Mediating role of the Divine Mother

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhakti members:

 

There is a wonderful article on the Divine Mother in today's Hindu and

thought it may be of interest to our group.

 

Mediating role of the Divine Mother

 

The Ultimate Reality according to Visishtadvaita school of philosophy is

Sriman Narayana and the religion based on this school is thus called

Srivaishnavism. The Lord and Sri are not two different principles but a

metaphysical unity. This concept is unique to this Vedanta. When the

Supreme Being assumes different forms Sri also does so.

 

Besides Her cosmic functions, Her role is very important in the redemption

of the soul from bondage for She is epitomised as the very personification

of the Lord's compassion. The Divine Mother thus assumes the natural role

of mediator (Purushakara) when man surrenders to the Lord. The scriptures

right from the Vedas state that the Almighty derives His auspiciousness and

glory from Sri.

 

In the Mantrarajapada stotra occurs the term ``Bhadra'' as an epithet of

Lord Narasimha. It is relevant to note that Sankara while commenting on

this term occuring in the Narasimhatapaniyopanishad interprets it to mean

auspiciousness. This is the reason that in this form He is always referred

to as Lakshminarasimha. It should be noted that whenever there is reference

to the Supreme Being, Sri is also subsumed in it (termed as Sriyahpatitva

which is His essential nature). Thus all the attributes of the Lord apply

to the Divine Mother also.

 

Another important scriptural text on which the Visishtadvaita metaphysics

and ethics are based especially with reference to Sri, is the Pancharatra

Agama. It is so called because it was taught to five sages by the Lord

Himself during the course of five nights and propagated by them.

Traditionally reckoned as 108 the important among them are the Jayakhya,

Sattvata, Paushkara, Ahirbudhnya and the Padma Samhitas. Lakshmi Tantra is

the text which treats the role of Sri with meticulous detail.

 

In his discourse Mukkur Sri Lakshminarasimhachariar said, Srisukta was the

Vedic hymn which glorified Lakshmi. An interesting feature of this hymn is

that though it eulogises Sri, the hymn is addressed to the Lord. The

esoteric significance of this is that one should address the Lord to obtain

Her grace and while performing surrender (Saranagati) to the Lord it is to

Sri one should submit for intercession.

 

Other hymns in praise of Sri in this tradition are the Catussloki of

Yamunacharya (Alavandar), Sristava of Kuresa, Srigunaratnakosa of Parasara

Bhattar and Sristuti of Vedanta Desika. The etymological interpretation of

the word Sri gives the qualities which are basic to Her nature, as one who

removes the lapses of and listens to the plaints of devotees, mediates and

convinces the Lord to shower His grace on them.

 

Ramanuja Dasan

 

Ramagopal