The Divine Mother
Finding refuge in The Mother
Advaita Vedanta teaches about the non-dual brahman, supreme consciousness and the Self. The Self is nameless and formless, without attributes, birth or change. Yet what we perceive is duality: we see creation with it’s inevitable changes, we see birth and death, and we perceive attributes, names and forms. The question is, if our true nature is the Self, consciousness, the infinite, changeless brahman, how come we perceive this world full of movement, diversity and transformation as so true?
It is because of Her
Vedanta declares this as maya or illusion, but has no answer as to how and why this illusion exists. Here comes into play the Divine Mother. This creation, sustenance and destruction, which is the working of nature and our universe, is because of Her. It is the Divine Mother, or shakti, who makes all creation possible. For only consciousness is not enough. They are two faces of the same reality. She is the force behind all these illusions which appear so natural and real to us.
Transformative Power
Shakti, or the Divine Mother, is essential on the path to Self-realization. She embodies the living, dynamic aspect of divine consciousness. While pure consciousness (brahman) is the still, formless reality - the silent presence that simply is - shakti is its creative and transformative power and energy. To become free from maya, we need to find refuge in Her.
Jai Ma
On our journey toward Self-realization, shakti plays a crucial role, because she is the force that awakens, purifies and transforms. It is through her energy that the veils of ignorance are burned away, the ego is dissolved, and the heart is opened to the truth of one’s own divine nature. That is why we chant: Jai Ma, Jai Ma, Jai Ma: victory to the Divine Mother.
Mother in our Ashram
When you visit the temple in our ashram, you can feel the presence of Mother. She is alive here, protecting and guiding us every day. When we first came to the ashram in 1999 we did not know Ma was already there. During renovation we discovered the 450 year old temple and her statue, tucked away from the public eye. And we knew that She guided us here.
Since then She led us through many trials and tribulations, like poverty and the Covid pandemic. She continues to do so. Please feel welcome to come and join the worship of Mother on auspicious days and holidays. For example during Navaratri, the two times a year, recurring 9 day festival for the Divine Mother and all her aspects. If you want to know more, please contact us.
