On Father’s Day, many of us celebrate our earthly Father.
Rishi Dayananda, in the Satyarth Prakash, beautifully reminded us of the value of the parent-child relationship.
Par yah baat sakal jag maanat
Sut swa-bhaaw pitu maatu se aawat
The whole world knows that a child receives his personality principally from his parents.
Dehi maatu pitu jetee shikshaa
Mile na owr kaahu se dikshaa
No one can educate a child as much as parents can.
Dhanya dhanya wah vansh hai
Aho dhanya santaan
Guru jan-nee ow janak jisa
Mile jyaan ke khaan
When the Mother, father, and teacher are knowledgeable, the children also become knowledgeable.
Dhanya so kul jaha maatu kuleenaa
Dhanya so sut jo pitu aadheenaa
Guru soi dhanya jo hit anu-sara-ee
Pitu soi dhanya putra hit kara-ee
That family is blessed when:
- The Mother is from a virtuous background
- The Father makes choices to benefit the child
- The Teacher diligently strives to protect the child
- The child is obedient to parents
Pitri-shravanam yo dadaashad asmai somo dadaati
A person who surrenders his time/skills/resources, Unto him God gives a child who will increase his glory.
Father: Janak – He who helps to give birth
Pitaa – He who protects while the child grows.
Om twam Vedo’si
Ashmaa bhava
Parashur bhava
Hiranyam astritam bhava
At birth, the father whispers this mantra to the child, promising to love, educate, and equip him to face the challenges in life. As the father becomes elderly, the grown child garlands him and lovingly whispers the same to the Father, promising to take care of his (the Father’s) needs, to make him smile and love him, so that he is never afraid. The same way his father protected him all his life.
Dr. Satish Prakash