May 27th

Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

Transliteration:

yā devī sarvabhūteṣu mātṛrūpeṇa saṃsthitā ।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:

To that Goddess who is residing in all beings in the form of the mother, I bow, salute, pray and prostrate to her!

Commentary:

Once a little girl was asked where her home was and she gave a matter-of-fact answer: 'where my mom is!'  What a simple yet profound answer!  'A home is where the heart is' and 'the heart is where the mother is', isn't it?!  'Mother' is the name of God in the hearts and lips of little children! It is said that since God Himself could not be present physically at all places, He created mothers!  It is the mother who not only gives birth to her offspring but nestles and nourishes when young, and then nurses and nurtures forever.  A newborn does not know the whims and fancies of the world.  It is the mother (or a motherly figure), who takes the child by the hand and accustoms it to its surroundings!  It is she who teaches the first words, inculcates values and teaches the child right from wrong.  A mother's heart is a beacon of love, not just for her own children, but for children in general.  This phenomenon of a mother is prevalent not just in human beings, but in all forms of beings in general!  Yes, even in those that lay eggs and leave and even in those that leave young cubs behind to fend for themselves!  How?  Well, even the mother of those species makes sure she lays her eggs in the safest place that she can find and leaves the cubs only when she has made sure she has taught them the tricks of the trade for survival!  Hence, that divine element of nurturing is prevalent in all mothers, by nature.  For that matter, whatever be the gender of the being giving that affection, it is always called 'motherly love'!  Doesn't that make her synonymous with nurturing?!!  The author of the verse is hence prostrating and saluting again and again to that divinity present in all mothers universally.

Reverence to thee, O mother!  Reverence to thee!

pada vigrahaH:
या देवी सर्व-भूतेषु मातृ-रूपेण संस्थिता ।
yā devī sarva-bhūteṣu mātṛ-rūpeṇa saṃsthitā ।

नमः तस्यै नमः तस्यै नमः तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
namaḥ tasyai namaḥ tasyai namaḥ tasyai namo namaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:

yaa devI sarvabhUteShu maatRurUpeNa saMsthitaa ।

namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH ॥

yaa devI sarva bhUteShu maatRu rUpeNa saMsthitaa ।

namaH tasyai namaH tasyai namaH tasyai namo namaH ॥