|
| |
Religious talk : Mutual
respect
Religious talks | Festivals
CHENNAI: Psychologists tell us to
treat our children with respect to earn their respect. But this is something
that is evident from our Puranas and Ithihasas, said Suki Sivam in a lecture.
When Dasaratha banishes Lord Rama to the forest, Lakshmana loses his temper and
says: “Taking the kingdom away from Rama and giving it to Bharata is like giving
food that was intended for a lion to a mangy street dog.”
Later he tells Sumantra: “Ask Dasaratha how he is able to eat food after what he
has done. Ask him how he manages to keep alive after what he has done to Rama.”
Lakshmana urges Rama to wrest the kingdom from Dasaratha. But Rama checks the
angry Lakshmana and says: “Our father never used harsh words against me even
once. He always used sweet words when he spoke to me. How can I take the kingdom
myself when his wish is otherwise? Will I have any dignity left, if I do so?”
Thus though Rama was magnanimous in obeying His father's order, He does not fail
to acknowledge his father's role . Dasaratha had never been harsh with Rama and
thus earned His respect. Again in the episode of Lord Subrahmanya imprisoning
Brahma and then Nandi, we notice the respect with which Lord Siva treated His
son. When Nandi, who had been sent as a messenger by Siva is also imprisoned by
Subrahmanya, Siva goes Himself to seek the release of both Brahma and Nandi.
He respectfully addresses Subrahmanya and requests that the two be released.
Subrahmanya refuses to pay heed even to Siva. Siva then gets angry. But,
Kachiappa Sivachariar, the author of Kanda Puranam, says Siva only pretended to
be angry.
Thus, we have examples from our sacred literature that show that our ancestors
followed practices in child rearing that child psychologists recommend these
days. They treated their children with respect and thus earned the regard of
their children.
Parents were ready to take words of advice from their children, if their
children had something worthwhile to say.
Thus Subrahmanya taught His father Siva the significance of the Pranava mantra
and earned for Himself the name of Swaminatha — the guru of Siva.
Courtesy:
http://www.thehindu.com
| |
|
