Just one important lesson entailed in the concept underlying Mother Goddess Durga, relevant to the polarised world, was discussed in the previous issue. A holistic view will, however, reveal that the concept as such is profound and all-encompassing. It covers as much metaphysical perceptions as practical lessons in how to conduct in a disparate world marked with its enormity and diversity. Durga is believed to be the epitome of Shakti. It needs to be appreciated that we all owe our dynamic existence to nature driven energy orchestra (Shakti in Indian terminology). The word Shakti reflects altogether a different connotation as compared to “Energy” as understood in modern sense. For, inherent in Shakti is a creative aspiration, which spontaneously following intelligent design inherent with nature, blossoms out into the world of phenomenon. However, in either form – Shakti or abstract energy – won’t discriminate. Therefore, knows no bias. So long as they keep doing their rounds in the cosmos, they act involuntarily.
The same energy, however, acquires altogether a different dimension when it comes to human application. As you are aware, human beings are armed with exclusive privilege to guide their actions by choice and discrimination. They, thus, qualify to apply Shakti as individually wished. And choice option always carries equal probability of use and misuse. So, when operative at human level, Shakti turns out to be a double-edged weapon. Now, shakti is available in equal proportion to all of us. But it strikes divergent notes on different people. Why? Here comes into play one’s unique mind-trend, which varies from person-to-person. It is this uniqueness of a being, which responds to shakti varied ways according as each mind is inherently made out. Durga offers lessons in how to overcome this vulnerability and use one’s shakti to sail through life with ease and comfort.
The legend pertaining to the Mother does also hint on evolution and devolution of nature driven energies – from a singularity to multiple chains, and then back to the primal-source - which drives through the world process. Mother, thus, symbolises convergence of all nature driven forces vital to our existence, which is why when they all joined, She emerged. It is in this spirit that She is named “Durga”, which means something unassailable. Out of that primal source has evolved a complex chain of forces, each personified as a devata specific. And, which following an intelligent design laid down by nature, creates, sustains, and recycles the manifest dynamic world. And, with time, after having exhausted their sustainable limit, these forces, and thereby the world, revert to the primal source. Out of the seeds of life that these forces carry back, a fresh creation chain gets excited. Thus, goes on a continued chain of evolution and devolution with no beginning or end in final sense, what modern science calls a “boundary-less singularity”.
Now, why the form of a Mother and not a male or any other presence? Our seers, seeing truths from human perspective, had realised double propensity inherent in all empowerment tools - physical, material, or intellectual. Accordingly, they felt the need to educate all and sundry on how to judiciously use shakti in larger interest of the individual self, humanity, and overall existential needs. As we are aware, a mother uses her shakti and all resources available, to bear, produce, and nurse her child, till they qualify to manage on their own. She bears with all the pains in the process. Yet she rejoices for what she has brought up. And, in her true motherly spirit, it remains a selfless exercise, as she does not expect anything in return thereof at least in immediate terms. There can be, therefore, no better simile than that of a mother, which may be suggestive of judicious and selfless application of Shakti.
Mother is visualised mounted on a Lion having 10 hands. In 8, She is shown holding different weapons offered by the Devata-s. In remaining two, She is shown with a conch shell (Blowing instrument) in one and Lotus flower in the other. It will be interesting to note here that there are ten directions – North, East, South, West, the four corners, one above and another below, implying 10 dimensions of energy flow in nature. She attends to the energies flowing through different directions with Her ten hands holding different armouries. And we are all aware that both creation and destruction are the prerogative of shakti alone. It will naturally be desirable to access and make the most out of creative energies and simultaneously checkmate the implications of negative forces.
The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at
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