Article sent from The Hindu on indiaserver.com

[Guest guest]

=============================================================

This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran )

=============================================================

Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Meditating on God as Divine Mother

 

CHENNAI, DEC. 22. To the minds of human beings conceiving an

impersonal God is indeed extremely difficult. For most of them

the Ultimate Reality (God) has to be a supreme force. But here

too, men have a choice, viz., God can be (though He is beyond

sex) either a male or a female. It is, however, easier to think

of God in the form of a mother than as a father.

 

In many religions, God, as a father, is an all-powerful judge,

dispensing rewards or punishments. He is invariably being sought

after with awe. But from time-immemorial, Indian tradition has a

more intimate approach. To worship the Divine Mother is believed

to be easier to commune with. Before God as father, men tremble

in fear but in the presence of Him as a Mother, their heart will

melt in love which is Her excellence, as it charms and attracts

every one.

 

It is love that finally everyone craves for because where it

exists, there will be happiness. Material benefits may not bring

joy to an individual and affluence usually coexists with mental

misery. Once, a mother grieved that her son, settled at a distant

town, never even sends a letter and her heart pined for love,

having poured her own on him in bringing him up. With love, life

is fine; without it, it is dry.

 

The Divine Mother is the most rewarding ideal one can cherish.

Meditating on Her Divine form will be the most potent spiritual

practice an aspirant may pursue. A hymn dedicated to Holy Mother,

Sarada Devi, illustrates the features on which one can

contemplate upon. Sarada Devi, who conferred her love on all,

never bothered about their merits or defects. She served food

with her hands to a Muslim worker when her new cottage was being

built and removed the leaf on which he had eaten and that too in

an orthodox village.

 

Once a woman whose conduct was suspected, begged her to give her

the plate carrying Sri Ramakrishna's meal. The latter, who was

very sensitive, was not happy but Sarada Devi replied ``I cannot

say no to anyone who calls me Maa''. Similarly, Sri Ramakrishna

had fixed the diet for his disciples but she once gave some more

quota for one among them justifying that she could not underfeed

her ``children''. When she was told that excess food would spoil

their spirituality, she said, ``In that case, I will take care of

their spirituality myself''.

 

Several such references about Sarada Devi's unqualified love and

the benevolent nature were recalled by speakers on the occasion

of her birthday. She exemplified that ``Love is God'' and told a

disciple: ``Whenever you had any difficulty remember you have a

Mother''.

 

Copyrights: 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.

 

Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly

prohibited without the consent of The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.