Message of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Navaratri day 2 – September 22, 2017
Courtesy: FB Page Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji
Śri Ganeśāya namah
Śri Saraswatye Namah
Śripāda vallabha nŗsimha Saraswati
Śri Guru Dattatreyāya namah
Namo devi mahāvidye namāṃi caraṇou tavā
Sadā jnana prakāṣaṃ me devi sarvārta de Śive
On this second day of Śaran Navaratri, in accordance with their respective customs, different people worship different incarnations of Mother Goddess. In Dattapeetham on this 2nd day, She is worshipped as Rāja-rajeśwari.
Lalita Sahasranama extols Mother Goddess as – Oṃ Rāja-rajeśwaryai namah.
When this name falls into our ears, we get goose bumps. We are reassured that we are in the custody of Mother Goddess, who is an embodiment of infinite energy, when we listen to this name. Mother Rāja-rajeśwari is the supreme ruler who rules even greatest Gods such as Trinity, Kubera and others. She is the commander for even the greatest emperors who rule all other kings.
‘īśwari’ means She who possesses not just prosperity but also authority. She rules and protects every living entity while also fulfilling his/her desires. It is She who bestows upon the Guardian-deities and Demi-gods the capacity to diligently complete their assigned duties. She provides them with the equipments, assistants and wealth needed for its completion. With the help of the energy and equipment bestowed by the Supreme Mother, the Demi-gods splendidly complete their duties and rule over the universe perfectly.
“Will such a Supreme Empress hear our prayers and come to our rescue when called?” To this, it can be emphatically declared, “Yes, She will.”
Two ardent devotees of Mother Goddess resided in a town. As a result of his intense austerities one among them could become the ruler of that land. The other became an ascetic who had absolved himself from all worldly desires (vairagi).
Hundreds of attendants would be ever-ready to serve the king the moment he signalled. However, when the ascetic called, the Divine Mother alone would respond. While the king enjoyed luxurious lavish meals in the palace, the Mother Goddess would daily arrive in some form or the other, and feed the ascetic with some fruit or some meagre food. All the citizens of that land were aware that this mendicant, who resided beneath a tree near the village, was a great accomplished ascetic.
One day, the news of the accomplished ascetic reached the king. Hearing this, he thought, “Both he and me were classmates and friends. Both of us worshipped Mother Goddess with equal dedication. As a result of my worship, She rewarded me with kingship while blessing him with sainthood. When I call, She never responds. However, when he calls, She responds. She supplies him with a fruit and then disappears. What could be the secret behind this? I need to delve deep into this matter. I too seek to be bestowed with Her grace”.
With this intention, the king called the ascetic to the palace and said, “Both of us are childhood friends who studied and grew up together. Both of us put in equal efforts to worship the Divine Mother. Why then does She respond to your calls while ignoring mine? Could you please enlighten me in this aspect?”
The ascetic replied, “O King, please pray to Her with a completely focused mind. She will also talk to you.”
The king replied, “Sir, I pray to her with complete concentration. I am asking her to extend the kingdom under my territory and to bless me with good health plus longevity”.
The ascetic replied, “O king, Mother will not respond when you pray seeking fulfilment of selfish desires. Pray selflessly seeking the well-being of every living entity in the creation. Pray that all your neighbours, friends and acquaintances are freed from all troubles. Pray for the welfare of the creation. Since I pray in this manner, Divine Mother responds to my prayers. She takes care of my well-being. You too adopt this approach. She will talk to you”- saying this, the ascetic went away.
Having grasped this important secret, the king immediately stopped entertaining selfish desires. He instead began to pray for the well-being of the creation. As days went by, one morning the Divine Mother spoke to the king.
All of us are children of Mother Rāja-rajeśwari. It is Her grace that sustains us. We should all strive for the well-being of others in this creation. We should share our love with others. Only then we will become eligible to be rewarded with Her loving gaze.
If we abandon seeking fulfilment of our selfish needs, and instead pray for the well-being and happiness of all other entities in the creation, we will be blessed with mental peace. Her loving, tender gaze will fall upon us. May the grace of Mother Rāja-rajeśwari transform every person and fill him/her with selflessness! May everyone be showered with Her blessings!
Jaya Guru Datta.