[GHHF] Mother is a Symbol of Love, Compassion, Sacrifice, and Protection
“Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards.” — Manu Smriti III.56
“There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.” — James E. Faust
First of all, we wish all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. We should acknowledge, on this Mother’s Day, the role of the mother in our religion, culture, scriptures, and many other fields, such as science, politics, philosophy, education, music, and economics. Her impeccable role in the family is recognized, her unselfish sacrifice to the family is documented, and her indomitable strength is acknowledged. She is considered the backbone of the family, a stabilizing force that plays a vital role in its preservation.
Mother occupies the highest and most sacred place in Hindu thought, culture, and family life. Hinduism regards motherhood not merely as a biological relationship but as a divine manifestation of sacrifice, compassion, nurturing, and protection. On Mother’s Day, it is important to reflect upon the immense contributions mothers make in shaping individuals, preserving families, transmitting values, and sustaining civilization itself.
Hinduism highly respects women and mothers. The famous dictum Matru Devo Bhava— “Mother is God”—summarizes the Hindu understanding of motherhood. No relationship is considered more selfless or sacred. Hinduism uniquely worships the Divine Mother in many forms: Sri Lakshmi as the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Saraswati as the goddess of knowledge and learning, Parvati as the embodiment of marital auspiciousness and compassion, and Kali as the protector against evil and destructive forces. During Navaratri, millions worship the Divine Mother in her various manifestations for nine sacred nights.
The Devi Mahatmyam glorifies the Divine Mother:
“By you this universe is borne, by you this world is created. By you it is protected, O Devi; by you it is consumed at the end.”
This vision elevates womanhood and motherhood to cosmic significance. Hindu scriptures repeatedly emphasize the necessity of honoring women for the prosperity and stability of society.
The Manu Smriti declares:
“From the point of view of reverence due,
A teacher is tenfold superior to a lecturer,
a father, a hundredfold superior to a teacher,
and a mother a thousandfold superior to a father.” (II.45)
Another verse states:
“Women must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands, and brothers-in-law, who desire their own welfare.” (III.55)
It further warns:
“Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers.” (III.57)
Thus, Hindu civilization clearly recognized the dignity and importance of women long before many other societies did.
From Vedic times onward, women played an indispensable role in preserving Hindu dharma and culture. Great women such as Sita, Savitri, Draupadi, Gargi, Maitreyi, Kunti, Anasuya, Arundhati, and Madalasa continue to inspire generations through their devotion, wisdom, courage, and sacrifice.
Hindu thought views husband and wife as equal partners in dharma and family life. A wife is called Ardhaangini (“half of oneself”), Sahadharmini (“equal participant in righteous duties”), and Dharmapathni (“guide in dharma”). Marriage is viewed not as domination by one over the other, but as a sacred partnership built on mutual support and responsibility.
The mother occupies a unique role as the moral and spiritual foundation of the family. She is the child's first teacher (Guru). She instills discipline, compassion, faith, ethics, and cultural values from early childhood. Before a child learns from society, school, or scripture, the child learns through the love and guidance of the mother.
Stephen Knapp observed:
“Women in motherhood… are the first guru and guide of the child and thus of humanity. Before any child learns hatred or aggression, they first know the love of a mother.
Swami Vivekananda repeatedly glorified motherhood as the highest ideal in Hindu civilization. He stated:
“The ideal woman in India is the mother, the mother first, and the mother last.”
He further said:
“The position of the mother is the highest in the world… The love of God is the only love that is higher than a mother’s love.”
For Swami Vivekananda, motherhood represented the highest expression of unselfishness, sacrifice, forgiveness, and unconditional love. He noted that while children may abandon their mothers, mothers never desert their children.
Swami Sivananda described the Divine Mother as:
“The mysterious, indescribable power of the Supreme Being.”
Similarly, author Francois Gautier explained that Hinduism has long revered the feminine principle as the source of wisdom, force, beauty, and compassion.
The Mahabharata contains profound reflections on the greatness of motherhood. Bhishma Pitamaha declared:
“There is no shelter like the mother. There is no refuge like the mother. There is no defense like the mother. There is no one so dear as the mother.”
Bhishma explained that a mother's presence provides emotional strength and protection throughout life. Even an old man remains like a small child in his mother's eyes. Her blessings continue to protect her children regardless of age or circumstance.
Mother Kunti exemplifies sacrifice, courage, and dharma. Despite enduring immense suffering, humiliation, exile, and loss, she raised the Pandavas with righteousness and strength. She encouraged her sons to fight not for personal ambition, but for justice and the preservation of dharma. After the war, when questioned by Yudhishthira about her decision to retire into the forest, Kunti explained that all her actions were motivated by her duty to protect the honor and future of her children and family lineage.
Her words reflect the selflessness of motherhood:
“It was to arouse you to your own glory that I pushed you into war… so that the noble line of King Pandu may not come to an end.”
Similarly, Gandhari represents another dimension of motherhood—moral guidance and concern for righteousness. Although her son Duryodhana chose the path of greed and war, Gandhari consistently advised peace and justice. She warned him repeatedly against adharma and pleaded for reconciliation with the Pandavas.
Her famous declaration remains timeless:
“Where there is dharma, there is victory.”
Even Lord Krishna praised Gandhari’s wisdom and righteousness. Her life demonstrates that a true mother not only loves her children deeply but also guides them toward moral conduct.
The profound love of a mother is illustrated in the episode before Duryodhana’s final battle. Gandhari, wishing to protect her son, asked him to appear before her unclothed so that her spiritual power could make his body invulnerable. Out of modesty, he covered part of his body, leaving it vulnerable—the very spot where Bhima later struck him. This moving incident reveals both the depth of maternal love and the tragic consequences of ignoring wise counsel.
Adi Shankaracharya also expressed immense reverence for his mother Aryamba. Though he became a renunciate monk, he returned to fulfill his promise to care for her during her final moments and personally performed her funeral rites. He acknowledged that no son can ever repay the suffering endured by a mother during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing.
In one of his emotional verses, he says:
“For all these in return,
O mother dearest,
I can never compensate,
even by my becoming great.”
These words capture the eternal truth that a mother’s sacrifice is immeasurable.
In today’s world, where family values are increasingly challenged, the role of the mother remains indispensable. She continues to be the emotional center of the home, the preserver of tradition, and the guide who shapes future generations. A mother’s love transcends social, economic, and cultural boundaries. Her affection is unconditional, her endurance unmatched, and her prayers ceaseless.
On Mother’s Day, society must recognize not only the emotional contributions of mothers, but also their spiritual, cultural, and civilizational importance. Hinduism teaches that honoring women and mothers is essential for the well-being of families and society itself.
Let us therefore express gratitude to all mothers for their sacrifices, patience, compassion, and unwavering support. Let us preserve the values they transmit and ensure that future generations continue to honor motherhood with reverence and respect.
For truly, there is no love more selfless, no protector more devoted, and no blessing greater than that of a mother.














Urgent support needed for Bangladesh Hindus