Education and Its Paramount Role

Education is that which teaches 
good conduct, good outlook, adherence to truth, 
devotion, discipline, and dutiful demeanor. 
Sri Sai’s word is the path of Truth.

Promoters of education, learned and the Elite!
This day is very important not only to the city of Anantapur, the district, and the Andhra State but also important to all the states. During the anniversary celebrations of Girls' High School here in the year 1964, I said that this town needs a women's college. The ‘will’ of that day materialized. Very soon, this college will become self-sufficient with all amenities and will attain a unique status. I had not started this for the sake of religious propagation, for making money, or for fame. All these are temporal. I had established this college in order to inculcate in the hearts of students values of truth, righteousness, peace, and love that are considered eternal by saints, rishis, pandits, and leaders; and were culled out from the Vedas and were described by the shastras (texts).

Every student that is born in this land of Veda is an heir to this invaluable culture. Every one of them has the right to know this and to put it into practice. Agriculture is needed for our sustenance. For spiritual life also, the tilling of the mind is necessary. Skill and dexterity are required in order to produce articles that give us physical comforts. Similarly, education is necessary in order to set right our behavior, thoughts, desires, and emotions. More and more happiness, peace, and patience are obtained by this.

Once Prahlada told his father thus, “He is a real father who directs his son towards the path of God.” The fathers that are leading their children towards whirlpools of sensual desires, volcanoes of physical pleasures, and towards the barren lands of pride and ostentation are indeed forgetting their duty. Also, the education that distances one from God, who is the only refuge to man, his relative and guide; that kind of education is like a blind man that throws all those depending on him into the ditch.

At present, India is forgetting its wealth of culture and is in search of power of physical comforts that are detrimental. Our college will foster this formidable culture and thus will make Indians as well as other nationals powerful.

Women Are Protectors of Culture

When I went to East Africa, those people had expressed intense desire to know about Bharat’s culture and philosophy that is vital for peace and happiness.

Women are like a fortress to the culture of Bharat. These women, who are supposed to be the protectors of the wealth of Indian culture, are being attracted by the Western culture that smacks of ostentation. The haute couture and behavior of the modern educated people stand as a proof to this plight. This sad state is a result of meaningless and unnatural type of modern education, cheap type of literature, and the movies. These women are the mothers for future generations. Mothers are teachers for the children up to the age of five. This mother is first among the five types of mothers that are described by texts. To the child of Bharat, there are five mothers, namely Deha-maata (mother of the body), Go-maata (cow), Bhu-maata (mother earth), Desa-maata (the nation), and the Veda-maata. Deha-maata is the giver of this body; Go-maata gives milk to sustain the body; Bhu-maata grows crops; Desa-maata provides protection, safety, love, and civic rights through which integral development can be attained; and the Veda-maata teaches the goal of human life through spiritual education and gradually leads towards Atmic knowledge.

Deha-maata is capable of teaching about the greatness of the other four mothers. That is why the mother’s role is quite critical and important. I am establishing this college in order to develop such mothers. Similarly, it is a part of my mission to establish such women's colleges in every state. This view reflects in every word and work of mine.

It is spiritual education alone that keeps the mind in righteousness. Here the students will be initiated into this knowledge pertaining to the Atma. This education provides the required knowledge that can lead one on the right path in difficult and detracting circumstances. In the Mahabharatam, there was a war of 18 days. In world history, there were wars that lasted up to seven years, 30 years, or even up to 100 years. However, all these wars had an ending. But the war that occurs between the Jeevi (Self) and the maya (illusion), between the natural principle of dharma and the unnatural principle of unrighteousness, is an endless struggle indeed. The earliest human being was entangled in this struggle, and it goes on up to the last person. The Jeevi (Self) can achieve victory only when he chooses God and reposes all his burden unto Him, just as Arjuna chose Sri Krishna. You too can win over maya if only you take refuge in Madhava, who is beyond the reach of maya. This is what spiritual education teaches; this is what all Bharatiyas should learn about. I conclude my discourse with blessings and with hope that people of the world will derive benefit and fulfillment out of it.