Why do we worship devi devata? What do we get from them? How to worship them?
It is interesting to know how and why worship devi devata. There are many ways of worship, aradhana, archana of devi devata and elaborate procedures are laid down in the pancharatra agama shastra for this purpose. The worship or archana is done to the idols, icons or murti according to the ancient dravidian* tradition in the South and the saligrama/shalagrama or just stones with certain marks are worshiped in the Northern parts of India. The famous shrine of vaishnodevi devi in Katra (J&K), kamakhya devi in Assam or Shivalingam in Kashi (Varanasi), or vishnu pada in Gaya are examples. The beautifully carved idol of Sri venkateshvara and Lakshmi devi, padmavati, or devi kamakshi is just an example of the archana of idols. These idols are carved by sculptors according to rules laid down in shilpa shastra (iconography), and the idols are worshiped according to the Vedic rites. This is called archavatara. The principle here is that the Lord wants to be worshiped and appears in dream and directs the sculptors to cut the figures in stones, wood, metals, ivory, etc. Of course, these are our own faith and belief system. Sri Madhvacharya of Udupi, in Southern Karnataka is said to have got the idol of Shree Krishna brought in a ship from Dwarka! So also, Shree Shankaracharya established the idol of devi Sharadamba made of Sandal wood in Sringeri (supposed to be brought from Srinagar, Kashmir). This idol is now made of gold and this was installed by Sri Vidyaranya. Thus, there are many accounts of these temples, mathas and shrines where devi devata are worshiped.
But, what is that we are worshiping? The Veda clearly lays down that any idol with face of humans or animals should not be worshiped! Then what is it we are doing. This fact is made clear in Shreevidya promoted by Sri Vidyaranya. Worship of devi devata that are merely divine forces (Shakti) is necessary in order to divert our attention from the worldly attractions, at least for some time, and concentrate our mind on something that soothes and makes it calm, peaceful. It is very difficult to control the vibrant mental force and it has to be calmed down to maintain good health. So, it is advised ti sit quiet. But, it is not possible to sit quiet even for a few seconds since the mind is always vibrant. This has necessitated the worship of idols. Simple people can use anything like a piece of stone and rejoice worshiping it and be happy. The so called intellectuals have complicated this by elaborate methods of rituals.
The rituals are quite elaborate and most of these start with the fire sacrifice (yajnya), havan, homa, etc. where the fire god, agni is worshiped offering ghee and boiled rice. Vedic mantra are used in these worship. Simple forms are just to worship keeping a betel nut and treat it as a symbol of Lord ganapati, the vighnahara (remover of obstacles)! Another method is kalasha puja where a small brass, silver pot filled with water covered by some mango leaves and a coconut is used as the devi and worshiped. There are elaborate methods of installing (pratishthapana), inviting the devi devata and offering seat, water, flowers, burn scented /agar sticks, offer naivedyam and perform arti. The naivedyam.is later on distributed to all. Thus a small ritual on occasions bring happiness, joy and a get-together of all family members, friends and well wishers. There are auspicious days when these festivities are celebrated.
However, the best of the worship of devi devata is by means of mantra japa. Mantra japa is said to be the most ideal way of worship followed by dhyana (constant remembering of the divine), and dharana (total contemplation) that leads to samadhi. What is important is our own awareness of the supreme power that has created us (right from the day one when we entered the earth as a stellar particle and embodied in an elemental body as anna, prana and became a prani, animal. This embodiment is not an easy one to understand. The scientists may study the creation but not know the creator and, hence this prayer or aradhana of divine powers.
God or devi devata do not want anything from us. He / She / It is already benevolent and well disposed towards us. It is we, our mind and intellect that has directed us to indulge in all these and we are blindly following all these. It seems inevitable and we practice it as family tradition during childhood and may drop all these; nothing will happen, unless one is of strong mind. But, a weak minded person may feel bad. However, it is absolutely essential to keep a few minutes or an hour daily to divert the attention from worldly affairs and quieten the mind. Ultimately, one has to revert to an inward journey sooner or later. It is essential since the embodied soul craves for emancipation. The spiritual entity called the soul/atman has developed the elemental or material body due to avidya/ignorance and realizes its mistake and wants to take its return journey towards its pure state of quietude or nirvana.
Moreover, these devi devata are not outside of us. These are all established in our own physical body at strategic points and maintain the function of the body. The physical entity was not functioning when the Lord desired and manifest (created) by the divine force, Shakti. So He, the Lord, entered it. tadsrishtva tadevanupravishat, says the Veda. Since the Lord entered into and established Himself in the Lotus Heart (hrutkamala), all the devi devatas ,too entered along with Him to serve Him. So there are no devi devata outside of the human body. Every person should realize this and keep his/her body clean, serve it with selected sattvic food as naivedyam, chant the name of the personal God (ishta devata). It is absolutely certain that whoever created it will sustain it and do whatever He wants! There is 'free will' given to the jiva but it is of no use! Hence, the jiva should surrender to the 'divine will', and perform his/her ordained duties. The duty is to serve the fellow beings that include all jivarashi- from an ant and elephant to humans without any discrimination. There is no other purpose than this. All other cravings of the jiva will bind it to the eternal cycle of births and deaths. The jiva should remember well that this earth is not for any enjoyment since old age, sickness and death are certain. The jiva should work out ways and means (sadhana chatushtaya) to redeem its self and get out as early as possible. This is liberation, emancipation, mukti and moksha. The Buddha rightly said, "Desire is the cause of misery". But whose desire is this? It is Lord's own will and desire and the jiva suffers due to its ignorance. It is the Lord who said,I am alone and I shall become many. Lo! We are here!
The foolish jiva thinks this world is real and runs after insatiable desires and thereby suffers. Even Sri Ramachandra, who studied under the great Sage Vashishtha ran after the Golden Deer! Did he not realize that these things like gagana kusuma (flower in the sky), bangarada jinke (golden deer), kodina meenu (fish with horn), banjeya maga (son of a barren woman) etc. are simply names and do not exist in reality? So also, these wife or husband, children, friends and relatives! Little do we realize the fact that all these transient materials of the world are unreal. This is the ultimate reality.
However, the best of the worship of devi devata is by means of mantra japa. Mantra japa is said to be the most ideal way of worship followed by dhyana (constant remembering of the divine), and dharana (total contemplation) that leads to samadhi. What is important is our own awareness of the supreme power that has created us (right from the day one when we entered the earth as a stellar particle and embodied in an elemental body as anna, prana and became a prani, animal. This embodiment is not an easy one to understand. The scientists may study the creation but not know the creator and, hence this prayer or aradhana of divine powers.
God or devi devata do not want anything from us. He / She / It is already benevolent and well disposed towards us. It is we, our mind and intellect that has directed us to indulge in all these and we are blindly following all these. It seems inevitable and we practice it as family tradition during childhood and may drop all these; nothing will happen, unless one is of strong mind. But, a weak minded person may feel bad. However, it is absolutely essential to keep a few minutes or an hour daily to divert the attention from worldly affairs and quieten the mind. Ultimately, one has to revert to an inward journey sooner or later. It is essential since the embodied soul craves for emancipation. The spiritual entity called the soul/atman has developed the elemental or material body due to avidya/ignorance and realizes its mistake and wants to take its return journey towards its pure state of quietude or nirvana.
Moreover, these devi devata are not outside of us. These are all established in our own physical body at strategic points and maintain the function of the body. The physical entity was not functioning when the Lord desired and manifest (created) by the divine force, Shakti. So He, the Lord, entered it. tadsrishtva tadevanupravishat, says the Veda. Since the Lord entered into and established Himself in the Lotus Heart (hrutkamala), all the devi devatas ,too entered along with Him to serve Him. So there are no devi devata outside of the human body. Every person should realize this and keep his/her body clean, serve it with selected sattvic food as naivedyam, chant the name of the personal God (ishta devata). It is absolutely certain that whoever created it will sustain it and do whatever He wants! There is 'free will' given to the jiva but it is of no use! Hence, the jiva should surrender to the 'divine will', and perform his/her ordained duties. The duty is to serve the fellow beings that include all jivarashi- from an ant and elephant to humans without any discrimination. There is no other purpose than this. All other cravings of the jiva will bind it to the eternal cycle of births and deaths. The jiva should remember well that this earth is not for any enjoyment since old age, sickness and death are certain. The jiva should work out ways and means (sadhana chatushtaya) to redeem its self and get out as early as possible. This is liberation, emancipation, mukti and moksha. The Buddha rightly said, "Desire is the cause of misery". But whose desire is this? It is Lord's own will and desire and the jiva suffers due to its ignorance. It is the Lord who said,I am alone and I shall become many. Lo! We are here!
The foolish jiva thinks this world is real and runs after insatiable desires and thereby suffers. Even Sri Ramachandra, who studied under the great Sage Vashishtha ran after the Golden Deer! Did he not realize that these things like gagana kusuma (flower in the sky), bangarada jinke (golden deer), kodina meenu (fish with horn), banjeya maga (son of a barren woman) etc. are simply names and do not exist in reality? So also, these wife or husband, children, friends and relatives! Little do we realize the fact that all these transient materials of the world are unreal. This is the ultimate reality.
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