MATRUPANCHAKAM (Extolling the Greatness of Mother)

Sri Sankara Bhagvatpada (788AD - 820AD) played a major role in the

propogation of benign mother worship. The great Acharya Sri Sankara with
great difficulty, got the consent of his mother, to adopt Sanyasa Ashrama at a
very tender age of eight. The mother seeing the firm resolve of her son and
also the plight in which her little son was caught in between the jaws of death
in the form of a crocodile, ultimately reconciled herself to the inevitable and
gave consent to Sankara to become a yati. But she imposed a condition that Sri
Sankara should be at her bed side at the time of her death and that he must
cremate her with all rites after death. Sri Sankara also agreed to this and
promised his mother to do so.
The five verses which form the Matru Panchakam are found to be in tune with
the episode. Sankara with his intuitive powers sensed that the last moment of
his mother's life was nearing. Aryambal also thought of her beloved son Sri
Sankara. The Acharya was at the time in Sringeri and soon by the dint of his
yogic powers hastened to the side of his dying mother in his ancestral house at
kalady. He stood reverentially with folded hands before his mother. He praises
his mother ARYAMBAL in these five hymns.
In the first hymn he describes how the mother patiently undergoes the
suffering from the time of conception to the moment of delivery. The
unbearable pain at the time of giving birth to her son, the physical weakness
during pregnancy, the misery she has to put up for one year with wet and dirty
bed and agony of bearing the child in the womb for ten long months are
highlighted in his salutations to his mother.
1. AASTAAM TAAVADIYAM PRASOOTISAMAYE
DURVAARASHOOLAVYATHA
NAIRUCHYAM TANUSHOSHANAMMALAMAYEE
SHAYYAA CHA SAAMVATSAREY
EKASYAPI NA GARBHAAR BHARAN KLESHASYA YASYA(a)KSHAMO DAATUM
NISHKRUTIMUNNATO(a)PI TANAYAHA TASYAI JANANYAI NAMAHA
In the Second hymn he tells the following - once when Sri Sankara was pursuing
his studies in the Gurukula, Aryambal had a dream in which she saw her tiny
son taking to sanyasa. She was severely shocked about what she saw in her
dream. She could not control herself. She ran to the gurukula, the next
morning to verify the truth. she became emotional and wept there loudly.
Seeing her in that pitiable plight the entire gurukula also wept along with her

and shared her grief. This was indeed a premonition to Aryambal about the
crocodile incident and sankara getting permission from her to go into the
samnyasa ashrama. Sri Sankara recalls this incident at the time of Aryambal's
death in this second hymn.
2. GURUKULAMUPSRUTYA SVAPNAKAALE TU DHRUSHTVAA
YATI SAMUCHITH VESHAM PRARUDO MAAM TVAMUCCHAIHI
GURUKULAMATH SARVAM PRARUDHATTHE SAMASKSHAM
SAPADHI CHARANYOSTEY MAATURASTU PRANAMAHA
In the third stanza Sri Sankara laments that he could not perform any funeral
rites because he is an ascetic. Sri Sankara was at the death bed of ARYAMBAL
when she was fully conscious. She was indeed delighted to see her son at the
right time. However Sankara describes the state of a son, who could not be
present at the last moments of one's own mother. He recalls the paramount
duty of a son to be present at the time of departure of her soul, offering the
Ganges water in her mouth and uttering the KARNA JAPA namely the chanting
of Taraka Rama nama into her right ear, by keeping the mother's head on his lap
and finally offering oblations to the departed soul, chanting vedic mantras.
3. NA DATTAM MAATASTAE MARANASAMAYAE TOYAMAPI VAA
SVADHAA VAA NO DAEYAA MARANDIVASAE SHRAADDHAVIDHINAA
NA JAPTO MAATASTAE MARANASAMAYAE TAARAKAMANUHU
AKAALAE SAMPRAAPTE MAYI KURU DAYAAM MAATARATULAAM
In fourth stanza - To an affectionate mother who has given everything to her
son with loving words, sankara laments that he has been placed in a pitiable
position to offer nothing but mere dry raw rice in her mouth. Here Sankara
anguishes with emotion and is not able to control himself. This fourth stanza is
so moving that it reflects the intense feelings of a duty bound son.
4. MUKTAMANISTVAM NAYANAM MAMAETI
RAAJAETI JEEVAETI CHIRAM SUTA TVAM
ITYUKTAVATYAASTAVA VAACHI MAATAHA
DADAAMYAHAM TANDULAMAESHA SHUSHKAM

The fifth is the concluding stanza of this PANCHAKAM as implied by its name.
Sankara once again remember the unbearable hardship his mother had suffered
at the time of confinement for courage and support to withstand the pains. The
great Acharya offers his gratitude to his loving mother, in this hymn.
5. AMBAETI TAATAETI SHIVAETI TASMIN
PRASOOTIKAALAE YADAVOCHA UCHCHAIHI
KRUSHNAETI GOVINDA HARAE MUKUNDAETYAHO
JANANYAI RACHITO(a)YAMANJALIHI
To conclude is the below :::
yatraiva yatraiva mano madeeyam
tatraiva tatraiva tava svaroopam
yatraiva yatraiva shiro madeeyam
tatraiva tatraiva padadvayam tae.
(Mother! Wherever my restless mind travels
There may be your form appear;
And Wherever my head bows
May Your Lotus Feet be seen)
YAA DEVI SARVA BHUTESHU MAATRUROOPENA SAMSTITHA NAMASTASYAI
NAMASTASYAI NAMASTASYAI NAMO NAMAHA.
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