Compiled by London swaminathan

Article no. 1700; dated 8 March 2015

Hindu scriptures say the following five men are equal to father and five women are equal to mother.

Janita cha upaniita cha yastu vidyaam prayacchati

Annadataa bhayatraataa panchaite pitarah smrutaaha

-Panchatantra, Subhasitaratnabhandakaram 165/542 and Chanakya Niti

Your own father, the person who takes you to a Guru (one who initiates), the one who gives you education (teacher), one who gives you food and one who saves you from danger are to respected as father.

Five Mothers

Following five women are considered equal to mothers:

Raaja patni Guroho patni bhraatru patni thadaiva cha

Patnimaathaa svamaathaa panchaitaa maatara smrutaahaa

–Chanakya Niti

Queen (King’s wife), Teacher’s wife, Brother’s wife, own mother and wife’s mother (Mother in law) are considered mother.

Five Teachers

Panchaiva guravo brahman purushasya bubhushathah

Pithaa mathaa agnir aatmaa cha guruscha dvijasattama

-Mahabharata – Vana parva – 204-27

Father, Mother, Agni, Self and Teacher are Five Gurus or Preceptors

Guravah pancha sarveshaam vchaturnaam srtichoditaah

Maathaa pithaa thathaachaaryaa  maatulah svasurasthathaa

-Yogavasistha 1-60

Mother, Father, Teacher, Maternal Uncle and Father in Law are respected as Teachers.

Where is home?

Mathaa yasya gruhe naasti  bharyaa cha priyavaadhinii

Aranyam tena ganthavyam yathaaranyam thathaa gruham

–Panchatantram

House that is without mother, house where the wife is not soft spoken (not home), then he has to go to a forest; because, for him, the house is where the forest is.

Who are kind?

Mathaa mithram pithaa cheti svabhaavaatrithayam hitham

Kaarya kaaranataschaanye bhavanti hita buddhaya:

–Hitopadesam

Mother, father and friend are kind at heart by nature; others are kind to you to get some favours; expecting some benefits from you, they are kind.

Ancient wisdom is worth memorising!

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