S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014

May 6th of each year is observed as Mother’s Day. For this occasion, our children submitted poems, drawings, and other creations for publication in Sai Sarathi. These following submissions on the theme of “mother” are from the Sai Spiritual Educational [SSE] classes of the Sai Centers in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the USA.

My Mom

My mom is a very caring person. She helps me through my life by teaching me about educare and how to be positive, responsible, organized, and manage my time. She gives me unconditional love and is like God to me. She is very helpful. I love her a lot and I know she loves me a lot too. Mom you mean a lot to me.

~Pranav Kuppili, 10 yrs old, Medford lakes Sai center

A Rap Song

All you need is love,
And He will find you,
If life is a meal,
Then love is an ice cream cake
Continue to love
And a four course meal you will make

Ahimsa [non-violence] is the way,
That’s all I gotta say,
You should follow Swami’s teachings
from this Easwaramma Day!
Don’t fight with anybody,
Lead a peaceful life,
Or your problems will multiply
You’ll be rife with strife.
So the next time you have doubts,
Or don’t know what to do,
Think about this rap,
Because you just got schooled!

~Devan Kowdley, Group 3, Loudoun Sai Center

A Short Narrative for Moms

Most children have unusual upbringings. Being a triplet, I can fairly say I’ve had my share of an unusual one. Whenever my mom tells someone that she raised triplets, the phrases that usually follow are, “Oh My God!” or “God Bless You!” or even “I can’t imaging!” While growing up, I could not understand why everyone was making such a big deal about raising triplets. It didn’t seem like much work. I mean, my mom instilled discipline in us at a young age. By first grade, we were doing our chores and helping in the household. Now that I am taking business classes in high school, I realize that having three kids at once isn’t just a financial mess, it also causes a lot of stress. I don’t know what I was thinking. When we came home from the hospital, my siblings and I did not give our poor mom even an hour of sleep! And, on top of that, we threw the once-in-a-blue-moon tantrum. But now, we all know we owe our mother so much. It is pretty much a debt that can never be repaid. I know when I grow up I will look to my mom for advice and her infinite wisdom about kids. So, to all mothers:

Bless your hearts
And Happy Easwaramma Day!

~Avinash Narayana Doddi
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

~Siri Kalari, Edison Center

My Mom

My mom is a very caring person. She helps me through my life by teaching me how to be positive, responsible, organized, manage my time, and Educare. She gives me unconditional love and is like God to me. She is very helpful. I love her a lot and I know she loves me a lot too. Mom you mean a lot to me.

~Pranav Kuppili, 10 yrs old, Medford lakes Sai center

Mothers

There is only one person who will love you forever, no matter what you do. Friends will walk away and siblings will ignore. Only one will always come back, always be there for you. Many don’t acknowledge how much their mothers do. They take the most important person in their life for granted. Mothers offer only love; unconditional, ever-lasting, love. Some view this as obsession and find it annoying but isn’t that the point? Mothers want you to believe that you are what matters, nothing else. In this way, they are the most selfless persons in the world. The perfect person is your mother. You will always have one person who loves you, someone who cares. Though you may not know it yet, one day you will truly appreciate your mother for all she has done.

~Arya Amaro
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

Dear Mother,

Happy Mother’s Day
I love you each and every day.
A Mother’s love is so sweet
It’s so sweet, it’s like a treat.
When you sing a lullaby
I go to sleep without a cry.
When I am feeling very gray
You make me smile and see the way.
O Mother Sai lead us kindly, lead us gently
You’re the sunshine to light our day.

~Chinmayi Sunil Palya (Age 7),
Holmdale Center

Pulchritudinous Creature

As dawn commences,
She is up, awake
and ready for the
day to arise.

She flows from here
to there, cooking and
making the most
delectable refreshments.

She helps me with…
anything I want.
She is nurturing, concerned
and full of conscientiousness.

She is one of the most
dazzling, gorgeous creatures;
She is as beautiful as a
stunning sapphire.

She is as colorful as
a rainbow—when I
think of her;
This is what I see –
from the place where
I happen to be.

My amiable Mother—
She’s a pizzazz of a bit of everything!

[Pulchritudinous Creature is characterized by or having great physical beauty and appeal.]

~Shrivaishnavi Chandrasekar, Group 2 SSE

My Mother

My mother is the most important person in my life.
She helps me through thick and thin and means the world to me.
She can be annoying and strict but her intentions are always good.
My mother is nothing but perfect in my eyes and I couldn’t ask for a better one.

~Veena Bandaru
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

What is a Mother?

What is a mother?
Someone who takes care of you, who raises you, teaches right from wrong.
May be she is there to watch over you; To protect you until you can handle it.
May be, just may be, she is a gift from the heavens.

A person who has all these traits:
That loves you no matter who you are.
Looks out for you her entire life, to make sure that when you fall, you get back up again.
Loves you even when you make mistakes.
Whether it’s your mother, grandmother, or a woman who takes care of you.
Mother means love, joy, adoration, pure heart, and soul!
Mother means endless love, love from God Himself!

~Sai Doddi
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

Love of God—Love of Mother

“The love of God is like the love of a mother,” explained my SSE [Sathya Sai Education] teacher. I was no older than eight years at the time, and didn’t completely understand the significance or the meaning of this lesson. I thought it was just a lesson that was taught in the SSE class.

As I grew up, love of a father is one that I always tried to please, to make sure I was happy in life. But the love of a mother is unique. A mother shows her love in many ways. She shows it through the constant care of her child. She makes sure that I am always content.

Children misunderstand their mothers when she punishes them for their wrong actions. This doesn’t mean that your mother does not love you or is not proud of you; it is because she is disappointed in your misbehavior and wants to make sure it does not happen again. She always makes sure that you have a bright future. Children might not see any love in these actions but it is the expression of her eternal and unconditional love for the child’s better future.

It is just like the action of God, He has eternal love for all His creation. I, however, was not sure about this. I couldn’t believe that He could be so loving when the world is full of misery. I often wondered why a tragedy occurs when there is God. I would ask myself why God would not let us live in constant happiness. Then I realized the importance of the quote that my SSE teacher taught me five years back. God acts the way He does because He wants to teach us the lesson for life. It is our duty to accept His will just the way our mother punishes us when we do something wrong. This made me realize that mothers are truly God.

~Hemanth Verma ( Group III), Edison Center

The Ray of Light

A ray of light shines upon a
Flower’s petals allowing it to flourish
Like a mother caring for her child
The flower blossoms and grows reaching
Up for the sky standing tall and immense.
But, could it have accomplished this without the light?
A mother’s constant nourishment and
Amelioration of her child
Is the strength we need to blossom.
A mother’s devotion is the only way to facilitate the moment
The flower blooms in its full splendor.
Without the light, would the flower have ever grown?
Without a mother, could we have accomplished what we have?

~Ashwin Mahadevan
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

Balavikas and Sai

When I joined the Sathya Sai Balavikas this school year, I did know what to expect. I was attending classes because my parents asked me to. After a few weeks, I got used to the class and started enjoying the sessions when I attended them. I realize that it is a good place to learn about Swami, and the good values He wants us to practice. Moreover, it is a fun place too. My teacher teaches us bhajans [holy songs] and I like to sing them. Fun activities like preparing for Easwaramma day or eyeglass seva [service] make these classes more interesting. Also, the fun stories that Priya aunty [Balavikas teacher] tells us during the class are very good. I remember her telling us how sometimes people mispronounce our names, and how to behave in such situations.

Sometimes my mom asks me if I prayed to Swami. She does not know that I pray to him more than she knows. He helped me with all my tests in school. Sometimes I pray to him to win a board game with my brother. My brother does not know this. I want to feel Swami’s presence more often. I do not know how, but I hear people say that it will happen if I attend Balavikas regularly. I believe them because I read somewhere in Balavikas [information] that if children attend these classes up to age of 18, Baba will make them the best children ever. I want to be that kind of a boy—the best boy.

~Vivek

My Mother

My mother is the most important person in my life.
She helps me through thick and thin and means the world to me.
She can be annoying and strict but her intentions are always good.
My mother is nothing but perfect in my eyes and I couldn’t ask for a better one.

~Veena Bandaru
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

Magnificent Mothers

What is a mother? She is someone who you cannot describe. A mother is kind and gentle at heart. She puts your needs before hers. Her love means more than anything or anyone on earth. A mother is your soul mate.

A mother sticks with you through good times and bad. She has the heart of an angel. She gives you life, freedom, and new opportunities. A mother is your gateway to a beautiful life. She is someone you cannot fight or argue with. A mother is your everlasting best friend.

A mother would do anything for you. She would sacrifice her hard work and time for you. She would forsake her happiness for yours. A mother is an angel who looks out for you.

A mother’s love cannot be replaced. She has a gift of love that we cannot refuse to take. A mother’s love cannot be bought anywhere, except from the bottom of your heart. A mother’s love is priceless.

There are many wonderful mothers around the world. Though they are all different, they all share one thing, a love for you.

~Vaisnavi Nemala (Scotch Plains Sai Center)

Shri Sathya Sai Baba
Will be there wherever you go
As long as you pray to Him
You will feel His spiritual flow

I pray to Swami
When I’m feeling sad
When I am sick
Or to be forgiven for something bad

Follow His values
Such as good, truth, and ideals
Pray to Him before anything you do
Like playing a game or eating a meal

Baba is your friend
He will never turn you down
Wherever you may be
Even if you’re out of town

Sai Baba will love you
No matter who you are
So believe and pray to Him
And He will lead you far

~Vinay Vangala

Mother’s Love

Mother is an embodied power filled with love. A mother can’t be described in words. She is a mirror image of God. When her child is sick, she feels the pain and wishes to take the sickness upon her. She supports us for everything. The best way to succeed in life is to share everything with the mother and get her advice.

The great Hindu warrior king of the Marathas [from the western part of India] Chhatrapati Shivaji used to share everything with his mother Jijabai and called her matrushri. He saw the goddess Durga in her. He knew that by sharing everything with her, he would succeed. He fought for India’s freedom to fulfill his mother’s wish.

Swami Himself, after announcing who He was, promised His mother that He would settle in Prasanthi Nilayam no matter where He went. Swami built schools and hospitals to serve the poor as per His mother’s wish.

Fulfilling the mother’s wish is like fulfilling the wish of God. Only the mother knows what the child wants and what is good for him/her even when the baby is in the womb.

My mother is my best friend. She is God for me. See God in your mother because mother is the only visible God.

~Shravya Harish (Group 2)
Edison Center

Mother

Through every fall and scrape, through every tear escaped, there have been two people there to guide me: Swami and my mother. Swami is the spirit, unseen yet felt, encouraging me to do the right thing. My mother is the force that cleans my cuts and holds me tight through my fears. I know that everything I do is influenced by either of them. They are my heart, my being, and my reason for living.

All Mothers have a certain bond with their child. Each one is different and unique. I am lucky enough to have such a mother to appreciate, though it may be forgotten at times. I am forever thankful to my mother, who has given her life to raise and support me. Sometimes I ask myself, “How do I repay her?” To be nurtured and protected, to have my needs put before hers, are sacrifices she makes to let me have a life worth living. I can only hope that some day, I will love a child as much as she loves me.

Nothing will ever disrupt a mother’s bond. Like Easwaramma loves her Divine son, my mother loves me. I know that no matter what mistakes I make, my mother will always be there to guide me through. As my mother loves me, I will love her. A mother’s love is not something that can be explained. Only felt. It’s something that will last till the end of time. Nothing comes closer to a mother’s love.

~Nandini Doddi
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

My Mother

My mother means everything to me.
She makes everything in my life free.
She is the reason we go on shopping spree!
My mother helps me in life, through hard times and school.
Even though she has lot of rules, she is still super cool.
I love my mom so much.
My mom is irreplaceable.
She is the reason I am successful today.
I love you mom!

~Sania Parvani
Group 3, Medford Lakes Sai Center, NJ

S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014

The year 2014 witnessed a beautiful expression of love, devotion, and gratitude through S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014. Students participating in spiritual education programs came together to honor the Divine Mother with heartfelt prayers, devotional songs, cultural presentations, and acts of selfless service. These offerings reflected not only their creativity and dedication but also their deep understanding of spiritual values that guide humanity toward truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence.

The significance of S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 lies in the purity of intention behind every activity. The Divine Mother is revered as the embodiment of unconditional love, compassion, strength, and wisdom. Students sought to express their reverence through various forms of worship and spiritual presentations that highlighted these divine qualities. Their efforts demonstrated that true devotion is not measured by grand gestures but by sincerity, humility, and love.

One of the most inspiring aspects of S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 was the participation of children and young adults from different age groups. Through songs, recitations, dramas, and artistic performances, they conveyed messages of faith, gratitude, and moral living. Each presentation served as a reminder that spiritual values can be nurtured from a young age and can become guiding principles throughout life.

The devotion displayed during S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 reflected the importance of recognizing the divine presence in everyday life. Students were encouraged to cultivate virtues such as kindness, patience, respect, and compassion. By offering their talents and efforts to the Divine Mother, they learned the value of selfless action and the joy that comes from serving a higher purpose.

Many of the performances emphasized the universal nature of motherhood. The Divine Mother was portrayed as a source of comfort and protection for all beings, transcending barriers of culture, language, and nationality. Through meaningful presentations, students illustrated how divine love nurtures humanity and inspires individuals to live with greater understanding and harmony. Such themes made S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 a deeply uplifting and spiritually enriching event.

The event also provided an opportunity for students to strengthen their connection with sacred traditions while developing confidence and teamwork. Preparing for devotional presentations required dedication, discipline, and cooperation. These experiences helped participants grow both spiritually and personally. The lessons learned through S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 extended beyond the event itself and became valuable tools for daily life.

Parents, teachers, and community members who witnessed the celebrations were touched by the sincerity and enthusiasm of the students. Their performances demonstrated that spiritual education can inspire young minds to develop noble character and positive attitudes. The atmosphere was filled with devotion and gratitude, creating memorable experiences for everyone present.

Another important dimension of S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 was the emphasis on service. Students were encouraged to understand that genuine worship includes helping others and spreading kindness. Through acts of compassion and community service, they learned that serving humanity is a meaningful way of honoring the Divine Mother. This message reinforced the idea that spirituality must be expressed through actions as well as prayers.

The teachings reflected in S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 continue to inspire devotees and spiritual seekers. The event highlighted the transformative power of devotion and the importance of nurturing values that contribute to individual and collective well-being. By focusing on love, humility, and service, students demonstrated how spiritual principles can create positive change in society.

Through platforms such as Devotional India, the inspiring memories and lessons associated with these sacred celebrations continue to reach a wider audience. Spiritual events that encourage devotion and character development remain valuable sources of inspiration for people of all ages. Devotional India plays an important role in sharing stories and teachings that strengthen faith and promote moral values.

As the message of S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 continues to resonate, it serves as a reminder that every sincere prayer and selfless act has spiritual significance. The devotion displayed by students reflected the timeless truth that love is the foundation of all spiritual practices. Their offerings were not merely performances but expressions of gratitude arising from pure hearts.

Today, the spirit of S.S.E. Student Offerings to the Divine Mother 2014 remains a source of encouragement for those seeking a deeper connection with the divine. Through prayer, service, and righteous living, individuals can honor the Divine Mother and experience inner peace. The enduring message shared through such celebrations continues to inspire communities worldwide, and platforms like Devotional India help preserve and share these uplifting experiences. Through the guidance of spiritual values and the continued efforts of Devotional India, the legacy of devotion, love, and selfless service remains alive for future generations.

-A Report on the 39th Annual Retreat of the Mid-Atlantic Region