Veda Vyasa is considered as one of the important composer in Indian history. He is the legendary author of the Mahabharata, Vedas and Puranas, some of the most important works in the Hindu tradition.
He was called Veda Vyasa, or “Splitter of the Vedas,” the splitting being a feat that allowed people to understand the divine knowledge of the Veda. The word vyasa means split, differentiate or describe.
He has composed a beautiful Stuti (praise) on Mother. I am narrating this stuti in today’s blog.
In this composition, he proclaims the greatness of Mother, he also suggest greatness of other relationships in life, however ends up saying the relationship of Mother to her child is beyond all relationships and mother is greatest Guru of her child
पितुरप्यधिका माता गर्भधारणपोषणात् ।अतो हि त्रिषु लोकेषु नास्ति मातृसमो गुरुः॥
Mother is great than the father since she holds the child in her womb and also takes primary responsibility of raising the child, which means there is no Guru greater than mother in all three worlds.
नास्ति गङ्गासमं तीर्थं नास्ति विष्णुसमः प्रभुः। नास्ति शम्भुसमः पूज्यो नास्ति मातृसमो गुरुः॥
The purity of Ganges is greater, there is no equal god than Vishnu, no one is equal to be worshiped like Shiva, but beyond this there is no Guru greater than mother.
नास्ति चैकादशीतुल्यं व्रतं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्। तपो नाशनात् तुल्यं नास्ति मातृसमो गुरुः॥
There is no greater fast than starving on Ekadashi (11th day of every Hindu Calendar Month), There is nothing greater penance than fasting, but beyond this there is no Guru greater than mother.
नास्ति भार्यासमं मित्रं नास्ति पुत्रसमः प्रियः। नास्ति भगिनीसमा मान्या नास्ति मातृसमो गुरुः॥
There is no friend greater than spouse, there can no one be beloved than child, no one respectful than sister, but beyond this there is no Guru greater than mother.
देशो गङ्गान्तिकः श्रेष्ठो दलेषु तुलसीदलम्। वर्णेषु ब्राह्मणः श्रेष्ठो गुरुर्माता गुरुष्वपि ॥
The region on the bank of Ganges is pure, among the herbs basil leaves are the greatest, among all casts Brahmin may be great, but Mother is Guru of Gurus and greatest.
माता धरित्री जननी दयार्द्रहृदया शिवा । देवी त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठा निर्दोषा सर्वदुःखहा॥
She is like great mother, she possesses patience like earth, she knows how to create, she is the most compassionate, she is greatest among all for a child, she is without any sin for her child, and she removes all pains of her child
आराधनीया परमा दया शान्तिः क्षमा धृतिः ।स्वाहा स्वधा च गौरी च पद्मा च विजया जया ॥
She carries divine qualities of being respected, she forgives the sins. She gives peace to her child’s mind, she is the victorious for her children.
दुःखैर्महद्भिः दूनोऽपि दृष्ट्वा मातरमीश्वरीम्। यमानन्दं लभेन्मर्त्यः स किं वाचोपपद्यते ॥
The bliss one gets just by seeing their mother cannot be described in words.
Attached: Painting depicting Mother and Child by painter Illayraja
Author; Dr.Sandeep Sadanand Chaugule, you may reach out to him on Twitter @sandipchaugulie
