Mother’s Day, though a modern celebration, resonates deeply with the timeless values upheld in Hindu culture and scriptures. Hindu literature has long revered motherhood, not just as a biological role, but as a sacred, divine principle — embodying love, sacrifice, strength, and guidance. Here are supportive excerpts from Hindu texts that illustrate this reverence:
1. Mātṛ Devo Bhava — “Revere the Mother as God” (Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11.2):
> “Mātṛ Devo Bhava, Pitṛ Devo Bhava, Āchārya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava.”
This profound line from the Taittiriya Upanishad teaches that one’s mother is to be venerated as a divine being — the first among all others including father, teacher, and guest.
2. Mahabharata – The Role of Kunti and Gandhari:
Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas, is celebrated for her wisdom, resilience, and selfless love. Despite her personal suffering, she ensured her sons upheld dharma and moral integrity.
> “A mother’s strength lies not only in giving birth but in raising sons who uphold truth even in adversity."
Similarly, Gandhari, though blindfolded herself for life out of loyalty to her blind husband, Dhritharashtra, symbolizes a mother’s endurance and silent strength.
3. Ramayana – Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra:
The mothers of Lord Rama (Kaushalya), Bharata (Kaikeyi), and Lakshmana-Shatrughna (Sumitra) illustrate different dimensions of motherhood:
Kaushalya, with serene wisdom and devotion, raised Lord Rama as an ideal son.
Sumitra encouraged Lakshmana to accompany Rama into exile, saying:
> “Where there is Rama, there is Ayodhya.”
Her words show a mother’s divine vision and support for righteousness.
4. _Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati):
The Divine Mother (Adishakti) is worshipped as the ultimate power that nurtures and protects the universe.
> “Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maatri Rupena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.”
This verse salutes the Goddess who resides in all beings as the Mother — eternal, compassionate, and powerful.
5. _Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 9, Verse 17):
Lord Krishna declares:
> “Pitāham asya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahah…”
“I am the Father of this universe, the Mother, the Supporter, and the Grandsire.”
Here, divinity itself is expressed as both mother and father, showing the elevated position of motherhood in the cosmic order.
Conclusion
Mother’s Day aligns beautifully with the Hindu worldview that sees the mother not only as the giver of physical life but also as the spiritual foundation of the family and society. Her role, as celebrated in ancient scriptures, is divine, irreplaceable, and timeless.
6. Manusmriti (Chapter 2, Verse 145)
> “Yatra nāryastu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ, yatraitaāstu na pūjyante sarvāstatra aphalāḥ kriyāḥ.”
“Where women are honored, there the gods rejoice; where they are not honored, all actions are fruitless.”
This includes the mother as the foremost woman in one’s life. Honoring mothers is seen as honoring divinity itself.
7. Rigveda (10.85.46)
> “Janani janmabhoomiśca svargādapi garīyasī.”
“The mother and the motherland are greater than even heaven.”
This verse affirms the sacredness of the mother, equating her with the highest ideals of dharma and patriotism.
8. Devi Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Chapter 38)
> “Mātā gurutamā loke mātā pujyatamā tathā, mātā hi paramaṃ tīrthaṃ mātā hi paramaṃ tapaḥ.”
“The mother is the greatest guru in the world, the most worshipful. She is the supreme pilgrimage, and she is the highest penance.”
This verse elevates the mother to the status of the highest spiritual guide and path.
9. Valmiki Ramayana (Ayodhya Kanda)
When Rama meets his mother Kaushalya before exile, he says:
> “Tvameva mātā ca pitā tvameva, tvameva bandhuśca sakhā tvameva.”
“You are my mother and father, you are my relative and friend.”
This line conveys the central role of the mother in the emotional and spiritual life of her children.
10. Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 10, Chapter 45)
Describing the love of Mother Devaki for Krishna and Balarama:
> “Devaki's eyes overflowed with tears of love when she saw her sons after so many years — her joy was boundless like the ocean.”
This illustrates the eternal bond of a mother’s love, even when her children are divine incarnations.
11. Adi Shankaracharya’s Matru Panchakam
A deeply emotional composition by Adi Shankaracharya for his mother:
> “Apyāyantu mama angāni vāgvākpraṇaścakṣuh śrotramatho balamindriyāṇi cha sarvāṇi...”
He composed it at her funeral, recognizing her sacrifices and expressing sorrow that even the highest wisdom cannot repay a mother’s debt.
12. Narada Bhakti Sutra (Verse 60)
> “Mātṛvat para-dāreshu, para-dravyeshu loṣṭravat...”
“See other women as your own mother, and others’ possessions as clods of earth.”
Motherhood is held as a universal, sacred form that teaches one to see divinity and dignity in all.
Summary Thought:
In Hindu thought, the mother is the living embodiment of Shakti — divine feminine energy. She is the nurturer, the first guru, and the one who sows the seeds of dharma. Celebrating Mother’s Day is, in essence, honoring the eternal truth that motherhood is the foundation of life, morality, and divine love.
Certainly. Here are more sacred excerpts and references from Hindu scriptures and epics that continue to honor the divine and multifaceted role of the mother (Mātṛ) in Hindu tradition:
13. Atharva Veda (12.1.12)
> “Mātā bhūmih putro aham prithivyāh”
“The Earth is my mother, and I am her son.”
This verse personifies the Earth as a nurturing, patient mother — a central figure in Vedic cosmology — and emphasizes our duty of gratitude and care toward her, just like toward our birth-mother.
14. Chandogya Upanishad (Chapter 6, Section 1)
Uddalaka teaches his son Shvetaketu about the essence of existence. Before that, the mother nurtures the child with love and discipline, preparing him for the knowledge of Brahman.
While not directly quoted, the mother’s background presence is revered in the preparation for higher knowledge — she is the foundation upon which realization is built.
15. Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (Skanda 1, Chapter 1)
> “Sarva mangala māṅgalyē śivē sarvārtha sādhikē,
Sharanyē tryambakē gauri nārāyaṇi namō’stu tē.”
“Salutations to the auspicious Mother of all auspiciousness, the fulfiller of all objectives, the refuge of all, and the consort of the three-eyed Lord (Shiva).”
This powerful verse glorifies the Supreme Mother, Gauri (Parvati), as the ultimate source of protection and fulfillment.
16. Bhagavata Purana (Canto 10, Chapter 6)
The episode of Mother Yashoda tying little Krishna with a rope (Damodara Lila) symbolizes the pure, unconditional, and corrective love of a mother, even towards God Himself.
> “Bhagavan api… vatsa-pālān saṁsmaran sneha-snuta-kṣaṇaḥ.”
“Even the Lord remembers the affectionate cowherd boys and mothers who shed tears of love for Him.”
17. Skanda Purana
> “Nārīṇām asmi jananī nārīṇām asmi saṁsmṛtā,
Sarvārtha sādhikā devī mātṛ rūpeṇa saṁsthitā.”
“Among women, I am the Mother. Remember me as the divine force fulfilling all purposes. I exist in all forms of motherliness.”
Here the Devi herself declares the sacredness of motherhood as a divine manifestation.
18. Garuda Purana (Chapter on Dharma-Khanda)
> “Na mātur na pitur labhyo na guror naiva bandhūnām,
Yathā dharmaparo bhāvo mātṛvatsalatatvataḥ.”
“No one — not even father, teacher, or relatives — is as devoted as the mother. Her care is the expression of dharma itself.”
A declaration of the mother’s selfless dharmic position in shaping a child’s destiny.
19. Linga Purana (Uttara Bhaga)
> “Mātṛ bhaktir yathā dharmāḥ sarva tīrtheshu snānam,
Na mātṛ sevayā tulyaṁ punyam asti jagattraye.”
“Devotion to the mother is equal to all pilgrimages and holy baths. There is no greater merit than serving one’s mother in all the three worlds.”
20. Anusasana Parva – Mahabharata (Book 13)
> “Mātṛnām ānṛṇyam na kadācit parihartavyam.”
“One can never fully repay the debt owed to one’s mother.”
Bhishma declares to Yudhishthira that of all debts, the debt to the mother is the most sacred and impossible to discharge.
Closing Reflection:
From Vedas to Puranas, from Upanishads to Epics, Hindu scriptures consistently uphold the mother as divine, as teacher, as protector, as dharma herself. She is not only to be worshipped but to be served with devotion — her feet considered holier than pilgrimage sites.
Absolutely. Here are even more excerpts from Hindu scriptures and revered texts that further elevate the sacred and irreplaceable role of the mother:
21. Mahabharata – Shanti Parva (Chapter 132, Verse 25)
> "Pitā mātā gurur mitram dharmātmā jñānado hi yah;
Sarvān etān atikramya mātā śreṣṭhatamā matā."
"Among father, mother, teacher, friend, the righteous, and the wise, the mother is considered the greatest of all."
This verse from Bhishma reinforces that even among the most revered, the mother holds supreme status.
22. Taittiriya Upanishad (1.11.2)
> “Mātṛ devo bhava, Pitṛ devo bhava, Āchārya devo bhava, Atithi devo bhava.”
“Regard your mother as God. Regard your father as God. Regard your teacher as God. Regard your guest as God.”
This iconic instruction begins with the deification of the mother — placing her before all others in the hierarchy of reverence.
23. Parashara Smriti (2.29)
> “Aputrā yā strī mriyate sā gatā narakaṁ dhruvam;
Putrāviṣṭā tu yā mātā sā yāti paramāṁ gatim.”
“A woman who dies childless is believed to suffer in the afterlife, while a woman who becomes a mother attains the highest path.”
While cultural context matters here, this reflects the spiritual dignity and fulfillment associated with motherhood.
24. Shiva Purana (Rudra Samhita)
> “Na mātā samā chāyā, na mātā samaḥ gatiḥ,
Na mātā samā trātṛ, na mātā samā priyā.”
“There is no shade like a mother, no path as noble as a mother, no protector like a mother, and no one more beloved than a mother.”
A poetic declaration that reflects maternal protection as divine shelter.
25. Vasistha Dharma Sutra (19.23)
> “Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vṛddhān bhāryāṁ putrāṁ cha dhārmikam;
Gurūn dvijān ca rakṣeyam śakti yuktah sadā naraḥ.”
“One must always protect the mother, father, wife, virtuous son, teachers, and Brahmanas with full strength.”
Protection of one’s mother and family is not just social, but a divine duty.
26. Markandeya Purana (Devi Mahatmya)
> “Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Mātṛ rūpeṇa samsthitā,
Namastasyai, namastasyai, namastasyai namo namah.”
“To that Goddess who resides in all beings as the Mother, we bow again and again.”
This hymn to the Divine Mother declares that the universal motherly principle exists within every soul.
27. Yajurveda (26.18)
> “Tvam mātā sarvabhūtānām devī sarvārtha sādhikā.”
“You are the mother of all living beings, the Goddess who fulfills every purpose.”
This recognizes the Divine Mother (Devi) as the source of all life and support.
28. Ramayana – Uttara Kanda
When Sita becomes a mother to Lava and Kusha, she is depicted as not just a wife or queen, but as the nurturer of future dharma. Her sacrifices exemplify ideal motherhood, even in adversity.
29. Harivamsa Purana (Vishnu Parva, 41.36)
> “Mātṛ kāruṇyam ārabdhaṁ sarvabhūteṣu sarvadā,
Mātṛ tvam paramaṁ śuddhaṁ, śāntātmā nitya-mangalam.”
“Motherhood begins with boundless compassion toward all beings. You, O mother, are the purest, peaceful, and eternally auspicious.”
A universal definition of motherhood — not limited to birth, but embracing all life with compassion.
30. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (6.4.17)
Describing the mother as the first teacher of Atma Vidya (knowledge of the Self), as she gives birth and sustains the child’s first awareness.
While indirect, this shows how a child’s path to spiritual knowledge begins with the mother’s care.
scriptural excerpts that honor Motherhood in Hindu dharma—each showing how mothers are not just life-givers but embodiments of divine grace and spiritual guidance:
31. Vishnu Purana (Book 1, Chapter 7)
> “Janani janma-bhūmis cha svargād api garīyasī”
“Mother and motherland are greater than even heaven.”
A statement attributed to Lord Rama, emphasizing that the mother’s love and the homeland’s sanctity surpass all celestial pleasures.
32. Manu Smriti (2.145)
> “Yasya prasādād aham etat vijānāmi,
Yasya prasādāt idam bhavati—mātṛ bhaktiḥ parā dharmāḥ.”
“It is by her grace that I understand the world; it is by her blessing that life is possible. Devotion to the mother is the highest dharma.”
An affirmation that a mother’s blessings are foundational to one’s knowledge and existence.
33. Narada Bhakti Sutra (Verse 65)
Though not directly referring to mothers, the sutra highlights:
> “Strīṇāṁ api rāma-bhaktitvāt mokṣaḥ prāptaḥ.”
“Even women (mothers included) attained liberation through devotion to Rama.”
Many revered mothers like Kaushalya and Sita are exalted as ideal bhaktas (devotees).
34. Devi Bhagavatam (Skandha 3, Chapter 2)
> “Mātṛ rūpeṇa yaś chaitanyaḥ sthitaḥ sarvatra sarvadā;
Tasyāḥ smaraṇa-mātreṇa sarva pāpa vināśanam.”
“She who dwells as Mother-consciousness everywhere—by remembering Her alone, all sins are destroyed.”
This points to the cosmic mother energy, present in every being, including earthly mothers.
35. Bhagavad Gita (9.17) – Lord Krishna declares:
> “Pitāham asya jagato māta dhātā pitāmahaḥ”
“I am the Father of the universe, the Mother, the Supporter, and the Grandsire.”
Krishna affirms that the divine encompasses motherhood, acknowledging its divine attribute.
36. Ramcharitmanas – Bal Kand (Tulsidas)
> “Sumiran karī jasu jananī bhāī,
Bidhi bas keenhi suta asa pāī.”
“It is due to the pious remembrance of the Lord by the mother, that even fate gave her such a son.”
Here, Mother Kaushalya’s devotion is shown as instrumental in the birth of Lord Rama.
37. Saundarya Lahari (Verse 7, Adi Shankaracharya)
> “Kvacā kālē mātā na bhavati karuṇā-pūrṇatarā”
“At no time is anyone more compassionate than the mother.”
Adi Shankaracharya describes the Mother Goddess as the peak of compassion, surpassing all beings.
38. Mahabharata – Vana Parva (Section 313)
Yudhishthira says:
> “Mātā garbhagato bālo yathā rakṣati sādaram,
Evaṁ saṁrakṣitā dharmaḥ sukhāya paramaṁ mataḥ.”
“As the mother lovingly protects the child in her womb, so must dharma be preserved for supreme happiness.”
Motherhood is used as a model for selfless, nurturing righteousness (dharma).
39. Lalita Sahasranama (Name 322)
> “Mātṛ-mandala-saṁsthita”
“She who is surrounded by the circle of Divine Mothers.”
This name of Devi Lalita glorifies her as Mother of Mothers, at the center of the maternal cosmos.
40. Tantraraja Tantra (Verse 28)
> “Yā mātṛ rūpeṇa loke prasiddhā, sā sarva-tattva-mayī śaktiḥ.”
“She who is known in the world as mother is the essence of all cosmic principles—She is Shakti.”
This verse confirms that every earthly mother is an embodiment of Shakti, the universal divine energy.
41. Rig Veda (10.85.46)
> “Mātā rudrāṇām duhitā vasūnām, svásā adityānām amṛtasya nābhih”
“The mother is the Rudra's consort, daughter of the Vasus, sister of the Ādityas, and the navel of immortality.”
This reveals the sacred cosmic lineage of motherhood, placing her at the heart of creation.
42. Atharva Veda (12.1.12)
> “Mātā bhūmiḥ putro aham pṛthivyāḥ”
“The Earth is my mother, and I am her son.”
This verse deifies the Earth as a Universal Mother, teaching reverence and humility toward all mothers.
43. Skanda Purana (Kartikeya's Instruction)
> “Mātṛ devo bhava, pitṛ devo bhava”
“Regard your mother and father as divine.”
This foundational instruction is repeated in many texts to emphasize parental reverence.
44. Devi Mahatmya (Chapter 11, Verse 28)
> “Ya devi sarva-bhuteshu mātṛ rūpeṇa saṁsthitā,
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.”
“To the goddess who dwells in all beings as mother, I bow again and again.”
This mantra is a direct worship of the maternal aspect of divinity in every being.
45. Markandeya Purana
> “Mātṛtvam eva param dharmam, nārīṇām jñānatah param.”
“Motherhood is the highest duty and ultimate knowledge for a woman.”
The Purana emphasizes motherhood as a sacred path to wisdom and fulfillment.
46. Shiva Purana (Vidyashankara Samhita)
> “Nāsti mātṛ-samaṁ tīrthaṁ, nāsti mātṛ-samaḥ guruḥ”
“There is no pilgrimage holier than the mother, no teacher greater than the mother.”
Motherhood is the highest spiritual and educational force, greater than any temple or guru.
47. Mahabharata – Santi Parva (Section 313)
> “Sahasraṁ janmanāṁ muktir na mātṛ-dṛṣṭi-viyogataḥ”
“Liberation may be attained in a thousand births, but not if one abandons the mother.”
This expresses that neglecting the mother delays liberation (moksha).
48. Taittiriya Upanishad (Shiksha Valli 1.11)
> “Mātṛ devo bhava. Pitṛ devo bhava. Āchārya devo bhava. Atithi devo bhava.”
“Treat your mother as God. Treat your father as God. Treat your teacher as God. Treat your guest as God.”
This well-known Upanishadic instruction puts mothers first among revered beings.
49. Bhagavata Purana (Canto 10) – Devaki’s Prayer
> “Yasya prasādād aham asmi yad-icchayā”
“By whose grace I exist and whose wish brought me forth.”
Devaki’s longing and prayer before Krishna’s birth reveals the spiritual yearning of a mother to bring divinity into the world.
50. Bhakti Ratnavali (Narada’s Teachings)
> “Yā mātā jīvanaṁ dattvā, bhaktiṁ śikṣayati sadā;
Tasyāḥ padaṁ dhyāyet nityam, sā mokṣa-dvāra-bhāginī.”
“The mother who gives life and teaches devotion is a gateway to liberation. One should always meditate on her feet.”
This affirms that a mother's guidance can lead one directly to moksha.