Article sent from The Hindu

[Guest guest]

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

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

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

Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Benevolent grace of the Divine Mother

 

CHENNAI, OCT. 25. The feminine aspect of the Supreme Godhead is

worshipped as the Divine Mother and the Devi Bhagavata Purana

composed by Sage Veda Vyasa narrates in detail all Her divine

deeds and manifestations in the world. The Puranas were written

by the sage with the intention of teaching the scriptural truths

to the lay people and hence they convey abstract philosophical

truths in the form of legends, akin to sugar-coated pills given

as medication. Otherwise lay people will not evince interest in

spiritual life and peruse the texts to benefit from them.

 

The description of how the demons Madhu and Kaitabha were

destroyed by the Lord and the Divine Mother's role in it, for

instance, refers to how man's baser instincts of passion and

hatred have to be overcome by him, though on the face of it, it

appears to be an interesting Puranic legend. Likewise, the

destruction of Mahishasura signifies removal of man's ignorance.

The Divine Mother being the incarnation of knowledge (Srividya),

Her grace removes man's ignorance and blesses him with wisdom, by

which he overcomes bondage.

 

The destruction of the demon brothers Sumban and Visumban by Devi

denotes that man's ego which manifests as ``I'' and ``mine'' in

all his actions has to be annihilated for attaining eternal joy.

As long as the ego is strong it prevents man from realising God.

The ego can be obliterated by the grace of the Divine Mother.

Sumban and Visumban performed intense austerities and when the

creator (Brahma) granted them a boon in return, they sought

immunity from death. Since no being could be given such a

privilege, they solicited that they should meet their end at the

hands of a woman, little realising that no one could outwit the

Divine will. Their wish was granted and soon they started

terrorising not only everyone on the Earth but also the

celestials and usurped their functions. Humiliated, the gods at

the behest of their preceptor appealed to Devi to intercede and

destroy them. The Devi Bhagavata describes at length how the

Divine Mother came to their succour and vanquished these demons.

 

In his discourse, Sri S. Panchapakesa Sastrigal said the Divine

Mother was worshipped during this time of the year (Sharada

Navaratri) in Her three aspects of creation, sustenance and

dissolution of this cosmos. She represents the triumph of good

over the evil forces in worldly life. She is eulogised in the

Devi Mahatmya section of this Purana and the hymns Lalitha

Sahasranama and Soundarya Lahari of Adi Sankara also describe Her

grace and valorous deeds.

 

Copyrights: 1995 - 2001 The Hindu

 

Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly

prohibited without the consent of The Hindu