Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 83

83) OṀ SAḊSATLAKṢHAṆA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

      OṀ (AUM) -SAḊ-SAT-LAK-ṢHA-ṆA- BHOO- MYAI-

                                                             NA-- MA- HA

 (Saḋsatlakṣhaṇa: means-Having attributes or qualities, aim)

The word 'Lakshaṇam' means quality, attribute, the chief one, and many other meanings in Sanskrit language. Ordinary people use this word a lot when describing the attributes of a young woman or man. When a person has nice qualities, when the family or relatives talk about him or her, they praise the qualities especially when they are trying to match up a girl with a boy. What it means is that in our country, we give importance to a person's qualities more so than to the money or the beauty. Sometimes they match up a bride and groom, based on their good qualities. This has been our culture and tradition for eternity. Our dharmaśāstras, especially the 'Manu Dharmaśāstram' describes the qualities and virtues for elders, women, and children and also on how to behave according to their age. In modern times, these qualities are becoming rare to find. With the freedom of speech, children talk to their parents, teachers and elders however they please and if somebody tries to discipline them, lawyers and media are ready to attack that person. To avoid those headaches there is no one there to tell the other person that they are not supposed to talk, dress or behave improperly. We see the implications of that in every society especially in the western countries, where kids address elders with their first name and nobody would correct them.

In olden days, elders used to discipline if somebody behaves badly and try to teach them good manners. Grand- parents, parents and teachers used to teach children good qualities like speaking the truth, not stealing or taking something that does not belong to them, to address the elders with respect, not to cheat, dress properly, keep hair properly, taking bath regularly, eat healthy and limited, play outside and exercise, read regularly and show respect to teachers, kindness toward animals, tolerance, humbleness, humility, not to be jealous, and forbearance. They taught men to treat every woman with respect as his sister or mother. They also taught them to be kind, gentle and loving toward his wife. The neighborhood would criticize anyone who dress inappropriately to their age. Now we see even very old women with shorts, hand bags, lipstick and too much makeup, and behave like teenagers but nobody would dare to tell them because of legal repercussions. There are no rules or regulations, because everyone claims it's a 'free society'.

It may look like all these behavioral practices are very strict and interfere with personal freedom and freedom of speech; however, if we look at the world, and the turmoil with terrorism and killings, and problems in the societies, and socialism on the raise; we should thank our dharmaśāstrās and our sages for giving us these duties and codes of conduct. Because children follow the footsteps of elders, sages have prescribed honorable behavior to the parents, women and elders.

So, the land which insists on virtues and good qualities for the welfare of the society at large, our land is 'Saḋsatlakṣhaṇa Bhūmi'.