MATERNAL MANTRAs - मातृ मंत्र

This is me with my mother, late Dr. Mrs. Shakuntala Bhave, during my sister, Dr. Mugdha Keskar's wedding in 1993 😊

Coming to Mumbai from the small town of Pandharpur, my mother completed majority of her higher education after her marriage and achieved as many as 4 academic degrees - M.A., B.Ed., M. Phil & PhD in Sanskrit & Marathi literature.

What was impressive was that her doctorate came after she had turned 50 years old, and she thus achieved her childhood dream of having the title “Doctor” against her name.

An extremely hard-working woman, she was positive, grateful & a very practical person - She was my idol, my inspiration & my teacher.

Here are her top 4 teachings, which she used to repeatedly tell me during my growing up years -

(1) वचने किम् दरिद्रता
Rough Translation - “Why talk like poor person”

My lesson - In life you should dream BIG , think BIG & talk BIG – you will thus achieve BIG

(2) जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी
Rough Translation - Our mother and our motherland hold a greater worth than heaven

My lesson - Respect women & our nation the most

(3) कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन्

This one of from the Bhagavad-Gita from the Mahabharata -

Rough Translation - You have the right to work only but never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive.

My lesson - Focus on giving your best all the time, the results you deserve, will eventually follow.

(4) भवाच्या भये काय भीतोस लंडी। धरीं रे मना धीर धाकासि सांडी

This verse is from the “Manache Shlok” – an invaluable Marathi poetry book with practical life lessons written by Samarth Ramdas Swami, who was the spiritual Guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Rough Translation - Do not be afraid of what is going to happen in life. Show courage, be patient & let fear disappear.

My lesson – Be Fearless.