Orissa Review * September - October - 2006

The Significance of Mahatmya

Durga Madhab Dash

The worship of Devi Bhagabati has a lot of power of knowledge and the power of significance in our life. Salutations and prostrations omnicience. Devi worship is thus the worship of to the Devi Mother - She is the source, God's glory. It is the worship of God's greatness significance and ultimate goal of the entire creation. and supremacy. She is the foundation of knowledge in all respects. If 'Sakti' is power, then all beings of the She is also the culmination and conclusion of all universe are the worshippers of 'Sakti'. Who knowledge. She is the precursor to everything in doesn't want power in life ? Power, in the actual the creative process. May Her grace be all upon sense, is every thing in everybody's life. What is us. 'Sakti' then, if it is so important in life ? Sakti is Clad in the pure red and adorned with the the divine energy that subsists as the primary divine weapons, she is the sacred feature and the element in the hub of every life in this universe. It fairiest of the fariest beings. Her complexion is is formless; yet it is present everywhere in the linked to the colour of gold, resplendent in universe like the omnipresent Lord. As we feel wonderful attire. She is the eternal cosmic virgin God's presence everywhere, we also feel in a represented by gods and and all the similar way the presence of Sakti in every nook demigods of Paramatma's creation. This is to and corner of the Nature. So 'Sakti' is no different bring out the spiritual phenomenon that she is the from the Absolute Divine. Since Sakti cannot be mass of absolute 'Suddha Tatwa' as she is the worshipped in its essential nature, it is symbolically cosmic emanation from '', 'Mahalaxmi' worshipped as the power of creation, preservation and 'Mahasaraswati', the trident Sakti forms of and destruction in the forms of Mahasaraswati, the absolute and the unmanifest of the Transdent Mahalaxmi and Mahakali during the nine days Divine. If we delve in to this reality, we are of Puja in the month of Aswina. In short, ultimately transported to a state of pure these three divine forces constitute the unified transcendance. This is what the Divinity of the universe as adored in three different describes to us. ways. Devi is synonimous with Sakti, the Divine is the cosmic intelligence. She Power that manifests, sustains and transforms the is the cosmic consciousness and cosmic universe as one unifying force of existence. By knowledge. We worship Saraswati for purity of this, we may also mean all forms of power, the intellect. We also worship Her for the power of

3 Orissa Review * September - October - 2006 enquiry and self illumination. Similarly Mahalaxmi portrayed in the form of material prosperity. is the symbol of prosperity. She is the divine Gripped under "Avidya Maya", the human being emblem of glory and magnificence. She is the is attracted to a make shift life, characterised by exaltation of munificence in myriad forms. In the the factors like desires, longings, aspirations, words of Appaya Dikhitar, worship of Laxmi yearnings and so on. All these phenomenal feelings means the worship of the Divinity, the power that and urges are hightened across a limitless route. dissolves multiplicity in unity. We fail to comprehend the actual purpose of life. Mahakali is the divine power of destruction. Our aspirations are more on the side of material She is the dissolution incarnate. She does freedom tinged with sensory desires. All this is 'Pralaya' with a divine purpose of the cosmic ramified into various distracted rays in life through creation. She is the annihilator of the evil and the the operations of the mind and the activities of bestower of the divine grace on the earth. the senses. We are for that purpose, involved in Paramatma being the symbol of Sat, Chit and multitude of enterprises in the day-to-day world. Anand, these three godesses in their different The urge for liberation in such a state of existence cosmic plays have a tenacious persistence to is entirely dissipated and we are left in a lurch in elevate the Jiva from the quagmire ofAvidya to the vicissititudes of a mundane life. This cripples the state of the divine bliss. Mahakali may appear our individual self. This dissuades us from the to be cruel, hard-hearted, hurtful and harsh in her actual goal of life. divine appearance. But she is not so in her divine The Devi Mahatmya which is a majestic dispensation. Her appearance is always for the poetry in tells us the aforesaid divine good of the mankind. phenomenon of life and the necessity of worship In this sense, Devi is also the divine of the Devi Mother for attainment of bliss i.e. the embodiment of 'Maya' in her Vidya-Maya form. consciousness which is the actual goal of our life. She is the precursor to all that is divine; all that is 'Devi Maya' is the driving force of the the replica of the esotoric energy. In her 'Avidya' Almighty God. Maya is also all-pervading in the form, she is the deviser of the evil. In the cosmic universe. It subsits like a cover on the Absolute creation of the universe, 'Maya', the phenomenal God. Take it out, the truth is, ip so facto revealed. delusion, is the extraordinary power of the The Truth is now distinct and perceptible. Let us Almighty Divine blended with two miraculous take here the example of a pond that is covered preceptiveness. On one side, it has a divine with the layer of green watry growths. Let us think aspiration. Its purpose in this form is to generate for a while that the water of the pond is not visible the feeling of ever-increasing bliss. This is known because of the spread of the green watry growths. as the 'Sabikalpa' state, where the devotee is used In such a situation, we can see the water of the to esotoric feelings, memory images and all pond only if we take out and cast aside the layer sensibilities of the world engrossed in a state of of the green watry growths. 'Maya' is comparable Divine consciousness. This is a chlorophormed to this setting of the pond. Unless we cast off supernate state of hightened divine perception. Maya, we cannot perceive the existence of the On the other side of it, which is known by the Absolute Supreme. We also cann't attain nomenclature of 'Avidya Maya', there is realisation of God. We cannot taste the elixir of misrepresentation of the goal of life. This is the Supreme Divine. Those who place their legs

4 Orissa Review * September - October - 2006 on 'Maya', mistaking the same for a formidable got into the boat. In fact the boat was as usual base of life to attain the Bliss Divine, are entirely tied to a peg on the bank of the Ganga. The boat gone in the winds; they go down in the mire of had not budged an inch from its place despite his self-destruction like a person going down deep endless rowing. At last, he was utterly frustrated. and deep into water in mistaking the layer of the He realised his folly and beat his forehead. The watery growths for a hard surface on the pond. If story may appear skimpy but it conveys a moral our thoughts are to drink of the bliss in all activities to all of us. Like the intoxicated boatman, we of life, our wild fancies abiding in myriad desires spend our time in endless labour. We are in pursuit should come out of the layer of delusion and dip of mundane desires to have happiness and in the river of the Bliss Divine. Our intuition, and pleasure in life. But this doesnot lead us to actual our intellect should spread like the ubiquitous ether happiness. Instead, we are succumbed to untold and mingle with the all-pervading bliss pursuing sufferings. Let us surrender the mundane desires the actual truth of life. at the lotus feet of the Lord. This is Tyaga i.e. There is a beautiful story to explain this total sacrifice in the spiritual sense of the term. If esotoric concept of life. We know Kasi i.e. we are to tread the path of austerity, we will have Benaras of . Kasi is said to be the seat of to keep all our senses under strict control. In knowledge and wisdom. It is a cultural highbrow devotion, sacrifice is elevated by the surges of where one can read all the scriptures of ancient wisdom; we will then be in a position to enjoy the India and imbibe the vastness of the cultural nectar of bliss that is the ultimate goal of life. This heritage of this sacred region in all its gaiety and is what is described in the Devi Mahatmya in wondorous splendour. Our story runs like this. greater details through different illustrious There was a boatman in Kasi, Radhasyam by examples. name. He was living by the side of the Ganga. He We know Sukadev Maharaj of the had a beautiful boat. He rowed the boat everyday Bhagabat. He was a realised soul. In his austre in the holy river, ferried pilgrims and goods and days of Sadhana, he had accepted Janaka as his thus earned his livelihood. As time passed by, he spiritual preceptor. He had learnt from him many came under the influence of pernicious 'Kamana". sacred lessons in the scriptures of 'Sanatana He wanted to earn more money out of his rowing Dharma'. After completion of his studies, Sukadev profession. One day, he took a decision that beseeched his Gurudev to ask for "Gurudakhina". henceforth he would also ferry passengers and Janaka Maharshi evaded his disciple's request goods at night and add to his income by earning and said, "even without 'Gurudakhina", I am quite more money than before. On the first day of his pleased. Your days in the Ashram were the ambitious venture, he took a lump of Bhang paste happiest days of my life. Initially you were nothing. and set out on his work. At night, he got in to the I was unhappy during your stay over here. You boat as per his plan and started rowing the boat are now a realised soul. This is my greatest in his usual way. He passed the whole night in achievement. I am proud of you, my son. Your endless rowing. As the dawn fell, he relaxed his achievement has given me the greatest pride and body for a while but soon fell into deep slumber. self-gratification. I treat this as your When he woke up late in the morning, beaten by "Gurudakhina." You may now go on your way the rays of the morning sun, he found to his surprise and dessiminate to others all that you have learnt that he was at the same place where he had last from me." Sukadev was not satisfied. He insisted

5 Orissa Review * September - October - 2006 on his pious submission. Finding no other way, demonic forces, Madhu and Kaithaba. In the Janaka at last said, 'Sukadev, I say I am over second section, the Sakti manifests Herself as satisfied. Still then, you ask for Gurudakhina. So Mahalaxmi and overcomes Mahisasura and be it then ! If you are so much interested, then Raktabirjya. The third one is the stage where give me that thing to me, which is considered the are destroyed by worst in this mundane world." Hearing this, Mahasaraswati. And, the nine days of worship Sukadev was baffled for a while. After all he was of Sakti thus comprehend these three stages not an ordinary person. He was a great divine adored in three days of worship. The final victory soul. He was also an illustrious scholar. Now he is Vijaya-Dasami. This is the tenth day of the searched for what his Gurudev demanded from ritual, where the 'Sadhak' (spiritual aspirant) is him, What could be the worst thing in this world finally successful to master the forces of nature. which no man should ever possess in his life. His goal is thus finally reached. Madhu and Could it be then excreta ? No, not this ! Even Kaithava represent the evil forces of desire, greed excreta is used as organic manure. What could and anger, the three gates to the hell. The three be that worst thing then which my Gurudev is evil attributes are considered as dirt. They cover expecting from me ?" Sukadev sought to unravel the consciousness in such a way that it is neither the meaning of his Gurudev's expectation. At last, distinct nor visible to the Sadhak's eyes in his day- he got the idea. The worst thing in this world to-day life. They have to be rubbed off with great would be nothing other than 'Ahamkar' - one's effort to achieve spiritual prosperity in life. pernicious ego. This is more so in the case of a Having achieved this, we are now spiritual aspirant. Sukadev was not simply a succumbed to another trouble. This trouble is in spiritual seeker. He was well versed in the the subtler form. This is more dangerous than the knowledge of scriptures and endowed with visible evil forces of 'kama', 'krodha' and 'lobha'. myriad spiritual achievements. Such a soul bathed Now we are subject to the aggression of the in all the illustrious magnificence of glorious demons, Mahisasura and Raktabirjya. They spiritual career was vulnerable to fickle represent the "vikhyapa sakti" of the mind. This waywardness in the form of horrondous is otherwise known as tossing of mind resulting in 'Ahankar'. His gurudev therefore wanted of him the distortion of the intellect i.e. Buddhi. Human the sacrifice of this 'Mala" (Dirt), so that he could mind is restless, fickle and inconsistent in nature. make glaring advancements on the path of his It is like a grass hopper jumping from one place austre spiritual career. At last Sukadev to another in the flickering of every moment. We bequeathed his ego as Gurudakhina on the alter read in the Devi-Mahatmya how Mahisasura of his offering and took leave of his Gurudev who changed his form every now and then. Now he is was satisfied and happy. The Devi Mahatmya also a buffalo. Then he is a tiger. Now he is some reveals this impeccable truth. other animal or some other human form. If you It is said in the Devi Mahatmya that there hit him in one form, he is visible in another. His are three stages of transformation in life. These 'Sakti' is not to be easily vanquished. He is an three stages are described in a picturesque way insurmountable opponent. Our mind is in the three sections of this scripture. In the first comparable to this demon. How much we may section, the Adi-Sakti awakens Mahavishnu who try to control it, it is agressively visible in some is fast asleep, so that he may destroy the original other form. This is also the quality of Raktabirjya,

6 Orissa Review * September - October - 2006 whose drops of blood are the seeds of thousands on this score. This is more serious than conquest and thousands of many other reckless demons. of passion, anger and ego along with the fickleness Raktabirjya has been compared to the carnel of mind. We are to now comprehend the desires of man. If one desire is satisfied another consciousness that is the dominant consideration crops up in its place. The Devi-Mahatmya should of life. Ignorance is the subtle barrier to be read and understood in this way to consciousness. Ignorance has to be entirely comprehend the basic truths of life. How can then crushed. It is more important than the other evils we control such a syndrome ? The only way is to of life. Why do we dwell on the mundane desires destroy the root, we have to cut the root to in life ? This is because we are far away from the annihilate a tree. Cutting the branches is abode of truth. The soul is covered with ignorance meaningless to bump off a tree. as the sun is covered with clouds. This stage is So the 'Devi' appeared in the form of known as 'Sattva' which is unfortunately a 'Guna', Mahakali, who spread her tongue throughout the a feature of the nature like the 'Gunas' of 'rajas' earth, so that there was no ground for the demons and 'tamas'. But we always praise the stage of to walk over and spread their evil. The blood of 'Sattva' in life and consider this a desirable thing Raktabirjya was no longer to fall on the ground in life. Swami Krishnananda Saraswati says that to generate the birth of demons in the previous this stage in life is like a transparent glass. Glass order. The sucked all the blood. All the being transparent, we can see what is there on its demons thus entered Her mouth and perished. other side. Similarly in the 'Sattva' stage, we know what is ideal for us in our life. But unfortunately The demons, Madhu and Kaithaba we cannot reach it unless this glass-barrier is represent the 'Mala' of 'tamas'. This pertains to broken. In this sense, even 'Sattva' is a subtle the 'gunas' like 'kama', krodha' and 'lobha'. The medium of obstruction. We have to cross this other two demons are Mahisasura and stage like those of Rajas and Tamas. The 'Sattva' Raktabirjya. They represent the Rajas, i.e. the has two sides in disposition. On one side, it is a 'vikhyapa sakti' of the mind. This is related to the stage of complacency and, on the other, it is a tossing of the mind. In symbolic expression as subtle state of ignorance. The two sides of 'Sattva' described in the Devi Mahatmya, with all the are represented by the two personalities namely above demons killed, it is implied that there is Sumbha and Nisumbha. They have to be dispelled success in controlling the 'Mala' of passion, anger by the power of a higher wisdom that is and ego. There is also success in controlling the Mahasaraswati. Thus, while the first section of "Vikhyapa sakti" of the mind and establishing its the Devi Mahatmya represents action, the second steadfastness in actual dispensation. We can have and the third sections profess the ideals of this achievement through Karma which contemplation and knowledge respectively. These purifies our actions. We will have to shun for this are the three stages through which we have to purpose, all the desires and surrender our 'karma' pierce through the veil of Prakriti or the three at the lotus feet of the Lord not craving the fruits 'gunas' as described above and attain God of actions. This is called 'Upasana' i.e. worship realisation in life which is our ultimate goal. of God. Let us remember one thing that we are not As further said in the Devi Mahatmya, we individual pedestrians on the path of spiritual are still not fully safe. We have another concern austerity. There is no question of individual

7 Orissa Review * September - October - 2006 achievement at this stage of 'Sadhana'. Here, it is Here again, this stage of life has another barrier all a total movement and no item of spiritual to divine consciousness. Knowledge actually requirement is to be separated from the other dawns at this stage for onward spiritual progress. spiritual requirements. For the overall progress So we worship Saraswati in the third stage of of the soul, all the three Gunas - the Tamas, the Navaratri Puja. Saraswati is the of Rajas and the Sattva - have to be crossed over knowledge. When she bestows knowledge, there together to attain the Supramental Bliss. In the is contemplation of the consciousness and we are Devi Mahatmya, all the three Goddesses - morally ordained by our intellect to lead a 'Sattvic' Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati - have life. With the dawn of divine consciousness, we a meaningful contribution to the spritual progress come to realize that even this stage of life is a of the soul. Through the worship of the three subtle barrier. Even we have to cross this barrier Goddesses, we worship the Adisakti, the to attain the Divine Bliss in life. The third stage of premordial Divine Force in the celestial form of Devi worship thus contemplates the dawn of 'Devi Mata'. She is the spritual fluke of a enlightment. From enlightment, we proceed on homogenious divine appearance in the cosmic to self-realization. The Vijaya Dasami day is the creation of the Lord. In the first stage of the symbolic of this spiritual achievement. Navaratri Puja, we worship Mahakali. She brings These are the truths that are esoterically about the destruction of all barriers. With this conveyed to us in the '' of the Devi achievement, there is tremendous prosperity and Mahatmya. Glory to God, glory to the Divine thereby one becomes the master, commanding Mother. May the Adisakti bestow on us the all powers in life. In the process of the spiritual desired enlightment of life with strength to tread evolution, with the 'Tamas' curbed, the spiritual the path of the Almighty God. aspirant has a total march from the 'Tamas' to the "Rajas". The 'Rajas' actually sprout material prosperity. This is the blessing of Mahalaxmi, as Madhab Dash lives at C-80, Palasapalli, symbolically described in the Devi Mahatmya. Bhubaneswar.

Shri Prafulla Ghadai, Minister, Finance and Shri Debasis Nayak, Minister, Information & Public Relations, Sports and Youth Services releasing the souvenir on the occasion of 3rd Annual Function of Kendrapara Bikash Parishad at Jayadev Bhawan on 9.8.2006

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