The Goddess Durga is depicted as a beautiful lotus eyed woman , golden hued..riding on a Tiger or a Lion..she has eights hands carrying various weapons to destroy the evil enemies of the good and she also carries a conch shell, prayer beads and has one of her hands raised in benediction. She is dressed in red, gold, green and the beautiful colors of autumn.
Sri Ma Sarada Devi who was the spiritual mentor of thousands in India once said.." There is a great worship taking place every moment in the universe..you can hear it in the songs of the birds and see it in the blossoms of the flowers..live each moment of your life carefully".
Below the feet of the Lion she rides..lies the slain demon Mahishasur ( the one who rides the buffalo)..Here the Goddess is symbolically vanquishing all evil and demonic forces on earth. She is the protector, the Mother and the sustainer of the Earth and all its creatures...her characteristics are Courage, protectiveness, generosity, love, compassion, wisdom, strength and fearlessness..amongst a few. Another name for her is Shakti..which means supernatural strength..She is described as being as tender as a Petal and as strong as the Thunder Bolt of lightning..She is also known as the daughter of the Himalayas and at this time of the year..the Autumn colors , paint the mountains in her hue..
Culture and spirituality combine in her worship.
The eighth and ninth days are specially auspicious as she is said to have slain the great Demonic forces during those days. For spiritual aspirants, Fasting, meditation and special prayers and ' Homa' sacrificial offerings to the fire are performed.
The season starting from ' Navaratri ( the nine days of Durga puja ..in mid October .until Diwali in November) is also known as `Devi Paksha'..the time ruled by the Goddess...
The followers of the ancient Vedic religion worship her in her many aspects as Durga, MaKali and Ma Laxmi during this auspicious period of time.
Dasserah which falls on October 10 and 11 this year is also the dates of Thanksgiving Day in Canada .Here the trees and forests have turned Red and yellow and brown and the air has the haunting touch of the changing seasons..While in India People decorate their homes with ,lights and lamps and the auspicious new year is welcomes in with the offering of sweets and goodies to family, friends and community, in Canada families come together for the Thanksgiving dinner which is one of Thanks and celebration too.
Interestingly some other old religions such as Judaism celebrate their Thanksgiving and both Rosh Hashana and the Feast of Tabernacle and the eight day festival of lights Hanukka during the month of October/ November too.
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| A Temple dedicated to Sri Sarada Ma..the Ideal Mother at Pune in India |
That is why the 10th day Dasserah or Vijaya Dashami ( Victory) has a special significance in India. It is also the day on which the symbol of Ma Durga is symbolically immersed in water as she returns to her heavenly abode.
Reverend Swami Kripamayananda head of the Vedanta society of Toronto. Beautifully explained the symbolism as saying that when we physically immerse the picture or the idol..."The spiritual presence of the great divine goddess does not disappear into the elements but goes deep into our hearts and souls where we must always make a place for her and feel the presence of God".
The worship of images and symbols..is the outer expression of the worship of divinity which must always be deep within each ..He also quoted the words of Sri Ramakrishna the Saint who is the inspiring force behind the Ramakrishna and Sarada Math and Missions worldwide : ""You were talking of images made of clay. There arises a
necessity for them too. These various forms used for worship have been provided to suit the needs of different men at different stages of spiritual evolution.” (Sri Ramakrishna)
In fact Sri Ramakrishna was one of the first Hindu Saints to experience not only the path of ancient Goddess worship as in the Vedas and Puranams but also the path of Christ and pure Islam amongst many others. It is because of his proclamation that Christ was as divine incarnation as true as Krishna and that all true and peaceful paths lead to the same one God.that has made his followers worldwide so open and unprejudiced in their spiritual outlook. It is because of Sri Ramakrishna's teachings and philosophies that the founding fathers of independent India chose that India remain a secular country with freedom and respect for all faiths and religions.
During Diwali the divine Goddess is worshiped as Ma Lakshmi in most of parts of India..while in N Eastern Indian especially in Bengal..the dark night of the coming lunar month is observed as the night of Ma Kali Puja..Revered Swami Kripamayananda Head of the Vedanta society of Toronto explained why Sri Ramakrishna the Indian mystic often said that the new moon night is very auspicious to spiritual aspirants . "The new moon ( or darkest night of the lunar month) represents the darkness that sometimes overwhelms our lives..when our world becomes dark it is then that we turn inwards to God" he explained beautifully. That is why Mother Durga in her fierce and relentless form as Bhardrakali or Mahakali has been worshiped as a protector against our enemies and all danger in bad times and in good times..since antiquity.
Right Picture of Bhavatarini MaKali who was worshiped by Sri Ramakrishna in Dakshineshwar India. This is her benign form which is worshiped by millions as a symbol of great protection.
MahaKali is the extreme symbolization of the Goddess since she is depicted as a ferocious dark hued woman with weapons..and a garland of skulls..walking amongst the dead .below her feet lies her unconscious husband the God Shiva..who is trying to stop her dance of death and destruction. She is usually worshiped.as Bhadrakali which is the benign form worshiped in most Ma Kali temples in India and the world over..in this form she is more benign..Many cannot understand the symbolism of this form.
Mahakali symbolizes the face of God which appears to man as the force behind extreme calamities like hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions..when thousands are killed..she is the face of God that rules in time of war and carnage. When galaxies collapse and Black holes devour entire solar systems..it is the hand of Mahakali taking entire creations into a dimension beyond..darkness, death and..time into a state that is eternal, pure and effulgent. Taking refuge in her..her followers believe that they are protected from the horrors which wars , life and natural calamities bring..Her appearance is frightening to those who cannot see that it is finally God behind everything good and bad that happens on earth...Finally she is the fearless Mother who strikes fear in the heart of your worst enemy in times of danger..She is the great protector against evil and demonic forces.
One then wonders if Ma Durga was to walk amongst humans as an ordinary human being what would she be like and who would she look like.?.would she be a bewitching beauty ..enticing men with her celestial outer beauty..? Would she want to attract humans by power, riches and glitter..or would she walk incognito ..arising the beauty, kindness, purity, spirituality and divinity in the hearts of all men and women? Maybe she would be the simplest of the simple and the humblest of the humble...The incarnations always choose the abode of the poor and the humble in heart.
Sri Ramakrishna the great spiritual mystic of India who saw the divine truth of all religions and the presence of the divine Mother in all women worshiped his own wife Sri Sarada Devi as Shodashi the great divine Mother..she became the living symbol of inner beauty, the essence of Mother hood , kindness , tolerance and magnitude in heart and spirit. Her outer beauty was hidden from the world as her inner beauty blossomed and touched the life of millions even after her passing.. Her qualities are simplicity, depth, kindness, patience, spirituality, compassion, wisdom, inner strength, foresightedness and motherly love towards all creatures..to name a few..For further reading ( ..www.belurmath.org/srisaradadevi.htm )
This is a photograph of Ma Sarada Devi who is a symbol of purity, spirituality and essence of Motherly love and kindness in every woman's heart. Further more it is said that EVERY woman/girl has the drop of the element of that Goddess divinity and the more pure and chaste and true she is the more it is projected. That is why faithfulness , spirituality and unselfishness have been emphasized in our culture . Men who dishonor women are eventually destroyed by their own actions. Women who are unchaste and destructive destroy themselves by the same principles.
During this season of Goddess worship there is something mystical in the atmosphere that no matter where we are in the world we feel that special bond and long for our own Mothers. My eldest cousin sister Meena Mukherji a much loved and respected former Sanskrit teacher of St Mary's High School in Pune and a poet and writer too, always says that " I feel such a deep bond with my Mother's soul and also the ache of separation from all the loved ones especially my husband who have passed on"..
I understand that ache..Dasserah was always the time when Bengali families would celebrate with, family, friends, feasts and new clothes and revelery ..the bond between children and parents was more reinforced. as was of husbands and wife's. When my beloved father passed away something passed away with him. He always took pride in seeing my beautiful, beloved Mother dressed like a queen. With his passing those days of glory passed on too..Similarly Meena didi's husband Raja Mukherji was a complete gentleman who loved his family. To me he was an elder brother with the heart of a father. His legacy of decency and gentleness leave behind the feeling of joy in our hearts . Truly there are many happy and loving memories in my heart of him as our eldest brother in law.
Daserah also reminds me poignantly of my last meeting with my beloved Grand father Shri J P Mukherji in the Daserah day of 2002 it was my first visit home to India after moving to Canada in 2001. Every day of that short visit I would spend time with my Grandpa and share some precious moments with him. On that last day when I was to leave for Canada he blessed me with his words of benediction and advise to fully integrate in Canada, to never give up my core spiritual values of Vedanta and to find a Canadian man( yes his words for he had seen and loved Canada ) A man of depth and integrity who would imbibe all the true qualities of a good husband and life partner and to always be there for my beloved Mother. Almost prophetically all his last words to me came true. I often think of my beloved Grand Pa who was both spiritual guide and Grand father to me after my loving Dad passed away.
and so as those who are precious bid us goodbye..and as time goes by our expressions go inward. Sometimes my beloved husband Brian who is Canadian and who uncannily has the same generous spirit as my Father did says or does something that is almost the same as My father's words and actions and I am reminded that Love returns to us and is always with us ..and so we treasure and cherish those who God has blessed us with in this life and never take them for granted.
Daserah also reminds me poignantly of my last meeting with my beloved Grand father Shri J P Mukherji in the Daserah day of 2002 it was my first visit home to India after moving to Canada in 2001. Every day of that short visit I would spend time with my Grandpa and share some precious moments with him. On that last day when I was to leave for Canada he blessed me with his words of benediction and advise to fully integrate in Canada, to never give up my core spiritual values of Vedanta and to find a Canadian man( yes his words for he had seen and loved Canada ) A man of depth and integrity who would imbibe all the true qualities of a good husband and life partner and to always be there for my beloved Mother. Almost prophetically all his last words to me came true. I often think of my beloved Grand Pa who was both spiritual guide and Grand father to me after my loving Dad passed away.
and so as those who are precious bid us goodbye..and as time goes by our expressions go inward. Sometimes my beloved husband Brian who is Canadian and who uncannily has the same generous spirit as my Father did says or does something that is almost the same as My father's words and actions and I am reminded that Love returns to us and is always with us ..and so we treasure and cherish those who God has blessed us with in this life and never take them for granted.
Below is a beautiful life like painting of Ma Sarada the spiritual mentor and woman saint of millions of people India. Painted by My dear friend Baishaki who often visits the Vedanta society of Toronto. She is a Dentist and also an artist and a devotee of Ramakrishna and Ma Sarada.
In this painting.Ma Sarada has a far away look in her eyes as if she is thinking of all of her children far and near. This is Ma Sarada in the later more mature years of her life..when she was established as a spiritual mentor and a Mother in every sense of the word to hundreds.
Painting by Baishaki Toronto Canada.
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God cannot be realized without Love, yes sincere Love Ma Sarada
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Baishaki came to Canada as a young girl but yet remembers the love and affection of the elderly mother figures in her own life and her childhood days back in Siliguri and Coochbihar in India..When homesick for her beloved Grand Mother and aunts who all embodied that essence of love and motherhood and kindness... Baishaki found in the pictures of Ma Sarada her own Grand Mother and she painted this beautiful picture as an act of love. Here at the Vedanta society of Toronto there is a regular elderly devotee who is lovingly called Mataji ( Mother) by all. She is the Mother of a very positive minded friend named Neelam. Her elderly Mataji is a very very simple and quiet woman of few words, but in her actions and observations she is a true Mother at heart
..and to conclude wherever we see that great manifestation of motherly love..whether it be in a Mother Teresa or a teacher we have never forgotten..whether we see it in our own Mothers heart or in that of women who have touched our lives in a divine way that nobody else ever has that is a reflection of the same divine Goddess who we are all a part of..
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God cannot be realized without love...yes sincere love" -- Ma Sarada
