Matangi - part 1

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MATANGI

The Utterance of the Divine Word

 

Dark emeral Mother, Matangi, abounding in joy,

auspicious let your side-glance fall on us,

you who dwell in the forest of bliss.

Victory to the daughter of the sage Matanga,

who has the color of a dark blue lotus,

victory to the nectar of all song,

victory to her who loves the playful parrot.

 

~Shyamaladandakam 3-4

 

 

 

Matangi as the Spoken Word

 

Mata literally means "a thought" or "an opinion". Matangi is thus the

Goddess power which has entered into thought or the mind. She is the word as the

embodiment of thought. She also relates to the ear and our ability to listen,

which is the origin of true understanding that forms powerful thoughts. Matangi

bestows knowledge, talent and expertise. She is the Goddess of the spoken word

and of any outward articulation of inner knowledge, including all forms of art,

music and dance.

Matangi is the last of the three Goddesses who relate to the Divine Word,

the other two being Tara and Bhairavi. Like Tara she is a Goddess of learning

and eloquence. However, whereas Tara represents the illumined word (Pashyanti),

Matangi represents the spoken word (Vaikhari), while Bhairavi is the Goddess of

the transcendent and unmanifest form of speech (Para). Yet Matangi can also

represent the middle form of speech (Madhyama), which governs the ideas that we

are putting into words and thereby our thinking process. In her highest role,

Matangi represents Para-Vaikhari or the supreme Word as manifest through audible

speech, which is the direct revelation of the highest knowledge in human speech

from which all the true scriptures arises. As such Matangi encompasses all

levels of speech.

~

 

Matangi and Sarasvati

 

Matangi relates to Sarasvati, the Goddess of wisdom and the consort of Lord

Brahma, the creator of the universe. Matangi, like Sarasvati, plays a vina and

rules of music or audible sound in general, not just the spoken word. She is the

manifest form of song. Like Sarasvati she is symbolized by the rain cloud and by

the thunder, as well as by the rivers pouring into the sea. She is the

virbratory sound, Nada, that flows in the subtle channels, Nadis, down through

our entire body and mind.

However, Matangi and Sarasvati are a little different. Matangi is the form

of Sarasvati directed towards inner knowledge. She is her dark, mystic, ecstatic

or wild form. Sarasvati is often a Goddess of only ordinary learning, art and

culture. Matangi rules over the extraordinary, which takes us beyond the bounds

of the conventional. Matangi is an outcast or artist who goes against the norms

of society, while Sarasvati represents the knowledge and virtue of the Brahmin

or learned class which never departs from propriety. Matangi is that portion of

Sarasvati which is allied with the transforming energy of Kali.

~

 

Matangi as the Guru

 

The guru instructs us through the spoken word. Hence his vehicle among the

Goddesses is Matangi. Matangi represents the teachings of the guru and the

tradition. She represents the continuity of spiritual instruction in the world.

By honoring her we also honor the guru. Those seeking to teach others,

particularly to communicate to the masses of people, should seek the grae of

Matangi.

~

 

Matanga and Ganesha

 

Mata also mean "wild" or "passionate." Matangi is one who is wild or

passionate in limbs and movement. Matangi also means a female elephant. In Hindu

mythology the elephant relates to Ganesha, the first son of Shiva and Parvati,

who was fitted with the head of an elephant. Ganesha is similarly the Lord of

the Word and the Lord of knowledge as well as the remover of all obstacles.

hence mantras to him precede any teaching process, like chanting of the Vedas,

as well as the ordinary activities of life like marriage, travel, and business

ventures.

Matangi is related to Ganesha, and, on one level, is his consort. Generally

the two consorts of Ganesha are called Buddhi, intelligence, and Siddhi,

accomplishment. These same powers are represented by Matangi. Like Ganesha she

can be propitiated to remove obstacles and give accomplishments, as well as to

grant knowledge.

~