Surrendering to Devi - Devi Upasana-

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Today, on this fifth day of Navaratri, it is my pleasure to once

again sing the Glories of Devi Durga , the cosmic Mother.

 

May i please be allowed to relate this story from Devi Purana ?

 

Sage Narada once asked Lord Shiva" I have always seen you all three

gods Brahma, Vishnu, and yourself engaged in meditation. Who is that

higher one, greater then you, that is the object of your adoration?

We do not know anyone more worthy of worship than you. Lord Shiva

told Narada " That primordial and eternal being is Parashakti. She

is the Parabrahman herself. She it is that creates, maintains and

destroys all the world. Though she is truly formless, She incarnates

herself as Parvati, Durga, Vaishno Devi , Kali and Saraswati. etc

etc ..........."

 

Tthe divine mother herself declares in Devi Purana

 

" There is only one reality and that is the truth. The truth and I

are the same."

 

In the same devipurana, Lord Vishnu admits that he is not a

free being and that he only carries out the orders of the divine

mother.If Brahma creates the world, Vishnu preserves it, and Shiva

destroys it, it is only as machines - the one who motivates them is

the divine mother herself.

 

The divine mother is *** the Shakti.***. ADI shakthi , Parashakthi!

 

The gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, are subject to

dissolution. But Shakti remains for ever, she has neither a

beginning nor an end. She is *Ananta*

 

Saundarya Lahari verse 1 states

 

shivaH shaktyaa yukto yadi bhavati shaktaH prabhavitu.n

na cedeva.n devo na khalu kushalaH spanditumapi .

atastvaamaaraadhyaaM hariharaviri~ncaadibhirapi

praNantuM stotuM vaa kathamakR^itapuNyaH prabhavati .. 1..

 

 

United with Shakti, Shiva is endowed with the power to create the

universe. Otherwise, He is incapable even of movement. Therefore,

who except those endowed with great merits acquired in the past can

be fortunate enough to salute or praise Thee, Mother Divine, who art

the adored of even Hari, Hara and Virinci

 

Such is Devi's 'mahima' - Her Divine 'energy' !

 

How do we approach Devi ? Here is where 'bhavana' is very

significant. What is 'bhavana' ? Bhavana literally means 'emotion' !

This is one reason why Devi is called 'bhavani' - one who is full

of 'Bhavana'

 

HOW DOES SREE LALITA SAHASARANAMA describe "'Bhavani" ?

 

 

BavaanaI Baavanaagamyaa BavaarNyakuzairka |

Bad`iP`ayaa Bad`maUit- Ba@t... ||

Bai@t...`ayaa Bai@t... Bai@t... Bayaapha |

SaaMBavaI SaardaraQyaa Savaa-NaI Sava-daiyanaI ||

 

 

The purpose of Bhavani (divine mother worship) is to take you to the

ULTIMATE REALITY and when you achieve Brahman, bhaya (fear) goes

away. Till then you have to take refuge in Bhavani - that which has

to be touched by Bhavana. (bhakti) All upasana is based on bhavana

only;but unfortunately most Sadhakas are only bothered by details.

If we don't have bhava then an idol will be just an idol. If we have

bhava, shakti will manifest there. So bhava has to be invoked.

 

UPASNA MEANS 'SITTING' NEAR( THE GODDESS )- IN A BHAVA OF 'HUMILITY'

AND TOTAL SURRENDER - ATMA SAMARPANAM - it is then that Devi will

shower you with 'Grace' - without her 'grace' nothing moves , not

even a blade of grass.

 

What is so great about DURGA SAPTASHATI ? IT IS NOT JUST A STORY OF

DEVI VANQUISHING THE DEMONS MADHU KAITABHA , DHUMRALOCHANA,

RAKTABIJA, MAHISASUR ETC .... it is a mantra AND TANTRA shastra.

The very first verse contains the bijamantra of devi - *HREEM*

 

Om shrimata shrimaharagyi shrimatsimha saneshvari

Chidagni kundasambhuta devakarya samudyata ..

 

Salutations to the Divine Mother, who is the Mother of all.

Great Empress of the whole Universe.

Great Sovereign, enthroned on the lion's back.

Who came out of the fire of Pure Consciousness.

Who promotes the cause of Divine forces

 

Tripurasundari Vidmahe Kameshvari Dhimahi Tannah Klinne Prachodayat