GRACE OF MAHAMAYA
Rohini Wig
Faridabad (NCR)
October’20
Hari Aum!
My humble Prostrations at The Holy Feet of Sree Guru Parampara!
It was so delightful to connect through the virtual session with Guru Maa on the topic “Nurture the Nature’’.
I take this opportunity to express the valuable insight shared by Maa on the subject, for our benefit, enabling us to pursue our Spiritual practices especially by looking into its significance with the coming Navratri festival.
Maa began by offering a prayer to Mother Nature;
ॐ सर्वमंगलमांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिक।
शरण्ये त्रयंबके गौरी,नारायणि नमोस्तु ते।।
My first thought about Nature was limited to awareness about protecting, saving & cleaning the environment. Nature is vast and beautiful. It is perfect and extended to the whole of creation. With a subjective view, Nature comprises of Sattva, Rajas, Tamas. For creation, there has to be the union of the matter and the Spirit. A thought provoking question was raised by Maa with a brief insight: “What is the cause of one’s creation?” It is again Sattva (Purity) Rajas (Passion) Tamas (Inertia) along with the union of the Spirit. By thorough study and learning (commentary by Maa on Tattwa Bodh) one can come to understand how I come to acquire my own nature and become the limited self – ego. The internal nature differs from person to person.
When an individual looks through a prism with different shades of colours, (i.e through the prism of one’s own mind-intellect equipment, the external nature becomes his/her own imaginative creation. Knowing that our true nature is Satchidananda, the individual will have to nurture one’s own nature (tendencies) not only for one’s own benefit but for the good of all. Another question raised by Maa was: “How can one find one’s nature?” The guidance here given, was to practice chanting of the Mantra’s and doing Japa. As practice creates challenges, for the benefit of the individuals, our revered Rishi’s and Gurus have organized Religion in such a way so as to overcome the challenges which could be encountered in such practices. As advised, following are the different ways to contemplate upon along with chanting of the Mantras:
1. ‘’यथा पिण्डे तथा ब्रह्माण्डे’’ – “As is the individual so is the Universe”. Therefore, one’s view through one’s prism is not true. The three aspects of creation are represented by Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Sattva creates mind-intellect equipment and organs of perception, Rajas creates Praan and organs of action, and finally Tamas creates physical body, limbs and the world around us. Maa adviced us to read Sree Durga Saptashati so as to learn how to invoke, worship and revere The Trinity along with their consorts, Devi Saraswati, Devi Lakshmi and Devi Durga.
2. Practice of chanting the Mantras from Devi Suktam and understanding the three aspects of Mahamaya :
Mantra to invoke Goddess Saraswati - By worshipping Goddess Saraswati who is established in the form of Vidya so as to turn our knowledge into action.
Mantra to invoke Goddess Lakshmi – By worshipping Goddess Lakshmi who is established in the virtues for inner strength of honesty, faith and righteousness thereby inculcating virtues to express in the world and not the viciousness.
Mantra to invoke Goddess Durga – Goddess Durga nurtures by annihilating our lower self and guiding in the right direction.
3. Practice of doing the following Japa of Sree Durga Mantra all through the Nine days of Navrati Festival;
“रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि”।। - Worshipping the Mother to be blessed with
a.Beauty of mind,
b.Victory over vices to acquire Virtues, with the Glory of The Divine Mother, and
c.To take away the “dwesh” from one’s self.
Navratri festival is an Auspicious occasion to follow the right practices for our Spiritual growth with the right import of worshipping Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Durga, along with doing Japa of the given Mantras. On the tenth day, Dussehra is celebrated which is symbolic of Ravan (lower self) within us, getting crushed by Lord Sree Ram (Higher / True self) within us.
With Gratitude and great reverence to Guru Maa.
Regards
Hari Aum!!