Global Awareness for Family Values

In commemorating International Family Day 2009 and National Family Month (15 May to 30 June 2009) of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Brahma Vidya Peetham joined in the celebration for global awareness of family values and family structure and organised a five day Sri Ramayan Yagna with the theme ‘The Ideal of Family Life’ through the marriage of Shankar Bhagwan and Ma Parvati.  This program was held at Sri Yog Vidya temple, Garth Road, Williamsville.  During the course of these momentous five days, Sant Sri Swami Brahmadeoji, Head of Brahma Vidya Peetham presented his thoughts on the ideal of family life through Sant Tulsidas’ Ramayan and Srimad Bhaagwad Mahapuran.  He was assisted by Pt Vigyan and Sushri Ananda. 

Swamiji during his speech said- “Individuals make families, families develop communities, communities give rise to nations and nations build the whole world as one family.”  Swamiji further enlightened that in the Sri Ramayan, Ma Sita refers to the ideal of a unified family in the second chapter ‘Ayodhyakand’ where she presented the meaning and complete picture of a big family structure which includes a father, mother, sisters, brothers, kinsmen, circle of friends, father in law, mother in law, relatives, helpers, children, grandchildren, husband and wife. 

‘Matu Pita Bhagini Priya Bhai, Priya Parivaru Suhrda Samudai, Saasu Sasura Gura Sajana Sahaai, Suta Sundar Susila Sukhadai’

Therefore Sri Ramayan is an ‘Encyclopedia of Family Values’ and the ‘Management of Family Life’. 
Swami Brahmadeoji expressed, “Family is a basic building block of society where all members have firm ties of affection and interdependence.  The family is a centre of stability and development of love, emotions, patience and respect to every member within its fold.”  Swamiji just returned from India and USA and upon receiving the news of the celebration of National Family Month and International Family Day by the Ministry of Social Development of Trinidad & Tobago he expressed thanks and congratulated the Ministry for this visionary initiative in commemorating this event.  The Ministry adopted the theme of International Family Day and National Family Month as ‘Mothers and Families:  Challenges & Success in a Changing World’, with a range of activities. 

Swamiji explained that in the oriental structure of society, family is a vital focal centre of the nation.  He said, “Through the family, the individual man’s ‘I’ become ‘We’ and thus the family is building a big heart of the society to teach democratic human values in life.  Family is a great management of emotional diversity and a training centre for the growth and maturity of emotions, thinking, attitudes, nature and behaviour.”  Swamiji, through Srimad Bhaagwad Mahapuran with Sri Krishna’s life explained that the family is a nest of peace and a chest of rest where everyone finds warmth, care and security, togetherness and acceptance with tolerance and love of belongingness.  He further pointed out, “We are living in a post modern period in a fast changing world.  However the family structure is broken where we have instances of the ‘single mother’ and ‘single father’ (single parent), domestic violence and child abuse etc. and children have no opportunity for all round development of personality and emotional maturity and integrity.”  “Due to this, among the new generation criminality and anti social elements are developing and growing.  Therefore during this post modern period it is our duty to protect the family units of the nation,” Swamiji said. 

He forcefully emphasized the importance of motherhood and said that ‘Motherhood is the crown of Womanhood’ because the mother is not only a lady or a woman. He presented the statement of a great leader of the ‘Women Liberation Movement’ and a popular visionary of the ‘Feminism Movement’ Ms. Betty who said that a woman is not only female but she is a mother, a sister, a daughter and a wife so at last she has given a good and comprehensive and perfect union for the growth of womanhood into motherhood. 

On the final evening of this grand five days celebration of the Family, the Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Shri Malay Mishra attended and brought greetings to the well populated assembly.  During the course of the other days, Shri Devant Maharaj – CEO of Radio Jaagriti and member of Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Shri Raj Jadoo – President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shri Ramesh Maharaj – President of Dattatreya Yoga Centre and Shri Santosh Mishra – Second Secretary for Education/Culture, Indian High Commission also attended and inspired the people to think about protecting family ideals and values.  Dr. Rasika Ekbote, renowned classical singer of India and vocal teacher at Mahatma Gandhi Institute also supported the event through her moving songs. 

Swamiji in these five days presented a social evolutionary impact of family life in the present time.  He said, “The ‘ancestral family’ was a culturally oriented family and after the ‘cultural family’ came the ‘industrial family’ followed by the ‘commercial family’, ‘consumering family’, ‘nuclear family’ and then ‘computer family’.”  He expressed the meaning of all the aspects of family life, ideals and values through the Sri Ramayan.