Honoring mother and motherhood!!!

[Guest guest]

Worshipping god as the Mother - The divine -feminine -is truly

hinduism's great contribution in the field of spirituality. what is

so unique or so special about this type of relationship beteen a

devotee and the god?

 

When you worship god as a mother, we automatically attribute all

motherly qualities to the god- tenderness, kindness, generosity,

forgiveness, compassion, patience, fornearance, tolerance etc etc...

 

An infant nursing at the breast of a mother is a favorite theme of

many painters - a subject that is popular with many poets as well !

this is because you see in the act of breast-feeding a great

expression of infinite love - a bonding, so to speak ! this is an

experience the child carries to the grave - a feeling of infinite

tenderness - a child can forget eberything that a mother has done for

him/ her but can never forget the bonding established during his/her

infancy in this very act of breast-feeding!

 

when you think of your mother - what image comes up before you? one

of beauty, kindness, tenderness, compassion and unconditional love.

all this and much more.

 

so, when we worship god as the divine mother, it is these qualities

that we are worshipping- the qualities of motherhood. We appeal to

Her tenderness, kindness, compassion and forgiveness! this is the

realtionship - this the bonding - the love of a child towards its

mother... such a bonding gives you infinite security and you know

that like your own womb mother, the divine mother will also protect

you against all kinds of calamities... this is a personal and

intimate relationship, one that is enduring and eternal...

 

When we were children, we always ran to our mother when we were in

trouble- she fought our battles for us - for we believed she is all

powerful - full of energy, strength and courage - A lioness who will

protect her cub against all dangers- a mother who will give up her

own life to protect her child... what is true of our womb mother is

much more true of the divine mother. Our Durga mata never lets dowwn

her devotees... she is the protrectress- that is why she is called

DURGA. she is also Durga because she destroys dangers. Durgati

nashini- one who protects us from reaching a state of destruction.

 

A few days ago, i had posted THE entire annapurnashtakam ! sree

annapurna is always shown as holding a big spoon in one hand that is

taking out food ?(rice pudding with milk and sugar) from a pot -

nourishing food for the body and spiritual food (jnana) for the

soul... whenever we think of our mother, we always think of the

wonderful food items she prepares!! "mom's food' tastes the best, we

kids used to say! what was the secret ingredient- LOVE- what was the

secret topping- love- what is the special seasoning love - and the

funny pasrt is now my kids say the same thing about me " our mom

cooks he best" so this IS the family herirloom- from generation to

genertaion that is handed down - not the recipe - but the

unconditiuonal love...the best legacy...

 

 

in the rig veda, there is a verse...

 

 

That breast of Thine which is inexhaustible, health-giving,

by which Thou nursest all that is noble,

containing treasure, bearing wealth, bestowed freely;

lay that bare, Sarasvati [divine Mother], for our nurture.

 

that is why in all of saundarya lahari and sree lalita sahasaranmam,

there is so much description of the goddess's breasts - not so much

the physical aspect of it - devi's Large breasts indicate

her 'nurturing' quality - the metaphysical aspect.

 

even in bible there is a verse which goes like this

 

As one whom his mother comforts,

so will I comfort you;

You shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

 

Bible, Isaiah 66.13

 

Mother - the word bring up images of comfort and security. WHEN YOU

SEE MADONNA AND CHILD OR YASODA AND BABY KRISHNA - immediately you

are overcome with the emotion of matru-bhava or vatsalaya bhava - the

emotion of motherly love. You want to take care of infant jesus or

baby krishna in the same way a mother takes care of her child- bathe

him, feed him, play with him. this is an exalted bhava -worshipping

god as a child- sree ramakrishna use to love to feed kali maa as his

own child!

 

in taoism , " motherhood " is glorified...

 

The Valley Spirit never dies.

It is named the Mysterious Female.

And the Doorway of the Mysterious Female

Is the base from which sprang Heaven and Earth.

It is there within us all the while;

Draw upon it as you will, it never runs dry.

 

Taoism. Tao Te Ching

 

folks, tomorrow is mother's day! join me in honoring our womb mother

who gave us birth and our divine mother who gives us spiritual

birth!!!

 

jai gurudeva!

jai mahakali!