On July 20, 2019, around 110 mothers and students from grades 6 to 8 assembled in the auditorium of Amrita Vidyalayam and participated with great zeal in Matru Puja celebrations. This Puja is conducted every year in order to instil respect and love for their parents in the minds of our students.
“Matha Pitha Guru Daivam” is a very popular saying in the Sanskrit language. The meaning of this is the greatest truth as well as the order in which one should offer reverence.
The Puja began with the lighting of the auspicious lamp by Br. Avyayamrita Chaitanyaji and Brni. Rekha amid the chanting of “Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah”. The celebrations started with a brief address by Swamiji. He said that we take the role of the Mother in our daily lives for granted forgetting about the significant role she plays in building and shaping our character. He added that the immediate need for the technologically advanced present generation is to understand moral values, and the best age for this is when they are still young and can imbibe them for life.
Thereafter, Swamiji performed Guru Paduka Puja by offering Panchamrut while Guru Stotram was chanted by one and all. Amma’s Ashtothara (108 sacred names of Amma) was chanted and flowers were offered at the holy lotus feet of Amma. The children sat at their mothers’ feet and followed the detailed guidance given by Swamiji, washing the feet of their mothers as part of the ceremony. After washing the feet, students applied chandan and kumkum. They garlanded their mothers, worshipped them and took their blessings which was a wonderful sight to behold. The children also performed Aarti and offered flowers to their mothers while chanting ‘Om Matre Namah’. The faces of the children as well as their mothers were beaming with joy when they hugged each other. The auditorium was filled with melodious bhajans sung by Swamiji, along with Principal Brni. Rekha and devotees.
The program ended with the chanting of Shanti Mantra. Everyone offered flowers at the holy lotus feet of Amma and received prasad from Swamiji.
