Friday, June 14, 2013

FATHER'S DAY WORSHIP IN AMERICAN CHURCHES AND HINDU TEMPLES (PITRU DEVO BHAVA)

  FATHER’S DAY WORSHIP IN AMERICAN CHURCHES AND  HINDU  TEMPLES

(PITRU DEVO BHAVA)
(I-DISCOURSE BY N. R. SRINIVASAN, JUNE 2013)


Father’ Day is celebrated all over America on the Third Sunday of June and recognized as a National Holiday though a Sunday. It is certainly appropriate to honor our fathers each year, as a   special day of celebrations, with all family members. At the same time we cannot forget we are all children of God. Hindus call their creator as Pitaamaha (Grand Father) and invoke him in all their prayers.  While earthly father love their children we cannot forget how God is merciful and forgives us for all our misdeeds when we approach him with love and reverence more than our real fathers.  So this day is also observed as a day of worship by all Hindus praying to him as grandfather (Pitaamaha) to bestow healthy and happy life to their earthly fathers. Followers of Siva offer a special worship to Him on this day as the Universal parent while Parvati his wife is the other silent parent watching everything,  who is also propitiated in this act of worship along with Lord Siva.

With few exceptions behind every great dad there is a great kid. All said and done all societies in the world remain patriarchy; even Kerala except for Nair community in India. In Hinduism mother occupies first place in all worships but not in social life. In social life, father rules. Men who take the fatherhood seriously, who participate in their children’s lives and who stand up and put their children first, need recognition. Dad’s selflessness needs consideration and love. In America there are many fathers who raise their kids as single parent with or without the help of others while separated from their spouses. I wonder why USA insists on Mother’s maiden name for identification often instead of father’s name ? Why Hindus should not carry mother’s surname if father is placed in the second slot (Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava….)?  Official records in India need often father’s name only! I am sure you know the reason if I do not!

 Lord Brahma is the first patriarch.  He is called Pitaamaha. Unfortunately there are no temples or worship for him except in the lone temple at Pushkar in Rajasthan in India. But Brahma is invariably invoked in many Vedic Mantras in our religious worship because of his first appearance in Vedas for worship.  Prusha-sookta says “Virajo adhi poorushah” conveying,   first creator came into being referring to Brahma. Taittareeya Upanishad in its convocation address gives its directive “Pitru devo bhava”—pay respect to your father considering him to be God after giving the first slot to Mother and the third to Guru. Later with the development of Bhaktimarga (Devotional Schools), Siva and Parvati occupied the position of universal parents as celebrated in hymns “Jagatah pitarau”, in all worships. Among the Brahmin community it is the father who imparts Brahmopadesam and Gaayatree Mantra during Upanayana Ceremony and so leads all gurus or the first recognized Guru.

It is worth recalling in this context what our Puranas say about creation and the leading role of fathers. Brahma started the work of creation in consonance with what had prevailed in the previous Kalpa (yathaapoorvam akalpayat) having been endowed with the power of creation by the Supreme Principle. Brahma alone as a male created four mind-born off-springs—the sages Sanaka, Sananda, Sanaatana and Santkumaara (all males). These sages while ordered to carry on the work of creation further refused to pro-create as their minds were already immersed in meditation in devotion to the Supreme Principle. Brahma then created eleven Rudras and several sages progressively to carry on the task but still things did not proceed in an orderly fashion. He then gave up his exclusive patriarchal role of creation and split himself into male and female—Manu Svayambhuva and Sataroopa. Then on creation perfected, progressed and creatures multiplied in orderly fashion by the co-operation of male and female.  Vedas declare the Creator as neither male nor female but both. It is therefore logical that Brahman or Supreme Principle is  to be respected as  both father and mother  and respected as god-head  in the role as both  male and female.

On the contrary Bible says; “The Lord created the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.  God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the Lord God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. He thus made woman a secondary creation out of man.  That was the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. The man was happy that the woman was his bone and flesh only. That is the reason why in Western society man leaves his father and mother and bonds with wife, and they become one flesh. This may be the reason why the Western society still remains male dominated. In Hindu concept a girl is married into the family and not to the individual alone and so they love to live with the family. So they do not leave the father alone as far as possible. I often wonder why then Father’s Day declaration to be a national holiday took such a long battle and time in male dominated Western Culture, well over 40 years after Mother’s Day was declared a national holiday?

Vedas gave honored position to mother as the first god (matru devo bhava) and then to father (pitru devo bahava). You also learn from the Puranas that the most beautiful woman Urvasi was the creation of Narayana while his meditation with Nara was disturbed by Indra.  When devas approached Siva for a commander for the divine army Subhrahmanya was born exclusively from Siva alone denying Parvati the privilege of bringing forth her own womb born child. To this day no other beauty created by the union of man and woman matches that beauty of Urvasi in all the three worlds or the intelligence of Lord Subhrahmanya who even defeated his father in the debate and became Guruguha, both being born out of male.   Thus the male’s non-challenging role to manage alone has been established when occasion demanded by Puranas. This privilege to create children by will by male had been withdrawn for all animates in this world later.

Brahma is called Pitaamaha (paternal grand-father) and not Maataamaha (maternal grand-father).   We also hear only of “Father of the Nation” but not “Mother of the Nation” though we call the land as Motherland. No religion has ever been started other than by a male as we look at the leading religions of the world—Christianity, Buddhism, Mohammedanism, Jainism, Sikhism, Luthereans etc. Strangely, the priesthood of all religions in the world in temples, synagogues, churches and mosques seems to be the exclusive privilege of males or male dominated only. Thus Male member or father assumes the leading role in the creation and management of the society though he cannot manage it without the cooperation of his counter-part. Our Saastras say no Yajna will be fruitful to a performer without the participation of his wife.  Christians talk about Holy Father and Holy Son only, but call Mary as Virgin Mary who evidently is not venerated at the same level. American history talks about Pilgrim Fathers and Founding Fathers. I am not sure whether they migrated without their wives to make America male dominated initially. Later women had to fight in America for long for their privileges in the society which fight is still continuing.

Being Hindu migrants we would like to respect the local culture and traditions in the land of our adoption. The social fabric of Hindu Americans is so knitted born out of the tradition from the   country of their origin that no human activity is segregated from the divine inspiration. Hindu temples do not lag behind churches that celebrate Father’s Day with special services.

Perhaps as Hindu Americans, you all might have heard about Sonar Dodd who is remembered and celebrated as “Mother of the Father’s Day”. Her father raised six kids all by him alone after the death of their mother as stated above. This was uncommon at that time as many widowers placed their children in the care of others like grandparents or quickly married. 

Nashville Christian Family Journal in its Editorial of Williamson Edition June 2013 writes: “Father’s Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonar Dodd.  Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father a Civil War Veteran William Jackson Smart was a single parent who raised his six children. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis’s Mother’s Day in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

It did not have much success initially. In the 1920’s Dodd stopped promoting the celebration because she was studying in the Art Institute of Chicago, and Father’ Day Celebration faded into relative obscurity, even in Spokane. In the 1930s Dodd returned to Spokane promoting the celebration again, rousing awareness at national level. She had the help of those trader groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacture of ties, tobacco pipes, and any traditional present to fathers. Since 1938 she had the help of the Father’s Day Council, founded by New York Associated Men’s Wear Retailers to consolidate and systematize the commercial promotion. Initially Father’s day was celebrated in the Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South till 1922 when it was torn down. Then on, it is being celebrated in the United Methodist Church.

Americans resisted the holiday over a few decades perceiving it as just an attempt by merchants to replicate the commercial success of Mother’s Day, and newspapers frequently featured cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes. But the trade groups did not give up. They kept promoting it and even incorporated into their advertisements, and they eventually succeeded. By the mid 1980’s the Father’s Council wrote that ‘Father’s Day has become a Second Christmas for all the men’s gift-oriented industries.’

A bill to accord national recognition of the holiday was introduced in Congress in 1913. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson wanted to make it official, but Congress resisted. US President Calvin Coolidge recommended in 1924 that the day be observed by the nation, but did not issue a national proclamation. Two years later attempts to formally recognize the holiday were defeated by the Congress. In 1957, Maine Senator, Chase Smith wrote a proposal accusing Congress of ignoring fathers for 40 years while honoring mothers. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into a law in 1972.”

So Hindu Americans also conduct special worships (poojas) on this day of third Sunday in June honoring the fathers thanking the almighty for the selfless service rendered by parents towards their children in shaping their lives to be useful citizens in the service of mankind. It is also pleasing and welcome to couples who are united in inter-racial (Hindu-Christian) matrimony solemnized by both Hindu rituals and church services who wish to focus their religious thoughts to both faiths  Holy Father and Holy Son and to their chosen Hindu Deity.   

Statistics reveal gruesome facts about family life in USA, where children grow up without dads playing positive roles in the lives of their children. Many   single working mothers raise children without the support of grand parents whose numbers are growing.  Following statistics support the fact that children without fathers are more likely to be involved in negative behavior and are a constant worry to the society:
1)      A special report 1988 from US Department of Justice states that 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes.

2)      Seventy-five percent and of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes --Rainbows for all God’s Children.

3)      National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools reports that 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.

4)      Criminal Justice & Behavior, 1978 states that 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes.

5)      Center for Disease Control reveals 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes.

6)      Ninety percent of all homeless and run away children are from fatherless homes.

7)      Psychological studies reveal children without fathers are more likely to be involved in negative behavior.

In Tennessee, approximately 26% of children are living in a father-absent house-hold, which number is increasing. Often men who shy away from responsibilities do so because they did not grow up with strong male role model in their lives. They have also no idea as to what it takes to be a father. Studies show that when a child has involved father, he or she is more likely to succeed. This impacts poverty and incarceration rates and other ills that are a drain on our social service program. Every child should have an opportunity for a healthy relationship with their dad and, ultimately, a better chance at a successful life.

From the above statistics, it is obvious that dads are the key to changing the family and thus    rising moral values of America. Indifferent Fathers should

therefore turn their hearts back to children. They should take over the leadership in their homes seriously. This necessarily warrants that they should love the children’s mother too and be great husbands. They have to understand their kids and communicate their love to them. They have to affirm their kids. Fathers are the key to changing the family to be healthy and changing the country to be peaceful. Many of us don’t know how to be  an effective father because we did not have an effective father when we were growing up.

You now understand why our scriptures insist on “Pitru devo bhava”—your father is your God and is the source of divine inspiration. The last book of the Old Testament also directs attention of all people to fathers: “His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse”—Malach 4:6.

Father’s Day is celebrated in many countries of the world on different days and months of the year. It is not observed as national holiday in many countries as in USA. India also observes third Sunday of June as the Father’s Day on a modest scale at social level and it is not a National Holiday. I wonder why they do not celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday as Father’s Day in India while they venerate him as Father of the Nation?

It may not be out of place to mention here that many countries celebrate International Men’s Day on November 19 every year to honor all men and boys. India has its own special religious days to honor brothers (Bhaiduj) and sisters (Rakee) about which we have talked elsewhere.

We have all been given different fathers. Some were good and some were not good. No matter what kind of dad you have had, honor them for whatever good attribute you can find, instead of being bitter toward his issues. Give to and take care of your dad even when he hasn’t given to you. You will be a parent too one day to your kid and would like to be treated as you would like to do! Show them the right way!

Hindu Temples of America are motivated to dedicate Father’ Day to Lord Siva prompted by the sloka: “*Vaagarthaaviva sampriktau Vaagartha pratipattaye | Jagatah pitarau vande parvatee paramesvarau”, a couplet from Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa.  Even by the narrations of Puraanas Lord Siva was not an ideal Father or Husband. He often went recluse.  He was  a favorite of his devotees only at all times. Majority of Temple visitors in America are Saivites and are accustomed to their sectarian approach in worship, influenced strongly by Puraanas and Saaiva Aaagamas. Every Hindu knows Brahman is neither male nor female.  Brahman is both. In the above sloka Parameswara means the Universal Lord or Jagannath or Brahman.  It will be therefore logical to focus worship on this day to Lord Jagannath  which will be more broad based to  suit all traditions and  to meditate on Brahman, to whom all worships lead ultimately as said in Bhagavadgeetaa: 

+Om tad Brahma \ Om tad Vaayuh \ Om tad aaatmaa| Om tat satyam | Om tat Sarvam | Om tat puroernamah ||

[*I bow to Paarvati  and Paramesvara,  the Universal parents   who are united together like the  words and their meanings.]

[+Om is that Brahman. Om  is Vaayun (Wind God). Om is Aaatmann Self). Om is Satyam Trurth. Om is  all that. Om is that primeval cause  that existed before creation. So obeisance unto that Pranava!]

“Pitru  devo Bhava”

“Be One for Whom Father is a God”

“Behind  every  great  Dad  there  is  a  great  Kid;  Happy  Father’s Day!”

REFERENCES:

1)      Swami Tapsyananda, Narayaneeyam, Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai, India.
2)      Swami Chinmayananda, Taittitiya Upanishad, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai, India.
3)      Dr. Tolson, How To Be A Great Dad, Nashville Christian  Family, June 2012.
4)      Dr Ananta Rangacharya, Principal Upanishads, Bengaluru, India.

  FATHER' DAY MESSAGE 2017

Today is Father’s Day. Father’s Day is an American Invention. But why religiously brought up  Hindu Americans rush to temple to celebrate the Day as a special Religious Events day like Abrahamic Religions Americans rush to church and synagogues?  Islam believes in Allah alone and Prophet Muhammad. To me it appears this thought is   inspired by Vedic Wisdom. Supreme Being created 33 Gods assigned to three regions of the earth (Prithvi), the heavens   (Dyaus) and the Intermediary space (Anthariksha). These were eight Vasus, 12 Aadityas, 11 Rudras, Indra and Prajapati. Though these deities appear to be independent, they are the facets of same Brahman, The Supreme Being.  Puranas called    Prajapathi  as  Pita-maha, Father of all  citizens on Earth, while the Great Father called Himself as Purusham Mahantam--The Great Purusha (the Great Valoros) as we read in Purushasookta—Veda aham etam purusham (I know this great person). Pita Maha brought forth into this world four sons Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara as single parent without the cooperation or copulation with  Saraswati. Siva in his turn created Guruguha or Skanda to the displeasure of Parvati, who even taught his father as he was none other than Sanatkumara willingly entered into Him and was born as Skanda at His request to Him alone. Later Narayana in order to humble Indra  created Enchanting Urvasi of no parallel beauty in the world. Thus Father alone as single parent was responsible for all births and bringing up the magnificent creations of beauty and Intelligence. Brahman as   the Executive Leader and CEO of the Universe not only shared his responsibilities with 33 Devatas but also created Ritam, Orderliness and Dharma to manage the Universe. You have heard recently a lot about this CEO mentioned in Veda Mantras from Swami Chidatmananda. He thus made then on that a progeny is the joint responsibility of a male and female tied in Holy matrimony by what is described in Vedas as Coupling with His Philosophy of Sharing and Caring.

 

This clearly shows Father alone is capable of giving birth to children and bringing forth the children but yet wanted to delegate part of his responsibilities to his better half later as He split Himself as male and Female.  All said and done we live today in male dominated world and we are patriarchal. We have e recently seen how difficult it is for a woman to be become President in USA despite superior talents and experience! We therefore  rush to the temple to honor the Father and worship Him as “Jagatah pitum vande  Prameswaram”





2019 Father’s Day falls on Full Moon!
Sri Vishweshatheertha Swamiji a top and much respected pontiff from the tradition of 13th century Hindu philosopher Madhavacharya, has said that Gandhiji can’t be called the ‘father of the nation’ even though he greatly admires him.
However, the pontiff added that the title of the ‘father of the nation’ should be used only for Vedavyasa, the legendary author of the Mahabharata and compiler of the holy Vedas, who is believed to have lived sometime around 3,000BC.
India did not begin from Mahatma Gandhiji. Our culture, tradition and nationality were awakened by Vyasa. Hence, in my opinion, Veda Vyasa is the father of our nation,” he said.
Vedavyasa did awaken not only India but the whole word by imparting Knowledge and Vedic wisdo bringing to   limelight of humanity that gave birth to many religious and philosophic thoughts.  Otherwise it would have continued as ignorant animal world. It is therefore proper to call him Jagatahpitru or Father of the World though Kalidasa used this phrase to Lord Shiva who was never an ideal parent, nor had a normal son. It bis customary in Hindu Temples to dedicate this day to Lord Siva!
What makes  Father’s Day of 2019 so special to call it a Special Religious Event Day in hindu American Temples? Did you know that Full Moon shines on Father’s Day this June? The Full Moon will rise around sunset on Sunday, June 16 and then set in the west around sunrise on the 17th.
As the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter has been called the Father of Men and Lord of the Heavens in the Western belief also
It’s very easy to see the Full Moon-Jupiter conjunction. On Sunday after sunset, just look for the Full Moon; that very bright “star” to the right is the King of Planets, Jupiter. They will both light up the nighttime from dusk until dawn!
\Like Mother’s Day, the modern American version of Father’s Day has a history that goes well beyond greeting cards. Strangely Father’s Day was started with   a religious fervor. even in the Western World.  The first known Father’s Day service occurred at the Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South in Fairmont, West Virginia, on July 5, 1908, thanks to the efforts of Grace Golden Clayton. Mrs. Clayton had asked her pastor, Dr. R. Thomas Webb, if a Sunday service could be held to honor fathers. While missing her own dad, who had died in 1896, Mrs. Clayton especially wanted to have a service in remembrance of the over 200 fathers who had died in the Monongahela  mining explosion that had occurred a few miles south of Fairmont on December 6 of the previous year. (It was the worst mining disaster in U.S. history, killing more than 360 men and boys, and leaving about 1,000 children fatherless.)
For the detailed story of how  the Fairmont service , the first known to honor fathers, did turn into an annual event, go through my discourses on the subject.
Behind every successful son there is a father behind him.  In Hinduism a father is worshiped as a Guru but also as god himself--Pitru devo bhava. The planet Jupiter in Vedic astrology is known as GURU, BRIHASPATI, and DEVAGURA. In Sanskrit these names mean, "Teacher, Lord of light, and Teacher to the gods." Jupiter is a 1st rate benefice planet, generally considered to be the most auspicious of the planets. He rules over the two sidereal signs of Sagittarius and Pisces. He is exalted in the sign of Cancer and fallen in the opposite sign of Capricorn. Where the Sun is known as Atman, or the soul, Jupiter is known as JIVA, the consciousness of the soul representing the individuality of sel
Worship of BRIHASPATI or GURU (JUPITER) Devata results in a cure from ailments affecting the stomach and helps one to ward off his/her sins, helps him/her in gaining strength, valor, longevity etc. He grants the boon of father-hood to the childless, good education (Vidya). He is revered as the Guru of Devas, protector of the world and is considered SRESHTA (matchless) among the wise. Kind-hearted he is considered the Loka Guru and dispenser of justice and can be known only by a proper study of the Vedas.

In his Avatar as Vishnu he descended as Guru for Humanity, Vedavyasa or Krishna Dvaipayana  like Brihaspati or Jupiter, Guru  of divines. Let us therefore dedicate t2019 Father’s Day to the Father of the World Vedavyasa or Jagathpitru!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/06/philosophically-thinking-about-fathers.html



11 Quotes from Barack Obama That All Dads Should Hear
“Every father bears a fundamental obligation to do right by their children,” the former president said.


Barack Obama’s fatherhood goals.
He wrote about his relationship with his own father, Barack Obama Sr., in his book “Dreams From My Father.” Early in his presidency, Obama hosted a town hall meeting on the trials of fatherhood during his Young Men’s Barbeque in 2009. He always seemed happiest when he was kicking it with the kids at the White House Easter Egg Roll or visiting schools around the world.
Many dads could learn a thing or two about leading a family from the former leader of the country. This Father’s Day, we look back at times when the former president offered some tough, yet loving, advice to fathers on what it takes to raise smart, powerful, compassionate children who may make the world a better place.
On Being A Man
“What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child — it’s the courage to raise one.” ― Father’s Day speech, Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, 2008
On Being A Father
“As fathers, we need to be involved in our children’s lives not just when it’s convenient or easy, and not just when they’re doing well — but when it’s difficult and thankless, and they’re struggling. That is when they need us most.” ― Op-ed in Parade magazine, 2009

On Teaching Empathy
“We need to show our kids that you’re not strong by putting other people down — you’re strong by lifting them up. That’s our responsibility as fathers.”Father’s Day speech, Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, 2008
On Raising Daughters
“It’s up to us to say to our daughters, don’t ever let images on TV tell you what you are worth, because I expect you to dream without limit and reach for those goals.” ― Father’s Day speech, Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, 2008
On Raising Sons
“It’s up to us to tell our sons, those songs on the radio may glorify violence, but in my house we give glory to achievement, self-respect and hard work. It’s up to us to set these high expectations. And that means meeting those expectations ourselves. That means setting examples of excellence in our own lives.” ― Father’s Day speech, Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, 2008
On Education
“Michelle and I know that our first job, our first responsibility, is instilling a sense of learning, a sense of a love of learning in our kids. And so there are no shortcuts there; we have to do that job. And we can’t just blame teachers and schools if we’re not instilling that commitment, that dedication to learning, in our kids.” ― Remarks on No Child Left Behind flexibility, 2011
On Making Mistakes
“I’m still practicing, I’m still learning, still getting corrected in terms of how to be a fine husband and a good father. But I will tell you this: Everything else is unfulfilled if we fail at family, if we fail at that responsibility.” ― Morehouse College Commencement speech, 2013
On A Father’s Strength
“Whether biological, foster, or adoptive, they teach us through the encouragement they give, the questions they answer, the limits they set, and the strength they show in the face of difficulty and hardship.” ― Father’s Day proclamation , 2012
On A Father’s Duty
“Every father bears a fundamental obligation to do right by their children.” ― Father’s Day proclamation, 2012
On Precious Moments
“In the end, that’s what being a parent is all about — those precious moments with our children that fill us with pride and excitement for their future, the chances we have to set an example or offer a piece of advice, the opportunities to just be there and show them that we love them.” ― Father’s Day address, 2011
On Unconditional Love
“Above all, children need our unconditional love — whether they succeed or make mistakes; when life is easy and when life is tough.” ― Father’s Day address , 2011