Different Forms of Divine Mother

 

Although the Divine Mother is only one, Her manifestations are many.  During the early centuries of the Christian Era, the Divine Mother was worshipped as an independent and Supreme Goddess.  She was mostly pictured as riding a lion (Simha-vahini).  This is the image of Durga we find in the Chandi where she appears as Chamundeshvari and Mahishasura-mardini.

 

In later centuries, the Divine Mother came to be regarded as the spouse of God Shiva.  Here again, there were two schools.  In one school, the Divine Mother and Shiva are regarded as equal in power.  This school, known as ''Samya'', is the more common one, especially in South India.  In the other school, known as ''Kaula'', the Divine Mother as Kali is regarded as the dynamic principle, and Shiva as the passive principle.  This school is most prevalent in Bengal, and also in Kashmir and Kerala.

 

The Divine Mother is regarded as having ''Ten Great Wisdom Forms'' (Dasha-mahavidya).  These ten Goddesses are:

1. Kali

2. Tara

3. Tripura Sundari

4. Bhuvaneshwari

5. Bhairavi

6. Chhinnamasta

7. Dhumavati

8. Bagalamukhi

9. Matangi (Saraswati)

10. Kamala (Lakshmi)

Mother Worship

 

Worship of God as Mother has prevailed in India from prehistoric times.  It was perhaps in vogue in Mohenjodaro-Harappa civilization.  In the Rig Veda, there is a wonderful hymn known as Devi-Suktam (which is chanted during Durga Puja days) in which the Divine Mother declares that She moves with the Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, and all other gods, that She is the power of all gods, that She is the Queen of the world, and so on.

 

It is, however, in the Devi-Mahatmya, popularly known as the Chandi, that worship of the Divine Mother assumes an independent, supreme status.  Although Chandi forms a part of Markandeya Purana, it is treated as an independent scripture.  For devotees of the Divine Mother, especially in Bengal, Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu, Chandi is regarded as the most sacred and valued scripture.  It was composed sometime between the 6th and 9th centuries AD.

 

Another authoritative book on Shakti worship is Devi-Bhagavatam.  Between the 6th and 16th centuries a class of Shakta scriptures known as the Tantras (believed to be 63 in all) came into existence.  The Tantras became popular in three areas, namely Bengal, Kerala and Kashmir, which form the three angles of a geographical triangle.

 

Worship of the Divine Mother is prevalent all over India - from Kanyakumari (famous for its Kanyakumari temple) to Kashmir (Kshirbhavani temple) and from Rajasthan (Amba temple) to Kolkata (Kalighat temple).  In fact, there is hardly any large area in India which does not have a Devi temple.  Great heroes of the past worshipped the Divine Mother.  Sri Rama is said to have worshipped Durga before killing Ravana.  Shivaji, the great Maratha king, was a votary of Bhavani.  Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, is also said to have been a worshipper of Mother Durga.

 

Worship of the Divine Mother

 

Worship of the Divine Mother is one of the oldest forms of worship known to humanity.  In prehistoric times, God was worshipped as the Divine Mother all over the world.  Evidences for Mother Worship have been recovered in different places in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.  But it is only in India that Mother worship went beyond the framework of a cult and became a full-fledged living religion supported by an advanced theology, scriptures, rites, customs and festivals which are followed by millions of people even in modern times.  And in Bengal, worship of God as Mother attained the highest form of a cultural refinement and ritual sophistication, and became the dominant faith and practice of the people.

 

Sri Ramakrishna used to say: ''To look upon God as Mother is the purest and the highest form of Sadhana'' (Matribhav shuddha bhav, sadhanar shesh katha).  Why did he say that?  Because Mother's love is the most unselfish and unconditional form of human love.  For a child, mother is all sufficient: apart from giving birth, she provides everything that the child needs - nourishment, protection, warmth, comfort, training, education.  To look upon God as Mother is to make God all-sufficient in one's life.  It is a very natural, intimate and purest form of relationship.