Philosophical Imaginatrix: The Quintessence of Devi Mahatmya

ॐ श्री ॐ

Devi Mahatmya or Durga Saptasati is one of the most beautiful book in Sanatana Dharma, which explains the nature of life and divinity in the form of Devi. It is the foundation of Shakta Tradition. The texts define life in a way no other vedic tradition can. It's an epitome of perfection if approached and understood correctly. We can either understand the book as an jungle of words, or grab the essence and mysteries behind it. The wisdom of Devi Mahatmya is revealed according to the wisdom of reader. 

The book describes the infinite as mother. In the vedic time it was believed that the ruler of the all pervading existence is the compassionate mother. It's unlike Judeo, Christian or the Islamic view, where the all pervading one is a father figure. The understanding of divinity as a force of Devi, Durga, Mother is not just a religious understanding. But it's an practical view of life and the universe. 

During the inception of civilization, the 'man' lived in an matriarchal society. A detailed study of myths and folklore reveals that in pre-history, the culture revolved around mother, rather than the father.  It is here, where the first form of goddess worshipping started. The 'Patriarchal' system started on a later phase. But certainly in the Vedic times, a foundation of together'ness was born. The Vedas have always understood this, and always understood the nature of universe in harmony with the mother. When a god's name is taken, the female counterpart comes first: Radha & Krishna, Sita & Rama. A harmony is established in a relationship and beauty of the mother and the father. 

A mother is unexplainable. She is the source of life. A baby learns, understands and grows up in the atmosphere of mother. Only then s/he become complete. A mother-baby relationship is far more important than a father-baby relationship. Such is also the truth in the spiritual realm. A mother energy is needed for growth and progression. 

The Keno Upanishad provides the understanding that, by worshipping or meditating on the Goddess (the divine mother) one reaches the highest level of liberation. Devi Mahatmya is that meditation with the goddess. A fixed pattern must be followed for reading Devi Mahatmya. Where you have to read the chapters in the following order, first; second and third; fourth; fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth; ninth and tenth; eleventh; twelfth and thirteenth. A science of vibration is introduced. While one pronounces various words and stotrams, a bio-field rises. It becomes an evolutionary act. But that only happens when done right. Not just reading to read the letters and words. And one has to approach the Devi Mahatmya as a child, with an open heart. 

Navaratri and Durga Puja, are the most important days for meditating on Devi mahatmya. In these days, one can sincerely get in-tuned with the divine mother. 

But what to worship when worshipping the Devi?

Devi is the absolute. The Absolute creates the cosmos. Cosmos is an energy field. Energy is the core of all matter.Matter is made of cosmic spirits. The Spirit and energy are one. One is in all. One is devi. All is devi.                                                                                                                          

Devi is the shakti (the divine power). It is the power of everything that manifests, sustains and dissolves in the universe. To worship 'Devi' is to worship the omniscience. It is not to worship a certain religion or culture. In Bhagvat Geeta, Krishna addresses himself as shakti. And explains that it's a lower form of shakti. His true form is the original shakti, which sustains the whole universe. Even the Upanishads explain that the ultimate essence of gods is parashakti. Devi is consciousness of Deva's. 

We cannot comprehend the imperishable energy, the absolute. Hence we have given various names to the mother goddesses according to the role of creator, sustainer and dissolver. (Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali) Even Shiva is in harmony with Kali. Some stories even explain that the only one who can defeat shiva is Kali. 

The Devi Mahatmya refers to the ultimate Devi as Saptasati. Which are: Mahavidya, Mahamaya, Mahamedha, Mahasmriti, Mahamoha, Mahadevi and Maheshwari. The Devi Mahatmya is divided into three parts. The first part (prathama) describes about Kali in the first chapter. The middle part (madhyama) describes about Lakshmi from chapter two to four. And finally last part (uttara) describes about Saraswati from chapter five to thirteen.  The three parts are in accordance to the three Gunas: Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. 

Swami Shivananda very beautifully explains how Shakti is the foundation of the involution of the matter. He explains:

We know when the transcendent power which is unmanifest and beyond all names and forms becomes manifest as the visible universes, as phenomena and takes on the appearance of Nama-Rupa, there commences a process of involution, of the transcendent becoming relative, of the nameless and formless entering into forms and we see in it a process of the supreme, subtlest of the subtle, the original cause and source becoming progressively grosser and grosser until it reaches the ultimate grossest manifestation in its termination as inert matter. This process of involution is the order of the projection of phenomena. It is the order of one becoming the many, the unmanifest becoming the manifest, the cause appearing as the various effects. Correspondingly, when from this movement into matter the seeker strives to rise back into the original state of transcendence, through a reverse process of an inner movement from matter back into the spirit, we find that the manifestation of this divine power or Shakti starts operating in exactly the contrary and opposite way. When involution starts, it is first the creativity of Brahma that begins to operate. The creative power functions and names and forms stream forth from the great Prakriti. From the state of being beyond, when the names and forms stream forth in the realm of Maya, these names and forms come under the sway of time, under the threefold aspect of the past, the present and the future. As they have to retain their names and forms and exist in threefold time, there arises the function of the preservative, the sustaining, the nourishing and the protecting factor. Mahashakti then operates as the dynamic counterpart of Vishnu the Preserver, He who sustains and keeps up the world-process. She is Maha-Lakshmi. Change has to take place and names and forms are in their very nature perishable and passing because they come under the operation of time or Kala. This process of breaking up the names and forms is performed by Rudra who presides over Laya or dissolution. Thus these functions operate—starting with creativity, then sustenance and then dissolution. This is the descent into matter.

तव च का किल न स्तुतिरम्बिके! सकलशब्दमयी किल ते तनुः।
निखिलमूर्तिषु मे भवदन्वयो मनसिजासु बहिःप्रसरासु च॥
इति विचिन्त्य शिवे! शमिताशिवे! जगति जातमयत्‍‌नवशादिदम्।
स्तुतिजपार्चनचिन्तनवर्जिता न खलु काचन कालकलास्ति मे॥

 Salutation to the Mother, who is all in one and one in all. ॐ