Capt Purushottam Sharma
‘Madhurta’ or Sweetness is nectar indeed. It is full of vitality and, with it, health and happiness go together. How sweet of Owner of the Universe is to give us plenty of sweet gifts like mangoes, apples, bananas, grapes and many other such things. A ‘Dabba’ of sweets works wonders when gifted to one’s Boss or ‘Saheb’ on Diwali or Baisakhi or on his ‘Happy Birthday’ or on some other such occasion. We exchange sweets to celebrate our success. At the sweet-shop we find bees and insects hovering over the displayed sweets which reveals the fondness of these beings for the sweetness.
The God has been very kind to give us the tongue to enjoy sweetness, ears to listen sweet, eyes to see sweet, nose to smell sweet and the touch to experience sweet. Sweet speech is also spiritual practice. Radha is looked upon by all the devotees “as the sole ideal of Madhurbhakti”. Sweetness harbors humility, amity, perseverance, benevolence and politeness with it. In turn, rewards us with love, happiness, reverence, goodwill, enlarged vision and honor. Persons with sweet speech being thoughtful of others become embodiment of love and esteem. Sweetness begets sweetness. It cures many ailments of the mind. It subdues bitterness, cruelty and egotism. In fact, sweetness purifies the complete system, both internal and external. Virtue of sweetness works like ‘Kamdhenu’ (the cow of plenty.)Sweet culture is bound to spread harmony and joy everywhere.
Gods and Goddesses’ favorites are sweets. Lord Ganesha is fond of ‘Laddus’, so are Hanuman ji and Ma Durga. We offer sweets to them to propitiate them to seek their blessings. Krishna’s favorite is Makhan- Mishri. Bheelini, the tribal-saint-women-devotee of Rama, sorted out sweet berries to offer to her Lord. No Yajna (mass feeding) is complete unless a sweet dish is included in the menu. The Prasad to the devotees is invariably a sweet or a sweet fruit.
It brings us great elation when we speak of sweet home, sweet heart, sweet song, sweet music, sweet meet, sweet nature, sweet voice, sweet remembrance, sweet sleep, sweet dreams and sweet of many other things.
Bhagwan is named Madhava. A Holy City in Tamil Nadu is famous for Meenakshi Temple said to have been built by Lord Shiva and Ma Parvathi in one of their incarnations, was named Madurai, City of Honey. We name and affectionately call our children Sweety, Madhu, Madhuri, Madhvi, Mithu. Obviously, the content of these names is sweetness.
The cuck0oo is held in all admiration for its sweet singing although it is dark in complexion whereas a skylark is not because of its awkward voice although it has milky-white feathers. The domesticated sweet-singing parrot is often called Miyan Mithu. There is Madhuvahini River on the bank of which is situated village Madhupura (Malabar), a pilgrimage center.
For a successful and happy domestic life, there are six essentials, namely, perennial source of income, sound health, obedient son, sweet-speaking wife, spiritual knowledge and worldly knowledge. Madhur-Bhashini-Patni (sweet-speaking wife) creates heaven on earth and the family enjoys living an ideal life.
Saints speak of sweetness in their own way.
“Tulsi Meethe Bachan So, Sukh Upje Chahun Orevashikaran Ek Mantar Hai Tajia Bachan Kathore”
4’Sweet words spread happiness everywhere. Through self-control which is one of the greatest austerities, the bitter speech should be renounced.’
“Aisi Baani Boliaye Man Ka Aapa Khoyauran Ko Sheetal Kare Aapu Sheetal Hoy”
4’One should speak so sweet that it should give smoothing-touch to the mind. It should please the listeners and equally to the speaker too.’
“Narayan Ya Jagat Mein Doi Vastu Hai Saar Sab Se Meetho Bolibo Karibo Par Upkar”
4’There are only two modes in this world to make an ideal living. One is to speak sweet and the other is to serve and do good to others.’
“Madhur Bhaav Madhav Tumhi Namaskar Sao Baar Madhumaye Jeevan Ko Karo Madhur Karo Sansar”
4’O My inclination for sweetness! You are the lord of sweetness. I bow hundred times before thee. Make my life sweet. Make this world sweet too.’
In MADHURASHTAKAM by SrimadVallabhacharya, the Saint, in the opening verse out of eight in all, says –
“Adharam Madhuram, Badanam Madhuram, Nayanam Madhuram, Hasitam Madhuram, Hirdayam Madhuram, Gamanammadhuram, Madhuraadi Pate Rakhilam Madhuram”
4’Sweet His lips, Sweet His face, Sweet His eyes, Sweet His smile, Sweet His heart, Sweet His gait, SWEET is everything about the Lord of Sweetness.’
Sages and seers say that the Bliss experienced is like sweetness enjoyed by a dumb (‘Goonge-ko-gur-ka-swad’). People rush in to listen to sweet-speakers like bees to flowersto collect honey. God’s Kingdom is ‘Kingdom of Sweetness’ indeed.
