Devi Mahatmyam - 12: THE ESOTERIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEVI-MAHATMYA - SRI SWAMI KRISHNANANDA

25/04/2019.
A talk given on the 13th of October, 1972, during the Navaratri worship.
12.

This Devi-Mahatmya is not merely an esoteric epic. It is not only a great spiritual text in the form of occult lessons, occult teachings of which I have given you an outline. But, it is also a great Mantra-Sastra.

Every Sloka, every verse of the Devi-Mahatmya is a Mantra by itself. I will tell you how it is a Mantra, by giving only one instance, that is the first Sloka itself. "Savarnih suryatanayo yo manuh kathyate-shtamah." This is the first Sloka – "Savarnih surya-tanayah."

It is all a Tantric interpretation and a very difficult thing to understand.

But I am giving you only an idea as to what it is like.

Surya represents fire, the fire-principle.

Surya-tanaya means that which is born of the fire-principle.

What is it that is born of the fire-principle? It is the seed 'Ra'.

According to Tantric esoteric psychology, 'Ram' is the Bija Mantra of Agni.

In the word 'Savarnih', 'Varni' means a hook; so add one hook to 'Ram'.

"Yo manuh kathyate, ashtamah." Eighth letter – What is Manu?

It is a letter in Sanskrit.

Eight letters are Ya, Ra, La, Va, Sya, Sha, Sa, Ha. The eighth is Ha.

Add Ha to it. Ha, Ra and one hook, make 'Hreem'.

"Savarnih suryo-tanayo yo manuh kathyateshtamah, nisamaya tadutpattim." "You hear the glory of that," the sage says.

So, the first verse means :

"Now, I shall describe to you the glory of 'Hreem'." This Hreem is the Bija of Devi. But, outwardly it means, "Listen to the story of the king so-and-so, who is the eighth Manu," and all that. Thus in addition to the outer meaning, there is an inner significance of the Mantra. I am giving you only the case of one Mantra. Like this, every Mantra is full of inner significance.

And every Mantra is repeated by devotees for some purpose or the other. The Devi-Mahatmya is especially recited for averting calamities in life. Catastrophes, calamities and tensions – personal or outward, whatever they be – all these are averted by a regular daily recital of the Devi-Mahatmya.

When there is war threatening a country, for example, or pestilence or epidemic spreading everywhere, or any internal tension or anxiety of any kind, the Devi-Mahatmya is to be studied. And it is a very potent remedy prescribed by seers of yore – not only for temporal terrestrial prosperity, but also for the glory of the hereafter, for illumination, for the destruction of Avidya or Ajnana, for overcoming Mala, Vikshepa and Avarana, and to be a fit recipient of the grace of the Almighty.

Thus is the outer significance and the inner significance of the Devi-Mahatmya, and the special meaning that it has in the life of spiritual seekers or Sadhakas. Glory to God! Glory to Sadhana! Glory to the integral character of spiritual practice! May we be blessed with this illumination, with this wisdom, with the strength to tread the path of the Spirit, to our ultimate Freedom!

THE END.