Interesting Tidbits

1. The five people - According to the Shastras, the one who has been
responsible for the body, the one who gives ‘upadesa’
of the Gayathri Mantra, the one who feeds, the one who
imparts education and the one who imparts Jnana —
these five people are like one’s father

2.The Mahaswami's on Ideals of Marriage - There are 3 objectives of a samskara of so elevated a character as marriage. The first is to unite a man with a helpmate after he has completed the study of Vedas. This helpmate is expected not only to run his household but assist him in the practice of the Vedic dharma. The second is to bring forth into this world children of noble outlook and character who are to be heirs to the great Vedic tradition, citizens of the future who will be the source of happiness in this world. The third is to create a means for women to be freed from worldly existence. A man who is not yet fully mature inwardly is assisted in his karma by his wife. By doing so, by being totally devoted to her husband, she achieves maturity to a degree greater than he does. The fourth objective is the subordination of sensual gratification to the other three.