Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – day 8 Navaratri – Chandi Devi – October 20, 2015 – Mysore
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Gods have Satva Guna. Demons have Tamo Guna. Humans have a mixture of Gunas, but mostly a mixture of Rajo Guna and Tamo Guna. They cannot be trusted because they switch from one Guna to another and have changing moods. Those who are talkative, laughing, and outspoken may be trusted, but not those who are grumpy and reserved. They may be brewing harmful ideas in their minds. When they are under the influence of Tamo Guna, they assume the characteristics of many animals.
Human birth is not preferred when divine souls are asked to go down to earth to help mankind, because it is like a hellish state and humanity is out of balance. Those who are cursed to be born on earth prefer to remain as a rock rather than be born as a human being. Some rocks are boulders are in fact full of life. Those who take a human birth usually get caught in the net of delusion and sin. They lose their chance to move upward spiritually. They fill themselves up with Tamo Guna or Rajo Guna and do not develop Satva Guna.
People desire to please the tongue rather than the stomach. What makes the tongue happy usually is bad for the stomach. What the stomach likes, the tongue is not attracted to, such as food with nutritious and medicinal qualities.
It is the humans who are rich in Satva Guna and possess godly characteristics, who help maintain balance in the world of humans. People with Tamo Guna have the tendency for destruction and laziness or sleep. They eat excessively and remain idle.
One’s nature should not be judged by appearance. A person may have unattractive complexion and physical features, but may have a golden heart filled with kindness. A person with attractive looks and sweet speech may have a very evil mind.
Satva Guna lies hidden. It does not come to the forefront like Tamo Guna and Rajo Guna. Good people are reluctant to display their good nature. They are not loud and aggressive. People with Rajo Guna are very aggressive and demanding. They act as it they know everything. They are very obstinate and stubborn and insist on having things their own way. A stubborn child thrown tantrums and gives a hard time to the parents. Many children behave that way. They are never hesitant to take away things from others by force. They feel that they have the right to get whatever they want at any cost and even pain to others. Their speech is rude and intimidating. While those with Satva Guna would hesitate to seek a loan even during times of dire necessity, those with Rajo Guna will assert their right to possession of what belongs to others. When Rajo Guna and Tamo Guna dominate in a person, their Satva Guna goes away.
It is the duty of human beings to increase the human qualities within them, of developing a helping nature. They should develop Satvic tendencies and suppress the Rajo and Tamo Gunas.
Humans who are noble and pious, like Kuchela in the Bhagavatam story, have mostly Satva Guna. Such persons are gentle, humble, soft-spoken, and unassuming. They do not ask for help when they are in trouble, because they feel too shy and embarrassed. When Kuchela visited Krishna, he felt too shy to offer him the parched rice which he had brought as an offering. It was stale. Krishna gave a grand welcome to Kuchela and treated him to royal honors. Kuchela felt embarrassed. He did not even ask for help, the reason for his visit. But, by Krishna’s grace and by Vishnu Maya, he became wealthy by the time he returned home.
Satvic persons do not like to lose self-respect by asking for favors, whereas demonic persons are unconcerned about self-respect. They take by force and insinuation. They make life difficult for others. Such bad qualities should be given up.
Tenali Ramakrishna tried to cheat Mother Goddess when she offered him a choice of either wealth or scholarship. He grabbed both containers of dessert and consumed half of each. He was neither rich nor was he fully knowledgeable. He got half of each and lost at both ends. He died poor. His somewhat perverted poetic skill won him the reputation as ‘Vikatakavi’. That is what happens when one tries to trick Mother Goddess with greediness when she tries to shower her compassion.
Slokam: tvam chandamundadi
O Chandi Devi, you are wielding weapons for the purpose of benefiting the world by annihilating demons such as Chanda and Munda. O Isa, you are fully compassionate. I pray that I should always be meditating upon your lotus feet.
‘Chandikayai namaha’, ‘chandamundasura nishoodinyai namaha’ are prayers occurring in Sri Lalita Sahasranamavali. In this incarnation, Mother Goddess especially informs us of the importance of devotion. One would wonder at that, because both the name Chandi, and her form strike fear in the heart. The secret about Chandi lies in her name itself.
‘Chandee,’ means, towards those who lack faith, she shows her fury.
Mother is ever compassionate. She always blesses her children. She never shows any anger. But when the child takes a wrong step, it is her duty to instill fear in the child. That is why she named herself Chandi.
‘chidagnikunda sambhootayai namaha’ – Mother of the Universe emerges as an immense and fiery energy out of the Firepit of Consciousness.
For the sake of destroying Adharma and to eradicate wicked demons who are out of control, Mother of the Universe has invoked fury into herself and incarnated as Chandi.
Bhajan: Chandi Chandasura damani
Mother Goddess, who is Supreme Energy, encompassing in herself all the different types of energy, has taken the form of Mother Chandi. That is why in the Chandi Saptasati the glory of Supreme Mother has been clearly delineated.
Taking the form of Mahakali, she killed Madhu and Kaitabha. As Mahalakshmi she quelled Mahishasura. In the form of Mahasaraswati, she tore to pieces, Sumbha and Nisumbha.
The combined form of all three Mothers is Mother Chandika. She killed the demons Chanda and Munda and became famous as Chamundaa.
Chandatva and Mundatva are two important principles. Chandatva is the trait of believing, “I alone know everything. There is no one who is superior to me.” It denotes Rajo Guna. One who possesses this trait is Chanda. Mundatva is a completely shaven head. It denotes Tamo Guna which implies total ignorance. One who fits this description is Munda. To put an end to these two, divinity fully empowered by Satva Guna is required. That is why, filled with Satva Guna, Mother Goddess incarnated as Chandika. But in appearance, she appears as if she is a manifestation of nothing but Tamo Guna. That is the remarkable feature in Mother Goddess.
‘Chandikaa saptavarshaasyaat’ means that Mother Chandi must be envisioned as a perpetually seven year old girl, and offered worship. We are immensely fortunate that Mother Chamundi happens to reside in Mysuru and we are present in her proximity and offering worship to Mother Goddess. Mother is Girija, daughter of a mountain. She is the consort of Siva, who is a Lord of Mount Kailas, Girisa. She is the Empress of hilly regions.
Bhajan: Girisapatnee
Mother Chandi destroys all the demonic energies and devilish feelings which arise in us.
Swamiji has explained the principle of Mother Chandi in great detail in the Bhajan: Chandi prachande chamunde.
Mother Chandi yields to prayers offered with devotion. That is why in ancient times, when Himavan prayed to her to teach him Bhakti Yoga, she gave him the Devi Gita. Mother who melts to see devotion, has explained the attributes of a good devotee.
Mother Chandi is known as Vagvadini, one who speaks and makes others speak. By her grace, along with Dharma, Artha, and Kama, one also attains Moksha/Liberation.
Non-violence, control of sense organs, tolerance, kindness, knowledge, penance, truth, and consciousness are eight flowers. Among these the best is Chaitanya Pushpa, the flower of Consciousness. Without consciousness, the others will not shine. That is why Mother Goddess is pleased with the Chaitanya Kusuma. When living beings offer to Mother Chandi their hearts, she gladly grants them all their wishes.
Today, among the Nava Durgas, Mother incarnates as Mahagowri.
Slokam: Svete vrishe
Mother is riding on a white bull. She is wearing a white robe. She is pure. She is giving happiness to Mahadeva, who is Lord Siva. May Mahagowri shower her blessings upon everyone.
With blessings,
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri