May 14th is Mother's day. On this day people show appreciation for mothers as well as motherly and maternal bonds. In Varnasrama society and practically any traditional culture in the world, the mother is seen as an emblem of sacrifice, dedicating her life to the care and upbringing of her children and family members. Sastra speaks of seven mothers and they should all be honored.The status that a mother has is so honored that sastra even exhorts jivas in male bodies to see all jivas in female bodies as their mothers.
Srila Prabhupada said that the love a mother has for her child is the closest one can get to self-less love (love of god) in the material world. Children born to mothers who take care of their families, bring up their children with personal care and attention and who inculcate Krsna consciousness in them, are very fortunate. The children are able to develop a firm foundation in Krsna consciousness and culture and continue to develop these throughout their lives. Indeed this was the role that Srila Prabhupada desired that his female followers take up (and ordained by sastra) as can be seen repeatedly in his purports, lectures and correspondence.
Sadly, in the modern-age any woman who aspires to properly follow the role of a mother and thus eschew any other forms of activities including employment and so-called higher studies, are denigrated and seen as inferior. This is inline with the plan of feminists (men and women) who wish to see women take up all roles of men and ‘prove themselves’ capable of doing anything a man can do not having knowledge that roles are ascribed separately for men and women. This has led to the breakdown of the family unit and widespread emotional and psychological scars on children who are vulnerable and need the full attention of the mother in order to develop properly. The Krsna consciousness movement has also been affected to some degree by this.
The book Mother and Masters by His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami makes the case for ISKCON and its members to establish Varnasrama dharma as desired by Srila Prabhupada and as a consequence – for women to take up Srila Prabhupada’s guidance of taking up roles as wives and mothers. The book explains that the institution of Motherhood is exalted and very important in society. So important that girl children are trained almost from childhood how to be good mothers which is a requirement for stable and peaceful society. It also addresses arguments and challenges that one may face when desiring to take up the proper role as a traditional mother or ‘housewife’ in Krsna consciousness.
On this day we can remember Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on Krsna conscious motherhood and the importance of the Varnasrama institution for supporting it. Thus we encourage everyone to read and distribute the book Mothers and Masters widely on this day explaining that instructions by Krsna given in sastra on marriage and motherhood constitutes the best role a woman can take up and pave the way for her advancement in Krsna consciousness.
Please write to books@bvks.com or call/whatsapp +919714136999 to procure books.
Available in English (With MP3 DVD), हिंदी, and Czech
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