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PARENTS TO BE REVERED AS GOD
Dt. 23-07-1982 Our scriptures command us to hold our parents in the highest esteem. After chanting the names of one's personal God, one should pay obeisance to one's parents and other elders, because they are to be treated and revered as God. The Shastras declare : 'May mother be God. May father be God.' To serve them is not only a social obligation or ethics but also an indispensable religious deed.
The contest was they should traverse round the world. Skandak was brisk and as he was covering the route, he could not see Ganesh anywhere. But Ganesh who was thorough with the scriptures, was intelligent enough to draw a dictum from them and circumambulated his parents thrice, because to travel round the world and to go round one's parents are both alike and so he chose the easier and quicker method. He was declared the winner by the parents Lord Shiva and Sri Parvathi. The episode conveys a message that is valid for ever.
The Shastras point out the extreme sacrifice that parents make to tend their wards, and is impossible to repay this big debt. The sons, in particular, have a greater responsibility towards parents.
In a discourse in Aradhana Bhavan, Acharya Vikramsuriji said, sons and daughters should not only love, serve and worship their parents during the latters' life-time but honour them even after their demise by following their noble ideals upholding their traditions, emulating their virtuous traits and carrying out their unfulfilled ambitions.
It is the foremost duty of children to fulfil the cherished desires of their parents. During their old age, in particular, the offspring should give all their care and attention to them.
A Jain Shastra cites a mythological story to pinpoint the magnanimous gesture of parents. Once, Skandak suggested a race between him and Ganesh (Vinayaka). The latter, being big-bodie and having a mouse as his mount, could not move fast.
Mere expression of sorrow over their demise and lamentation would not suffice and not necessary too.
