The Goddess in one major Purana (was Which of the 18Major Puranas is the "Devi Bhagavad Purana"?)

[Guest guest]

Hi Colin:

 

Thanks for a great response -- and sorry for my own delay in

replying.

 

The story you summarize from the Uma Samhita section of the Shiva

Purana goes back to the Upanishads. The goddess of the "mysterious

cloud of light" was originally seen as a messenger of Brahman, then

later identified as Uma, who was later came to be equated (in Shakta

writings, at least) with Devi as Brahman Herself. Unfortunately, I'm

sitting in my office without my books to refer to, but I'm pretty

sure that's a fair representation of the situation. I'll gladly dig

up the details later if they'd be useful to you.

 

 

*** It is not always easy to tell whether the authors of a particular

text see the Devi as supreme over all gods, or co-supreme with the

highest god, or subordinate to him. ***

 

Yes, a lot of it is what we would today call "spin." The same stories

are told over and over, but with subtle (or not-so-subtle) tweaks to

make clear that one Deity or the Other is Supreme.

 

*** Perhaps the most sensible conclusion to draw is that the supreme

divinity can be encountered and worshipped either as Shiva or as Uma.

***

 

Absolutely. I have had conversations with several members over how

strongly I should push the "Shakta" orientation of this Group. "After

all," the argument goes, "Shiva and Shakti are One." Well, yes, but

in all of the literature, as you point out, one half of that Unity is

less equal than the other.

 

For me, it's like asking whether a Christian Group should push

the "Christ" orientation of the Group. Without getting into the

Exclusivity Doctrine and all that, the fact is, the Christians are

people who have embraced Christ as Supreme. The Shaktas are people

who've embraced Shakti as Supreme.

 

While Brahman is surely vast enough to encompass any and all human

conceptions of the Supreme Divine, we humans must choose a path as

our individual "template" for spiritual endeavour. As Hindus, we

believe broadly that any conception will get you there. As Shaktas,

we have chosen Shakti as our particular route.

 

To simply equate Her with Shiva without thinking through the huge

implications of that equation -- well, it diminishes *both*

conceptions.

 

As OmPrem wrote elsewhere, very incisively:

 

"There are some who say ... that you can spend time engaging in the

practice of one spiritual path and later switch to another spiritual

path. ...

 

"Spiritual path switching is unproductive and self-defeating. It

causes confusion in the mind of the aspirant. It prevents the

aspirant from entering into the most profound aspects and teachings

of the [given] spiritual path."

 

OmPrem then quotes Swami Sivananda, who said, "Listen to all, but

follow one. Respect all, but adore one." So it's for us to decide, I

think: Is Shakti our ideal of the Supreme, or is Shiva? Even in

Tantra, where the equality of Shakti-Shiva is most pronounced, don't

we have to lean one way or the other? Or am I being too inflexible

about this?

 

I'm curious about this because I am currently researching -- yes,

still! -- an upcoming article on what are the "permissible" bhavas

(modes of devotion) for Devi devotees, and why these limitations

exist (both from theological and social perspectives). It's a

fascinating study, and your input is always most helpful.

 

Thanks again, Colin ...

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe