Shakti the sex energy? : Kali ... Mother or Lover

[Guest guest]

<BIG>Kali : Mother and Lover</BIG>

 

Kali is viewed, or rather worshipped, as the Divine Mother by large

sections of the community of devotees. Numerous references to Ma

Kali -- or her other manifestations like Tara, Matangi, Tripureshwari

etc -- are found scattered in hymns, prayers, songs and other symbols

of devotion.

 

However, there is another perspective, where Kali is viewed as a

wife -- of Shiva -- and references to this point of view are fewer

and very often esoteric and stylised. For example we have images of

her standing on top of Shiva who is explicitly aroused and erect.

 

The big question is that <B>which perspective</B> is correct or

rather more <U>appropriate</U>.

>From the point of view of correctness, it is very obvious that both

must be correct. One cannot be a mother unless she has been a wife

or lover. But on the other hand, one can argue that both are

incorrect. To understand how both could be incorrect, one needs to

observe that both these attributes -- that of a mother and that of a

lover -- have been imposed on the Divine by the limitations of the

human intellect.

 

Divinity is beyond form and shape, but to visualise her during our

worship, we ascribe attributes that we are familiar with. What is her

real nature ? I wish I knew but since I really do not, I shall fall

back on the description that Ramakrishna used when he was asked by

his wife(?) Sarada ... what exactly did SHE mean to HIM ? Ramakrishna

replied that she was his <B>Anandamoyee</B> .. a delightfully vague

turn of phrase but perhaps that was the closest he could come since

he was bound by the limitations of grammar and language.

 

The next question is which perspective is more appropriate ? Should

one view the Devi as the asexual mother or as a sexual lover ? ....

 

The Hindu way of life is inclusive enough to encompass almost every

point of view. In fact we say that <I>Truth is one, but wise men

refer to it by different names</I>. Hence if there are two points of

view there is no need to start a bitter battle between the two camps.

Let each one take his or her own path towards the Anandamoyee.

 

However the majority of Hindus view the Divine as their mother,

perhaps because a mother image is easier to relate to when we are

asking for boons, help or guidance. We rush to the mother to seek

solace in times of trouble and sorrow. For this majority, it may be

an affront to portray her -- their mother -- in the nude or engaged

in sexual union. If we believe in the principle of the greatest good

for the greatest number, we should desist from disturbing their

sentiments.

 

But that does not invalidate the other perspective, that of a

sexually active Devi. From a philosophical perspective, the sexuality

of the Devi is critical for the world to exist. Shiva represents the

inert potentiality of the universe. Devi represents the

personification of the desire of the inert potential to manifest

itself, to create the world. Without her active participation --

represented as sexual participation -- the world as we know it would

cease to exist.

 

As the adept moves ahead with his sadhana, as his knowledge/wisdom

increases and the fog of Maya become more and more transparent, the

sadhak begins to identify himself more and more with Shiva -- the

fundamental principle. As Shiva, he sees the Devi -- no more as a

mother, but as a wife and lover. He sees her as one who gives form

and shape to his amorphous desire to create, or procreate.

 

These are the ones who view the Devi as Lover and fortunately for the

rest, they do this in the privacy of their own esoteric practices.

Hence society at large -- especially those of us who view the Devi as

their mother -- is not disturbed !

 

shivaks ....