Oct 14, 2015
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji - day 2 Navaratri - Sri Rajarajeswari Devi - October 14, 2015 - Mysore
O Mother Goddess Rajarajeswari, the giver of all auspiciousness, may you be ever auspicious. By your grace may we all always be living in auspicious circumstances. Sri Mata herself is Sri Rajarajeswari Devi. She is the mother to Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Rudrani, the three mothers. She created Brahma, conveyed the Vedas to him, and made this entire Universe come into existence. The moment the name Sri Rajarajeswari Devi is thought of, Mother appears before our eyes in her majestic form. Seated on an exalted throne, decked in jewelry, wearing a brilliantly glowing regal crown, holding in her hands the rope, the goad, the stalks of sugarcane, and the five arrows, Sri Rajarajeswari Devi gives us darshan. She is a mighty Empress. She is the source for the existence of the microcosm and the macrocosm. She is the source of all types of energy. Hence, it is important to always keep firm faith in her and keep offering her worship. Only then, Mother will bestow upon her child all that is beneficial and useful.
We neither know what to wish for, nor do we know how to enjoy the gifts that we have been granted. Only Mother Goddess knows what is good for us. She gives what should be given to whom at what time, and how it should be given. Mother Sri Rajarajeswari Devi showers the nectar of her motherly love. She gives her children eternal bliss. She should be contemplated upon as Mother. Generally, in our lives we experience joy and sorrow, love and hate, and gain and loss. To become free from these, in addition to developing courage, firmness, and self-confidence, it is also necessary to seek refuge at Mother’s feet. To appease unfavorable planets, one may offer Japa or donate for charities. Troubles may thus be overcome. But the two planets that reside within, called love and hate are very powerful. To be rid of them, it is vital to receive Mother’s grace. If Mother’s grace is there, sorrow turns to joy. What it means is that a situation will not even become unfavorable. Hence, it prevents likes and dislikes from turning into bondages.
Sri Rajarajeswari Devi, the Mother Goddess, is highly venerable. All the celestial forces keep worshiping her. She has a myriad names. No matter which of her names one uses to address her, she will respond. Mother Sri Rajarajeswari Devi destroys even unforgivable sins, says the Brahmanda Purana. That is why Sri Adi Sankara, in his Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram has shown us the way on how to praise Mother Goddess. This is how one should pray. O Mother! I do not know any Mantras or Yantras. I possess no wealth or vehicles to offer you. I do not know any proper hymns to give your praises. I am even ignorant of the stories of your miracles. I know no sacred hand gestures. I do not even know how to cry that I know nothing. All I know is one thing. It is that by clinging to your feet, troubles will go away.
Mother Sri Rajarajeswari Devi enjoys great luxuries. She is abundantly prosperous. Her form, encompassing not only the entire earth, but all other spheres, spreads over the entire Universe. She not only grants to living beings the resources required by them to live on earth, she also grants them heavenly rewards. She gives the bliss of enlightenment, and grants Liberation, which is its fruit. The wealth that she possesses is inexhaustible even if she shares it with all living creatures. It never perishes. With her vastness she pervades all the five elements.
The five elements were created by her. She grants spiritual attainments to Yogis. She even grants the state that is above all desires. Mother Sri Rajarajeswari Devi, who is highly virile, possesses an immense glow and immense power. Her capabilities are profound. She destroys demons. She destroys the inner enemies. If she is offered prayers, bad thoughts will vanish, and good thoughts get generated. She makes our bodies radiant and increases our capacities. She makes us courageous and strong during times of difficulty.
Mother Sri Rajarajeswari Devi is the stimulus behind the functioning of our sense organs. If we get our intellect absorbed in the Mother of the Universe, she will make us omniscient. If one contemplates on Mother as an Empress seated on her mighty throne, our cruel mentality will get eradicated. In her presence even evil gets transformed into virtue. If she is offered prayers early in the morning, which is an auspicious time, much greater merit will be obtained. O Devi, I see that it is you, who resides in this body as the individual soul. I also have realized internally that you alone are Paramatma, the Supreme Soul. O Mother, please help us to grasp the oneness of the individual soul and the Supreme Soul, and make this day a day of enlightenment. Mother not only gives what has been prayed for, she also gives whatever will benefit us. In this vast creation where the needs of beings are so varied, she gives each individual being exactly what is required for that being’s welfare, regarding food, nourishment, recreation, joy, and comfort.
During this Navaratri festival, we are worshiping the Nava Durgas. Today’s incarnation for Mother Goddess is Brahmacharini Devi. May Mother Sri Rajarajeswari Devi, in the form of Brahmacharini protect the worlds with her benevolent glance. She holds the rosary in her right hand, and the water *** in her left hand. She is engaged in penance for Lord Siva. I contemplate on Brahmacharini Devi who fits this description. I bless that by the grace of Mother Goddess everyone should lead a life of happiness and comfort.
Jaya Guru Datta
Courtesy: Dattapeetham