God’s ‘wives’
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
671
Swamiji reads on from: A Primer of Hinduism by Prof. D.S. Sharma
. . . . the Vishva Purana says, 'The one and only God, Ishwara, gets the designation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva accordingly as He creates, preserves or destroys.' Of course in popular religion these become separate gods with appropriate symbols, dwelling places, vehicles and followers. The abstract ideals regarding the three different aspects of God were thus rendered concrete to the masses. At one time it was all a living symbolism.
Daughter: Father, what is the symbolism of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva having consorts or wives of their own?
Father: A little thinking will make that clear to you. We have already seen that the supreme Ishwara has the power of creating, preserving and destroying the world; this power is inseparable from Him. As the sunlight is inseparable from the sun, as the power to burn is inseparable from fire, so is Shakti or the creative, protective and destructive power inseparable from God the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Therefore in popular religion it is personified and represented as the consort of Ishwara. (his power or shakti is known as his wife.) An important and widespread school of Hinduism in northern India worships Shakti as the Mother of the Universe. Shakti is simply the active aspect of Ishwara engaged in the creation, protection and destruction of the world.
[Swamiji] God has kinetic and dynamic power. The active power is called Shakti, the Universal Mother. Did not Sri Ramakrishna say to Keshab [Chandra Sen – the leader of the Brahmo Samaj in India], 'When God is active I call Him Mother. When God is static I call Him Father.' That is what the author is saying here.
As Saraswati she is the wisdom and the art of God.
[Swamiji] Look what a wonderful architect He is. Look how He created the world without any plans. So beautifully He did it.
As Lakshmi she is the grace of God that brings prosperity and happiness to some and salvation to others. And as Uma (that's my [Divine] Mother) She is the virginal purity of mountains and forests, untouched. The Devi Bhagavata describes Her as sporting at the time of the dissolution of the world, hiding within Herself the types of all things.
[Swamiji] Why is [the Divine] Mother [depicted as] dark blue or black? Because the colour dark blue absorbs all other colours. She hides everything in Herself at the time of dissolution.
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time. 2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order. Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and teachings.
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites – please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham