In the Vedic lore it is said that its only one energy expressing itself in millions of forms around us . And in the more modern times; the string theory, which says “the entire world is made of strings” and these strings are nothing but vibrations (energy). One can only wonder and ask really! Because what meets the eye is a completely different reality, isn’t it. Even when we wake up, every morning the first feeling can be so different .The same cycle of morning, afternoon, evening, and night can have millions of different experiences to offer, again and again.
And this “one energy” and its infinite forms is what is worshiped during the festival of Navaratre. Navratre the nine- days & nights, are celebrated every year. Each year this celebration has opened up to mean something very new. And a deep feeling of wonder, seeing this magnificent play of “one energy”, is growing every moment ,within me.
I was standing in front of the most beautiful Deviji’s idol at Lokhandwala, my heart filled with reverence by the beauty expressed by the artist. As I looked up carefully at all the idols placed around Durga.
Ganesh, Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik, the lion, Mahishasur (the demon) and the magnificent Durga herself in the most abhorrent and angry mood. The anger which is always looked down upon, the sign of ignorance, the symbol of the unwise. And this form is being worshiped???
But even in the state of outrage, with her eyes convulsing, her tongue sticking out, and venom pouring out of each and every cell of her being, she looked so beautiful, so very full…..
The most ‘cruel expression’ of the Goddess(energy) in which she is doing the heinous act of killing was being worshiped with great reverence!
To me this meant, that even the opposite is a sacred part of that “one energy” and it has its place in the creation. Every aspect and every expression of the Devi is to be accepted because it is for a purpose.
Opposite is a part of the whole and the circle is incomplete without it, Good /bad, truth/lie, peace/disturbance etc; all a part of the whole.
For what would be the value of RAMA, if it wasn’t for the great RAVANA.
Would we remember Krishna after thousands of years , if he just came and played with the Gopis? Isn’t he also remembered for the great Mahabharata war. Would the Bhagwat Gita be given without the confusion in Arjuna’s mind, or the confusion in yours and mine.
If Jesus were not crucified so cruelly, some of us wouldn’t have believed that he was God, isn’t it?
The same energy takes different roles of the villain and hero, and plays and leaves a moral to direct the lives of the generations that are to come. Taking different roles again and again only to establish Dharma (that which upholds life) to give a direction to the life force and protect its creation.
For the first time I can feel great grateful towards, Ravana, Duryodhana and so many others who by their presence gifted us such moral stories to learn from.
Gurudev says, the ignorant at their own cost teach us lessons, by the mistakes they commit.
And as I stood , worshiping the Great Durga Idol ,the entire story looked complete with the presence of Mahishasur in it. And that’s what this Navaratri revealed to me.
That every particle in the creation is permeated with the divine energy of the mother, the one who protects, nurtures, destroys, and creates and so it is sacred and respectful.
Today I am all geared up to be a part of such a war for the sake of dharma but with a small difference , instead of hatred for those on the other side I have compassion for them.
|| य देवी सर्वभूतेषु भरन्ति रूपेण संस्थित नमस तस्यै नमस तस्यै नमस तस्यै नमो नमः ||
|| ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शन्तिहि ||
|| Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu bhranthi (doubt) rupena samsthita
namas tasyai, namas tasyai, namas tasyai, namo namah ||
|| Om shanti shanti shanti ||
-Vasudha Jhunjhunwala
Jai Gurudev!
Vasudha Jhunjhunwala 