"Divinity blossoms where women are respected."
In the Vedic calendar there are a few times in the year when the collective invokes the Mother Divine aspects of consciousness.Mother Divine or Universal Mother is commonly referred to in the Vedas as “Durga” (remover of miseries), “Devi” (goddess) or “Shakti” (feminine energy or infinite power).
There are many ways to invoke the Mother Divine in us and in the collective.
Aspects of Mother Divine
- Gracefulness, elegance.
- Invincibility, capability.
- Feminine counterpart of the “destruction operator” in nature. – Like a stern mother ensuring we are following the laws of nature, or else, some destruction will occur to shake us up.
- The Divine personality known as ‘Durga’ (pictured) sits on her tiger with infinite arms holding shining weapons ready to slay the demons. This is expressive of the capability of pure Being (infinite arms) to dissolve (slay) negativity, stress and disease (demons).
These aspects of consciousness are referred to as Durga in the Veda.
- Abundance.
- Increase of flow.
- Choosing the higher value of behaviour over the lower value of behaviour.
- Having every resource at the tip of your fingers. Because they align to the value of which nature is desiring for you and the universe.
- It is our natural-born heritage to be abundant. If mother nature is abundant, then we are.
These aspects of consciousness are referred to as Lakshmi in the Veda.
- Music, arts, culture.
- Feminine aspect of creation – the force of Natural Law (prakriti) that creates all expressed values on the basis of pure intelligence (Purusha).
- Education and knowledge. Personification of divine knowledge.
These aspects of consciousness are referred to as Saraswati in the Veda.
- Infinite adaptability and infinite organising power. (Shakti)
- Nourishing, nurturing, protecting. (Devi)
Navaratri: Times of the Year to Access Infinite Regenerative Energy
Ways to Invoke the Mother Divine:
Vedic fire ceremonies (Yagya) in one popular way to commune with and invoke Mother Divine.
- Attend ceremonies, celebrations and pujas with a specific focus on the mother divine.
- Perform the more specific rituals and rites that are outlined by the Rishi’s (seers), gurus and in the ancient texts. Check your local Hindu temple, vedic community or pundit (Vedic Priest). In Sydney, I attend ceremonies with Pundit Sudheer Sharma and all over the world – online with Pundit Baskaran.
- Make the nine days a little retreat – honour yourself with more self-care and time by doing more dinacharya (Ayurvedic daily routine), sadhana (practice to attune yourself with nature), yoga, extended meditation programs (according to your meditation technique/program).
- For Navarati October 17th-25th – sponsor special Vedic fire ceremonies, known as ‘Yagya‘, that take place in India over the 9 nights.
Ayurveda's View on Woman's Wellbeing
In Ayurveda, the woman’s health and wellbeing is pivotal for not only the health and happiness of the family, but to the whole society and even the nation at large. Their wellbeing is a core influence that ripples throughout their (larger than you think) vicinity.
Woman’s healthcare is a priority. From menarche (start of menstrual cycle) to pre-conception, to pregnancy, to menopause – the woman’s health plays a major influence on the health of the people around her.
"The destiny of the world lies in the hands of women. Woman is the creator. She has beauty, charm, grace and wisdom. She has her hand in the hand of God. Woman is at the top of creation. This is her place and her Dharma, and this she must never loose, for if she does, there will be wars, suffering and cruelty, because she is the opposite of all these things. The nervous system of a woman is by nature more refined and much more delicate. She is the first to sense the good, the pure, the beautiful, the divine. By nature, man is more gross. His position is to deal with the world, so he must be able to deal with stress. Woman is balance, a balance of all nature. She takes in all the stress of her husband and children and does not pass it on. Must not pass it on. Healing is in the lap of the mother; she heals the child's soul. Her place is to see that man goes for higher consciousness. The love of mother that comes through the hands of every woman is Mother Divine. A woman should not get so tired. Her structure is for finer things."
A Time For Transformation
The 9-days of Navrati represent the 9 months a baby spends in a mother’s womb. During Navratri, our consciousness evolves everyday from tamas (inertia, delusion) to sattva (purity, awakening).
- The initial step is to get rid of all the countless impurities (Kali).
- Then acquire virtues and auspicious and divine qualities (Lakshmi).
- Thus purified, knowledge flashes upon you like the brilliant rays of the sun in crystal waters of a perfectly calm lake (Saraswati).
This process can take a lifetime or more. It can also be fast tracked and experienced in a big hit during these 9 days, Navratri, by allowing the Divine Mother to operate though us.
"Night provides rest and rejuvenation. During the night, you turn inwards through sleep, and you wake up feeling refreshed and rested in the morning. In the same way, Navaratri or the ‘nine nights’ is that time of the year when you get the chance to experience deep rest. This deep rest brings freedom from all kinds of bothers, and brings deep relaxation and creativity."
Mother is the creative aspect of tthe Absolute and all that which is continuously being created.
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