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The Divine Mother

Children are more familiar with the mother than with the father. Mother is an embodiment
of affection, tenderness and love. She looks after the wants of the children. Whenever a child wants
anything it approaches the mother rather than the father. In spiritual matters also the aspirant has
more concern with Mother Kali than Father Siva. Siva is indifferent to the external world. He is
unattached. He is lost in Samadhi with His eyes closed. It is Sakti or the Divine Mother alone who
really looks after the affairs of the world. She will introduce to Her Lord for the attainment of final
emancipation when She is pleased with the earnestness of the devotee.
Siva and Sakti are inseparable. This is shown in Ardhanarisvara—Siva and Parvati (with
one body, half-male and half-female). Lord Siva has Parvati as the left half of His body.
Siva-Jnana leads us on to the realisation of Self and bestows on us eternal bliss and frees us
from births and deaths. It shows us the light of life. It is the eye of intuition. It is the third eye of Siva.
This third eye destroys all illusions and passions.
Sakti is thought of in various forms. Sarasvati is the Goddess of learning. Lakshmi is the
Goddess of wealth. Parvati or Uma is the bliss-bestowing Goddess.
The Markandeya Purana contains seven hundred verses which are known as the Sapta-sati
or the Chandi or the Devi-Mahatmya. It is one of the most famous religious texts of the Hindus. It
ranks almost equal with the Gita. It describes in an allegorical form, that in the path of salvation the
chief obstacles are our own desire, anger, greed and ignorance and we can overcome them through
the grace of Divine Mother if we sincerely worship Her.
The book gives a beautiful description of the three aspects of the Mother as Mahakali,
Mahalakshmi and Maha Sarasvati—the Tamasic, the Rajasic and the Sattvic aspects of the Divine
Mother.
The Devas were oppressed by the Asuras. The gods invoked the blessings of Divine Mother.
She appeared as the above three forms and destroyed the Asuras and protected the gods. The Divine
Mother has given men as well as gods, Her definite and infallible promise that whenever they would
remember Her in danger or difficulties She would save them.