View source for The Pure Devotion of God's Mothers

Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the Supreme Lord, though eternally unborn, lovingly accepts the role of a son to reciprocate with His most advanced devotees. By studying his instructions, we can understand the extraordinary humility of these eternal mothers, how meditating upon them spiritualizes our consciousness, and the profound transcendental knowledge the Lord personally imparts to them.

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=== The Eagerness for Transcendental Knowledge ===

A true devotee never falsely asserts superiority over the Supreme Lord, even when placed in the exalted position of His parent. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights how mother Devahūti humbly approached her son, Lord Kapila, seeking to be delivered from material bondage through the reception of pure ''kṛṣṇa-kathā''.

* [[Vaniquotes:A person who is interested in inquiring about transcendental subjects, krsna-katha, makes a paramahamsa very glad. Therefore Kapiladeva was very glad to hear that His mother was eager to receive information on how to be delivered from material bondage|A person who is interested in inquiring about transcendental subjects, krsna-katha, makes a paramahamsa very glad. Therefore Kapiladeva was very glad to hear that His mother was eager to receive information on how to be delivered from material bondage.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Although Devahuti was the mother of Kapiladeva, she presented herself as a humble woman. It was not that she considered herself superior because she was His mother|Although Devahuti was the mother of Kapiladeva, she presented herself as a humble woman. It was not that she considered herself superior because she was His mother.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Kapiladeva became very happy by seeing His mother so eager to understand about the spiritual subject matter. Therefore, thanked her, "O My dear mother, thank you very much. You are so interested in the subject matter." Because people are not interested|Kapiladeva became very happy by seeing His mother so eager to understand about the spiritual subject matter. Therefore, thanked her, "O My dear mother, thank you very much. You are so interested in the subject matter." Because people are not interested.]]

=== The Supreme Status of the Eternal Mothers ===

Becoming the parent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not a product of material genetics; it is the ultimate reward for unalloyed devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that exalted personalities like Devakī and Rohiṇī are not ordinary women, but eternally liberated souls chosen to serve the Lord in the parental ''rasa''.

* [[Vaniquotes:In due course of time, Devaki, the mother of God and all the demigods, gave birth to a child. Thus she bore eight sons, one after another, and a daughter named Subhadra - SB 10.1.56|In due course of time, Devaki, the mother of God and all the demigods, gave birth to a child. Thus she bore eight sons, one after another, and a daughter named Subhadra - SB 10.1.56.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Devaki, the devotee who became the mother of Krsna, was not an ordinary woman. After all, who can become the mother of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Krsna agrees to become the son only of the most advanced devotee|Devaki, the devotee who became the mother of Krsna, was not an ordinary woman. After all, who can become the mother of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Krsna agrees to become the son only of the most advanced devotee.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:"Because I am (Krsna) going into the womb of Devaki," the Lord told Yogamaya, "the Sesa incarnation has already gone there and made suitable arrangements so that I may live there. Now He should enter the womb of Rohini, His eternal mother"|"Because I am (Krsna) going into the womb of Devaki," the Lord told Yogamaya, "the Sesa incarnation has already gone there and made suitable arrangements so that I may live there. Now He should enter the womb of Rohini, His eternal mother."]]

=== Spiritualizing the Mind through Affection ===

Meditation on the Absolute Truth is most effective when focused on the Lord's personal associates. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that by constantly thinking of the Lord in relation to His loving parents, a devotee’s material body and mind become fully spiritualized.

* [[Vaniquotes:Because of constantly thinking of these features (the cowherd boys, the gopis, the Lord's father and mother), one acquires a transcendental position. Kings like Sisupala, Dantavakra, Kamsa, Paundraka, Narakasura and Salva were all similarly delivered|Because of constantly thinking of these features (the cowherd boys, the gopis, the Lord's father and mother), one acquires a transcendental position. Kings like Sisupala, Dantavakra, Kamsa, Paundraka, Narakasura and Salva were all similarly delivered.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Because one thinks constantly in this way (as the Lord's servant, friend, father, mother or conjugal lover), one's present material body and mind are fully spiritualized, and the needs of one's material body completely vanish from one's existence|Because one thinks constantly in this way (as the Lord's servant, friend, father, mother or conjugal lover), one's present material body and mind are fully spiritualized, and the needs of one's material body completely vanish from one's existence.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:However the devotee likes to serve the Lord, he may constantly think of the Lord's associates - the cowherd boys, the gopis, the Lord's father and mother, His servants and the trees, land, animals, plants and water in the Lord's abode|However the devotee likes to serve the Lord, he may constantly think of the Lord's associates - the cowherd boys, the gopis, the Lord's father and mother, His servants and the trees, land, animals, plants and water in the Lord's abode.]]

=== The Absolute Reciprocation of Kṛṣṇa ===

The Supreme Lord is absolute in all His pastimes, and His mercy knows no bounds. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Kṛṣṇa perfectly plays the role of an obedient, dependent child for His pure devotees, and astoundingly, He even granted the exalted position of a mother to the demoness Pūtanā.

* [[Vaniquotes:Gold is natural, and similarly God is natural. In His childhood pastimes, in the lap of His mother, He is God; while He is playing with His boyfriends, He is God; while He is dancing, He is God; while He is fighting at Kuruksetra|Gold is natural, and similarly God is natural. In His childhood pastimes, in the lap of His mother, He is God; while He is playing with His boyfriends, He is God; while He is dancing, He is God; while He is fighting at Kuruksetra.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Just like Krsna killed Putana, but she got elevation to the position of His mother. Superficially it appeared that Krsna killed the Putana, but Putana, Krsna took her as her (His) mother|Just like Krsna killed Putana, but she got elevation to the position of His mother. Superficially it appeared that Krsna killed the Putana, but Putana, Krsna took her as her (His) mother.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A thief asked: "So may I take some of your these ornaments? You are so rich." "No, no, no. My mother will be angry. I cannot..." Krsna as a child. So he became more and more eager for Krsna. And then, by Krsna's association, he had already become purified|A thief asked: "So may I take some of your these ornaments? You are so rich." "No, no, no. My mother will be angry. I cannot..." Krsna as a child. So he became more and more eager for Krsna. And then, by Krsna's association, he had already become purified.]]

=== The Gift of Supreme Knowledge ===

When the Lord descends, He utilizes His relationship with His parents to distribute spiritual enlightenment. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Lord Kapila perfectly fulfilled His duty as a son by instructing His mother, Devahūti, in the sublime science of ''Sāṅkhya'' philosophy, enabling her to achieve liberation.

* [[Vaniquotes:For the propagation of this transcendental knowledge, Kapiladeva, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, gave instructions in Sankhya philosophy to His mother, Devahuti|For the propagation of this transcendental knowledge, Kapiladeva, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, gave instructions in Sankhya philosophy to His mother, Devahuti.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Everyone should know what is Bhagavan and take lessons from Bhagavan. Lord Kapila is Bhagavan, and He personally instructed His mother in Sankhya philosophy|Everyone should know what is Bhagavan and take lessons from Bhagavan. Lord Kapila is Bhagavan, and He personally instructed His mother in Sankhya philosophy.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:He spoke to His mother about self-realization, by which, in that very lifetime, she became fully cleansed of the mud of the material modes and thereby achieved liberation, the path of Kapila|He spoke to His mother about self-realization, by which, in that very lifetime, she became fully cleansed of the mud of the material modes and thereby achieved liberation, the path of Kapila.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that the pure devotion exhibited by God's mothers is the highest echelon of spiritual perfection. The Supreme Lord, although the father of all living entities, deeply relishes the parental affection of His pure devotees like Devakī, Yaśodā, and Devahūti. These eternal mothers are not ordinary conditioned souls, but highly elevated Vaiṣṇavas who humbly submit themselves to the Lord's service. The Lord perfectly reciprocates this love by acting as their dependent child, spiritualizing their entire existence. He even extends this causeless mercy to enemies like Pūtanā. Furthermore, through the intimate relationship between mother and son, as seen with Devahūti and Lord Kapila, the Supreme Personality of Godhead compassionately distributes the highest transcendental knowledge, teaching all humanity how to sever material attachments and return back home, back to Godhead.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:God%27s_Mothers|God's Mothers]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])

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