the five mothers

गुरुपत्नी राजपत्नी ज्येष्ठपत्नी तथैव च
पत्नीमाता स्वमाता च पञ्चैते मातरस्मृता॥२३॥
नीतिसारे
gurupatnī rājapatnī jyeṣṭahpatnī tathaiva ca
patnīmātā svamātā ca pañcaite mātarasmṛtā||23||
nītisāree

This is a very important reminder from Niitisaaram, an ancient text which give very apt advice on lifestyle management.

The wife of the preceptor or the teacher, the wife of the elder brother, the queen of the land, mother of the wife and once own mother are all equal in status as mother.
Elsewhere it is said that mother earth and dhaatree, who gives the children breastmilk even though they are not natural mothers are also placed on the same pedestal.

Long live mother-in-laws.

BURNED BISCUITS.

this is a forward from my dearest friend Karunakaran.  It touches certain parts of the heart in an inexplicable way

BURNED BISCUITS...............
 
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"
 
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You.....  Now, and Always....  

--

the real law of Aarshabharatham

the real law of Aarshabharatham

श्रदधदानाः शुभां विद्यां आदेयादवरादपि।
अन्त्यादति परां धर्मं स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि।।


sradhadhadhaanah shubhaam vidhyaam aadheyaadhavaradaadapi
anthyaadapi param dharmam sthreerathnam dushkulaadhapi

ശ്രദ്ധദാനാഃ ശുഭാം വിദ്യാം ആദേയാദവരദാദപി
അന്ത്യാദപിനപരാംധര്‍മ്മം സ്ത്രീരത്നം ദുഷ്കുലാദപി

we in India have always learned to decry all our old thoughts as conservative, pro-elite, and inflexible.  This edict one from one of the master lawmakers, (I find from my references) 
Aapasthamba.

those who have intense yearning and interest in learning should not hesitate to go and learn from a person with knowledge in the field even if he is not of matching caste, status etc.,  the ultimate dharma of life should be begged and acquired even if the source for such knowledge is the lowest born human being if the latter is capable of imparting it. And one should not consider about the bad name or status of the family while accepting a gem-like girl in marriage

What else can you expect from the most mature civilization in this world?  We have heard only about jathibhedam and mathadwesham but ours was always a country without such discrimination as proclaimed by the greatest Narayana guru.  If the evil souls manipulated the noble thoughts and law to suit their ulterior motives it was only the failure of the system.  
Not the noble preceptors. 
All know the experience of sankara before a chandala  with four dogs who appeared before him in his path and Shankara asked Him to move away from the path because the Chandalas proximity was polluting. Then Chandala asks about who was impure, whether the body of the Chandala or the Atman residing inside him.Shankara is humbled and it so happens that the Chandala was Lord Shankara Himself, and the four dogs he was leading were the four Vedas..

Friends, I would request you to forward this one to every friend of yours who  loves India and I may be given a copy of it.  I am sure such simple bul unadulerated law can arise only in this great sacred land

the real law of Aarshabharatham

श्रदधदानाः शुभां विद्यां आदेयादवरादपि।
अन्त्यादति परें धर्मं स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि।।


sradhadhadhaanah shubhaam vidhyaam aadheyaadhavaradaadapi
anthyaadapi param dharmam sthreerathnam dushkulaadhapi

ശ്രദ്ധദാനാഃ ശുഭാം വിദ്യാം ആദേയാദവരദാദപി
അന്ത്യാദപിനപരാംധര്മംസ്ത്നീരത്നം ദുഷ്കുലാദപി

we have alway learned to decry all out old thoughts as conservative, pro-elite, and inflexible.  this is one from one of the master lawmakers, i think aapasthamba.

those who have intense yearning and interest in learning should not hesitate to go and learn from a person with knowledge in the field even if he is not of matching caste status etc.,  the ultimate dharma of life should be begged and acquired from even the lowest born human being if the latter is capable of imparting it. And one should consider about the bad name or status of the family while accepting a gem like girl in marriage

What else can you expect from the most mature civilization in this world.   We have heard only about jathibhedam and mathadwesham but this was always a country without such discrimination as proclaimed by the greatest Narayana guru.  If the evil souls manipulated the noble thoughts and law to suit their ulterior motives it was only the failure of the system.  Not the noble preceptors. All know the experience of sankara before a chandala

Friends, I would request you to forward this one to every friend of yours who  loves India and I may be given a copy of it.  I am sure such simple bul unaulerated law can arise only in this great sacred land