In the backdrop of increased number of violence cases against women, Mata Amritanandamayi also known as Amma, gave a call to the younger generation to instill values and the mothers to tell their daughters to be fearless.
She was addressing the devotees at Amrita Sangama-2013 organised at Matha Amritanandamayi Mutt premises in Boloor on Sunday. Referring to the Delhi rape case, she raised concern over the increased lust among youngsters which is mainly caused due to watching pornography on internet. Along with the government amending laws to strengthen the punishment for sex-offenders, it is equally important for parents to raise their children with values.
“Just as parents reprimand their children saying, ‘Stop playing and study!’ they should also insist that their children strive to develop values. When our children are young and impressionable, mothers need to firmly tell their daughters to be fearless, never let anyone push them down and develop strength of heart,” she said, adding that parents should also teach their sons both the need to protect and respect women.
Amma also demanded the government to take measures to block the explicit materials available on the internet which causes harm to the minds of the youth.
Emphasising on the need to develop the sense of community service among children and the youth, she felt the need to reinstate the policy to make certain amount of community service compulsory in all schools. Schools involving their students in cleanliness campaigns on a regular basis would solve the pollution problem to a great extent. Touching upon the chaos created in the society in the name of ‘religion,’ Amma said religion has become yet another commodity being sold in the market place.
“Religion should not be for building walls, but for building bridges, bringing once alienated groups of people together. For this, each one need to try to understand the deeper principles of religion-the message of love and compassion,” she remarked.
In yet another piece of advice, she suggested to bring in a system where at least one child from every family after completing the graduation, should serve in rural areas at least for three months, on the lines of compulsory rural service for medical students.
Earlier in the day, Amma led bhajan session where, thousands of devotees including foreigners gave chorus and immersed themselves in spirituality. Bhajans were recited in different languages, including one in Tulu which said “Ammana nadudu bulpina onji...” As a part of Amala Bharatha Abhiyana, hand bags were distributed free of cost on the occasion. ‘Vidyamritha,’ education scholarships for children of poor farmers and ‘Amritha Nidhi,’ the monthly pension for deprived women too were distributed.