By Karthik S
The Divine Mother embodies the first manifestation of the Ultimate Reality, symbolized by the Om vibration of the Holy Trinity, Sat-Tat-Om. Within this trinity, Sat represents the Unmanifested Eternal Truth and Tat signifies the Cosmic Intelligence that manifests as Om. The Om vibration serves as a means to understand, worship, and connect with the Ultimate Reality as one progresses spiritually, according to their perception of senses.
Every vibration inherently comprises two forces: Para Shakti, the attractive force drawing towards the Ultimate Reality (Sat), and Apara Shakti (Maya Devi), the repulsive force creating cosmic delusion and separation from the Ultimate Reality. The Divine Mother, Adi Shakti, embodies the cosmic Om vibration—a synthesis of both these forces.
When Om interacts with space, time, and atoms, influenced by the three gunas (Rajas, Tamas, and Sattva), it manifests as the five fundamental elements (space, air, fire, water, and earth) and the cosmos itself. Thus, the Divine Mother is the primal energy responsible for creation, preservation, and destruction in the universe.
The ultimate goal of any form of worship is to awaken the seven energy centers of cerebro-spinal axis (Chakras) that govern the astral body and to raise the dormant energy of the soul, known as Kundalini. The seven centers, or chakras, from Muladhara to Vishuddhi, represent the five elements, while the Ajna chakra represents the Om vibration.
By controlling the four aspects of consciousness — intellect, ego, mind, and feelings—and attaining peace in meditation, one can experience the ultimate reality as the Om vibration in the right ear. This experience is the first manifestation of the connection with the divine, where the individual soul merges with the universal consciousness.
As we progress from this state, the individual transcends the limitations of the material world and experiences the divine presence within. The Om vibration becomes a direct experience, initiating the union of the individual soul with the ultimate reality.
Manikkavacakar aptly puts it –
“The Ultimate Reality stands
as the Om vibration
within my being to redeem it”
This Om vibration resonates within every being, continuously proclaiming the presence of the divine and drawing the soul toward its source. When the ego is dissolved within this divine magnetic force, the mystery of birth and existence is revealed.
We must understand the qualities of the Om vibration, the Divine Mother. The Om vibration has the power to heal the physical, astral, and causal bodies. Just as a mother’s embrace brings comfort to her child in distress, the Om vibration is its divine manifestation. Above all, she is the embodiment of unconditional love.
As the Divine Mother assured Paramahansa Yogananda during his first divine encounter, “I have always loved thee, and I will always love thee.” This promise is not just for him but for all beings in the universe. She transcends duality of good and bad, embodying unconditional love and compassion beyond good and evil.
Through the forces of Maya and the karmic fruits accumulated by humanity due to ignorance, the Divine Mother works subtly to uphold the divine order and maintain cosmic balance. Her efforts can be understood through spiritual growth, where one realizes her unconditional love. She never keeps an account one’s Sins and good deeds like a revengeful judge who punishes for one’s crimes. Rather through her unconditional love, she struggles to protect, guide and liberate those who surrender in her despite their flaws as a mother.
She symbolically wears the severed heads of ego, desire, attachment, anger, and likes and dislikes—traits born from ignorance—as ornaments, teaching us to transcend them. As Adi Shakti, she has the power to protect and guide those who surrender to her. As Parashakti, she embodies peace and creation, while as Aparashakti, she manifests as the destructive forces of nature. Through her threefold powers of creation, preservation, and destruction, she maintains the balance of the universe according to the will of the Ultimate Reality.
In Indian culture, our ancestors recognized the divine feminine energy and celebrated the victory over ignorance and delusion. During this month, across Bharat, various festivals like Dasara, Durga Puja, Ayudha Puja, Saraswati Puja, Vijayadashami, and Kolu honor different aspects of the Divine Mother.
Let us understand the deeper spiritual significance of these celebrations, which honor the life force governing the universe, and strive for spiritual growth. May the blessings of the Divine Mother and the Om vibration be upon all her children.
(Author is Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand Armed Police. Views are personal.)
