Every religious tradition has elevated mother to nearly the status of God, because she possess many a qualities of God; kind, merciful, beneficent and caring among thousand other qualities. Mother is the reason for our existence; sustenance, nurturance and shaping who we are. I dedicate this write-up to my Mother, and all the Mothers out there. There is a beautiful song in Urdu/Hindi language.

[quote_center]

Us ko nahin dekha hum ne kabhi, per us ki zaroorat kya hogi

Ai maa teri soorat say alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi.

[/quote_center]

I have not seen him (God) ever, but what is the need for it?

Dear Mother, your face cannot be different than God’s own face

Video Link on Youtube Full translation by Rajiv Chakravarti at www.Urduhindi.net

Mother is the ultimate definition of selflessness! No matter what happens to the world or even her, she is there for you in your need; she recognizes your need much before you know it. Of course every day is Mother’s day, and each one of us honors her in a variety of ways. From simple caring to doing things for her that makes her happy.

Mothers don’t need a whole lot; they just need to know that you care. Remember you were showered by her attention when you needed it.

Thanks to this beautiful tradition of America, a day to honor Mother. No mother should be alone today; some one or the other must give her a call.

I appreciate all the mothers who have raised their kids well, particularly the single mothers, and it is not easy! Getting them ready, taking them to school, playground, tuition, and taking care of them, and going to work. There is a lot of sacrifice made by mothers and no amount of appreciation will be enough. Whatever you are today, it is because of your mother. If you have tensions with her, seek her forgiveness today, if she is not around, spend half an hour meditating about her and see the sense of completeness you feel within you.

A majority of us are fortunate to have the love and affection of the mother to bless our lives. However, there are some mothers who have not been good to their kids and I feel your anguish if you are the one, but I assure you that, you are a blessed one to have made it in life without mothers love and it is time for you to give that love to others.

It’s time to express gratitude to her; it restores the spiritual balance in each one of us. Life is about transactions, each time we received a “good” we become indebted to the giver, but when we give back to the giver or find alternate ways of giving back, then we regain our spiritual balance, bringing us nirvana, salvation, mukti, moksha, nijaat and freedom.

Cont. After Messages below

Photo Caption : Prof. Indrajit S  Saluja’s mother Mohinder Kaur who passed away in 2009 at the age of  91, was  a  saintly person , created in God’s own Image.

[quote_center]Remembering my mother on Mother’s Day, 2015[/quote_center]

That’s my mother who gave me birth,
Breastfed me to grow in to a healthy child,
Trained me to walk , taught me to talk;
I am her creation and gift to the world;
Whoever and whatever I am , it’s because of her. I miss her and wish she were around
To chide me for the mistakes I make ,
And hug , pat and kiss me for the good I do;
But she’s gone and left behind memories to haunt; I love you Mata Ji, I miss you, Mata Ji.

I know she looks at me from her heavenly abode,

She watches all my actions and doings;
She guides my steps even now from afar,
And exhorts me to justly and honestly play my part
In the theatre of the world to which I am assigned.
When I am done with my part that God has assigned me,

I only long to go to my mother in heavens above, And be the child that I was , learning at her feet, And  be folded in to her protective arms for ever.

– Prof. Indrajit S saluja

[quote_center]My mother is the anchor of my life[/quote_center]

This morning when you asked, “What does my Mother mean to me?”  I realized that this was one relationship that I have taken for granted since my childhood years. I wondered why I had not reflected on this statement and the answer was apparent. The selfless, untiring love that I have received from my Mom was the culprit. She never allowed me and my siblings to feel that she was giving us anything. We took her warmth, affection and love for granted !

As I step back and reflect, I see my mother as a warm, generous, ever caring pious lady, someone who has stood by us through all our trials and tribulations, kept her needs away in front of the wants of the family. A gracious host to neighbors and visitors, ever ready to help. An excellent cook and a good seamstress. The best grandmother to her grandchildren… always ready to wipe that tear, always ready to pray for the success of her family. She joined to share others’ grief as willingly. Her indomitable spirit to Never Give up. All these and many more made her the anchor of my life and indeed of the whole family growing up, shaping our formative years. A mother is super special and a symbol of selfless love like none other.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mamas of the world !!!

– Rishikant Singh

Photo Caption: Two and a half year old Ashishpal Saluja (now 37) with mom Gurdarshan Kaur who passed away in 2007.

I realize that everything important that I know, I either learned from my mother, or my father probably before I was 15. Every child considers his or her mom and dad as the best parent in the world. And I believe that every child is right in doing so. Growing up as a child, I always looked up to my parents, especially to my mother. She was my greatest teacher and the source of inspiration for my many interests. Generous, kind, loving, sweet, caring, honest, elegant, brave, strong, bubbly, energetic, resilient, thoughtful, hopeful, selfless. My mother possessed all of these qualities for sure. Right now I’d probably have a million reasons to thank my mother for. Because she brought me to this world, because she made me all I am, for knowing me inside and out, for believing in me. But I do not need a reason. It matters the least. Whether she knew it or not, she was always, and forever will be the queen of my heart and my guiding light of life. Love you always MOM.

– Ashishpal Saluja

[quote_center]I just miss you![/quote_center]

Growing up in a remote village in Kerala, I have fond memories of my mother who has nurtured, inspired and influenced my life through thick and thin. My only regret is that I couldn’t spend more time with her as I have come away from ‘God’s own country’ as Kerala is described, looking for better opportunities!

This tribute by an unknown author summarizes my sentiment in its entirety:

‘Death changes everything! Time Changes nothing. I still miss the sound of your voice and wisdom of your advice and stories of your life and being in your presence. So No, time changes nothing, I miss you as much today as I did the day you died. I just miss you!’

– George Abraham

[quote_center]A mother is the truest friend we have[/quote_center]

Mom, Nani, Gail Mommy, Cathy Chachi & Sunil Aunty. “A mother is the truest friend we have.” Lucky for us, we have more than one individual whom we love and consider as our mother. Without the love and care from such selfless mothers and aunts, we would not be where  we are today.

-Bobby, Jessica, Pavneet, Amy, Matthew & Rohan

“Yaad na jaye beete dinon kee. Jaskiran (center) now 35,  with mom Gurdarshan Kaur and  brother Ashishpal (left), now 37.”

[quote_center]You are the words inside my song[/quote_center]

Dear mom, how do I explain the most sacred relationship on this earth in a few words. here are a few lines that can help let all know what you meant to me and how I survive without you. You are my friend, my heart, and my soul You are the greatest friend I know.
You are the words inside my song,
You are my love, my life, my Mom.
You are the tree I lean upon,
You make the troubles be gone.
You are the one who taught me life,

How not to fight, and what is right. You are the words inside my song, You are my love, my life, my mom. You are the one who cares for me, You are the eyes that help me see.

You are the one who knows me best,
When it’s time to have fun and time to rest.
You are the one who has helped me to dream,
You hear my heart and you hear my screams.
Afraid of life but looking for love,
I’m blessed for God sent you from above.
Though you may be far but this heart has missed you all the time.

– Jaskiran Saluja Beri

Cont. From Top

[quote_center]RELIGIONS ON MOTHERS: [/quote_center]

In the native traditions, be it American, European, African, or Asian, Mother is creator in the form of mother Earth.

Christianity and Judaism: “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.In Jewish tradition, your heritage is determined by your Mother, you are a Jew because of your mother.

“Diverse images of what are believed to be Mother Goddesses also have been discovered that date from the Neolithic period, the New Stone Age, which ranges from approximately 10,000 BCE when the use of wild cereals led to the beginning of farming, and eventually, to agriculture.” Wikipedia

The Baha’i faith, “For mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgment, the understanding and the faith of their little ones.”

In the Hindu tradition Mother is worshiped and is represented in many attributes like Ma Saraswati (source of knowledge), Ma Lakshmi (source of income) and the likes… Mother’s face is equated with God’s face, a song celebrates Mother by saying, if I have seen your face mother, and I have seen God.

Sikh‘s consider God as a parent, a mother and a father. Guru Granth Sahib advises “Always remember the boundless, limitless God, remembering whom all our sins are destroyed. My son, this is a mother’s prayer for you.”

Prophet Muhammad was asked by his associates, who is the most important person in one’s life – he says, “Mother”; they ask again, the answer was “Mother again” and same response was given for the third time, such is the importance given to mother. He said, your heaven, your paradise and your peace of mind comes to you by serving your mother.

You will find mother is placed at the highest spiritual level in all religions or non-religious traditions and life forms. Those who have a mother to see, you are the blessed one, those who don’t, you have her blessings.

“Paradise is under the feet of your mother” is the mantra probably every Muslim recites and it is part of Hindu, Sikh, Jain and South Asian culture as well. The idea is of gratitude, if you are grateful to you mother, then you would be grateful to the creator and other benefactors around you.

2001, my Mother passed away in one of the most beautiful manners one could embark on the eternal journey; a clean slate with no loose ends. She was incredible; she tied all the loose ends before she took her last breath, she called every one and cleared the air and said goodbye that was the biggest lesson of my life; to tie the loose ends. The Jain tradition calls it Michami Dukadam.

I guess, all of us kids and her grand kids turned out that way; boundless. No barriers between us and another soul and our relationships have always been multi-cultural and multi-religious. Thanks Mom for pounding those values in our hearts and minds.

Photo caption: Reliving the  hapy moments. Ambassador Dnyaneshwar M Mulay with  his mother Akkatai Mulay (left) and her best friend Shara Kaku

[quote_center] Happy Mother’s Day![/quote_center]

It is obvious that on this day, I remember my mother. She stays in my village near Kolhapur. While I have been flying the flag of India all over the world, it is she who has sacrificed the most. right from my early education till now, she continues to work hard so that all of us lead a happy life. For me she is the source of inspiration.

In modern times, mother’s role has undergone a huge change. She is a teacher too who actively shapes her children’s future. Unlike yester year mothers, she is educated, aware and helps in decision-making. the core of mother’s role vis-a-vis a child has not changed. Her caring, her attention and her love remain unchanged and civilization grows on those qualities!

My mother did not go to school, worked from 4am to 10pm everyday and ingrained in us qualities like hardwork and dedication. I salute her on this day – likewise salute all mothers – past, future and present – for their gift to humanity.

– Ambassador Dnyaneshwar M Mulay

Photo Caption: Ravi Batra‘s mother Raj K Batra with husband Hon. Sada Nand Batra in a 1954 photograph

[quote_center]I continue to adore my mother, and am proud to be her son too[/quote_center]

While my late great Dad is known to be my greatest hero, it is my mother – who is the unsung hero I took and took from her well of unqualified love – and miss her always. A mother with ideal attributes of a giving love that never runs dry.

Like every child, I was dependent upon my mother even before birth and without knowing so. Such remained throughout her life. She was born in what’s now Pakistan, got married at an early age – as was then the custom – started having kids and the country partitioned. Uprooted and on a refugee train, she was shot in her foot and lay bleeding until the 7th Calvary arrived – in the form of the Indian Forces -and saved the stopped-train from a certain massacre in the hot sectarian violence that engulfed the subcontinent in 1947.

Taken to a refugee camp, she functioned as a mother would, with a bullet for 3 months, until her foot was gangrene and amputation was possible. My dad found in the Camp a general practitioner, not a surgeon, who operated upon her without any anesthesia with a barber’s straight edge razor and stitched her up with regular needle and thread. Miraculously, my mom healed. She went on to have 4 more babies, I being one of them.

She went on to be the wife of an unusual man, driven to unusual achievements, and started to achieve in her own right. By 1960, she was a mother when the kids were home and a businesswoman employing dozens of mother-employees when kids were in school. The duality of a woman we now take for granted – was nearly unheard of then. And, then there was much more…

I continue to adore my mother, and am proud to be her son too.

Happy Mother’s Day to all.

– Attorney Ravi Batra

Photo Caption: Good old days! Bidisha with mom Tripti Roy, who passed away in 2014

[quote_center]My mother is the epitome of humanity[/quote_center]

My mother Tripti Roy was my best friend ever. I’ve never seen a simple, honest, affectionate person like her who dedicated her life for others. She was a renowned teacher and used to teach poor students. She used to help so many needy families without any publicity. For me she is the epitome of humanity. Miss you Maa!

– Bidisha Roy

[quote_center]AYE MAA TERI SURAT SE ALAG BHAGWAN KI SURAT KYA HOGI[/quote_center]

Mother’s love. Unconditional. Forever. Mother-child relationship is like no other. Mother’s love is a fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. A mother is the truest friend we have

We are always so grateful for the love you have  always shown  and guided us in each phase of our lives.

Even if you are  far away, your blessings and love have always been unconditional

USKO NAHIN DEKHA JISNE ABHI, AB ISKI JAROORAT KYA HOGI

AYE MAA TERI SURAT SE ALAG BHAGWAN KI SURAT KYA HOGI

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

– Indu Jaiswal

[quote_center]Everyday is Mother’s Day[/quote_center]

Being born a Hindu is a privilege”. I was told this by a Christian who converted to Hinduism. This opened my mind and made me think about my life on earth. The only reason you and I and every one else on this planet have an existence is because of the great mothers who bear us. From the second we’re made till the time of our departure, the amount of attention and focus that is put on us is unbelievable. From the time of the mothers 9-10 month pregnancy, nourishing us while we’re in their bodies, from being born and helping us grow and develop as small individuals. From schooling, to kids, to adults, teaching us from right and wrong, preparing food and making us strong, day in and day out, every day of their of lives. Without any thought of a mother’s own, their vision is only on us.

A selfless mother is a blessing and because of them we are enjoying good health and enjoying life.

Hindu culture is a way of life, it’s a great culture with developed ideas and so many research and experiments that have been performed over so many years.

There is no life without wife. Just like that, there is no child without mother. Hindus see females in everything. We see the beauty in everything. Mother earth. Goddess of wealth, Sri Laxmi Mata. Goddess of Knowledge, Shri Saraswati Mata. Goddess of Power, Shri Durga Mata. My mother. And your mother. These are the powerful women who make us.

Everyday is Mother’s Day. Lets start the day by touching the feet of our mother and accepting her blessing. Lets care for her and protect her when she’s old, after all we are here because of her.

Hindus are taught to treat all women as their own sister, aunt or mother. To respect them and help them when in need without any reservation.

Our existence is because of our mothers. We exist because of their love and respect. I guarantee you, you’ll have a better and great life – just love and be there for your mom!

-Arish Sahani

Here is how Mom is called in different languages, please add yours….

I called my mother, ” Amma” and at times “Ammi” while addressing her it was Ma. Languages Spoken in South Asia

● Arabic – umm

● Assamese – Aayi, mA, mAtri Aayi, mA,

● Baluchi – Ma

● Bengali – Mata or jononi,

● Bhojpuri – Mayee

● English- Mother, Mama, Mom

● French- Mère, Maman

● German – Mutter

● Gujurati – Ma

● Hindi – Ma, Maji, Mata

● Kannada -Amma

● Konkani – Amma

● Kashmiri – Muoj

● Latin – Mater

● Marathi – Aayi

● Malyalam – Amma

● Nepali – Aamaa

● Oriya – Bou

● Pashtu- Mor

● Persian- Madr, Maman

● Portugese- Mae

● Punjabi – Mai, Mataji, Pabo

● Sanskrit – Mata

● Sindhi – Mau

● Sinhalese- Amma

● Tamil – Amma

● Telegu- Amma

● Urdu -Ammee, Maa, Amma

There are more languages out there…

It’s time to express gratitude to her; it restores the spiritual balance in each one of us. Life is about transactions, each time we received a “good” we become indebted to the giver, but when we give back to the giver or find alternate ways of giving back, then we regain our spiritual balance, bringing us nirvana, salvation, mukti, moksha, nijaat and freedom.

Main Article  – By Mike Ghouse

(The author is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine, Politics and other issues of the day. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.