Happy Father’s Day: Honoring the Divine Fathers of Sanatana Dharma

By Hindu Herald Staff

Today, on Father’s Day, we pause not just to honor the men who raised us, but to reflect on the deeper dharmic meaning of fatherhood itself. In Hindu tradition, fatherhood is both biological and spiritual — rooted in love, sacrifice, and the upholding of righteousness (dharma).

Sanatana Dharma reveres many divine fathers — gods, kings, and sages — who served as caretakers, protectors, and teachers. Some raised children of divine destiny, others passed on sacred knowledge. All of them embody what it means to be a true father.

Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu: Cosmic Fathers of the Universe

Though worshipped differently across sects, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are universally honored as guardians of the cosmos.

• Lord Vishnu is the eternal preserver — maintaining harmony across the universe and incarnating to protect dharma. As the divine consort of Lakshmi and the inner guide of all beings, he watches over the world with loving care.
• Lord Shiva, in Shaiva theology, is known as Jagatpita — the Father of the Universe. He is also Pashupati, Lord of Animals, showing his love not just for humans but for all living beings. As the father of Ganesha and Kartikeya, he balances fierce detachment with deep familial love.

Together, Vishnu and Shiva represent two divine aspects of fatherhood: preservation and liberation, guidance and transcendence, love and detachment.

Other Divine Fathers to Remember

• Lord Rama: King of Ayodhya and father of Luv and Kush, whom he raised in dharma even while separated by fate. His love for his sons is immortalized in the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana.
• Lord Krishna: Though often remembered as a divine child, playful lover, or universal teacher, Krishna was also a father. Through his many queens — especially Rukmini and Jambavati — he fathered notable sons such as:
  • Pradyumna – a valiant warrior and partial incarnation of Kamadeva.
  • Aniruddha – Krishna’s grandson and central figure in the later Yadava lineage.
  • Samba – the mischievous son of Jambavati, whose actions contributed to the destruction of the Yadava race in the Mausala Parva.

  Though the Yadava dynasty ultimately perished due to internal conflict, Krishna’s role as a father reflects both the divine play and the moral complexity of his earthly pastimes.

• Vasudeva: The biological father of Krishna. On the night of Krishna’s birth, he risked his life to carry his son across the Yamuna — an eternal symbol of paternal courage and faith.
• Nanda Maharaj: Krishna’s foster father in Gokul. Though not related by blood, his tender care for the divine child has made him one of the most beloved father figures in all of Hindu devotion.
• Pandu: Father of the five Pandavas — Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. Though cursed never to father children physically, his name lives on through their deeds and legacy.
• Parashara Muni: The great sage who fathered Veda Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahabharata and many of the Puranas. Through him, the sacred scriptures of Sanatana Dharma were preserved for all time.

Fatherhood as a Spiritual Ideal

In Hinduism, fatherhood goes beyond biology. It includes gurus, rishis, and even Bhagavan himself. A father is one who provides guidance, protection, and instills dharma in the soul.

So today, on Father’s Day, let us offer gratitude to:

• Our earthly fathers
• Our spiritual teachers
• And the divine fathers who continue to bless the world with their presence

🕉️ “Pitāsi lokasya charācharasya…”
“You are the father of this world, of all that moves and does not move.”
— Bhagavad Gita 11.43