Mother’s Day: Between Reverence and Ritual, Commerce and Consciousness

Happy Mother’s Day.

It is heartening to witness a day globally set aside to celebrate and honor the quiet, selfless strength of mothers. The intention to double-click, think, and offer gratitude to the women who shape our lives is both beautiful and necessary. At its best, Mother’s Day can spark meaningful conversations, reconnections, and appreciation.

But beneath the flowers and social media tributes lies a more complex story—one worth revisiting.

In the United States, Anna Jarvis championed Mother’s Day in the early 20th century. Her wish was to memorialize her own mother’s tireless compassion and service. It was intended to be a solemn day of appreciation—personal, quiet, and sincere. Ironically, Jarvis herself spent the latter part of her life opposing the very holiday she founded. The holiday became increasingly commercialized. It was stripped of its depth by florists, candy-makers, and advertisers.

Her story invites a deeper inquiry: When gratitude becomes seasonal, does its soul stay intact?

A Dharmic Lens on Motherhood

In many Dharmic traditions, the reverence for the maternal is not tied to a date, nor is it seasonal. It is foundational. A child can learn their first invocation in these traditions which, is the simple but profound phrase:

मातृदेवो भव – – Revere the mother as divine. (Taittiriya Upanishad)

Here, motherhood transcends biology. It becomes a lens through which one sees the world and is taught to live daily—with humility, care, and reverence. The Dharmic worldview expands the definition of mother to include:

• Audau Mata – The biological mother
• Guru Patni – The teacher’s wife
• Brahmani – The sage’s wife
• Raj Patnika – The queen
• Dhenu – The cow, symbolic of nurturing and sustenance
• Dhatri – The caregiver or nurse
• Prithvi – The Earth itself

Each of these is seen as a maternal presence—offering life, knowledge, nourishment, and protection. To honor them is not a yearly event but a lifelong posture.

Bridging the Worlds

This is not to discredit Mother’s Day or belittle those who celebrate it. In a fast-paced world that often forgets to pause, even a single day of gratitude has its value. But the contrast between the seasonal celebration and the eternal reverence is worth pondering.

How do we make sure our appreciation is not performative?

How can modern cultures rediscover the depth behind these observances?

How can we move from consumption to consciousness, from symbolism to substance?

Closing Thoughts

Celebrating motherhood need not be confined to a day, nor diluted by marketing campaigns. This celebration can be rooted in a philosophy. It calls us to act every moment with gratitude and care. We should be aware of the forces that nurture and sustain us.

We honor mothers in all forms—not just today, but every day—by living in a way that reflects their values: love without condition, strength with gentleness, and presence without expectation 🕉