From a yagya with Paramacharya of SWAHA, H.H. Pt. Hardeo Persad
In life, we often face the constant battle between good and evil, often in the form of our own inner qualities. Our scriptures also depict this internal battle, represented by the Devas and Asuras. However, it is a point of interest that even the demons themselves pray to the Lord in order to gain their powers or have their wishes granted.
Ravan, the evil king who abducted Sita and fought against Shree Raam, was once in the midst of losing the war. Many of his kinsmen had already died during the war and he needed assistance. Many years previously, he had abandoned a son because it was said he was born wrapped in snakes. The child, Ahiravan, grew up among the rakshasas and became very powerful. He was also a great Devi bhakt (devotee). However, his methods and purpose of worship were different from a saatvic (pure, pious) bhakt. Devi, the personification of energy, was pleased by his intense worship and appeared before him.
Devi is the representation of all the various powers and energies that exist within creation. Everything in this universe is energy vibrating at different frequencies. Even as ordinary devotees, if we have shraddha and biswaas (faith, belief, conviction) then the Divine Mother can embody Herself before us. Understanding Devi Maa is similar to the analogy of air, which is everywhere, yet we cannot see it. Yet, if a cooling effect is produced, the air becomes liquid; if it is cooled further, it can then become solid.
Similarly, Shakti exists everywhere, but we have to produce a “cooling effect” through our devotions so that She manifests in our lives. All the scriptures tell us, including the Bhagavad Gita, that it matters not whether we offer a fruit, flower, leaf or water to the Divine; it is the attitude with which we make our offerings that is important – it must be an attitude of disinterested love and surrender to the Divine.
If we offer even a grain of rice or a little sugar, with the right attitude, the Lord will partake of it. All of our devotions produce that “cooling effect” so that the Divine may appear in our vision and in our lives. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, there were millions of soldiers, yet only Arjun saw the Viraj Swarupa, the cosmic form of the Lord. Sanjay, the narrator to the king, also saw it through the gift of a special sight. Thus, the Divine Energy can embody itself in any form. However, His appearance depends upon the strength and sincerity of the individual’s devotions.
Thus, even the demon Ahiravan prayed conscientiously until the Devi appeared, because the Divine Energy does not discriminate. The Bhagavad Gita says, “As you come to me, so I come to you.” If we take one step towards the Divine, She takes 100 steps towards us. Thus, even if a man has wicked qualities but turns towards Devi Maa and prays sincerely, then His prayers can be answered. Devi is compassion personified and She responds to our sincere devotion.
The noble king, Raja Harischand was also a great devotee of Devi. His devotion to Devi bestowed upon him the right intellect and attitude. Ultimately, his devotions resulted in the regaining of his kingdom and his dead son was also brought back to life. Thus, when the Divine Energy is awakened, our life is filled with positive incidents. Furthermore, all the divine qualities also begin to manifest within us. We carry these wonderful spiritual qualities with us throughout life: honesty, sincerity and truthfulness, straightforwardness and all the qualities that Bhagavan Shree Krishna described in the Bhagavad Gita. We must tap into the Divine Energy, Maha Shakti, the Primordial Energy, the most powerful of all forces, for ourselves and we might experience the presence of the Divine embodied or even our own divinity that stems from that Divine Source.
