Devi, the supreme
Shakti, the female energy is considered very powerful and is called 'Adi Parashakti'. She is the 'Chaitanya' filled in the whole creation.
“Purusha” and “Prakriti” are considered the father and mother, and worshipping the female principle, as the Supreme Mother, who bestows all her energies on us, Her off-spring with great love and overflowing compassion, is considered very important and auspicious.
In Devi Purana, Devi is described thus – “ She is the Vedas, the sacrifices, the Heaven and all this Universe- The immovable and moveable, the sentient and non-sentient is pervaded and ruled by Devi. She is worshipped by Devas. She is all that is food and drink, manifold in form. Devi is everywhere – in the trees, in the earth, in the air, in the ether, in the water and in the fire. There is nothing which cannot be obtained either on Earth or in Heaven when Devi is pleased”.
It is said that the three goddesses -“Trishaktis”, Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi, represent the three Vedas – Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yujar Veda. They are the manifestations of the Supreme Shakti.
Sri Shankara Bhagawat Pada, who is considered as the very ‘amsa’ of Lord Shiva himself had composed many verses and paeans eulogizing the effulgent acts, the merciful deeds, the compassionate love of the Supreme Mother, reciting of which will have an ennobling influence and firming up of devotion and faith in one’s mind. It is said that mere contemplation on the form of Devi will bless the votary with quintessential knowledge, peace and power.
Though the glory or ‘Mahatmya’ of Devi is indescribable even by the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, for the sake of devotees to enjoy and understand the Supreme Mother’s all-permeating attributes and powers and for her aspirants to get a picture of her eternal beauty, Sri Shankara had written “Soundarya Lahari”.
It contains hundred verses singing on the ethereal, eternal, and effulgent beauty and splendor of Devi – which when devoutly sung during “ Navarathri Festival” is supposed to please and propitiate Her. Apart from praising Her beauty, Shankara explained how Devi is the embodiment of Panchabhutas’, the Five Elements, and how She pervades everything as ‘Akash tattwa’ ‘Vaayu tattwa’ ‘Agni tattwa’ ‘Jala tattwa’ ‘Prithvee tattwa’ in the whole Creation. “
Sri Vidya’ worship of Devi is supposed to awaken Kundalini Shakti in the practitioners. In this kaliyuga, the worship of Chandi and Vinayaka is the surest way to attain salvation as proclaimed by religious scriptures.
‘Devi Sapthashati’, which has seven hundred slokas eulogizing the power of the Mother, is known as the science of mantras with mystic syllables or seed letters, is said to bestow happiness and success in mundane and esoteric matters of human beings, for achieving goals and aspirations, for vanquishing the internal and external enemies and for spiritual advancement.
