May 08, 2005
God's earthly images
GOD COULD not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers, so goes a Jewish proverb. It is true that motherhood is considered an elevated state of being as far as relationships go. It is instant love that makes motherhood more godly.
There could be umpteen number of days, Friends Day, Valentine's Day and so on, but the mother of all days would certainly be the Mother's Day, a day to honour the earthly images of God.
Internationally, the earliest history of Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honour of Rhea, mother of gods. During 1600s, England celebrated a day called `Mothering Sunday.' Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of lent days, Mothering Sunday honoured the mothers of England.
In the United States, the idea of Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organised Mother's Day meetings in Boston every year.
In 1907, Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman and politicians to establish a national Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made an official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held on second Sunday of May.
Motherhood and India
Is the concept of venerating motherhood is new to India? No, it cannot be.
The land is named as mother India and the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha, were set in motion by Rama's stepmother, Kaikeyi, and Pandavas' mother, Kunthi.
Hinduism and mythologies glorify motherhood as mother is placed first before all, even God -- `matha, pitha, guru and deivam.'
Mothers have always been glorified in celluloid. From MGR to Rajinikant to Vijay and Ajith, all screen stars have doted on their celluloid mothers and often shed tears and sacrificed everything to underscore the maternal bonding that has swung from the sacred to the banal on silver screen.
The initial reaction of any Indian is to scoff at the idea of Mother's Day, which is not as hyped as Valentine's Day. But slowly and steadily the day has come to stay in India like many of the western concepts.
Status of women
Though motherhood is hailed, the status of women or rather mother is always put at the least position. The mother gets the least attention and the prime duty of motherhood is to love the children and sacrifice necessities for other members of the family.
Though the online bookings for flowers, chocolates and gifts galore on the net, the card shops in most of the places in India have no special cards or gifts for Mother's Day; perhaps the culture of celebrating Mother's Day is yet to create ripples among the daughters and sons of India.
There could be umpteen number of days, Friends Day, Valentine's Day and so on, but the mother of all days would certainly be the Mother's Day, a day to honour the earthly images of God.
Internationally, the earliest history of Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honour of Rhea, mother of gods. During 1600s, England celebrated a day called `Mothering Sunday.' Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of lent days, Mothering Sunday honoured the mothers of England.
In the United States, the idea of Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organised Mother's Day meetings in Boston every year.
In 1907, Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman and politicians to establish a national Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made an official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held on second Sunday of May.
Motherhood and India
Is the concept of venerating motherhood is new to India? No, it cannot be.
The land is named as mother India and the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha, were set in motion by Rama's stepmother, Kaikeyi, and Pandavas' mother, Kunthi.
Hinduism and mythologies glorify motherhood as mother is placed first before all, even God -- `matha, pitha, guru and deivam.'
Mothers have always been glorified in celluloid. From MGR to Rajinikant to Vijay and Ajith, all screen stars have doted on their celluloid mothers and often shed tears and sacrificed everything to underscore the maternal bonding that has swung from the sacred to the banal on silver screen.
The initial reaction of any Indian is to scoff at the idea of Mother's Day, which is not as hyped as Valentine's Day. But slowly and steadily the day has come to stay in India like many of the western concepts.
Status of women
Though motherhood is hailed, the status of women or rather mother is always put at the least position. The mother gets the least attention and the prime duty of motherhood is to love the children and sacrifice necessities for other members of the family.
Though the online bookings for flowers, chocolates and gifts galore on the net, the card shops in most of the places in India have no special cards or gifts for Mother's Day; perhaps the culture of celebrating Mother's Day is yet to create ripples among the daughters and sons of India.
src :Hindu
She taught me the pure meaning of Love
And to thank the Lord above
She taught me to catch butterflies
She taught me to admire rose
She used to kiss away my fears
And hug away my woes
She tended a beautiful garden A garden of the heart
She planted all the good things that gave my life its start.
A Chef while baking me a cake
A Doctor when tending me my cold
I wonder what she couldn't do
As I kept growing old
A Tailor, A Chauffeur, A Fairy God Mother at times
But never to busy for a child's nursery rhymes
She is what she was and could be none other
My sweetest angel, she is my mother
I Love You Mother !
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