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The Gods, Superior Beings and Adverse Forces THE GODS
Those who still believe in gods can certainly continue to worship them if they feel like it − but they must know that this creed and this worship has nothing to do with the teaching of Sri Aurobindo and no connection whatever with the Supramental Realisation. 1964 Even the gods have to make their surrender to the Supreme if the Divine creation is to be realised upon earth.
What is the origin, significance and purpose of festivals such as Deepavali, Dasera, Rakhipurnima, etc. − and also some of the western festivals? On these days do the gods respond more to human aspirations? Thirdly, what is the connection between the inner truth and the external functions of these festivals? Lastly, what should be our attitude towards these festivals?
Men like festivals. 9 November 1969 As an answer to my letter on the significance of festivals you wrote to me: “Men like festivals.” Does it then mean that they are men’s fancy and whim ? Page – 14 Have they no meaning and no utility ?
It is men who give a meaning to festivals in order to legitimate their presence. 21 November 1969
Krishna represents both the universal Godhead and the immanent Godhead, he whom one can meet within one’s being and in all that constitutes the manifested world. And do you want to know why he is always represented as a child? It is because he is in constant progression. To the extent that the world is perfected, his play is also perfected − what was the play of yesterday will no longer be the play of tomorrow; his play will become more and more harmonious, benign and joyful to the extent that the world becomes capable of responding to it and enjoying it with the Divine.
Krishna’s play: a power of progress veiling itself behind appearances.
Krishna’s play in Matter: beauty, love and joy are comrades; a play which widens and makes you progress.
Krishna’s play in the physical: the rule of the Avatar upon earth, that is to say, the realisation of the new divine world. Page – 15 Can you tell me whether Radha actually existed? Volumes are being written to prove that she did not.
Surely she has lived and is still living.
Radha’s consciousness symbolises perfect attachment to the Divine.
KALI, MAHAKALI, MAHALAKSHMI, MAHASARASWATI
When people speak against you, I feel as if a big flame with many tongues is arising in me and the person in front becomes docile.
It must be Kali’s force which you evoke.
I want to ask you a question concerned with my reaction to the inconsideration and vulgarity in X’s letter about Sri Aurobindo. I remember an occasion many years ago when a lady friend of mine spoke unbecomingly of both of you. I verbally choked her off at once, but the indignation within me went on burning. It was like a sword of fire leaping out of my chest, Page – 16 striking and striking through the hours. My mind could serve only to direct it accurately; it had itself little part in the actual violence. The next day the lady had a terrific attack of diarrhoea. A similar blaze began to go out of my chest yesterday on reading Y’s letter. I had no scruple in directing it at his journal as if to consume its future to ashes. But although I also struck out at Y himself as if to destroy him, I did not encourage the fiery onslaught. I started wondering if it was right to attack like that a person. At times I thought I was perfectly justified. At other times it seemed to me that I should offer my sword of fire to you and Sri Aurobindo and leave it to you both to use it instead of myself concentratedly directing it at Y. I shall be thankful if I can have some words of guidance from you. Please keep in mind that I am not talking of a mere outburst of anger: some force appears to be there which wants to destroy and which feels it has the power to destroy. Of course I would never think of using it for my own private ends.
It is evidently the working of the Kali force that has lit and is directing this fire in you. There is nothing wrong in its action; it is not an anger personal to you but the wrath of a divine power and it must be allowed to act; in fact, I think you could not stop it from burning in you even if you wanted to stop it. This man has drawn it on himself and there is nothing wrong in what is happening, he alone is responsible. Of course, it must not be used for any personal aim or in any self-regarding way. 8 October 1950 “ When she [ Mahakali ] is allowed to intervene in her strength, then in one moment are broken like things Page – 17 without consistence the obstacles that immobilise or the enemies that assail the seeker.”¹ – Sri Aurobindo
How is the intervention of the Mahakali Force felt ?
It is felt as if something swift, sudden, decisive and imperative. When it intervenes, it has a kind of divine or supramental sanction behind it and is like a fiat against which there is no appeal. What is done cannot be reversed or undone. The adverse forces may try, may even touch or invade, but they retire baffled and it is seen as soon as they withdraw, that the present ground has remained intact − it is felt even in the attack. Also, the difficulties that were strong before, if touched by this fiat, lose their power, their verisimilitude destroyed, or they become weak shadows that come only to flicker and fade away. I say “allowed” because this supreme action of Mahakali is comparatively rare; the action of the other Powers or a partial action of Mahakali is more common. November 1958 Of all the aspects of the Mother, Kali most powerfully expresses vibrant and active love, and despite her sometimes terrible aspect, she carries in herself the golden splendour of an all-powerful love. 24 February 1965 Kali rarely acts in the mind. In the higher domains she is a power of love which pushes towards progress and transformation; in the vital she is a power of destruction of falsehood, hypocrisy and ill-will. All that is good, truthful and progressive is never destroyed by her. On the contrary, she protects and sustains it. 5 June 1965 ¹ The Mother Cent.Vol.25 p.29. Page – 18 Behind all destructions, whether the immense destructions of Nature, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, floods, etc., or the violent human destructions, wars, revolutions, revolts, I find the power of Kali, who is working in the earth-atmosphere to hasten the progress of transformation. All that is not only divine in essence but also divine in realisation is by its very nature above these destructions and cannot be touched by them. Thus the extent of the disaster gives the measure of the imperfection. The true way of preventing the repetition of these destructions is to learn their lesson and make the necessary progress.
Integral wealth of Mahalakshmi: wealth of feelings and action in all fields of activity − intellectual, psychological and material.
Mahasaraswati’s mission is to awaken the world to the need of perfection; but perfection itself belongs to the Supreme Lord alone; no one else can even know what it is.
Ma, please help me to have a clear representation of the four aspects of the Mother as described by Sri Aurobindo in his book it The Mother.
In their aspect above the Overmind, in the higher regions, the aspects of the Mother have very simple forms and don’t have multiple limbs. All the details and complications are appearances mostly added by men in order to give a symbolic expression to invisible qualities. 29 September 1967 Page – 19 Avatar − the Supreme manifested on earth in a body.
The Avatar: the supreme Divine manifested in an earthly form − generally a human form − for a definite purpose.
The Divine, being all-powerful, can lift people up without bothering to come down on earth. It is only if it is part of the world arrangement that he should take upon himself the burden of humanity and open the Way that avatarhood has any meaning. 6 March 1935 Men tolerate the presence of the Divine upon earth only on condition that He suffers there.
Only when men depend exclusively on the Divine and on nothing else, will it no longer be necessary for the incarnate god to die for them. 2 August 1952 Page – 20 The chief purpose of the “avatar” is to give to man a concrete proof that the Divine can manifest upon earth. 12 July 1954 Unless your aim is the Divine Realisation upon earth, at any cost, take good care not to draw too close to the divine messengers: for their action is like a hurricane that sweeps away all established things. 7 May 1957 Page – 21 |