Page 38 - May 2021

goodreads Journey of Motherhood from Mythology to the modern day.
MADHURI’S MUSINGS
Mother’s Day

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who’s the best Mom of them all?

The second Sunday in May is celebrated as Mother’s working mothers, divorcees and blended families,
Day in the US and in many other countries. Across including inter-generational and cultural conflicts that
the world, people perceive a mom as the center of add to the complexity. In this narrative, I look back
a child’s universe, the fulcrum of a strong family. in time and allude to two iconic mothers from Hindu
Glorification of the mother figure as a supreme mythology, try gleaning lessons learnt from them and
symbol of love and sacrifice sets high standards of reflect on how the modern mom has evolved.
expectation for the modern mom, even more for Yashoda- The sublime motherly love of Yashoda
women from India, where the mother is considered towards Krishna is a timeless piece of history that is
the heart of the home. captured in virtually every Indian art form. Yashoda
Motherhood in India has enjoyed a special revered is epitomized as a loving, indulgent mom who
status from time immemorial. MathA, PithA, GurU, also rebukes her adorable child when necessary.
DevaiM is a popular Sanskrit proverb that has been Overwhelming love is tempered with reward and
whispered across generations in Hindu society. punishment, as evidenced when Krishna is tied to the
This represents the hierarchical order of reverence. grinding stone after he playfully eats sand or rewarded
Starting from the Mother who gives birth to the child, with butter after he plays the flute.
followed by the Father who initiates the
child into the world; together the parents
show children the path to the Guru or
spiritual teacher who ultimately reveals the
secret to God and self-realization. If you
combine the last letters of this mantra, you
get to chant the sacred syllable AUM! Such
is the hidden secret and meaning to many
of our ancient proverbs!
The role of the mother has been
romanticized across the ages as a self-
sacrificing woman that has the interests
of her family, central to her life. Today
society and its demographics are rapidly
changing with an increasing number of

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