Mothers the nucleus of creation

Mother Luxmi

                                                                    

Since the beginning of this month I have not been able to escape the elaborate publicity that has flooded our space in terms of the Women’s day celebrations that will unfold throughout the country on August 9.

What a lovely thought to appreciate and recognise women for their efforts in the freedom struggle of our country. On this day in 1956 the country and world had a preview of woman power when women marched onto the lawns of the Union buildings to show their dissatisfaction against the pass laws.

However from a pure Hindu perspective we have never showed any disrespect or discrimination towards women. In fact we have but placed her on the highest pedestal of the social order. There is a beautiful saying which reads  Maata, Pitha, Guru, Devam which when translated means , Mother, father, Teacher and then God.

It is indeed a remarkable co-incidence that this event took place right in the midst of a period in Hindu practice when so much praise and worship is dedicated to the divine mother. We are currently in the month of Aadi and will be celebrating Luxmi Pooja on 12 August followed closely in a few weeks by Navarathri (a full 9 night festival to mother).

Woman or the feminine aspect plays a very important and interesting role in Hindu philosophy. The feminine aspect of the divine is respectfully referred to as Shakti or the power. There is god, but that which is the force with which this god acts is known as Shakti.

You will notice that when gods are addressed they are always done with the name of the Shakti first, like Uma Maheshwara , Luxmi Narayana, Radhe Krishna and so on.

Another wonderful example which we will come across soon is that of Lord Srinivasa. During the holy month of Purutassi Lord Srinivasa is worshipped extensively with devotion for his grace. The word Srinivasa means the one who houses Luxmi(Sri) in his heart.

Mother Luxmi Devi is renowned the world over for bestowing prosperity in the form of material and spiritual wealth. Would we all not like to have the Divine Mother Luxmi reside in our hearts? Look how prosperous Lord Srinivasa of Thirupathi is.

We need to prepare our hearts to house the divine mother. She is the most beautiful, merciful and gracious of all therefore our hearts need to match that of the Lord of Vaikunta. We need not doubt that it is possible.

We need to utilise our hearts to act in the following manner:

Serve the Lord in the whole of humanity, in the sick, and destitute. Feed the hungry, have no fear, provide protection for yourself and others, raise dharmic children ,create wealth through honest means and dispose of it in a dharmic way, act with love and faith in god so victory is certain and seek knowledge and truth.  In acting this way you would have espoused the eight qualities of the Mother Luxmi who is known as Ashta Luxmi (eight forms).



Astha Luxmi



                                                                       

1. Adi Lakshmi:  Mother Lakshmi resides with Lord Narayana in the Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Narayana.  Divine Mother’s this form is normally seen serving Sri Narayana.  Lord Narayana is omnipresent.  Adi Lakshmi serves Sri Narayana is symbolic of her serving the whole creation.  Though Sri Narayana is attended by innumerable devotees, still she personally loves to serve the Lord.  Actually mother Adi Lakshmi and Narayana are not two different entities but one only.  Many a place we see her form sitting in the lap of Sri Narayana.
2. Dhanya Lakshmi:  Dhanya means grains.  This includes all kind of purified food containing all essential vitamins, minerals, protein, calcium, carbohydrate and so on.  With the grace of mother Dhanya Lakshmi one gets all essential nutrients grains, fruits, vegetables and other foods.
3. Dhairya Lakshmi:  This form of mother Lakshmi grants the boon of infinite courage and strength.  Those, who are in tune with infinite inner power, are always bound to have victory. Those who worship mother Dhairya Lakshmi they live and lead a life with tremendous patience and inner stability.
4. Gaja Lakshmi:  In the holy book of Srimad Bhagavata the story of the churning of the ocean by Gods and demons is explained in detail.  Author, the Sage Vyasa writes that Lakshmi came out of the ocean during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan).  So she is known as a daughter of the ocean. She came out of the ocean sitting on a full-bloomed lotus and also having lotus flowers in both hands with two elephants by her sides, holding beautiful vessels filled with milk and pouring it over Sri Lakshmi.  Many a time we see Sri Lakshmi standing in the lotus and elephants are pouring nectar over her. During the festival of the lamps or the Deepavali along with Sri Lakshmi the Ganapati or the Elephant God also gets worshipped; that signifies the protection from evils as well as abundant grace and blessings for additional prosperities!
5. Santan Lakshmi:  In the family life, the children are the greatest treasure. Those who worship this particular form of Sri Lakshmi, known as a Santan Lakshmi, are bestowed with the grace of mother Lakshmi and have wealth in the form of desirable children with good health & long life.
6. Vijay Lakshmi:  Vijay is victory.  Vijay is to get success in all undertakings and all different facets of life. Some are strong physically but weak mentally while others are economically rich but poor in their attitude and cannot exert any influence. Vijay is to have all encompassing victory. Vijay is to rejoice glory of our real nature – Vijay is to conquer the lower nature.  Hence those, with grace of mother Vijay Lakshmi, have victory everywhere, at all time, in all conditions. Victory to Vijay Lakshmi !!
7. Dhana Lakshmi:  Dhana is wealth.  But as per Rigved’s Purush Shukta Dhana is not only a wealth in coins and currency.  Even Sun and moon, fire and stars, rains and nature, oceans and mountains, rivers and streams, all these are our wealth, so are the progeny, our inner will power, our character and our virtues. With the grace of mother Dhana Lakshmi we will get all these in abundance.
8. Vidya Lakshmi: Vidya is education. Education is not mere studies to receive the degrees and diplomas certificates from the educational institutes or universities. It is also the knowledge of scriptures and self. So we may attain the goal of life being self realisation.

 It is my sincere prayer, as we celebrate this all important month recognising the women of the world may we all also aspire to create an abode in our hearts for the Divine Mother. May prosperity through her divine grace be upon all. May women all over be respected as the Divine mother.  Jay Mata Di!!!. Happy Womens Day South Africa.