Matha Pitha Guru Theivam

 மாதா பிதா குரு தெய்வம்

The Tamil language is famous for its many saying and quotations. The critics will also complain that its literary circle is only full of talk with no action! Not only they just talk, but there is also so much emotion and gestures to complement this. Just like the joke that has been circulating in the Klang Valley...

The Police once arrested an Indian man for helping them in their investigation. This handcuffed suspect was brought in to the interrogation room for questioning. Despite repeated attempts by the junior policemen at exploration, the suspect just would not speak! In frustration, they called in their superior for help. Their seasoned superior just walked in, removed the handcuffs from the suspect and off went the suspect, rattling away, complete with hand gestures and facial expressions until the cops told him to shut up.

Another proof of this statement is evidenced in the 'Arratai Arangam' (அரட்டை அரங்கம்) - a Tamil talk show (from Tamil Nadu) on Malaysian cable TV. Speakers on this show, who would typically be discussing social issues relevant to Tamil Nadu, would sometimes be so emotional and loud that the moderator has to step in to put the house in order. The outbursts, however, are puny by Jerry Springer Show's standards! Another favourite topic of their discussion is the glory of old Tamil movies, which just goes on to show how vital the celluloid make-believe world is in the Indian culture.

I digress...

The saying 'Matha Pitha Guru Theivam' is taught to most elementary students in Tamil school, Tamil language classes and Hindu devotional classes. The words translate to 'Mother, Father, Teacher and God' - that is the easy part.

There are many interpretations of this elementary saying. At a glimpse, the phrase seems to denote the hierarchy of importance in a person's life: Matha (Mother) is at the pinnacle of prestige, source of unconditional and unassuming love; followed by Pitha (Father) - the provider; then comes the Guru (teacher) - who would open our eyes and mind to the world outside; and finally Theivam (God) for divine guidance.

Another interpretation would be that this is the order in which an individual goes through from cradle to adulthood. And another is that God is the final destination, and all the others are our vehicle to reach our destiny. Some say that our mother, father and teachers are the God that we can see. The bottom line is that all the people mentioned above deserve our undying respect and support. That would bring us to another topic - filial piety.


*The photographs above are of two famous Tamil talk shows - Leoni and Visu. Give them a topic, and they will talk and talk till the cows come home and go grazing again! And they would be still talking!