

सिद्धि बुद्धि प्रदे देवि भुक्ति मुक्ति प्रदायिनि 

मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते

Siddhi-Buddhi-Prade Devi Bhukti-Mukti-Pradaayini

Mantra-Muurte Sadaa Devi Mahaalakssmi Namostute

सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे (Siddhi-Buddhi-Prade) – Giver of Success and Intelligence

देवि (Devi) – Goddess

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि (Bhukti-Mukti-Pradaayini) – Giver of Wordly Enjoyment and Liberation

मन्त्रमूर्ते (Mantra-Muurte) – Embodiment of Mantra (mystical power of Sound)

सदा (Sadaa) – Always, देवि (Devi) – Goddess

महालक्ष्मि (Mahaalakssmi) – Devi Mahalakshmi नमोऽस्तुते (Namostute) – Reverential Salutations to You

1: (Salutations to Devi Mahalakshmi) The Devi who Gives Success and Intelligence and Gives Wordly Enjoyment and Liberation,

2: The Devi who Always abides as the Embodiment of Mantra; Salutations to that Mahalakshmi

    

THE MOTHER PRINCIPLE IN THE INDIAN TRADITION:

The term or word mother describes a female parent and it also conveys an idea that mother gives birth to something, it is the source, or origin of something, it nurtures something in a manner like that of a mother, and it also speaks of having the responsibility, and authority of a mother. The word mother could be used as a title to address a female person with respect and affection. The word mother is also often used as an adjective to describe something derived or learned from one’s mother. Indian Culture has given three icons who represent the three aspects of motherhood. Goddess Lakshmi, the Original Source of Mercy and Grace, represents the mother who nurtures, the provider of material wealth, prosperity, and well-being. Goddess Parvati, the Original Source of Compassion, represents the mother who defends, the source of energy, and the sustainer. Goddess Sarasvati represents the Original source of Innate knowledge and consciousness, the provider of learning, speech, and wisdom.