Swami Shivapadananda on Origins

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

Day 504

(Pictured: Early morning at Dakshineswar complex – view south across the courtyard, with the Radhakanta Temple in the foreground. Kali temple in the background)

 
 

Swamiji speaks on Devi – the Divine Mother

You find that the good people who were in trouble prayed to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara [Shiva]. They were praying to that Power which creates, sustains and destroys. While they were praying to that Power, out of the bodies of all the gods and goddesses came this effulgent something. (We call it light but I think of it as an 'effulgent something' – something that is dazzling beyond the human mind.)

From Lord Shiva's effulgence came the face, from Lord Vishnu's effulgence came the torso and from Lord Brahma's effulgence came the feet. Feet here means that creation stands on [a foundation of] creativity. From this effulgent something of all the gods and goddesses came the beautiful form of Devi and with her came the tiger on which she sat. All the three worlds were full of this effulgent light. This self-effulgent light even came out of space and out of the Rishi who was meditating and seeing this revelation.

That which was hidden in creation now manifested. Later on she became the glorious light and the glorious form of Maha [great] Durga, Devi or Maha Lakshmi. Apparently finite, she now destroyed that which stood on the path of prosperity. Then she disappeared, promising that she would come again and again in the different ages.

In the last chapter you find Mother Parvati walking on the River Ganges and the Rishis worshipping this Shakti:     

Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike,

sharanye tryambaka gauri narayani namostu te.

O Thou, the most auspicious among those who are auspicious

O Thou, the one who grants the fulfilment of all prayers

O Thou, the refuge of all

To Thee, O consort of Shiva, also known as Tryambaka and Gauri

To Thee, O Narayani, our salutations

In this Shakti, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are one again, That One which has these three powers – creation, preservation and destruction.

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.