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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/04/02/stories/2003040202000900.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

-

Religion

  

 

Worship of the Divine Mother

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

APRIL 2

 

.. Among the phenomenal range of scriptural texts attributed to Sage Veda Vyasa,

the 18 Puranas composed by him form a class of their own. The Puranas expound

the teachings of the Vedas for the lay people and hence they have been

discoursed upon traditionally. Though one can study any Purana according to

one's preference it must be borne in mind that the import of all these texts is

the same. The Devi Bhagavata is a Purana expounding the glory of the Divine

Mother in 18000 verses, divided into 12 cantos. The opening verse of the

Soundarya Lahari of Adi Sankara gives in essence the teachings of this

Purana the importance of worshipping the Divine Mother during the four

seasons, though in practice, only the autumn festival (Sharadh Navaratri) is

popular.

 

Generally, seasonal changes affect the health and hence worshipping the Divine

Mother wards off illness and blesses the devotee with prosperity and good

health. The Navaratri has traditionally been associated with the Ramayana and

hence the epic is recited during this period, which is sacred to Devi worship.

The spring festival coincides with the birth of Lord Rama (Rama navami).

 

In his discourse, Tharamangalam Sri S. Subramania Sastrigal said the Ramayana

was the exposition of the Gayatri Mantra. This incantation is the very essence

of the Vedas and when the Lord incarnated as Rama in the world, the Vedas were

written as the Ramayana by Valmiki. Every 1000th verse of the Valmiki Ramayana

starts with a syllable of the Gayatri, which has 24 syllables. The Devi

Bhagavata Purana also undertakes an elaboration of the Gayatri Mantra.

 

The feminine aspect of the Supreme Being (Sakti) is responsible for the dynamic

functions in creation. Thus each of the Vedic trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Siva,

has a consort who plays an active role in the cosmos. She is the Mother of all

beings, the personification of compassion ever ready to come to the succour of

mankind.

 

The Purana at the outset describes how Vyasa sired Suka, who was not born of a

mother's womb. The narration includes the Almighty's incarnation as Hayagriva in

which form He taught the Vedas to the creator, Brahma, and his consort

Saraswati, the presiding deity for knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

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