The Consorts of the Three Gods

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"Being the power of manifestation of the three tendencies

(guna), the Goddess appears at the root of the three aspects of

existence as Reality, Consciousness, and Experience

(sat-cit-ananda).

 

As Reality she is the power-of-co-ordination (sandhini), that is,

the power of the centripetal tendency visible in the sun. She is

pictured as the Left-handed-One (Vama), who is the

power-of-action (kriya), that is, causation. She is the power of

multiplicity, LAKSMI (the goddess of hundreds of thousands),

that is, the goddess of fortune, consort of Visnu.

 

As Consciousness she is the power-of-understanding (samvit),

the power of the revolving tendency, visible in the Moon and

pictured as 'the Elder' (Jyestha). She is the power of volition, the

power of the flow of knowledge, SARASVATI, goddess of learning

and consort to Brahma.

 

As Experience or Joy she is the power-of-delight (ahladini-sakti),

of enjoyment, the power of the centrifugal, disintegrating

tendency, visible in fire, the destroyer. She is pictured as the

Fierce (Raudri). She is the power of cognition, of realization, of

transcendental knowledge, the destroyer of the world of illusion,

the consort of Siva. She is also called Beyond-Reach (DURGA).

 

Creation arises from the this triple form of power.

 

"According to the plan formed in the divine mind, Energy (Sakti)

arose from the radiance of Reality-Consciousness-Experience.

>From Energy sprang forth the principal vibration, the point-limit

from which the manifest world begins." ('Sri Bhagavati tattva',

Sidddant, V, 1944-45, [485])

 

"The manifest forms of Existence-Consciousness-Experience,

which are action, knowledge, and desire, are the beginning of

creation. They are the law (dharma) that governs divinity, a law

which is not distinct from divinity itself. It is the nature of the

Immensity. The Scripture describes this nature of divinity as

'spontaneous knowledge, strength, and action.' The law that

rules the nature of divinity is identical with the Divine Energy.

Because of its uncontrollable intensity, it is spoken of as the

Wrathful (Candi). This Energy takes the form of the

Transcendent-power-of-Time (Maha-Kali), of the

Transcendent-power-of-Multiplicity (Maha-Laksmi), of the

Transcendent Power-of-Knowledge (Maha-Sarasvati), according

to the task to be performed. TO SEE IN THIS SUPREME WRATH

A MALE OR FEMALE MERELY DEPENDS ON THE INCLINATION

OF THE WORSHIPER. In males terms she is known as the

transcendent lord of tears, Maha-Rudra, in female terms as

Wrath (Candi) or Beyond-Reach (Durga)." (Karapatri, 'Sri

Bhagavati tattva.')

 

 

from The Gods of India: Hindu Polytheism by Alain Danielou

 

 

Everyone has a spiritual path. The main task in one's life is to

identify that path and follow it with humility, sincerity, faith,

devotion and vigilance.

 

OM Namah Sivaya/Jaya Maa

 

Omprem