Sunday Gita Class Summary – 05/09/2021 Mother's Day Special Part 1

Offering respects to Our Mothers on Mother's Day

A mother's love is the purest kind of love that can be experienced in this material world. The Vedic scriptures hold the mother in the highest regard — she is considered one of the seven mothers: one's own mother, the wife of the spiritual master, the wife of a brahmana, the wife of the king, the cow, the nurse, and the earth.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, we find many beautiful examples of devoted mothers: Devaki, the mother of Lord Krishna, who endured tremendous suffering for the sake of her son; Yasoda, who raised Krishna with pure maternal love; and Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas, who prayed for calamities so that she could always remember Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada often spoke about the importance of honoring one's mother. He said that a person who does not respect his mother cannot make advancement in spiritual life. The Sanskrit saying 'mātṛ devo bhava' — 'Let your mother be your god' — reflects this deep Vedic reverence for motherhood.

On this Mother's Day, let us offer our heartfelt respects to all mothers, and especially to Mother Earth, Mother Ganga, and Mother Tulasi, who nourish and sustain all living beings.