ESWARAMMA  DAY

The mother is man's first preceptor (guru). She gives him the physical body. Besides, she gives the father to man. She alone can point the father to the child and draw his love and care toward it. The mother bears, fosters, and molds the child into humanness, so gratitude is due to her first and foremost.

This day is Eswaramma Day. The significance of the day is that it is celebrated as Children's Day, a day when little children are to be reminded of the ideal, a day when she presented an ideal. No one can escape death, but the aim of everyone should be to remind oneself of the Divine at the time of death or have some holy or sacred thoughts. The importance of this day is known to many. Kasturi just spoke about it. There is a saying in Telugu, "The proof of the Good is the way they die." Genuine devotion is evidenced during the last moments. I shall point out a small incident concerning the goodness of Eswaramma.

The summer classes were on at Bangalore. In the morning at 7, breakfast had to be served to the students. They went round singing spiritual songs in the strets ( nagara sankeerthan) and returned at 6. I gave them darshan (sight of a holy person) at its close. Then, I went for my bath. Meanwhile, Eswaramma had finished her bath; she drank her coffee as usual, quite happily, and took her seat on the inner verandah. All of a sudden, proceeding to the bathroom, she cried out, "Swami, Swami, Swami," thrice. I responded, "Coming, coming." Within that period, she breathed her last. What greater sign of goodness is needed? She had no need to be served and nursed. Swami will come to the memory at that time only for a very few. The mind will usually seek and stay on some object or the other, some jewellery or valuables.

From the ground floor, she called, "Swami! Swami!". I replied, "Coming, coming," and she was gone. It was like the elephant's calling and the Lord proceeding to bless it --the two wires achieving connection, the release happening instantaneously.

This is the authentic consummation for which life must strive. Beside her at the time was her daughter Venkamma and her grand daughter Shailaja, but she called out only for Swami. Getting this yearning at the final moment is the fruit of holy purity. It is the sign of an ideal adorable life.

Everyone should treasure in his heart love for his mother, who has borne him, reared him with love, and fostered him with care. The person who forfeits his mother's love will not earn anyone's love.

Every man is prone to commit mistakes, either wittingly or unwittingly. But one mistake he should not commit in any circumstance is to forget what he owes to his mother. Love of a mother can redeem a man's life, whatever his other lapses may be. The greatest gift of the parents is the body with all its powers. Although the Lord rules over all lives, it is the parents who have endowed the body to the child. Clay and water are the gifts of nature. But it is the potter who makes the pots out of them. Hence gratitude to parents is a primary obligation.

Everyone should strive to make his mother happy. He should seek from the mother nothing but her love and blessings. Mothers should strive to keep their children on the straight path. Only such mothers and children are worthy of the name. When mothers and children act properly, the nation will develop along the right lines. Righteousness will spread from the family to the whole world.

Children should revere their parents, who account for their physical existence. But they should realize what they owe to God, who is the basis of all life. Recognizing this double obligation --to the mothers and to the Divine-- they should redeem their lives by purposeful living.