Different forms of Divine Mother Shri Radha Rani
The auspicious occasion of Durga-Pooja is just around the corner. Many of us are enthusiastically making various preparations to celebrate this great festival with great fervor.
Mother Durga is known as the bliss potency (Hladini Shakti) of Lord Shankar. There are 9 Divine forms of the Supreme Shakti of Lord Shankar. Each of them is endowed with special powers and traits. The nine manifestations of Mother Durga together, are called NAV-DURGA. Many families have a tradition to observe Durga Pooja by worshiping 1 form of Mother Durga per night, over the course of 9 nights thereby the name Navratri (nav = 9, ratri = night). The 9 forms of Durga are -
1. Shailputri, 2. Brahmcharini, 3. ChandraGhanta, 4. Skandmata, 5. Kushmanda,
6. Katyayini, 7. Kalratri, 8. Mahagauri, and 9. Siddhidatri.
The leads us to a question “Who is Durga” and “why should we worship Her”?
This question has been summarized by Shri Maharaj Ji in one simple sentence - "Mother Durga is none different from Lord Shankar, endowed with all the powers of Lord Shankar.”
Just like Bhagavan (masculine form of Supreme God) has many forms, Bhagavati (feminine form of the Supreme God) also has many forms. One of those forms is Durga. Mother Durga descended in various forms during different times to kill demons like Madhu and Kaitabha, Shumbha Nishumbha, Raktabeej and many others.
Mother Durga is known as the bliss potency (Hladini Shakti) of Lord Shankar. There are 9 Divine forms of the Supreme Shakti of Lord Shankar. Each of them is endowed with special powers and traits. The nine manifestations of Mother Durga together, are called NAV-DURGA. Many families have a tradition to observe Durga Pooja by worshiping 1 form of Mother Durga per night, over the course of 9 nights thereby the name Navratri (nav = 9, ratri = night). The 9 forms of Durga are -
1. Shailputri, 2. Brahmcharini, 3. ChandraGhanta, 4. Skandmata, 5. Kushmanda,
6. Katyayini, 7. Kalratri, 8. Mahagauri, and 9. Siddhidatri.
The leads us to a question “Who is Durga” and “why should we worship Her”?
This question has been summarized by Shri Maharaj Ji in one simple sentence - "Mother Durga is none different from Lord Shankar, endowed with all the powers of Lord Shankar.”
Just like Bhagavan (masculine form of Supreme God) has many forms, Bhagavati (feminine form of the Supreme God) also has many forms. One of those forms is Durga. Mother Durga descended in various forms during different times to kill demons like Madhu and Kaitabha, Shumbha Nishumbha, Raktabeej and many others.
Our scriptures tell us stories of when Mother Durga killed demons, which even Lord Shankar and Lord Vishnu were unable to kill. Then how is Jagadguruttam Swami Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj's (Shri Maharaj Ji's) statement “Mother Durga is endowed with all the powers of Lord Shankar” correct?
Let us visit the story and the backstory of one of those leelas and review the relevant divine concepts behind this leela to understand Shri Maharaj Ji’s statement.
Let us visit the story and the backstory of one of those leelas and review the relevant divine concepts behind this leela to understand Shri Maharaj Ji’s statement.
The Leela
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According to Devi Bhagavata Purana, Madhu and Kaitabha originated from Lord Vishnu's earwax and performed a long period of austerity, devoted to Bhagavati. The Goddess granted them the boons that they will be invincible and have the power of voluntary death. With the two boons, the pride-filled demons started attacking creator Brahma. Lord Brahma sought Lord Vishnu's help but was unable to awaken Lord Vishnu who was in a deep meditative state (yog-nidra). Lord Brahma then prayed to Mother Bhagavati who helped wake up Lord Vishnu.
The two demons fought with Bhagavan Vishnu for 10,000 years and defeated Him. दशवर्ष सहस्राणि बाहुप्रहरणो विभुः।
daśavarṣa sahasrāṇi bāhupraharaṇo vibhuḥ। |
Madhu and Kaitabha demons attacking Lord Vishnu
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So the story goes as follows - upon advice from Mother Bhagavati, Lord Vishnu devised a trick to destroy the two demons. Lord Vishnu praised the battle tactics of the two demons. He told them that He is pleased with their valor and told them to ask for a boon. The boastful demons, proud of their victories over Lord Vishnu, said that they were willing to grant Him boons instead. Lord Vishnu cleverly asked Madhu and Kaitabha for their lives. And thus, with the help of Mother Bhagavati these demons were killed.
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In a different descension Lord Shiva assumed a female form with 50 heads and 50 arms called Mother Kali and killed other demons. Markandeya Purana says
यस्या स्वभावमतुलं भगवाननन्तो ब्रह्माहरश्च नहि वक्तुं अलं बलं च।
yasyā svabhāvamatulaṃ bhagavānananto brahmāharaśca nahi vaktuṃ alaṃ balaṃ ca। “The glories of mother Kali are so endless that even Lord Vishnu couldn't understand Her”.
So externally it appears that Lord Vishnu couldn't kill those demons but Mother Kali killed them. So is She mightier than Lord Vishnu? Think, who is the all powerful Goddess? The simple answer is that God Himself became the Goddess. Goddess Kali is the power of God. Hence, empirically They are one and the same. Hence it is not right to say that Goddess Kali is more powerful than Lord Vishnu or Lord Vishnu is more powerful than Goddess Kali. All these are Leela which in plain English means enactment. |
Goddess Kali
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Relevant Divine Concepts
It is well known to us that Shri Krishna is the Supreme God. The Vedas say -
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योऽसै परब्रह्म गोपालः ।
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yo'sai parabrahma gopālaḥ ।
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All other forms of God are the revelation of one or some particular powers of God. In other words, the masculine forms of God viz; Brahma, Vishnu, Shankar, Ram etc are Avatars (descension) and Shri Krishna is called Avatari which means the origin of all the Avatars. All the Avatars attain their respective divine powers from Shri Krishna. And all these descensions are governors of the power of Yogmaya.
Just like Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shankar emanate from Shri Krishna, Mother Brahmani, Mother Lakshmi, and Mother Parvati emanate from the left-side of Shri Radha Rani. These Goddesses are the bliss potency (Hladini Shakti) of the masculine forms of God.
Just like Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shankar emanate from Shri Krishna, Mother Brahmani, Mother Lakshmi, and Mother Parvati emanate from the left-side of Shri Radha Rani. These Goddesses are the bliss potency (Hladini Shakti) of the masculine forms of God.
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तस्या वामांशभागेन कोटि लक्ष्मीः प्रकीर्तिताः।
tasyā vāmāṃśabhāgena koṭi lakṣmīḥ prakīrtitāḥ। These Goddesses are swansh of Shri Radha. They too do not fall in the Jeev category. Since Shri Radha is Their source They are subservient to Shri Radha.
Then in the leela these masculine powers marry their respective Hladini powers.
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Furthermore, for the purposes of leela, Goddess Durga and Her other forms emanated from Mother Parvati. Therefore, Uma, Durga, Kali are all swansh of Shri Radha. They too are not part of Jeev category. Instead They are God Themselves.
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दुर्गा हैं राधा अंश गोविन्द राधे । दुर्गा जी की जय जयकार करा दे ॥
- राधा गोविंद गीत 5079
- जगद्गुरुत्तम स्वामी श्री कृपालु जी महाराज |
durgā haiṃ rādhā aṃśa govinda rādhe ।
durgā jī kī jaya jayakāra karā de ॥ - Radha Govind Geet 5079
- Jagadguruttam Swami Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj |
All descensions of God happen for a particular reason. In each descension the powers exhibited are specifically required to accomplish the specific task. Just like you don't need a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito and bare hands are enough to kill them. Similarly, every descension does not need all the powers, so powers not needed in that avatar continue to stay dormant.
It is important to understand here, as Srimad Bhagavat states that first descension called Prathama Puruṣa (प्रथम पुरुष) Karaṇārṇavadaśayī Mahāviṣṇu is the manifestation of a single expertise (कला) of Shri Krishna. (1)
It is important to understand here, as Srimad Bhagavat states that first descension called Prathama Puruṣa (प्रथम पुरुष) Karaṇārṇavadaśayī Mahāviṣṇu is the manifestation of a single expertise (कला) of Shri Krishna. (1)
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यस्यैक निःश्वसितकालमथावलम्ब्य, जीवन्ति लोमविलजाः जगदण्ड नाथा ।
विष्णुर्महान्स इह यस्य कलाविशेषो, गोविंदमादि पुरुषं तमहं भजामि ॥ ब्रह्म संहिता
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yasyaika niḥśvasitakālamathāvalambya, jīvanti lomavilajāḥ jagadaṇḍa nāthā ।
viṣṇurmahānsa iha yasya kalāviśeṣo, goviṃdamādi puruṣaṃ tamahaṃ bhajāmi ॥ brahma saṃhitā
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All others powers stay dormant in Mahāviṣṇu. The same is true for all other descensions. Shri Ram in Tretayuga descended with 12 expertise and Shri Krishna in Dwaparyuga descended with 16 expertise. But it does not mean Shri Ram was less powerful than Shri Krishna.
Let's also not forget that Shri Krishna is Brahma-Supreme God. He has uncountable powers. That is why Shri Krishna cannot be fully understood or described. Also, each of His powers is limitless and they cannot be measured. Mother Kali is a divine power, so it should be no surprise that She too cannot be fully understood by anyone. So, the words in Markandeya Purana, though correct, ought not be taken to mean that one form of God is superior to the other. This type of comparison is termed as namaparadh (2).
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Now Durga and Kali descended for the purpose of defeating the demons to save the celestial Gods. Thus, They descended to establish victory of good over evil. According to the role played in that leela, Their form is ferocious with blood dripping from the mouth, carrying weapons, eyebrows arched, wearing a garland of skulls. Their sight might seem scary to many as they conjured up this form to kill the demons. Otherwise, Their original form is made of love only. Some devotees attain motherly love from these forms of Goddesses like Swami Ram Krishna Paramhans. However, it's often seen, a child doesn’t approach the mother when the mother is angry. He waits for her anger to cool down and then climbs into her lap and cuddles.
The most loving form of Durga or Kali is Shri Radha, the origin of Durga and all the divine Goddesses. |
Mother scolding a child
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Conclusion
Some people might continue to worship all the forms of Goddess Durga to keep the family-tradition alive. Others might continue these ritualist prayers due to the fear “if I don't worship these Goddesses then They will get angry as a result some ill will befall on me or my family”.
Consider this, if there is a child whose mother is the superintendent of police, does the child think “I have to love the person in the uniform and also the one at home”? No, the child knows that his mother is the same person as is in the office and home and loves to spend time with his mother at home. Similarly, all Goddesses are one and the same; which means if you love any one of Them then you have loved Them all. It is up to us to whole-heartedly believe it and practice it. (3)
Consider this, if there is a child whose mother is the superintendent of police, does the child think “I have to love the person in the uniform and also the one at home”? No, the child knows that his mother is the same person as is in the office and home and loves to spend time with his mother at home. Similarly, all Goddesses are one and the same; which means if you love any one of Them then you have loved Them all. It is up to us to whole-heartedly believe it and practice it. (3)
Our Loving Mother Radha Rani
So, instead of worshipping a ferocious form of Goddess or having many forms of Goddesses on your altar, always worship the most loving and gracious form, namely Shri Radha. It is wise to speed up your devotion of loving the Divine mother. Too many options confuse the mind, thus devotion slows down. Therefore, do not even keep the photos or idols of various forms of God and Goddesses. Exclusive devotion to one particular form of God accelerates the speed of devotion.
Also thinking analytically, when all of Them are one and the same, then what would be the reason to worship multiple forms? Please be certain that Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Parvati, all Goddesses are an inseparable part of Shri Radha with different modes and pastimes.
So, on the upcoming Durga Pooja, cast away your inhibitions and wholeheartedly love only the loving form of mother Durga which is Shri Radha Rani. Exclusive devotion to Shri Radha along with Shri Krishna as your beloved, will qualify you for the highest bliss of Maharas (4).
Also thinking analytically, when all of Them are one and the same, then what would be the reason to worship multiple forms? Please be certain that Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Parvati, all Goddesses are an inseparable part of Shri Radha with different modes and pastimes.
So, on the upcoming Durga Pooja, cast away your inhibitions and wholeheartedly love only the loving form of mother Durga which is Shri Radha Rani. Exclusive devotion to Shri Radha along with Shri Krishna as your beloved, will qualify you for the highest bliss of Maharas (4).
