The Mother (A Peep into the Unique Indian Concept)

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This book aims at recalling to the minds of the readers the grand significance of the term “Mother” as embedded in the Indian philosophy and culture. In the present conditions in India, and the world too, as a result of the ongoing thrust if materialism, there is the possibility of the present generation becoming unaware of the sacred connotation of the term “Mother” and its prominence in Indian life and culture. Hence this attempt to examine and elucidate the uniqueness of the Indian concept of the “Mother”.

A graduate in science of the University of Madras, the author later secured M. A. degree in Malayalam and M. A. degree in philosophy of the same university by private study. After a fairly long career as Lecturer in Malayalam in the Ethical college, Madras, the author worked a Editor and Production officer of books in the Southern Languages Book Trust, Madras-a Unesco Sponsored institution. A standing member of the Chinmaya Mission form 1970, the author, in order to further her knowledge in Indian philosophy attended the Chinmaya Mission Classes in Madras and had undergone a course in the Sandeepany Sqadhanalaya, Bombay. She served as Editor of the Tapovan Prasad Magazine, the mouth piece of the Chinmaya Mission world wide, form 1981-1994.

It Is with real pleasure that I write those few lines by way of Foreword to this excellent book “The Mother— written by Smt. C. Ammini Kutti, D/o. my revered teacher late Sri Achutha Menon. To go through the manuscript of the book has been a delightful and enriching experience.

The Indian concept of Mother is unique and without parallel. The Vedas and Upanishads exhort man to worship mother as God —! Matrdevobhava! The learned writer has lucidly explained the various facets of the concept of the Mother found embedded in the Indian culture. She has explained the “Sakti” aspect of Mother in the very opening chapter of the book. After providing a clear analysis of the Sivasakti concept with all its mystic implications she goes on to explain the underlying principle for the practice of Devi Pooja during Navaratri Festival period when the Mother Divine is worshipped in her different aspects as Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi.

The learned author has asstned a new significance to Navaratri stating that it is only the symbol of man’s lifelong pursuit of the four Purusharthas— Dharma, Artha, kãma and Moksha.

The learned writer has vividly dealt with the topic of “The Mother Cult” in the next chapter and pointed out that mother worship has assumed diverse forms depending on the state of civilization and culture of the respective people at the relevant time in the different geographical regions.

We are then treated to a learned disquisition on the Tantric rites used in the Mother worship. The discussion contained in this chapter explaining the purpose and intendment of Tartaric practices is really illuminating.

In the next chapter bearing the caption “The Motherland” we are taken by the author on a conducted tour of the Himalayan ranges, including Mount Kailas with the many sacred Temples, wherefrom the waters of the Holy Rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra flow down to the plains providing (in the words of the learned author) “a replica of the Divine energy as presented by the creator himself for man to know and realize the Lord’s infinite glory”. After touching upon the glorious tradition forming an integral part of the Indian Culture to look upon and revere every woman as a Mother the learned writer passes on to deal with the sacred and special relationship that exists between the mother and child, the epitome of selfless love and sacrifice.

This is followed by an jllurninating chapter on the qualities of the Ideal wife giving detailed accounts showing how the lives of Seetha, Sarada Devi and Kasthurba Gandhi exemplify those wondrous states.

Finally the author has wound up the book with an excellent chapter explaining the role of the women in mounding and sustaining the Indian family.

I can confidently say that by undertaking the study of this book the reader can acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the true significance and content of the unique Indian concept of Mother.