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Maatrimaan Pitrimaan
A'charyavaan Purusho Veda -
Shatapatha Brahmana02.01.
"Verily, that man alone
can become a great scholar who has had the advantage of three good teachers,
viz., father, mother, and preceptor."
Blessed is the family,
most fortunate is the child whose parents are godly and learned. The
mother's healthy influence on her children surpasses that of everyone else.
No other person can equal a mother inn her love for her children, or in her
anxiety for their welfare.
this explains the use of
the word Matrimaan in the above quotation, meaning thereby:-
"He alone is said to
have a mother whose mother is devout and learned."
Blessed is the mother
who never ceases to impart to religious tone to the mind of her child from
the time of conception till his knowledge is perfected.
It behoves both parents
before, during, and after conception to avoid the use of such foods and
drinks as are intoxicating, decomposed (Lit. - foul-smelling)
non-nutritious, (Lit. dry), and prejudicial to the growth of the intellect;
and use those articles that are productive of mental tranquility, health,
strength, intellect, energy and good temper - qualities that go to make a
man refined.
Such foods are milk,
butter, sugar, cereals etc., - foods and drinks that help to make the
reproductive element (both male and female) of the highest quality, free
from all faults and imperfections. They should follow the rules of sexual
intercourse, which are as follows:-
From the time of menstruation the 16th day following is the proper time for
(sexual intercourse) barring the first four days and the 11th and 13th of
the (lunar) month; so that there are altogether left ten nights out of which
it is best to choose one for sexual intercourse.
After the 16th day there
should be no sexual intercourse till the return of the aforesaid period, or,
in case of pregnancy for one year. At the time of sexual intercourse husband
and wife should be perfectly healthy, mutually happy, and free from sorrow.
In the matter of diet and dress they should follow the rules laid down by
Charak and Sushrut02.02,
and in the matter of keeping each other happy they ought to practice the
system taught by Manu.
During conception the
mother ought to be very careful as to her diet and dress. Till the birth of
the child those articles only should be used as are productive of intellect,
strength, beauty, health, energy and mental tranquility, and such other good
qualities.
After the child is born
and its cord had been tied, it ought to be bathed with scented water and
Homa02.03
performed with scented clarified butter. The mother should also be well
looked after in the matter of bath, diet, etc., so that both mother and
child may gradually gain in health and strength. The child's mother or
wet-nurse should take such foods and drinks as are productive of good
qualities in the milk.
The mother should suckle
the child only for the first six days, thereafter the wet-nurse; but the
parents should see that the wet-nurse gets good food and drink.
The mother should suckle
the child only for the first six days, thereafter the wet-nurse; but the
par4ents should see that the wet-nurse gets good food and drink. If the
parents be too poor to afford a wet-nurse, cow's or goat's milk diluted with
an equal quantity of water should be used; and such drugs as are productive
of intellect, energy, and health should be added to the milk after being
well soaked in pure water boiled, and strained.
After confinement the
mother and the child should be removed to another room, where the air is
pure, and which is well furnished with scented and beautiful things. They
should move about in a pure atmosphere. When neither the wet-nurses nor milk
(cow's or goat's) can e procured, the parents should do what they think best
at the time; but they must remember the child's body is made up of the
elements derived from the body of the mother, which fact accounts for the
mother getting weaker after each confinement. It is best, therefore, for the
mother not to suckle her child. Plasters should be applied to the breast
that will soon dry up the milk, by following this system the woman becomes
strong again in about two months. Till then the husband should have thorough
control over his passions, and thus preserve the reproductive element. Those
that will follow this plan will have children of a superior order, enjoy
long life, and continually gain in strength and energy so that all their
children will be of a high mental calibre, strong, energetic, and devout.
The woman should have her reproductive organs properly seen to, and the
husband should practice continence. |
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A mother should so
instruct her children as to make them refined in character and manners, and
they should never be allowed to misconduct themselves in any way. When the
child begins to speak, his mother should see that he uses his tongue
properly so as to pronounce letters distinctly in the right place and with
the right amount of effort. For pronouncing the letter 'p' for example, that
right place is the lips and amount of 'effort' required is what is called
Full.
In speaking, vowels
should be exactly timed- short, long, or prolonged as the case may be. She
should try to cultivate a sweet, subdued and pretty voice in her child. In
his speech, letters, syllables, words, conjoined words and stops should be
distinctly discernible. When he begins to talk and understand a little, he
should be taught how to address his superiors and inferiors, father, mother,
king and a learned man, and how to conduct himself in their presence; so
that he may never be slight in company, but be always treated with respect.
Parent should endeavor to inculcate in the minds of their children and
intense desire for the love of knowledge, elevating company, and control of
the senses.
Children should avoid
useless playing, crying, laughing and wrangling. They should not give way to
excess of pleasures and sorrows, nor become completely engrossed in a thing.
Jealousy and malice they should not harbor. They should never handle or rub
the reproductive organs, as it causes the loss of the reproductive element
and, consequently besides soiling the hand, leads to impotence.
The parents should try, in
every possible way, to develop in their children such sterling qualities as
truthfulness, heroism, patience, cheerfulness, etc. When children attain to
the age of 5 years they should be taught the Sanskrit Alphabet, as well as
that of foreign languages; thereafter the parents should make them
understand and learn by rote such verses ( Vedic), poetical pieces,
aphorisms, prose passages, etc. as are full of good precepts, inculcate
truth and virtue, love of knowledge and God; and give advice as to the
general behavior towards father, mother, sister and other relatives,
friends, teachers and other learned men, guests, king, fellow-subjects and
servants, sot that they may not, as they grow up, be duped by any
unprincipled person.
They should also counsel
then against all things that lead to superstition, and are opposed to true
religion and science, so that they may never give credence to such imaginary
things as ghosts (Bhuts) and spirits (Preta).
Preta
(in Sanskrit) really means a dead body, and Bhuta means who is
deceased.
In support of this
contention we quote Manu:-
"After his death, the pupil who helps in cremating his teacher's Preta
is purified in ten days together with other people who carry the Preta
in the crematorium02.04."
MANU 5: 65.
It is clear, then, that
Preta in the above quotation cannot mean anything else but the dead
body. After the body has been cremated, the dead person is spoken of as
Bhuta i.e. deceased - one who lived but does not live now. All those
that are born and cease to breathe after having lived in the present are
spoken of as Bhutashth i.e. deceased. Such has been the belief of all
learned men from Brahman to the present day.
But we do not wonder
that one, who is ignorance-ridden, superstitious, and associates with low
people, is constantly troubled by all sorts of ghosts, spirits, and devils,
in the shape of fear and doubt. When a person dies, his soul, by according
to their nature, in pleasure and pain. Breathes there is man who can undo
this eternal law of God.?
People ignorant of the
principles of Medical and Physical Sciences look upon persons afflicted with
the physical and mental diseases, such as high fever and lunacy, as
possessed of devils (Bhut and Preta). But instead of having such persons
treated medically, dieted properly, otherwise cared for, they trust them to
such rogues, scoundrels, cheats, idiots, profligates and extremely low,
selfish, despicable and dirty charlatans as victimized them by their
trickery, quackery, so-called charms, and magic incantations. They waste
their money and bring misery and suffering on their children by the increase
of disease.
When these people who
really have 'more money than brains' go to those ignorant, wicked and mean
rascals and say to them "Sirs would you kindly tell us what is wrong with
such and such a person or child"? They answered this:-He is possessed with a
big devil or ghost, Bhairava (God of drink) or Shitala
(goddess of small-pox). It will never leave him unless you adopt proper
means for its removal. It may even take his life, but if you offer us a
round sum, or give us a round sum, or give us a present, we will exercise
the devil out of him by incantations, recitation of magical formulae and
prayers, etc."
Then those ignoramuses
and their friends say "Please Sirs, cure him thought it may cost us our last
penny". On this the rogues feel triumphant and say " Well bring us such and
such material, our fee, offerings to the God, and presents to ward off the
influence of unlucky stars."
Then, they sing, beat
upon drums play on castanels, cymbal, etc., in front of the man who is
supposed to be possessed of a devil; by and by, one of those scoundrels
begins to dance and skip about as if in a fit of madness and says" I will
even take his life" and the ignoramuses fall at the feet of that mean
rascal, saying "O! save him Sir! Save him. You shall have anything you
like". Upon this the rogue says " I am Hanuman02.05;
briing me my offerings - sweets, oil, a basket of loaves and a red dress."
Or " I am God, or Bhairava, bring me five bottles of liquor, twenty
fowls, five goats, sweets and clothes", and when these dupes answer " You
shall have anything you like" - the rogue begins to skip about and dance
still more. But if a sensible man were to give them an offering of a good
thrashing or shoe-beating, kicking or smacking on the face instead, their
Hanuman God or Bhairava is at once propitiated, and they
immediately take their heels a all this quackery is simply meant for robbing
the simpletons of their journey.
Similarly, when these
ignorant people go to an astrologer and say " O Sir! What is wrong with this
person'? He replies "The sun and other stars are maleficent to him. If you
were to perform a propitiatory ceremony, or have magic formulas chanted, or
prayers said, or specific acts of charity done, he will recover. Otherwise I
should not be surprised, even if he were to lose his life after a long
period of suffering."
Inquirer ~ Well, Mr.
Astrologer, you know, the sun and other stars are but inanimate things like
this earth of ours. They can do nothing but give light, heat, etc. Do you
take them for conscious being possessed of human passions, of pleasure and
anger, that when offended, bring on pain and misery, and when propitiated,
bestow happiness on human beings?
Astrologer ~ Is it not
through the influence of stars, then, that some people are rich and others
poor, some are rulers, whilst other are their subjects?
Inq. ~ No, it is all the
result of their deeds….good or bad.
Ast. ~ Is the Science of stars untrue then?
Inq. ~ No, that part of it which comprises Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry,
etc., and which goes by the name of Astronomy is true; but the other part
that treats of the influence of stars on human beings and their actions and
goes by the name of Astrology is all false.
Ast. ~ Is then the
horoscope of no value?
Inq. ~ No, and it should be named not horoscope, but death-knell of
happiness; because the birth of a child gladdens every heart in the family,
but this happiness lasts only so long as the horoscope is not cast, and the
aspect of the planets is not read out to the parents.
When the priest, after the
birth of the child, suggests the casting of a horoscope, his parents say to
him. "Oh, Sir! Cast a very good horoscope." Then the astrologer brings the
horoscope, well bespangled with red and yellow lines if they be rich, or a
plain one if they be poor. They ask him if the aspect is beneficent. He
answers "I will read it out to you as it is; his stars of nativity are good,
and so are the stars that govern the relation of social intercourse,
consequently he will be a rich man and will make a name for himself; he will
command respect among his associates; will have good health; and be a ruler
among men." Upon hearing this, the parents say "Well done Sir! Well done!
You are a very nice man."
The Astrologer things it
would not pay him to say nice things only, so he adds "These are all his
lucky stars, but there are others that maleficent. On account of the
position of such and such stars he will meet with his death in his 8th
year." On learning this, all their happiness is converted into great
distress, and they to the Astrologer "Oh Sir! What shall we do? What shall
we do now?" The astrologer answers " Propitiate the stars. They ask "How can
we do it?" He says " Do such and such an act of charity, have the hymns
relating to the stars chanted, fee the priests, and it is very likely that
the maleficence of the stars will be warded off."
The qualifying words
very likely have been used by the way of precaution, because, if the child
died he could say " How could I help it? I cannot override the will of God.
I did my utmost and so did you, but it was so ordained from the first on
account of his misdeeds in the previous life." But, if the child lived he
could say "Behold the power of our incantations, gods and priests; I have
saved the life of your child." But really, if their incantations and prayers
fail, and the child dies, these rogues should be made to pay double or
treble the money given to them, and if the child lives, they should still be
made to pay because, as they themselves say, there is not soul living that
can undo the law of God or evade the consequences of one's deeds.
Parents can say to them
"This child has survived in consequence of his deeds, and according to the
laws of God, and not through your help." The same answer should be given to
Gurus (so-called spiritual fathers or teachers), who prescribe certain acts
of charity to their dupes and then appropriate the gifts themselves, as has
been given to the astrologers above.
Lastly, a word about
Shitla02.06
and Charms. These are nothing but downright frauds and quackery. Should any
one say: "If I were to give a charmed bangle or locket to any person, my God
or saint would ward off all evils from him through the power of the charm or
of incantations." To such a person the following questions should be put:
"Can you by your charms evade death, or the laws of God, or the consequences
of your deeds? Many a child dies in spite of your charms and incantations;
ay, even your own children die; why can't you save them? Will you be able to
save yourself from death?" These questions, that rascal and his fraternity
can never answer, and they soon find that the game is not worth the candle.
Therefore, it behoves
all to do away with all kinds of false and superstitious practices and do
all in their power to promote, in return for their services, the welfare of
those pious, learned men, who are devoted to their country and are
altruistic teachers of humanity, teaching and preaching to all without the
least amount of hypocrisy.
All alchemists,
magicians, sorcerers, wizards, spiritists, etc. are cheats and all their
practices should be looked upon as nothing but downright fraud. Young people
should be well counseled against all these frauds, in their very childhood,
so that they may not suffer through being duped by any unprincipled person.
They should also be
taught that the preservation of the reproductive element begets happiness
and its loss the reverse. He, in whose body, it is well preserved, gains in
health, strength, energy and intellect; and consequently feels happy. The
only way to preserve it is to keep aloof from hearing and reading obscene
literature; associating with libidinous people, indulging in lascivious
thoughts; looking upon women (with an eye of lust); engaging in conversation
with them; embracing or having sexual intercourse with them. Children should
be taught to lead a pure and virtuous life; and devote themselves to the
acquisition of perfect knowledge and culture.
He, in whose body the
reproductive element is nor preserved, becomes impotent, void of good
qualities, and suffers from spermatorrhoea and such like diseases. He is, in
fact, a ruined man, through loss of health, strength, intellect, courage,
pluck, energy, patience and such other good qualities. Parents should not
neglect to impress upon their children that, if they fail to acquire
knowledge and wisdom, and preserve the reproductive element when young, they
will never have again another chance like this in this life.
They
must bear in mind that it is only so long as the parents are alive, and able
to look after the household, that they can prosecute their studies, and
perfect their bodies. Both the father and the mother should also advise them
regarding other necessary matters. This is the reason the words, Matriman
and Pitriman, appear in the quotation heading this chapter. The
mother should instruct them from birth to the 5th year, and the father from
the 6th to the 8th. |
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In the beginning of the
9th year Dwijas02.07
should, after their Upnayan02.08
ceremony has been performed, send them to school (Acharyakul)02.09,
where the teachers are thorough scholars, imbued with piety and well, versed
in all the sciences. Shudras should also send their children to
school, but without performing their Upnayan>
Those children alone
become well-behaved, refined, and scholarly, whose parents do not indulge
them; but on the other hand, always reprimand them when necessary. Says
Patanjili, in his Mahabhashya:-
"Those parents and
tutors who are not slow to reprimand their children and pupils ( when
needed) are as if giving them a drink of immortality; but those who indulge
them are , in fact, giving them poison, and are thus the cause of their
ruin, because indulgence spoils children, whilst (occasional) reproof
develops good qualities in them." MAHABHASHYA 8: 18.
Children should also
feel pleased when reprimanded, and feel uneasy when fondled. But parents and
teachers should never reprimand them out of malice or spite. Outwardly they
should keep them in awe; whilst inwardly they should be tender hearted and
kind to them. Likewise they should advise them to abstain from stealing,
sexual abuse, contracting habits of indolence, arrogance, drunkenness
untruthfulness, malevolence, wickedness, malice, jealousy, blind passion;
and to cultivate good qualities, such as, truthfulness, virtue.
Once a person has
committed theft or sexual abuse or has spoken an untruth in your presence
you can never respect or trust him any more. A broken pledge injures a man's
character more than anything else. Therefore, once you make a promise, keep
it; suppose you say to a man; " I will meet you at such and such a place or
time" or " I will give you such and such a thing, at such and such a time";
but always keep your promise; otherwise no one will ever trust you. All
should, therefore, speak the truth and keep their word.
One should never be
vain. Deceitfulness, hypocrisy, and ingratitude are painful even to the soul
that harbors them. How much more so then to others? It is hypocrisy to
believe one thing and say another, and thus mislead people in order to gain
selfish ends. Ingratitude is that condition of mind in which you do not feel
thankful to one who has been good and kind to you.
A child should not lose
his temper, or say a rude word; he should rather cultivate a speech that is
pacific and sweet. He should avoid useless talk, and speak only as much as
is necessary, neither more nor less. He should respect his superiors. At
their approach, a child should stand and salute them, and offer them the
best seat available.
In an assembly, each
person should occupy a seat in accordance with his rank and position, so
that he may never have to suffer the indignity of having to yield his seat
to another. He should never bear malice towards any one. He should try to
acquire virtues and shun vices; associate with the good and avoid the
wicked. Father, mother and tutor, a child should serve with all his
capabilities and resources, all his heart, and all his souls.
Says Taitreya Upnishad:-
"Fathers, mothers, and tutors should always give their children and students
good counsel and they should also advise them to imbibe their virtues but
avoid their vices." TAITREYA UPANISHAD 7:2.
Children should always speak the truth, and should never trust a hypocrite
or a man of low character. They should obey their parents and tutors in all
things that are good. Tutors should help their pupils to revise all that
their parents had taught them at home, the Vedic mantras, aphorisms,
poetical pieces and prose, passages, inculcating the love of righteousness,
knowledge, and good character. They should understand the nature and
attributes of God02.10
and worship Him accordingly. |
