Bhairavi to Bhavani

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Mother Kali

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

The heavens benevolently graced the earth with nourishing showers from the inception of the Navarathri festival in honour of the Mother Universal. It was encouraging to note that the weather did not deter the bhaktas from making their way to the worship halls to offer worship and dance in the spiritual mood of Ambe Ma. Although this festival has not enjoyed the same enthusiasm within the South African South Indian community, there is notable growth over the years, as people become more knowledgeable and embracive of the celebration.

 

It was on Thursday within the first 3 days dedicated to Mother Kali, that an insuppressible thought encroached me. My mind was drawn toward a dear friend who I had not spoken to in a long while. It was with much trepidation that I considered calling my friend, uncertain as to whether I will get through or whether the call will be cordially received and reciprocated with the sentiments of friendship that still possessed my heart.

 

At the end of the call, I was instilled with a sense of joy that touched the zenith of my emotions. It was like my blood in an instant was replaced with joy that travelled to every cell of my being. As this feeling lingered with me for a while, I questioned myself about this experience. If such an engagement with a long lost friend delivered such euphoria, how is it that majority of people cannot connect with and derive joy from the absolute bliss that is within each and every one of us?

 

Listening to my internal inquisition - Master, who has the ability to hear even the footfall of an ant, graciously responded when on two consecutive mornings whilst reading the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, I opened to the same page. 

 

The answer also came enforced on the third day when I read Swami Vimokshananda’s blog titled “Not I but Thou”:

 

“Once, when I was explaining God's actions to someone, God suddenly showed me the lake at Kamarpukur. I saw a man removing the green scum and drinking the water. The water was clear as crystal. God revealed to me that satchidananda is covered by the scum of maya. He who puts the green scum aside can drink the water.” The words of Master immediately struck a definitive chord when I read Swamiji's blog. ”Spiritual life is nothing but slowly effacing this ‘I’ and bringing an awareness of the Mother’s doing. When the feeling of “not I, but Thou’” comes in our core of our heart, we are, though living in the body yet liberated in this very life.”

 

It was Mother Jagadatri, Bhavadharani - the merciful and compassionate Mother Herself, who on the  last day of worship to Mother Kali revealed that the scum that obscures our enjoyment of the bliss within,  is our EGO. The iconography of Mother Kali, invokes mixed sentiments across the spectrum of society. She is a divine paradox defying comprehension. 

 

Garlanded with heads of slain demons, and wearing their appendages around her waist, mouth dripping with blood - She dances violently amongst corpses.  Terror is Her form; darkness is Her name. Swami Vivekananda in His poem on Mother Kali describes Her as follows:

 

For Terror is Thy name,

Death is in Thy breath.

And every shaking step

Destroys a world for e'er.

Thou 'Time', the All-destroyer!

Come, O Mother, come!

 

Yesterday after satsang at ashram, by Mothers grace I attended for a little while the Navarathri celebrations at Saptah Mandir. It was an incredible experience as I sat through the latter part of the proceedings and caught a bit of the discourse on Ma Kali. I am uncertain of the scripture that Pundit Jinabhai was reading from, but at one point he spoke of how Parahamsa Sri Ramakrishna  was able to see Mother Kali as Ananda Rupini (form of bliss) compared to how many see Her only as 'Kali the terrible'.

 

The symbolism of the iconography described above relates to the destruction of the ego. The garland of heads and appendages around Her waist refer to the body. By utilising these as ornaments and apparel, Mother directs us to get rid of the body consciousness. So long as we retain the “I ness” we shall have desires. The blood represents the quelling of desires - we must put an end to desires. Transcending the body and all the attachments to it, we can engage with the spirit within: the reservoir of incalculable bliss.

 

It is those that are egocentric that harbour strong attachment to the world and body; who live for the satisfaction of self - who shall have fear of Mother Kali. They shall see Her as the terrible goddess, simply because She is in contradiction to all that that they stand for.

 

For those who like Master, who have renounced all attachment to the body, world and are pure in every aspect of their being - will see Mother as an embodiment of bliss, compassion, love, and liberator of all souls. Master who has attained perfection through complete surrender and love for the Divine Mother, with the understanding that all is Her will alone, presents Her as Nityakalyani - the eternal bestower of mercy, compassion and beauty to Her children.

 

Mother Kali, as the purana describes, manifested from between the brow of Mother Durga. This symbolises the third eye of wisdom. Whilst we see the world through the conventional organs of sight; in order to view the ananda roopa and engage with the satchidananda within, we need to utilise the third eye (gateway to higher planes of consciousness) which only develop when man moves from being asuric to suric (negative to positive-pure).

 

Let us unite in prayer to the Divine Mother to help us eradicate our ego, selfishness, lust, greed, desires and make us pure like Master. Sri Ramakrishna attained such a high state of perfection and purity that anyone who merely mentions His name will start to transform, and is worthy of being made pranams to.

 

As our prayer and sadhanas intensify over the next few days towards Vijaya Dashami (day of victory), may the grace of the Divine Mother flow abundantly to all, is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan