Swami says: The term Stree should not be treated lightly. The Bhagavad Geeta lists seven attributes to the feminine principle - Fame, Wealth, Speech, Wisdom, Intelligence, Fortitude and Determination. The Mother principle, which embodies these seven potencies, is highly sacred.

Let's retrace our steps back into history and lift the veil on the noble mothers of some illustrious offspring. Let’s try to identify each of these remarkable ladies in a “who am I” type quiz. The clues , except for one, reveal the identity of their more famous progeny.

The Power of Purity

Q1. Swami has often quoted me as an example for the power of chastity and purity.

Once the three Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, put me, the wife of a revered sage, to a severe test. When I succeeded in the test, I was blessed by their boon with a son who was the Trinity Incarnate.

Who am I?

Nurturing the Future

Q2. When our fourth child was growing in my womb, my husband, a demon, left in order to propitiate Lord Brahma for boons. When the Devas attacked the kingdom, I was rescued by Sage Narada and stayed in his ashram. The growing foetus in my womb absorbed the teachings of the great Sage even as I listened to his discourses on Lord Narayana.

My husband, on his return after securing boons from Lord Brahma, took our newly born son and me back to the palace from the hermitage, and tried unsuccessfully to make our son adore him and despise Lord Narayana, and subjected him to several ordeals.

My son later grew to be known as one of the greatest devotees of the Lord as well as a great ruler.

Who am I?

Mother, the First Teacher of Human Values

Q3. Swami describes me as a strict disciplinarian and pure-hearted.

I used to observe a vow (kokila vrata) wherein I would have my breakfast each day only after hearing the singing of a cuckoo. The events that unfolded after my young son mimicked the cuckoo’s song to enable me to break a very long fast one day were what instilled in him the first seeds of a strong determination to never waver from the truth.

This resolve was what would eventually shape a person who would record one of the most glorious victories of human values in the pages of history.

I am the mother of a son who became great because he was truly good.

Who am I?

Q4. As the wife of a humble carpenter, we were living a life of great poverty. An excellent seamstress, I used to sew the clothes for my family. My eight-year-old son, who attended a school in the nearby village with children from well-to-do families, was ashamed of his old and ragged clothes. When he broke down in tears one day, I consoled him and taught him that self-confidence was his greatest wealth. This quality was one that propelled him through the many ups and downs of his historic career and marked him out as one of the greatest leaders of our country.

Who am I?

The Mother and the Ideal of Service?

Q5: I am the least famous of my husband’s three wives. Not much is known about me. But Swami has always praised me and held me up as an example of courage and selflessness because of the manner in which I have encouraged my twin sons to serve their elder brothers. One of them served the eldest brother in the forest and the other served the second brother in the administration of the kingdom.

Who am I?

Q6. My son has been an ideal son, a role model for all sons. He fulfilled all my desires, in ways that were grander than my wish. I placed before him three requests, that of free education, healthcare and water supply to our village. What he achieved was far beyond my wildest dreams.

He has said that when my satya sankalpa merged with His nitya sankalpa, mighty tasks were accomplished.

Who am I?

Mother and Bhakti

Q7. When my daughter, as a five year old child, kept bothering me about who her husband was, I pointed out the Giridhar murti in the shrine room, and said “that is your husband, go!”

My light-hearted comment made such an impact on her young mind that from then till the end of her life, she remained devoted to Giridhar and reached pinnacles of devotion very rarely scaled. A princess mendicant, she sacrificed her all for her Giridhar Gopal, and ultimately merged in Him.

Who am I?

Mother and Jnana

Q8. Swami has often spoke highly of how I inculcated in my children the great quality of vairagya (detachment) even from their infancy. As He recounts, I used to sing a lullaby thus to my sons:

Q9. Swami says my name means the embodiment of virtue. When my five-year-old son was pushed away from his father’s lap and chided with harsh words by his stepmother, he came running to me with tears in his eyes. I consoled him saying that even harsh words are only for one’s own good, and could be a pointer for destiny. I encouraged him to go into the forest and seek Narayana.

His determination and penance even at that young age gave him eternal fame, and secured not only his father’s love, but also an exalted place as a star in the sky.

Who am I?

Mother’s love (Prema) and God’s grace (Anugraha):

Q10. When my son was a young boy, I encouraged him to follow his father’s example in piety and prayer. I ingrained in him the understanding that a mother makes her son noble and great, and in turn a noble son brings his mother glory. He was so sincere in his efforts that no less than Goddess Raja Rajeshwari fed him with her own milk. He mastered all the scriptures and became one of the greatest spiritual teachers in his illustrious, though short life.

In spite of being a monk, he still fulfilled my last wish even going against a hostile society.

Swami has said that all this was due to the grace of the Divine mother and the love and blessings of me, the physical mother.

Who am I?