You alone are the father

You alone are the mother

You alone are the true relative

You alone are the true friend

You alone are the source of true knowledge

You alone are the source of true wealth

It is reported that once Bhagawan Baba was visiting the primary school at Puttaparthi. For reasons known to Him alone, he picked out a boy and asked him: "Who is your parents?" The boy perhaps thought that Swami might be the good and great God but not that good in English Grammar. So he began to answer: "My parents are …", Swami stopped him short and again asked: "Who is your parents?" with added accent on the ‘is’. The boy was feeling uneasy and again began answering. "My parents are…" Again he was cut short. Then with great love Swami told him: "I am both your true mother and true father. Yet I am not two but one. So I have deliberately used ‘is’ instead of ‘are’!" How truly it is said in the Upanishad that gods are fond of telling things indirectly (Deva paroksha priya).

Bhagawan is also known to have often asked devotees, "Where do you come from?" repeatedly until the right answer "from You, Swami" is elicited. Indeed, Bhagawan is the true begetter and the so-called parents are only receivers, keepers and caretakers. This is brought out beautifully in the Tamil language by the word ‘petrore’ which means ‘receivers’. The sooner this is realised the better it will be, for the children as well as the parents of their physical bodies. ...