MaAthru Vandanam - Why MaAthru SraAddha?

Certain positions in Nature have surfaced a point of level that can never be encroached upon and have to be recognized/accepted with respect and without any compromise.

One such position is that of a Mother (Maathru).

Hindu Puranas and sacred Scripts unequivocally emphasize on the importance of worshiping parents (Maatha-Pitha);

Famous sloka “Mathru Devo Bhava-Pithru Devo Bhava-Aaachaarya Devo Bhava-Athithi Devo Bhava” 

is just an example of how much significance is given to these four elements of human life whose worship is considered as equivalent to the worship of God.

We have examples where several sages, devotees, great personalities and even the incarnations of Lord Vishnu have exemplified and glorified the significance of this dictum of Sanatana Dharma which has not changed over ages. 

In this order Mother is given the first and the foremost prominence, a unique and sacred place that can never be filled by any other element.

Merits that comes from....

> 6 times Bhoopradakshina;
> 100 times Samudra Snaana;
> 1000 times Ganga Snaana at Kaasi Kshethra....

would come from offering a sincere Salutation with devotion to a MOTHER....

> na Mathru para dhaivatham....
[there is no Daivam (God) superior to Mother]

> In Mahabharata (Shanti Parva) in the episode of Yaksha Prashna, when Yaksha asks Yudhishtira; 
What is weightier than earth? the answer given was > MOTHER;

> jananI janmabhUmishcha svargAdapi garIyasi| 

(mother and the motherland are more precious than the heaven); 

A Mother is depicted as an epitome of benevolence, love and affection.

She, with all her struggles bears a child in her womb for nine months before he/she is blessed with life in this world.

We come across a sampradaya where a Mother is offered 16 Pindaas for the hardships She has undergone towards her child.

Purported to be from Vaayu Purana we come across Maathru Shodasi - depicting 16 hardships (slokas) of a Mother and for each hardship one Pinda is reverentially offered; 

Meaning of these slokas are so appealing that one would definitely shed tears for the hardships he has caused to a Mother; 

Mother is considered as the first Guru (teacher) of a child and the one who introduces Father to a child.

Hindu Dharma has given highest prominence to the role of a Mother and Father and prescribes worship of parents even after they leave this world by performing Pitru Yagna (performing sacred rites to the departed souls) by their descendants.

As a part of getting discharged from Pitru Runa (that includes Mathru Runa) it is incumbent on the part of every Hindu to perform Pitru Yagna

Apart from performing sacred rituals to the departed souls at periodical intervals, performing them at certain specified places has acquired lot of significance as a part of Pithru Yagna and is considered as highly meritorious.

In the process of performing such sacred rites at prominent places generally we come across people visiting places like Kasi, Gaya, Prayaga, Rameswaram etc. and perform sacred rites to their forefathers that also include maternal spirits.

But, one such place which is exclusively dedicated to performing sacred rites to a Mother we find only at Siddhpur in Gujarat known as Mathru Gaya Kshetra on the banks of the holy Bindu Sarovara.

A day in the calendar of Pithrupaksha during Bhaadrapada Maasam is exclusively earmarked for a Mother known as Avidhava Navami.

> मातृिपण्डं ददाम्यहम् ...

Samastha Pithrantharyami Sri MahaVishnu preetyartham....

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu
Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama
Sri GuruRaajoVijayate