*Motherland Sanatana Dharma* Service to humanity is the best religion *The Importance of Pranam (Respectful Salutations)* *The Mahabharata war was raging.* *One day, enraged by Duryodhana's taunts, Pitamaha Bhishma declared:* *"Tomorrow, I will annihilate the Pandavas!"* *This declaration reached the Pandava camp, causing great unrest. Everyone knew about Bhishma's prowess, and they were all worried, suspecting something bad was about to happen. Then Shri Krishna told Draupadi:* "Come with me now..." Shri Krishna took Draupadi to Bhishma's camp. Standing outside the camp, he told Draupadi: "Go inside and offer pranam to Pitamaha." Draupadi went inside and offered pranam to Pitamaha Bhishma, who blessed her, saying: "Akhanda Saubhagyavati Bhava" (May your marital bliss be unbroken). Then he asked Draupadi: "Dear child, how did you come here so late at night? Did Shri Krishna bring you here?" To which Draupadi replied, "Yes, he is standing outside the camp!" Then Bhishma came out of the camp, and both of them exchanged pranams. Bhishma said: "Only Shri Krishna can counteract one of my vows with another." Returning from the camp, Shri Krishna told Draupadi: "Because you went and offered pranam to Pitamaha, your husbands' lives were spared." "If you had been offering pranam to Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, Dronacharya, and others every day, and if Duryodhana and Dushasana's wives had also been offering pranam to the Pandavas, the war itself might not have happened." Moral: Even if such problems exist in our homes, the root cause is: "Unknowingly, perhaps, neglecting the elders of the house." "If the children and daughters-in-law of the house offer pranam to all the elders every day and receive their blessings, there will never be any strife in that house." The blessings of elders act as a shield, which no "weapon" can pierce. "Humble request... Today's society must ensure and regularize this culture. Thus, the home will become heaven." Reason: Good thoughts come from offering pranam. *Pranam teaches humility.* *Pranam removes ego. Pranam is our culture.*