Below is a beautiful piece from Vaidya from 2012 on the occasion of Mother’s Day. It resonates just as true today as it did when Vaidya was still with us – some things truly ARE eternal… May we all grow to not just love but worship our mothers – as divinity. Happy Mother’s Day…
“Today, I am Remembering You, Mom….”
Vaidya RK Mishra (2012)
Man and woman have been equally revered since the dawn of time in the Vedic tradition of ancient India. It is explained in the Shastras or Vedic scriptures, that none has primacy over the other either spiritually, physically, morally, socially, or politically, because they are both equal parts of one whole, and each plays her and his central role, without which the other would be incomplete. In the active pantheon of Vedic gods and goddesses, Purush and Prakrti (male and female) interact, bringing forth universes through their play. Shiva and Shakti, another name for the eternal couple, also actively help each other, come to each other’s rescue whenever either encounters obstacles, supporting each other to make the world a better place to live for humans and all other creatures under the sun.
Social reality may not always live up to this Vedic or any ideal in fact; even though the mythical stories may inspire us to strive for a better world where equal rights are the rule rather than the exception. In our modern world, women have only recently been regaining their rights as active participants in public aspects of society. And there is still much that needs to be done. For example, it was on the Indian news channel, only yesterday, after highly reputed actor, film-writer, producer, and director Aamir Khan released his latest TV documentary serial, “Satyam Evam Jayate,” (“truth always wins”) casting light on the truth(s) behind social crises in India. His first episode was dedicated to the rampant murder of female fetuses and infants in India. The documentary focused on the misuse of medical technology – in this case ultrasound scans – that help determine the sex of the fetus early on. Khan exposed the existence of an underground network of medical doctors ready and willing to terminate a fetus’ life for just a few thousands Indian rupees when the parents find out it is a girl and would like to terminate the pregnancy. Since the airing of the show two days ago, NGOs and government agencies have already become active in trying to put an end to these criminal practices, particularly in Rajasthan.
It was sad for me to hear that this is still being practiced widely in India. It did not always use to be like this. A girl child, a daughter, a sister are even greater joy for celebration according to the Vedic shastras. We are taught that men and women are not only equal; but that women, especially mothers, are divine.
This sweet idea of mother’s divinity is found even our in our popular bhajans (devotional songs). For example, we call upon Seeta before Raam (the song goes: Seeta Raam and not Raam Seeta, even though after a few repetitions, they are co-mingled as both one beginning!), or within the Krishna tradition where the bhajan starts with Radha first and then Krishna. In India, woman as mother is divine, and we worship our mothers with our full hearts in all aspects, and this devotion or worship also translates into social and public rights. Do the vedic shastras have anything to say about this?
In the Vedic tradition, Purush and Prakrti are both necessary and irreplaceable. But what are they? If we try to understand the vibrational impulses that make them up – that is: the very fine activities beyond the gross physical/chemical and even more refined nuclear level, on the most subtle vibrational level of pure energy- what do we see?
Based on Vedic Sidhanta (i.e., a principle that has withstood the test of time and still holds true for us today, made of the words: Sidaha antaha yastu), Purush is silence while Prakrti is dynamism; or male and female are represented as Beej and Bhumi, a seed and land metaphor for male and female respectively; or Purush is “nistragunya” (that does not carry any creational properties or marks) while Prakrti is marked by all 3 gunas or creational properties (Soma, Agni, and Marut) that bring about worlds; or Purush represents a point, the point of silence, while Prakrti is the infinity of all.
This is why, the Shastras explain, that while masculine vibrational energy is seed for all creation, it remains just that, inert and inactive, lifeless, unless it meets with Shakti, the creational vibrational dynamism of Prakrti, because all creativity and support for the process of creation, nurturing for creation, derives from Prakrti. Shakti is the creational drive that brings about universes through and with Purush, and they then revel together in the dynamic play of multiplicity.
This is why, in India, we worship our mothers, even though we love our fathers just as much! It is our mothers that
create us in their wombs, nurture us during gestation, care and nourish us through their own bodies in infancy. Our mothers are our first school. Mother is our first teacher. Mother is our first guru of self-less love.
Many times, patients used to ask my father, Vaidya Kameshwar Mishra: “you are the Vaidya, the healer, the doctor, but who is your doctor when you are sick?” And my father never hesitated in pointing out my mother, and saying: “she is the healer’s healer!” My mother, in truth, was indeed a great healer. She maintained the SVA tradition alive at home through her cooking and seasonal remedies. But it’s much more than that.
After I graduated from ayurvedic college, my father taught me all that I know today: all the living knowledge that never gets printed and taught, because it is transmitted orally and experientially. Who I am today I owe to my father, in terms of the timeless wisdom he imparted to me.
However, it is my mother who taught me how to use the knowledge. It is she who gave me the confidence to make the recipes and apply the theory in day-to-day life skillfully. I love my father, but I cannot imagine what life would have been without my mother. I received all my wisdom from my father, but how to apply the wisdom
of the lineage with confidence and compassion, that I got from my mother. She kept me true to my dharma, by inspiring me, always reminding me of the good that was yet to come, nurturing me with her sweet unconditional love, years after I had left our home and was thousands of miles away. Due to her dynamic inspiration, I am the one I was born to become. Even though she left her body years ago, I feel her spirit still helps, guides, and loves me in all that I do – I would be no-where and no-thing without you, Mom…
ERRATUM
We apologize for publicizing Henry’s services as “vastu” in our newsletter last week. He offers consultations to help cleanse and shield against EMF/EMR, not vastu.
Dr Teitelbaum was our guest lecturer and we got to ask her all kinds of questions to our hearts’ and mind’s content! We had a powerful 4th session yesterday, and we learned so much about “amavisha” – hot toxins. These teachings have been preserved and revived by Vaidya Mishra. No detox can be safe OR effective without addressing amavisha, and the knowledge resides with SVA instructors and healers. We are truly blessed. Our detox and unfolding of more knowledge continue next week as we welcome Dr. Lisa Raskin. She will be our featured guest to cover the much contested topic of nightshades from the scientific and SVA perspectives, and why you should avoid them, specially for detox. Namaste!
We want to help you protect your purchase – there’s been an increase in lost/stolen packages.
To protect your shipment – in case your shipping address is not secure – we have now added the “signature delivery” option upon check-out on www.chandika.com and we highly recommend you select it to ensure your package is guaranteed to reach you after it leaves our warehouse. Kindly note we are unable to replace stolen/misplaced packages once they are confirmed delivered by the carrier of your choice.
