Durga reminds us of our collective obligations – Daily Pioneer

Picking up lead from the previous issue, the question that arises: how comes the Devatas, the individually evolved ones had to face the humiliation at the hands of evil forces? Evidently, there had to be something wrong with them, which brought them to such a pass. Possibly, overtaken by their egotistic sense of being superior ones; they mistook themselves to be unassailable. And they were so engrossed in their individualistic pursuits that impending danger eluded their attention. Also, they did not care to remain true to their collective obligations. The inevitable had to happen. It implies that just being placed on a high pedestal, would not suffice ensuring ones own well-being, unless the collective existence is well secured.

It is important to note that individual energies provided by the Devatas, when put together, turned into a mighty force, which is personified as Durga, that tamed the demons. The obvious implication is that only when we put in all acts together, both individually and collectively, that we could be at our best. Second, life does not necessarily move to our asking. We need to be well geared up to take on impending challenges if any, to ensure individualistic as well as collective well-being.

Even otherwise, we are to necessarily contend with disparate people all around, quite good in number, some of them even acting weird. Our plane of living, therefore, remains a fertile ground for arousal of conflicting interests. We, therefore, need to be prepared to take on danger inherent in the existential order itself. So, no matter how virtuous a person individually is, unless he remains live to existential needs, life may turn into a nightmare, both individually and collectively. Therefore, the callings of life need to be attended holistically. The Devatas would have been caught unawares during one of their unguarded moments, which led to their humiliating defeat at the hands of the evil-forces.

The legend pertaining to the making of 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. In a related sense, it may be quite fair to reason out that the Mother contains in Her, the essence of all forces in operation in the universe, which is why when they all joined, She could make her appearance. She, therefore, symbolises convergence of all nature driven energies, vital to our existence. It is in this spirit that She is named Durga, which in linguistic terms means something ordinarily unassailable. Out of that primal source has evolved a complex chain of creative 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, having exhausted their sustainable limit, these forces, and thereby the world, may revert to the primal source. Out of the seeds of life that these forces carry back, a fresh creation chain may get excited. Thus, goes on a continued chain of evolution and devolution with no beginning or end in final sense.

Now, why the form of a Mother, and not a male or just a feminine presence? Ancient Indias learned masters, seeing truths from human perspective, had very well understood double propensity inherent in all empowerment tools, be they physical, material, or intellectual. Accordingly, they felt the need to educate all and sundry on how to judiciously use Shakti, in the larger interest of the individual self, humanity as a whole 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 on her part, 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.

Let us now have a look at wholesome form in which the Mother Goddess is popularly visualised. Mounted on a Lion, She is usually perceived having 10 hands. In 8, She is shown holding different weapons, each offered by one or the other Devata. In remaining two, She is shown with a conch shell (Blowing instrument) in one and Lotus flower in the other.

Continued

The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant

and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at

Tel: 91-11-9818037273/9871037272

Email: bharatbhushanpadmadeo@gmail.com

View original post here:

Durga reminds us of our collective obligations - Daily Pioneer