This series chronicles interesting experiences recounted by the devotees of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji. These articles are translations from the series, “Madhuramaana Mahaneeyar” that is published every month in Madhuramurali Tamil monthly magazine.
Let the Power of Motherhood rise!
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Namabhiksha Kendra’s Mahila Mandali (women’s wing) organized a mass prayer session in Tanjore and conducted it in a grand fashion. Smt. Savitri Ramakrishnan worked day and night for this event and Smt. Gita Dandapani supported her throughout the event. Sri Swamiji graced the occasion and addressed the gathering.
Sri Swamiji started his address with Bharathiyar’s words, “One must have done penance to be born as a woman” and “We will shun the madness (ignorance) that treats women badly”.
“Swami Vivekananda said, ‘The main reason why India has not made rapid progress is because we belittled the power of women.’ Once Sister Nivedita, who was a foreign national and worked along with Swami Vivekananda, visited Tamil Nadu. During her visit, a freedom struggle movement had been organized. Subramanya Bharathi came alone to participate in the movement. Seeing him alone, Sister Nivedita said, “Why did you not bring your wife Chellamma to the struggle? A struggle movement without any women will not succeed.” Bharathi accepted this.”
Further Sri Swamiji said, “In our religion, we worship all the gods along with their consorts. In Srimad Ramayana, Ravana who desired only Sita, met his downfall. Similarly, Surpanaka who desired only Lord Rama got her nose severed. Hanuman, who desired Lord Rama and Sita together, is living forever as a chiranjeevi. This shows that gods must always be worshipped along with their female consorts.”
Sri Swamiji then said, “Karaikal Ammayyar, Avvaiyar, Andal, Janabhai, Sakubhai, Meera, Saradamani and other such great women devotees have worshipped Bhagavan.” He then narrated the life history of contemporary devotees – Matha Janaki, a great devotee of Sri Ramana Maharishi from Tanjore, and Andavan Pitchai from Chennai.
“Sage Yagnavalkya’s highest philosophy of jnana was intended for his wife.” “Tulasi das attained jnana because of his wife’s word.” “Bilvamangala was transformed by the words of a woman called Chintamani and became an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna.” “Lust, anger and fear are the three obstacles to attain liberation. These obstacles can be overcome easily if one worships the deity as one’s own mother. The reason is that one does not feel lust, anger or fear only towards one’s own mother. That divine mother is Brahmavidyaswarupini (embodiment of Jnana).” Sri Swamiji ended his discourse by saying, “Let the power of motherhood rise and bestow all auspiciousness on this world.”
Original Tamil article by Dr. A Bhagyanathan, Jan 2008 issue of Madhuramurali
Translated by Sankar Ganesan, Dallas TX