EASWARAMMA - The Chosen Mother
My salutations at the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
The Chosen Mother walked this earth as Hanuman in a feminine form. She lived her life initially quite anxious about the attention He was getting and quite fearful of people’s negative intentions towards Him. She went on to accept His divinity and became His greatest devotee who was granted the rare privilege of using her last breath to call out His name. In all of this He had always allowed her to be His mother and in His relationship with her we got glimpses of what it is to be a Good Son.
In as much as Lord Rama chose Mother Kausalya, Lord Krishna chose Mother Devaki, Lord Buddha chose Mother Maya and Lord Jesus chose Mother Mary, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba chose Mother Easwaramma as the conduit to grace the Earth with His divine presence. As her name aptly clarifies, she will henceforth always be known and remembered as The Mother of God. “I resolved on my birth. I decided who should be my mother” He said.
Mother Easwaramma was simple and unlettered but possessed an unparalleled power of spirit that was beyond the reckoning of women of her generation. The Mother He chose was a woman who demonstrated the eternal qualities of womanhood and motherhood. Through Mother Easwaramma Bhagawan Baba demonstrated the significance and appropriateness of the Divine qualities of compassion, forgiveness, devotion, forbearance, determination, helpfulness and sacrifice. Srimati Saraswati Baskar, a devotee from Australia had the privilege of meeting and interacting with The Chosen Mother. She wrote: “Her compassionate look teaches what true motherhood is. Her blissful smile teaches what contentment is, to be ever near Sai and nothing else…”
Through her compassion and caring, her requests for Him to provide education facilities, medical care and potable water for the villagers has grown in capacity to serve tens of thousands of destitute people in hundreds of villages and has now become known as His legacy projects.
Annually, 6 May is Easwaramma Day in the Sai fold. While the emphasis is on children for whom she loved and cared, its essence has a wider, profound message for women and mothers in general, especially in their role and ability to bring about social change.
We are fortunate here in South Africa and other parts of the world that Easwaramma Day falls almost back-to-back with Mother’s Day. Let us all use this time in our calendar year to reflect on both the material and spiritual needs of our children who have chosen us as their parents, guardians, gurus and mentors. Let us widen the circle of parenting and caring to incorporate children from underprivileged communities as Mother Easwaramma demonstrated by example. Let all our women reflect on the grace and privilege of being born with a capacity for mothering. Let all men reflect on the grace and privilege of having women, mothers, sisters and daughters in their lives.
On behalf of the SSSGCSA I extend my best wishes to all our children on this auspicious Easwaramma Day.
I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our Mothers, a happy and blessed Mother’s Day.
With Sai Love and Blessings
Br Reuben Naidoo
National Council President: Sri Sathya Sai Global Council South Africa.
