By Ashok Vyas on Mother’s Day for the readers of The Indian Panorama

My mother Smt Shakuntala Devi Vyas and I share the habit of reading. I remember having heard stories from her about her childhood days, when she would hide a book in the bed and read with streetlight slipping from the window on her bed. She loved reading and that interest made her continue studies after many many years, when she was taking care of the family with three sons and all family members.

We grew up in Jaipur, she did her bachelor’s and Master’s in Hindi. She lost her father at a very early age, probably, while she was six years old. He was a police officer and a loving, protective shield for her. She would read newspapers, magazines, novels and later on, her interest shifted towards religious books. A sincere devotee of Lord Krishna in the Pushtimargiya tradition, she has sustained that reading habit for over seven decades.

I was very much attached to her as a child to the extent that I was teased for being ‘mother’s son’. I had a very nice friend in my mother as a child, probably after I turned 14 or so, things started changing a little bit, earlier, she was interested in learning about my friends, my activities and I was also eager to share my small success and failures.

I think, as a teenager, I was developing my own ego and she was becoming more and more devotional with few morning hours exclusively devoted to serve the Lord. I was fascinated by her Keertan singing. I distinctly remember, having seen tears trickling down her cheeks as she would sing, ‘Mohe Apne Rang Mein Rang De, Swami He Giridhar Gopal,‘It means longing to get merged in the divine colors of Lord Krishna, also known as Gopal who plays flute.

Those tears were beautiful, I used to wonder, what is this longing, how she gets into that zone, where something triggers her and melts her being with beauty and joy.

I was perhaps drawn towards reading ‘Bhagwat Puran’ by her influence. Our family lived religious values as a part of regular flow.

Let me recollect my school days. I used to go by bus and walk from SMS Hospital, Jaipur to Mahavir School. These were exam days, and it was summer. Once, while I was leaving for school, in addition to money for a bus ticket, she gave me some extra amount to drink sugarcane juice on her own. I was pleasantly surprised and felt how nice of her. Sometimes small gestures of consideration and kindness fills us with joy and gratefulness.

 

 

I will skip the middle part of my life and come to the present scene, many events have taken place, many celebrations, moments of joy and success and losing important pillars of our lives.

 

Now that I live in New York, my mother is in Jaipur with my brother Jitendra Vyas. We have become very good friends again through our telephonic satsang. She showed interest in listening to ‘Raas Panchadhyayi’, a book based on lectures by Swami Akhandananda Saraswatiji Maharaj.  We had regular Satsang sessions, where I would share this Hindi book in our language ‘Marwari’ with her and one of my aunties.

Reading in Hindi, translating in Marwari and listening to their encouraging response to my humble sharing has been a fulfilling experience. The credit goes to my mother’s keen devotion and interest in Satsang. She sings well, remembers many Kathas as well as Bhajans. Thanks to technology, I could record her Bhajans online and shared with friends and family members. I am blessed to have a pure soul as my mother. We don’t celebrate Mother’s Day but this tradition here in USA has given me the opportunity to count my blessings and meditate on the glory of a Vaishnav, who also inspired all my Bhuas to find their structure for the flow of devotion in their heart.

I am also happy that she listens to the series of ‘Everyday Gita with Ashok Vyas’ presented by me on Heramba Studio, YouTube channel in sequence. Her comments are encouraging.

Here is a special pranaam to my mother, who shared her love with everyone and sustains herself with deep devotion. Jai Shri Krishna!

 

(Ashok Vyas is a Poet, Program Director, ITVGold and founder of Heramba Studio)