From a satsang with Pt. Balram Persad, Spiritual Leader, SWAHA Om Shakti Mandali
As the sacred festival of Navraatri starts during September, devotees’ hearts and homes are lit with devotion to the Divine Mother in all Her resplendent forms. The Divine Mother manifests across the ages, representing a variety of principles: Durga Maa, Lakshmi Maa, Saraswati Maa, Dharti Maa, Ganga Maa, Sita Maa, and numerous other forms, that reveal Her sacred essence within us, teach us how to live righteously and help us transcend the limitations of physical reality. In every manifestation, She reminds us that life is not only about maintaining the physical existence, but about awakening to the highest truth, self-knowledge and spiritual discovery.
As we bow to the Divine Mother and pray: Rūpam dehi, jayam dehi, yaśodayi (Argala Stotram), we are asking: Grant me the spiritual beauty of self-realization; grant me victory and glory, O Mother, so that I may conquer all the negative qualities within me. Lust, anger, greed, hatred and jealousy: these are the internal demons that we must destroy. In Her image we see the eternal battle of spirit over illusion (maayaa), of the highest Self prevailing over the lower.
To represent that principle, Durga Maa is depicted as seated upon the tiger. The tiger represents both the vastness of worldly knowledge and the untamed impulses of the ego. Yet She sits in perfect mastery upon it, teaching us that the highest Self must always govern the lower. Through Her, we gain not only victory in spiritual endeavour, but also the strength to transcend maayaa, rising above the shadows of ignorance into the brilliance of truth.
She is the Mother whose compassion sustains us, for we are just as a grain of sand finding its place in the vastness of the seashore. By Her grace alone we continue. She brings joy into devotees’ homes, hope where there is despair, and light into the dim corners of all lives. At Her feet, we find solace, strength and infinite love.
As Dharti Maa, Mother Earth, She is another radiant form of the Divine Mother. Too often forgotten, She is the ground upon which we rise and fall, the cradle of our birth, and the final resting place of the body. She nourishes and sustains us with all that we need. Alongside Her, we honour Gangaa Maa, lifeblood of the land, whose waters bring renewal and whose flow symbolizes purity and grace. We also honour Gow Maa, the gentle cow, symbol of nature and creation itself, reminding us of our dependence on animals and the harmony of the natural world. We revere the trees, silent benefactors, who absorb what is harmful and release life-giving oxygen, teaching us the principle of unselfish service.
Found on a throne in the depths of Mother Earth by her father, King Janak, was Sita Maa, another radiant embodiment of Devi. Often remembered only as the devoted wife of Shree Raam, her life reveals a far deeper strength. Even before her marriage, she effortlessly lifted Lord Shiva’s mighty bow, a feat unmatched by any but Shree Raam Himself. In this we glimpse the internal power of the divine female, firm and resolute.
Sita Maa’s life was marked by sacrifice, endurance and courage. From the splendour of Ayodhya’s palace to the solitude of the forest, she adapted with grace. When abducted by Ravan, she stood unshaken, rejecting his temptations and threats. Her heart remained steadfast in loyalty and love for Shree Raam. As a wife, daughter-in-law, mother and devotee, she embodied integrity and nobility. Her devotion to Girija Maa (Parvati Devi) in prayer for Shree Raam’s hand in marriage reminds us of her deep spirituality. Even in exile, she served with humility and devotion.
Above all, Sita Maa represents resilience in the face of adversity. During her greatest hardships, she bore her suffering with quiet dignity, radiating the strength of the Eternal Mother.
As we celebrate Navraatri, may we behold the power and principles of the Divine Mother in all her manifestations. It is She who grants victory over the ego, who sustains life, who purifies, who nurtures and who exemplifies devotion, strength and grace. May Her blessings uplift us from within, granting us the beauty of knowledge, victory over worldly illusion and the peace of self-realization.
