Hindu Festivals No 23A.

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Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

Durga Puja Message.

 

Sarvamangala Mangalye Sive Sarvarthasadhike,

Saranye Tryambake Devi Narayani Namostute

O Narayani, Devi, the Three-eyed, the Refuge, the Auspicious, the Bestower of

all wishes, the Blessedness that is in all that is blessed! Prostration be to

Thee!

 

Devi is synonymous with Shakti or the Divine Power that manifests, sustains

and transforms the universe as the one unifying Force of Existence. In fact,

worship of Devi is not sectarian, it does of belong to any cult, as it is

commonly mistaken to be. Devi is not what is set in apposition to Vishnu or

Siva, as the common populace understands. By Devi or Shakti we mean the

presupposition of all forms of existential power, the power of knowledge of

omniscience; omnipotence is power! These powers are the glorious attributes of

God, you may call Him Vishnu or Siva or as you like. In other words, Shakti is

the very possibility of the Absolute’s appearing as many, of God’s causing

this universe. God creates this world through Srushti-Shakti (creative power),

preserves through Sthiti-Shakti (preservative power), destroys through

Samhara-Shakti (destructive power). Shakti and Shakta are one; the power and the

one who possesses the power cannot be separated; God and Shakti are

like fire and heat of fire.

 

Devi-worship or Shakti-worship is, therefore, worship of God’s glory, of

God’s greatness and supremacy. It is adoration of the Almighty! It is

unfortunate that Devi is understood as a mere bloodthirsty " Hindu-Goddess�

No, Devi is not the property of the Hindu alone, Devi does not belong to any

religion, not only so much, Devi is not differentiated from the Deva by sexual

factors, and Devi is the Conscious Power of the Deva! Let this not be forgotten.

The words Devi, Shakti etc., and the ideas of the different forms connected with

these names are concessions given to the limitations of human knowledge; they

are not ultimate definitions of Shakti! The original Shakti is beyond human

comprehension; Bhagavan Krishna says (in the Gita), " This is only my lower

Nature (Shakti) beyond this is my higher Nature (the Original Shakti), the

life-principle which sustains this universe. " The Upanishad says, " The

Para-Shakti (Supreme Power) of this God is heard of in varieties of

ways, this power is the nature (of God), manifesting as knowledge, strength and

activity. " Truly speaking, all beings of the universe are Shakti worshippers,

for there is none who does not love and long for power in some form or other.

Physicists and scientists have proved now that everything is pure imperishable

energy. This energy is only a form of Divine Shakti which exists in every form

of existence.

 

Since Shakti cannot be worshipped in its essential nature, it is worshipped as

conceived of in its manifestations, viz., creation, preservation and

destruction. Shakti in relation to these three functions is Saraswati, Lakshmi

and Kaali. These, as is evident, are not three distinct Devis, but the One

formless Devi worshipped in three forms. The Devas corresponding to these are

Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, who, in the same way, are not three Devas, but the

forms of the One Supreme Deva who is formless. Navaratri is the festive occasion

of the " nine-nights " worship of Mahakaali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, the

Divinity of the universe adored in three ways.

 

Saraswati is cosmic intelligence, cosmic consciousness, and cosmic knowledge.

Worship of Saraswati is necessary for Buddhi-Shuddhi Viveka-Udaya,

Vichara-Shakti, for Jnana or Self-Illumination. Lakshmi does not mean mere

material wealth like gold, cattle, etc. All kinds of prosperity, glory,

magnificence, joy, exaltation or greatness come under Lakshmi. Appayya Dikshita

calls even final Liberation as " Moksha-Samrajya-Lakshmi " . Hence worship of

Lakshmi means the worship of the central purpose of existence itself. Mahakaali

is the transformative power of Divinity, the power that dissolves multiplicity

in unity. The worship of Devi is, therefore, the explanation of the entire

process of spiritual Sadhana in all its aspects.

 

During Navaratri, observe strict Anushthana and purify your inner nature. This

is the most auspicious time in the year for Mother-worship. Read Saptasati or

Deveemahatyam or Lalitasahasranama. Do Japa of the Mantra of Devi. Perform

formal worship with purity and sincerity and devotion. Cry for Darshana of Devi.

The Divine Mother will bless yon with the Knowledge, the peace and the joy that

know no end!

 

May the Divine Devi, the Mother, bless you all.

 

(By Sri Swami Sivananda)

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry.

 

 

 

 

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