Honor Parents, Teachers and Elders
According to Hindu scriptures, God loves, nourishes and cares for you through your parents. He provides knowledge to you through your teachers. He sends blessings to you through elders. In Hindu culture, the elders will always bless you when you approach them. Sometimes they even put their hands on your head as a gesture of blessing (refer to Chapter 10 for a discussion of the Hindu reverence for elders). Worshipping God without first revering one's parents, teachers and elders is impossible, the sages explain. The Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11 thus declares:
"Matri devo bhava." - "Let your mother be God."
"Pitri devo bhava." - "Let your father be God."
"Ăchărya devo bhava." - "Let your teacher be God."