GLORY TO MOTHER SUMITRA!

“In this world, only that woman is fit to be called a mother whose son is the devotee of Rama, otherwise it would have been better if she were incapable of giving birth to a son”- mata Sumitra(in Sri Ramacharitmanasa, Ayodhya Kanda)

The foremost responsibility of a mother is to place her child in a proper KC environment by which he/she becomes pure devotee of the Lord. Mother is said to be the first guru in life. She is the first teacher of the child. To become a perfect teacher and a perfect Krishna conscious mother one must learn teachings of Mother Sumitra. Sumitra was the third queen of king Dashrath and a mother of great KC children- Lakshamana and Shatrughna.

For a fallen soul like me, writing about such a great devotee mother will be an offence. But, still I can’t stop myself because my heart will be purified by remembering her virtues. If a woman wants to bring a KC child in this world she should read and keep in heart the dialogue between Mother Sumitra and Lakshmana which is given in “Sri Ramacharitmanasa.”

When Lakshmana got the news that Sri Rama has to spend 14years in exile he started up in confusion and ran with a doleful face. Trembling all over with his hair standing on end and eyes full of tears he clasped Sri Rama’s feet much excited with emotion. When Sri Rama asked him to stay at home and serve his mother and father, overwhekmed with emotion Lakshamana couldn’t answer, but clasped his brother’s feet in anguish,”My lord, I am your slave and you are my master; if you abandon me, what help!”

He further said-“I know no preceptor nor father nor mother; I tell you sincerely; believe me, my lord. Whatever ties of affection, love and confidence exist in the world as declared by Vedas-for me they are all centred in you and you alone, my lord. Please take me with you”

Hearing these soft and polite words, the ocean of mercy- lord Rama said- “Go and ask leave of your mother.”

Now comes the dialog between a KC mother and her child-

Lakshmana rejoiced to hear these words from Rama. He went up to his mother delighted at heart as a blind man who had regained his lost vision. Approaching her he bowed his head at her feet and when he related at length the whole incident, mata Sumitra was shocked to hear this cruel report. Lakshmana, therefore, felt nervous and hesitated in asking leave of her; for he thought within himself, “Good God, will she allow me to accompany Sri Rama or not?”

But this brave devotee mother said- “My dear son, Sita is your mother while Rama, who loves you in everyway, is your father. Ayodhya is there where Rama dwells. If Sita and Rama are really proceeding to the woods, you have no business in Ayodhya. One’s preceptor, parents, brother, gods and master-all these should be tended as one’s own life. Rama, however, is dearer than life, the soul of our soul and the disinterested friend of all. Whosoever are worthy of adoration and most dear to us should be accounted as such only in so far as they are related to Rama. Bearing this in mind, accompany him to the forest and derive, my boy, the benefit of your existence in the world.”

“It is your great good fortune as well as mine, I solemnly declare, that your mind has sincerely taken up its abode in Rama’s feet.”

Will any mother speak in such a manner? She would have

argued, “As per the boon granted to Kaikeyi, only Rama is

supposed to go to the forest. You don’t need to go with Him.”

Any other mother would have stopped him from going to

the forest. But Sumitra, a noble mother, did not think on those lines. She had all the virtues of an ideal mother.

Furthermore, she said- “That woman alone can be said to have borne a male issue, whose son is a devotee of Rama. Otherwise she had better remain issueless; for she who deems herself fortunate in having a son hostile to Rama has yeaned in vain. It is due to your good fortune that Rama is proceeding to the forest; there is no other ground for doing so, my boy. The highest reward of all meritorious act is verily ths- to have spontaneous love for the feet of Sita and Rama. Never give way even in a dream to passion, anger, jealously, arrogance or infatuation. Giving up all sorts of morbid feelings serve them in thought, word and deed. You will be happy in everyway in the forest since you’ll have your father and mother in Rama and Sita. Take care, my son, that Rama may be put to no trouble in the woods; that is my admonition to you.”

Her words that-“ In this world, only that woman is fit to be called a mother whose son is the devotee of Raghunath, otherwise it would have been better if she were incapable of giving birth to a son.” are inspiration to all the mothers in this world. ‘Blessed was the mother' and 'blessed was the son'. Tulsidas, during the characterization of Sumitra has proved about the unbounded love and affection of Sumitra for Rama. Only such type of mother who is like Sumitra is worthy of being called a mother and a child having taken birth from the womb of such a mother is worthy of being called a son. Salutations to such a mother like Sumitra.

This letter was sent to Krishna by Rukmini. In this beautiful  letter her love for the sweet lord is seen. These verses appear in Srimad Bhagavat maha Puranam-- 

O the infallible and the most handsome One! Having heard Your qualities, which enter through the path of ears and absolve away the pains of life, and having heard about Your handsome appearance, which is the only asset of the eyes of living beings with eyes, my heart is accepting You as a consort leaving behind shyness.||1||

O Mukunda, the lion (best) among men! Given a chance, which composed girl from a good lineage will not wish for You as a consort; You, Who is the happiness of the minds of people, Who is the happiness of the world, and Who is incomparable from any viewpoint — be it lineage, nature, beauty, knowledge, energy, wealth, or abode.||2||

Therefore, O Lord! I have indeed accepted You as a consort and I have submitted myself to You. O lotus-eyed Krishna! Please arrive here [and accept me]; so that the prince of Cedi (Sisupala) does not takes away the property of brave You — just like a jackal should not take away the prey of a lion.||3||

If I have revered the all pervading Paramatman by social welfares (digging wells), oblations, obeying rules, penance, and serving demi-gods, saints, and preceptor, then O Gadagraja (Krishna)! You accept me after holding my hand — instead of anyone else like the son of Damaghosa (Sisupala).||4||

O Lord, Who is unconquered! Arrive secretly in Vidarbha one day before my marriage. Then after defeating all the army-commanders from the regions of Cedi and Magadha (Sisupala and Jarasandha), marry me with the ways of demons by showing Your valor and conquering power.||5||

If You are wondering that how will you conquer me without killing the women and relatives inside my palace, then I am telling You a way out. As per an old tradition, there is a grand fair before the marriage, during which the bride goes out to the temple of Girija for prayers.||6||

O lotus-eyed Krishna! If I don’t achieve the dust of Your feet, which is sought after by incomparable Ones like Umapati (Siva), then I will destroy my life. If the service of Your feet is not achieved in this life, then I will take hundreds of birth and do penance; I am sure I will achieve Your lotus feet some day.||7||

                           Stotram by Sri Adi Shankracharya

bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM

govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .

saMpraapte sannihite kaale

nahi nahi rakshati DukRiJNkaraNe .. (1)

Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.

mUDha jahiihi dhanaagamatRishhNaaM

kuru sadbuddhiM manasi vitRishhNaam.

yallabhase nijakarmopaattaM

vittaM tena vinodaya chittam. .. (2)

Oh fool ! Give up your thirst to amass wealth, devote your mind to thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions already performed in the past.

naariistanabhara naabhiideshaM

dRishhTvaa maagaamohaavesham.

etanmaaMsaavasaadi vikaaraM

manasi vichintaya vaaraM vaaram. .. (3)

Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by seeing a woman’s navel and chest. These are nothing but a modification of flesh. Do not fail to remember this again and again in your mind.

naliniidalagata jalamatitaralaM

tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam .

viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastaM

lokaM shokahataM cha samastam .. (4)

The life of a man is as uncertain as rain drops trembling on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief.

yaavadvittopaarjana saktaH

staavannija parivaaro raktaH .

pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe

vaartaaM ko.api na pRichchhati gehe .. (5)

So long as a man is fit and able to support his family, see the affection all those around him show. But no one at home cares to even have a word with him when his body totters due to old age.

yaavatpavano nivasati dehe

taavatpRichchhati kushalaM gehe .

gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye

bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye .. (6)

When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his welfare. But when the soul departs from the body, even his wife runs away in fear of the corpse.

baalastaavatkriiDaasaktaH

taruNastaavattaruNiisaktaH .

vRiddhastaavachchintaasaktaH

pare brahmaNi ko.api na saktaH .. (7)

The childhood is lost by attachment to playfulness. Youth is lost by attachment to woman. Old age passes away by thinking over many past things. But there is hardly anyone who wants to be lost in parabrahmam.

kaate kaantaa kaste putraH

saMsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitraH .

kasya tvaM kaH kuta aayaataH

tattvaM chintaya tadiha bhraataH .. (8)

Who is your wife ? Who is your son ? Strange is this samsara. Of whom are you ? From where have you come ? Brother, ponder over these truths here.

satsaNgatve nissN^gatvaM

nissaNgatve nirmohatvam.h .

nirmohatve nishchalatattvaM

nishcalatattve jiivanmuktiH .. (9)

From Satsangh comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From self-settledness comes Jeevan Mukti.

vayasigate kaH kaamavikaaraH

shushhke niire kaH kaasaaraH .

kshiiNevitte kaH parivaaraH

GYaate tattve kaH saMsaaraH .. (10)

What good is lust when youth has fled ? What use is a lake which has no water ? Where are the relatives when wealth is gone ? Where is samsara when the Truth is known ?

maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvaM

harati nimeshhaatkaalaH sarvam.h .

maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa

brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa .. (11)

Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Each one of these are destroyed within a minute. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth.

dinayaaminyau saayaM praataH

shishiravasantau punaraayaataH .

kaalaH kriiDati gachchhatyaayuH

tadapi na muJNcatyaashaavaayuH .. (12)

Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the storm of desire never leaves.

dvaadashamaJNjarikaabhirasheshhaH

kathito vaiyaakaraNasyaishhaH .

upadesho bhuudvidyaanipuNaiH

shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharaNariH .. (12a)

This bouquet of twelve verses was imparted to a grammarian by the all-knowing Shankara, adored as the bhagavadpada.

kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa

vaatula kiM tava naasti niyantaa .

trijagati sajjanasaM gatiraikaa

bhavati bhavaarNavataraNe naukaa .. (13)

Oh mad man ! Why this engrossment in thoughts of wealth ? Is there no one to guide you ? There is only one thing in three worlds that can save you from the ocean from samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha quickly.

jaTilo muNDii luJNchhitakeshaH

kaashhaayaambarabahukRitaveshhaH .

pashyannapi cana pashyati muuDhaH

udaranimittaM bahukRitaveshhaH .. (14)

There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaven heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in saffron, yet others in various colors — all just for a livelihood. Seeing truth revealed before them, still the foolish ones see it not.

aNgaM galitaM palitaM muNDaM

dashanavihiinaM jataM tuNDam.

vRiddho yaati gRihiitvaa daNDaM

tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapiNDam.. (15)

Strength has left the old man’s body; his head has become bald, his gums toothless and leaning on crutches. Even then the attachment is strong and he clings firmly to fruitless desires.

 agre vahniH pRishhThebhaanuH

raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuH .

karatalabhikshastarutalavaasaH

tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapaashaH .. (16)

Behold there lies the man who sits warming up his body with the fire in front and the sun at the back; at night he curls up the body to keep out of the cold; he eats his beggar’s food from the bowl of his hand and sleeps beneath the tree. Still in his heart, he is a wretched puppet at the hands of passions.

 kurute gaNgaasaagaragamanaM

vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam.h .

GYaanavihinaH sarvamatena

muktiM na bhajati janmashatena .. (17)

One may go to gangasagar(ganes), observe fasts, and give away riches in charity ! Yet, devoid of jnana, nothing can give mukthi even at the end of a hundred births.

sura ma.ndira taru muula nivaasaH

shayyaa bhuutala majinaM vaasaH .

sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagaH

kasya sukhaM na karoti viraagaH .. (18)

Take your residence in a temple or below a tree, wear the deerskin for the dress, and sleep with mother earth as your bed. Give up all attachments and renounce all comforts. Blessed with such vairagya, could any fail to be content ?

 yogarato vaabhogaratovaa

saN^garato vaa saNgaviihinaH .

yasya brahmaNi ramate chittaM

nandati nandati nandatyeva .. (19)

One may take delight in yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or detachment. But only he whose mind steadily delights in Brahman enjoys bliss, no one else.

 bhagavad.h giitaa kiJNchidadhiitaa

gaNgaa jalalava kaNikaapiitaa .

sakRidapi yena muraari samarchaa

kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa .. (20)

Let a man read but a little from Gitaa, drink just a drop of water from the ganges, worship murari (govinda) just once. He then will have no altercation with Yama.

punarapi jananaM punarapi maraNaM

punarapi jananii jaThare shayanam.h .

iha saMsaare bahudustaare

kRipayaa.apaare paahi muraare .. (21)

Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother’s womb ! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari ! Redeem me through Thy mercy.

 rathyaa charpaTa virachita kanthaH

puNyaapuNya vivarjita panthaH .

yogii yoganiyojita chitto

ramate baalonmattavadeva .. (22)

There is no shortage of clothing for a monk so long as there are rags cast off the road. Freed from vice and virtue, onward he wanders. One who lives in communion with God enjoys bliss, pure and uncontaminated, like a child and as someone intoxicated. Stanza attributed to Nityanatha.

kastvaM ko.ahaM kuta aayaataH

kaa me jananii ko me taataH .

iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram.h

vishvaM tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram.h .. (23)

Who are you ? Who am I ? From where do I come ? Who is my mother, who is my father ? Ponder thus, look at everything as essenceless and give up the world as an idle dream.

 vyarthaM kupyasi mayyasahishhNuH .

bhava samachittaH sarvatra tvaM

vaaJNchhasyachiraadyadi vishhNutvam.h .. (24)

In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. If you wish to attain the status of Vishnu soon, have samabhava always. 

shatrau mitre putre bandhau

maa kuru yatnaM vigrahasandhau .

sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanaM

sarvatrotsRija bhedaaGYaanam.h .. (25)

Do not waste your efforts to win the love of or to fight against friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely.

 kaamaM krodhaM lobhaM mohaM

tyaktvaa.atmaanaM bhaavaya ko.aham.h .

aatmaGYaana vihiinaa muuDhaaH

te pachyante narakaniguuDhaaH .. (26)

Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell they suffer there endlessly.

geyaM giitaa naama sahasraM

dhyeyaM shriipati ruupamajasram .

neyaM sajjana saNge chittaM

deyaM diinajanaaya cha vittam. .. (27)

Regularly recite from the Gita, meditate on Vishnu [thro' Vishnu sahasranama] in your heart, and chant His thousand glories. Take delight to be with the noble and the holy. Distribute your wealth in charity to the poor and the needy.

sukhataH kriyate raamaabhogaH

pashchaaddhanta shariire rogaH .

yadyapi loke maraNaM sharaNaM

tadapi na muJNchati paapaacharaNam.h .. (28)

He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease. Though death brings an end to everything, man does not give up the sinful path.

arthamanarthaM bhaavaya nityaM

naastitataH sukhaleshaH satyam.

putraadapi dhana bhaajaaM bhiitiH

sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitiH .. (29)

Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. Reflect thus at all times. A rich man fears even his own son. This is the way of wealth everywhere.

praaNaayaamaM pratyaahaaraM

nityaanitya vivekavichaaram.

jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanaM

kurvavadhaanaM mahadavadhaanam .. (30)

Regulate the pranas, remain unaffected by external influences and discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Chant the holy name of God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with extreme care.

gurucharaNaambuja nirbhara bhakataH

saMsaaraadachiraadbhava muktaH .

sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevaM

drakshyasi nija hR^idayasthaM devam. .. (31)

Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru ! May thou be soon free from Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt come to experience the Indwelling Lord of your heart !

muuDhaH kashchana vaiyaakaraNo

DukRiJNkaraNaadhyayana dhuriNaH .

shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai

bodhita aasichchhodhitakaraNaH .. (32)

Thus was a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow vision and shown the Light by Shankara’s apostles.

bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM

govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .

naamasmaraNaadanyamupaayaM

nahi pashyaamo bhavataraNe .. (33)

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool ! Other than chanting the Lord’s names, there is no other way to cross the life’s ocean.

Pranam Matajis and Prabhujis

Here is a little story tht i would like to share with you all-

It's a story of a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands. On one trip, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out, because the day was fine and the sea was calm.

However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.
But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship."

Here is a lesson for us:
If we cannot and will not seek God in quiet moments of our lives; we are not likely to find Him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic. But if we have learnt to seek Him and trust Him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find Him when the going gets rough.


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