`Ma' (Mother)

‘Ma’ said the temple flag and waved a warm invitation to folks approaching in all the directions.

She wore a body once. She yearned for one child to pour her infinite love. Her god-husband foretold that she would give birth to millions of children and would one day tire of being called ‘Ma’ all day and night by one and all.

Her stricken children struggling in the fiery cauldron that is the wide world, cried ‘Ma’. The menials who were sent to her on errands found a mate in her and called her ‘Ma’. The villagers found in her a god-neighbor and called her Ma. The robber who came to rob her saw his daughter in her and called her Ma. The calf in distress called to her ‘Ma’. The little cowboy muttered ‘Ma’ in his pain to see her rushing to minister to him. The mynah bird learnt to call her ‘Ma’.

Born from the dust of a land that called her daughters as mother throughout their lives from infancy to old age, she fitted in so well that every one called her Ma.

She, like all who are called incarnations of God, began as a seed within the sack of a human body.

As the sack deteriorates a shaft of light emerges. Some people keep watching the sack and are fooled. Historians observe the root and follow its course towards the bowels of the earth. Some wise people follow the light and break out of the ground. They stand dazed at the mighty tree of light and spirit that stands tall and vast.

Reach us thy kindly light, our dear Ma!

Swami Sampurnananda, 23 October 2003