Bhuvaneshwari- the Jnana SWAROOPINI !!!!!!!!!!!!i

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Who is Bhuvaneshwari? What are Her attributes and significance?

What aspect of the Divine does She stand for and express?

 

Mythology tells us that in the beginning, Surya, the sun, appeared in

the heavens. In order to create the world, the sages offered soma (a

sacred plant) to the sun. The sun was pleased and through the power

of shakti, he created the three worlds (Bhuvanas). Having created

the worlds, the goddess assumed the form of Bhuvaneshwari and ruled

and protected them.

 

 

We also find the name of Bhuvaneshwari mentioned in the part of Hindu

philosophy called Tantra, the religious literature expounding the

worship of the Divine Mother. The tantric works describe ten aspects

of Shakti (Mahavidya), the universal energy. Bhuvaneshwari is the

fourth major power described in the Tantras. The term Mahavidya

means "great knowledge" or wisdom. Each of these ten great deities

is an outstanding personality of the Divine who bestows or reveals

spiritual knowledge.

 

Bhuvaneshwari is described as a pleasant and attractive goddess. Her

beauty is often mentioned in devotional hymns in the following

terms, "Her beautiful throat is decorated with shining precious

stones and her powerful eyes are like lotus flowers. She resembles a

graceful parrot standing in the midst of the Yantra (mystic diagram

associated with a divinity and used for meditation)." She is sitting

on a lotus flower which symbolizes her spiritual mastery. It

indicates that she is grounded in the world like the roots of a lotus

but she also transcends it. Bhuvaneshwari is traditionally

represented with four hands and three eyes. She holds a noose (Pasa)

in her left hand and a goad (Ankusa) in her right one. The noose and

the goad suggest the control of the negative qualities, such as

anger, lust and so on which interfere with spiritual development.

More precisely, the noose is a symbol of attachment and of the mind's

negative tendencies which bind human beings to the world. The goad

(traditionally a stick used by farmers to make the cattle move

faster) helps the spiritual aspirant to control the mind and to

overcome all the inner obstacles one encounters on the spiritual

path. Bhuvaneshwari's right palm is raised in blessing, bestowing

freedom from fear. The other palm bestows grace on the devotees.

 

 

BHUVANESHWARI AS MOTHER EARTH

 

 

Bhuvaneshwari is mainly associated with the earth and the physical

world. She is depicted as "the Sovereign, the mistress of the

worlds". Like Rajarajeshwari, another form of the goddess, she is

ruling the universe. The Sri Lalitha Sahasranama (a traditional hymn

to the Divine Mother) describes Bhuvaneshwari as the protector of the

14 worlds (bhuvana). Bhuvana also means water. Thus, She is

considered as the protector of the land and the oceans.

 

In the Tripurasiddhanta (a scripture) we also find that Devi is

called Bhuvaneshwari because She blessed her Guru who was known as

Bhuvanandanatha. Bhuvaneshwari is also called Prakriti , the active

force in the cosmic creation. She is the underlying energy creating,

sustaining and maintaining the physical world which is the supreme

power embodied in names and forms. Devotional songs describing Her

names say, "She initiated the worlds, all the five elements are born

from Her. She entered the worlds, sustained them and nourished

them."

 

Most often she is associated with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, the

sustainer and the destroyer of the universes. "She is Hara Hari, the

Shakti of Vishnu and Shiva and She is adored by them." In other

scriptures Brahma, the creator, is also mentioned. Ultimately what

she represents goes beyond creation itself. She is the source of all

that from which creation proceeds. Thus, Bhuvaneshwari also

personifies the original cosmic Space, the Ether (Akasha).

 

 

 

MAYA

 

 

Like most of the aspects of the Divine Mother, Bhuvaneshwari is

associated with Maya. Maya comes from the Sanskrit root, "ma", to

measure. Maya is also a synonym for illusion. Thus, Bhuvaneshwari

symbolises the dynamic power of God which manifests itself in a

multitude of visible and impermanent forms. In Hindu philosophy the

manifestation is ultimately considered as unreal because of its

inconstancy and impermanence. But at the same time, the devotional

scriptures say that Bhuvaneshwari is also distinct from the illusion

she creates because she controls it. But she is not caught in it.

This quality of mastery over the worldly illusion gives her the power

to help human beings not to be involved in Maya and not to be bound

by it but instead to go beyond it.

 

KUNDALINI SHAKTI

 

 

In several hymns, we find Bhuvaneshwari identified with the

Kundalini, the subtle force lying at the base of the spine in the

human body. "Bhuvaneshwari is the one who increases the Shakti. She

is in everyone in the form of Kundalini Shakti." The hymns also

describe Kundalini Shakti saying, "She has the form of a snake, She

is yellow in colour and She is like lightning. She is in everyone.

She is in the flesh and blood, She is even in the skin."

 

BHUVANESHWARI AND DURGA

 

 

Bhuvaneshwari also has a terrible aspect. In this form she is

identified with the warrior goddess Durga , who killed several

demons. "Bhuvaneshwari's hands are so powerful that she could kill

Mahishasura." Mahishasura is a buffalo demon and represents the

ruthless brute force that does not tolerate any opposition where

selfish ends are concerned. He succeeded against the Gods as long as

they were divided but fell before their combined power.

Bhuvaneshwari also killed the demon Durgaman who had stolen the

mantras of the Devas. The Asuras represent the evil forces in man,

his ego, which makes his soul identify with his body and the world,

forgetting his divine aspect and qualities. When the Divine Mother

kills the Asuras, she liberates the individual from his evil

tendencies, his mental bondage and the limitations of his ego sense.

 

In certain temples, such as Bhuvaneshwari temple in Pudukkottai

(Tamil Nadu), we find the goddess facing a representation of Kali ,

the terrible aspect of the Mother. It is because both are intimately

connected as representing time and space which made creation

possible. Kali arranges the timing of the cosmic dance while

Bhuvaneshwari stands for the original space before creation in which

Kali's cosmic dance takes place.

 

Devotional songs say that Bhuvaneshwari is like Saraswathi , the

goddess of learning, wisdom and knowledge. She is described

as "Jnana Swaroopa," the highest form of wisdom. It is also said

that Bhuvaneshwari has so much power that a mere glance from her

gives boons to the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi. She

confers confidence, sympathy, beauty and wisdom on them because all

these qualities are within Her.

 

The diversity of Bhuvaneshwari's characteristics and their

significance should not hide from our sight her essential oneness,

the oneness of the Divine. The symbolism of Bhuvaneshwari is like a

ladder which invites the spiritual aspirant to develop his inner

relationship with that Divine Energy, by feeling what She is. The

direct way to make this experience is to surrender ourselves to Her.

Then She will bless us with knowledge, peace and joy that knows no

end.

 

May the Divine Mother BHUVANESHWARI BLESS US ALL!

 

 

COURTESY: WWW.SRIPREMANANDA.ORG

 

 

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thanx nora and db! from where do you find such lovely icons of the

godeeses - they are visually pleasing and are a feast to the eyes!

 

LOVE