God as Mother - Publishers' Note & Prayer to Mother

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CONTENTS

 

Publishers' Note

Prayer to Mother

The Indian Concept of the Divine Mother

The Worship of the Divine Mother

The Power Of The Transcendent Reality

The Destroyer Of Destructive Forces

Destruction: The Springboard To Construction

Lakshmi: The Supreme Sustainer

The Path Of Prosperity

Goddess Of Auspiciousness At Home And At Heart

Creation: The Music Of Mother's Veena

The Goddess Of Success

The Path To Final Liberation

The Great Goal And Its Attainment

 

 

 

PUBLISHERS' NOTE

 

During the Navaratra Durga Puja at the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh,

in 1953 (8th to 17th October), Revered Sri Swami Chidanandaji

Maharaj delivered a series of most illuminating lectures on " God

as Mother " which have been brought together in a book form. These

lectures contain in them an inspiring message to all sections and

strata of mankind. That it has already gone through three editions

before this, gives ample credence that it was well received by

readers. Besides being out of print for quite some time, we felt it

most fitting to bring out this fourth edition under the auspices of

the Amrita Mahotsava of Pujya Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj.

 

24.9.1991 —THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

 

 

 

PRAYER TO MOTHER

 

Salutations to the Divine Mother who exists in all beings in the

form of intelligence, mercy and beauty, salutations, O Sweet Mother,

the consort of Lord Siva. O Mother Parvati! Thou art Lakshmi, Thou

art Sarasvati. Thou art Kali, Durga and Kundalini Shakti. Thou art

in the form of all objects. Thou art the sole refuge of all. Thou

hast enchanted the whole world. The whole universe is the play of

Thy three Gunas. How can I praise Thee? Thy glory is indescribable.

Thy splendour is ineffable. Protect me. Guide me, O Loving Mother!

 

O Adorable Mother! Thou hast generated this great illusion by which

all people walk deluded in this world. All sciences have come from

Thee. Without Thy grace, no one can get success in spiritual Sadhana

and salvation in the end. Thou art the seed for this world. Thou

hast two aspects, viz., the unmanifested aspect or Avyaktam and the

manifested aspect or the gross universe. The whole world gets

dissolved in Avyaktam during Pralaya. Give me the divine eye. Let me

behold Thy real majestic form. Help me to cross over this illusion,

O Kind Mother!

 

O Compassionate Mother! I bow to Thee. Thou art my saviour. Thou art

my goal. Thou art my sole support. Thou art my guide and the remover

of all afflictions, troubles and miseries. Thou art the embodiment

of auspiciousness. Thou pervadest the whole universe. The whole

universe is filled with Thee. Thou art the store-house of all

qualities. Do Thou protect me. I again and again salute Thee. O

Glorious Mother! Salutations to Thee. All women are Thy parts. Mind,

egoism, intellect, body, Prana, senses, are Thy forms. Thou art Para

Shakti and Apara Prakriti. Thou art electricity, magnetism, force,

energy, power and will. All forms are Thy forms only. Reveal to me

the mystery of creation. Bestow on me the divine knowledge.

 

O Loving Mother! Thou art the primal energy. Thou hast two aspects,

namely, the terrible and peaceful. Thou art modesty, gentleness,

shyness, generosity, courage, forbearance and patience. Thou art

faith in the heart of devotees and generosity in noble people,

chivalry in warriors and ferocity in tigers. Give me strength to

control the mind and the Indriyas. Make me worthy to dwell in

Thee. Salutations unto Thee.

 

O Mother Supreme! When shall I have equal vision and placid state of

mind? When shall I be established in Ahimsa, Satyam and

Brahmacharya? When shall I have Thy cosmic vision? When shall I get

deep abiding peace and perennial joy? When shall I enter into deep

meditation and Samadhi?

 

O Radiant Mother! I have not done any spiritual Sadhana or service

of teachers. I have not practised any Vrata, pilgrimage, charity,

Japa and meditation or worship. I have not studied religious

scriptures. I have neither discrimination nor dispassion. I have

neither purity nor burning desire for liberation. Thou art my sole

refuge. Thou art my only support. My silent adorations unto Thee. I

am Thy meek suppliant. Remove the veil of ignorance. O Gracious

Mother! Prostrations unto Thee. Where art Thou? Do not forsake me.

I am Thy child. Take me to the other shore of fearlessness and joy.

When shall I behold Thy lotus feet with my own eyes? Thou art the

boundless ocean of mercy. When philosopher's stone turns iron

into gold by contact, when the Ganges turns impure water into pure

water, can'st Thou not turn me, O Divine Mother, into a pure

soul? May my tongue repeat Thy Name always!

 

(Sri Swami Sivananda in GEMS OF PRAYERS)