"I Also Rode On The Tiger."
Arwinder then clarified that Shri Mataji occasionally explains the meaning of the Sanskrit words She uses while talking to him in English. Apparently there are many words in Sanskrit with no direct English translation, and interpretation is necessary in order for conversations to be understood properly.
The warrior goddess, riding upon a lion and
wielding a weapon in each of her 10 arms. She is
depicted calm-faced and smiling as She defeats
the buffalo demon. The latter symbolizes that
egoistic force of maya (the everyday world) which
deludes individuals and keeps them from knowing
their innate nature as god. Durga, the fierce and
creative shakti aspect of Godhead, incarnates to
restore order in the world and peace in the heart
of suffering devotees in any time of crisis.
On July 13, 1998, at 11.25 a.m. Arwinder again told his father that he had sat on Shri Matajis tiger.
Arwinder: "I also rode on the tiger. I wanted to know how it was, friendly."
Question: "Did you ask Shri Matajis permission?"
Arwinder: "Yeah, I have to."
Question: "How big was the tiger?"
Arwinder: "Maybe long as one meter, maybe longer."
Question: "How many times have you sat on this tiger?"
Arwinder: "Once."
Question: "Only once?"
Arwinder: "Yeah."
Question: "Why did you want to sit on the tiger?"
Arwinder: "I want to see if it is friendly and all those things. I just wanted to try out."
Question: "Were you not afraid?"
Arwinder: "No, because I know Shri Mataji's tiger is nice. I have already been with Her, so it must be nice."
Question: "Was Shri Mataji alone, or were there other people also?"
Arwinder: "Other people, Shri Shiva and all that."
Question: "Did they also sit on the tiger?"
Arwinder: "Yeah."
Question: "You are sure?"
Arwinder: "Yeah."
Question: "They sat after you, or before you?"
Arwinder: "Yeah, before."
Question: "Did Shri Mataji talk to the tiger?"
Arwinder: "Yeah, in different language."
Question: "What do you mean by different language?"
Arwinder: "Like the language that was invented by Shri Mataji" (i.e., Sanskrit.)
Question: "Do you understand that language?"
Arwinder: "Not that much."
Question: "What you mean by not that much? Can you give me words of that language?"
Arwinder: "No, I forget."
Question: "You mean you only talk that language down there?"
Arwinder: "Yeah."
Question: "Then you say that they talk to you in English?"
Arwinder then clarified that Shri Mataji occasionally explains the meaning of the Sanskrit words She uses while talking to him in English. Apparently there are many words in Sanskrit with no direct English translation, and their interpretation necessary in order for conversations to be understood properly.
Question: "How old are you when with Shri Mataji eight-years old, or bigger?"
Arwinder: "Bigger."
Question: "You mean you are more than eight-years old?"
Arwinder: "Yeah, or smaller."
Question: "I dont understand all this. What you mean bigger, or smaller?"
Arwinder: "I can be bigger (older) if I want, or smaller."
Question: "Were you as old as papa?"
Arwinder: "No."
Question: "Are the people as Shri Shiva as old as papa?"
Arwinder: "More older."
Question: "How do you know?"
Arwinder: "From their size."
Question: "Do they have white hair?"
Arwinder: "White hair? What white hair?"
Question: "Like papa?"
(His father held some tufts of salt and pepper hair from his own head.)
Arwinder: "No."
Question: "Does Shri Mataji have white hair?"
Arwinder: "No."
Question: "Is She young or old?"
Arwinder: "Old! But She doesnt have white hair."
Question: "How do you know She is old?"
Arwinder: "I asked Her."
Arwinder, what it is to be a spirit?
QUOTES OF SHRI MATAJI
"Different stages of human evolution took place when all these incarnations came on this earth.
Incarnations have to come. If you reason it out you will understand why
an incarnation is needed to come on this earth. The unconscious can guide
you through symbols which appear in your dreams. There are so many other
ways by certain happenings the unconscious, the Divine can guide you, but
it is all vague, extremely vague. The conscious must have a mouth to
explain itself. It must have proper body to be able to communicate what
it has to say otherwise how are you going to have a rapport with
unconscious.
You cannot have any rapport with the divine unless and until you know you
are Atman, your Atma. Before that whatever you may try may create a depth
in you, a serenity in you, a character in you but still you cannot have a
direct rapport.
You are to be connected. Now somebody has to do this job. That is why
many incarnations came on this earth."
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"The living process works in Sahaja Yoga. This is a fundamental point one
should understand, that the living process holds by itself and gives its
own beautiful growth to the nature, In the same way it starts working in
the human being. Before a human being is enlightened he is like a dead
seed which has no meaning. But, when it is sprouted it starts acting and
the nature looks after it. Actually the nature is looked after by the same
all-pervading power which is looking after the Sahaja Yogis who have now
started their living process for the first time. As you will understand,
human beings cannot do any living work. Whatever is dead, they convert it
into another dead thing, and they get into ego. But a Sahaja Yogi can very
easily understand that he is now holding his powers and that when he uses
them they grow much deeper and wider and they give him more confidence in
whatever he is doing.
This faith is not blind, it is the faith which has been experimented and
has been found out on your finger tips. You can know the truth which is
said in some of the scriptures. For the time being one has to concentrate
on improving yourself, cleansing yourself and then you should project your
attention onto others who voluntarily come to you or ask for realisation,
But never go from door to door to ask them to come, or to beg of them to
get realisation. There is no place for such people in the Kingdom of God,
Only those who want and are anxiously trying to evolve, one should pay
attention to because we must respect to freedom which has been given to
human beings to choose whether they want to ascend or descend."
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
The main problem we have is how to imbibe this within our personality that we are facing this kind of an Incarnation, that we are born in such an era which is very important. It is a very special Time."
Shri Mantrinyamba-virachita-visangavadha-tosita Devi
ADDITIONAL QUOTES
Shree Durga Shuktam
"Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. The Sanskrit word Durga means a fort or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego.
Goddess Durga is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya. There are many temples dedicated to Durga's worship in India.
In Her images, Goddess Durga is shown in a female form, wearing red clothes. She has eighteen arms, carrying many objects in Her hands. The red color symbolizes action and the red clothes signify that She is always busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from pain and suffering caused by the evil forces. Following is the symbolism associated with Goddess Durga:
A tiger symbolizes unlimited power. Durga riding a tiger indicates that She possesses unlimited power and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil. The eighteen arms of Durga signify that She possesses combined power of the nine incarnations of Lord Vishnu that have appeared on earth at different times in the past. The tenth incarnation, the Kalki (a man on a white horse), is still to come. Thus, Goddess Durga represents a united front of all Divine forces against the negative forces of evil and wickedness.
The sound that emanates from a conch is the sound of the sacred syllable OHM, which is said to be the sound of creation. A conch in one of the Goddess's hands signifies the ultimate victory of virtue over evil and righteousness over unrighteousness.
Other weapons in the hands of Durga such as a mace, sword, disc, arrow, and trident convey the idea that one weapon cannot destroy all kinds of enemies. Different weapons must be used to fight enemies depending upon the circumstances. For example, selfishness must be destroyed by detachment, jealousy by desirelessness, prejudice by self-knowledge, and ego by discrimination.
The popular form of worship of Goddess Durga is that of lighting the Lamp of lime on Tuesdays and Fridays during Rahu kaalam. Cut a lime into two halves. Squeeze the juice and invert the lime halves by pushing the the skin side in. Pour ghee or oil. Insert a cotton wick. Light the lime lamp and recite the Durga Gayathri and Durga Shuktam. The kind-hearted mother will bless her devotees with happiness and prosperity."
Shree Durga Shuktam
http://www.chennaionline.com/
"Durga is an incarnation of Devi or the Mother Goddess, a unified symbol of all divine forces. For Shaivas Durga is the wife of Shiva. For Vaishnavas and Shaktas Durga is another form of Uma or Parvati.
The Hindu Goddess Durga manifested when evil forces threatened the very existence of the Gods. To destroy these demons, all gods offered their radiance to her creation and each formed part of Durga's body. Durga also obtained very powerful weapons, such as the chakra from Vishnu and a trident from Shiva.
The name "Durga" in Sanskrit means "invincible". The syllable "du" is synonymous with the 4 devils of poverty, sufferings, famine and evil habits. The "r" refers to diseases and the "ga" is the destroyer of sins, injustice, irreligion, cruelty and laziness.
Durga killed the powerful demon Mahish and all his great commanders. Demonic forces are self-destructive but very powerful. Divine forces are constructive but slow and efficient. When demonic forces create imbalance, all gods unite, becoming one divine force called Shakti or Durga."
http://www.sanatansociety.org/
DURGA PUJA OR NAVARATRI
"Durga represents the Divine Mother. She is the energy aspect of the Lord. Without Durga, Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga; Durga is identical with Shiva. Lord Shiva is only the silent witness. He is motionless, absolutely changeless. He is not affected by the cosmic play. It is Durga who does everything.
Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord, or the Cosmic Energy. The Divine Mother is represented as having ten different weapons in Her hands. She sits on a lion. She keeps up the play of the Lord through the three attributes of Nature, namely, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge, peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms.
You will find in the Devi Sukta of the Rig Veda Samhita that Vak, symbolising speech, the daughter of the sage Anbhirna, realised her identity with the Divine Mother, the Power of the Supreme Lord, which manifests throughout the universe among the gods, among men and beasts and among the creatures of the deep ocean.
In the Kena Upanishad, you will find that the Divine Mother shed wisdom on Indra and the gods and said that the gods were able to defeat the demons only with the help of the power of the Supreme Lord.
The worship of Devi, the universal Mother, leads to the attainment of knowledge of the Self. The story in the Kena Upanishad known as the "Yaksha Prasna", supports this view. It tells how Uma, the Divine Mother, taught the Truth to the gods. Goddess Shakti thus sheds wisdom on Her devotees.
Devi worship is, therefore, worship of God's glory, of God's greatness and supremacy. It is adoration of the Almighty. It is unfortunate that Devi is ignorantly understood by many as a mere blood-thirsty Hindu Goddess. No! Devi is not a vicious demoness nor is She the property of the Hindus alone. Devi does not belong to any religion. Devi is that conscious power of God. The words Devi, Shakti, etc., and the ideas of different forms connected with these names are concessions granted by the sages due to the limitations of the human intellect; they are by no means the ultimate definitions of Shakti.
The original or Adi Shakti is beyond human comprehension. Bhagavan Krishna says in the Gita: "This is only My lower nature. Beyond this is My higher nature, the life-principle which sustains the universe".
The Upanishad also says: "The supreme power of God is manifested in various ways. This power is of the nature of God, manifesting as knowledge, strength and activity".
Truly speaking, all beings in the universe are Shakti-worshippers, whether they are aware of it or not, for there is no one who does not love and long for power in some form or other. Physicists and scientists have now proved that everything is pure, imperishable energy. This energy is only a form of divine Shakti which exists in every form.
A child is more familiar with the mother than with the father, because the mother is very kind, loving, tender and affectionate and looks after the needs of the child. In the spiritual field also, the aspirant or the devotee--the spiritual child--has an intimate relationship with the Mother Durga, more than with the Father Shiva. Therefore, it behoves the aspirant to approach the Mother first, who then introduces Her spiritual child to the Father for his illumination.
The Mother's Grace is boundless. Her mercy is illimitable; Her knowledge infinite; Her power immeasurable; Her glory ineffable; and Her splendour indescribable. She gives you material prosperity as well as spiritual freedom.
Approach Her with an open heart. Lay bare your heart to Her with frankness and humility. Be as simple as a child. Kill ruthlessly the enemies of egoism, cunningness, selfishness and crookedness. Make a total, unreserved, and ungrudging self-surrender to Her. Sing Her praise. Repeat Her Name. Worship Her with faith and unflinching devotion. Perform special worship on the Navaratri days. Navaratri is the most suitable occasion for doing intense spiritual practices. These nine days are very sacred to the Divine Mother. Plunge yourself in Her worship. Practise intense repetition of the Divine Name, having a regular "quota" of repetitions per day, and the number of hours spent on it.
Devi fought with Bhandasura and his forces for nine days and nine nights. This Bhandasura had a wonderful birth and life. When Lord Shiva burnt Cupid with the fire of His "third eye", Sri Ganesha playfully moulded a figure out of the ashes, and the Lord breathed life into it! This was the terrible demon Bhandasura. He engaged himself in great penance and on account of it obtained a boon from Lord Shiva. With the help of that boon, he began harassing the worlds. The Divine Mother fought with him for nine nights (the demons have extraordinary strength during the night), and killed him on the evening of the tenth day, known as the Vijaya Dasami. The learning of any science is begun on this highly auspicious day. It was on this day that Arjuna worshipped Devi, before starting the battle against the Kauravas on the field of Kurukshetra.
Sri Rama worshipped Durga at the time of the fight with Ravana, to invoke Her aid in the war. This was on the days preceding the Vijaya Dasami day. He fought and won through Her Grace."
Swami Sivananda, DURGA PUJA OR NAVARATRI
"Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. The Sanskrit word Durga means a fort or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego.
The worship of Goddess Durga is very popular among Hindus. She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. There are many temples dedicated to Durga's worship in India.
In Her images, Goddess Durga is shown in a female form, wearing red clothes. She has eighteen arms, carrying many objects in Her hands. The red color symbolizes action and the red clothes signify that She is always busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from pain and suffering caused by evil forces. Following is the symbolism associated with Goddess Durga:
A tiger symbolizes unlimited power. Durga riding a tiger indicates that She possesses unlimited power and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil. The eighteen arms of Durga signify that She possesses combined power of the nine incarnations of Lord Vishnu that have appeared on the earth at different times in the past. The tenth incarnation, the Kalkin (a man on a white horse), is still to come. Thus, Goddess Durga represents a united front of all Divine forces against the negative forces of evil and wickedness.
The sound that emanates from a conch is the sound of the sacred syllable AUM, which is said to be the sound of creation. A conch in one of the Goddess's hands signifies the ultimate victory of virtue over evil and righteousness over unrighteousness.
Other weapons in the hands of Durga such as a mace, sword, disc, arrow, and trident convey the idea that one weapon cannot destroy all different kinds of enemies. Different weapons must be used to fight enemies depending upon the circumstances. For example, selfishness must be destroyed by detachment, jealousy by desirelessness, prejudice by self-knowledge, and ego by discrimination."
Bansi Pandit
Two kinds of knowledge (vidya) are to be known: that of the Brahma-of-sounds (sabda- brahman) and that of the Highest Brahman (param-brahman.) The brahman-of-sounds is the aggregate of all the hymns, formulae, charms, incantation, prayers, and exegetical commentaries that constitute the Vedic revelation. This Brahman cannot be the Highest, however, because it is endowed with name and form; names to assist the mind, and the sound-forms of speech, song, melody, and prose (naman and rupa.) But anyone laved (nisnata) in Sabda-Brahman goes on to the Highest Brahman. Having studied the books (grantha) assiduously (abhyasa: this is the term for constant endeavor in yogic practice), the wise, intent on knowledge solely, and on the plenitude-of-knowledge (vijnana), should discard books completely just as a person trying to get at rice throws the husks away."1
The inferior, preliminary wisdom is like a raft to be forsaken once it has transported its voyager to its destination. Sacrificial lore and the ethical rituals of life have to be left behind at the brink of the higher realization.2
"This is to be attained only by truthfulness (Satya) and asceticism (tapas), real insight (samyag-jnana) and unbroken continence (brahmacarya.) Consisting of divine light, resplendent, It resides within the body. Ascetics behold It, who have annihilated their defects."3
"This Self is not attained through teaching, intelligence, or much learning. It is attained by him only whom It chooses. To such a one this Self discloses Its proper nature (tanum svam.)"4
"Verily, the Self that is in the three states of waking (jagrut), dream (svapna), and dreamless sleep (susupti), is to be understood as one and the same. For him who has transcended this triad of states, there is no rebirth.
"Being verily one, the Self-of-all-beings-and-elements is present in every being. It is beheld onefold and manifold simultaneously, like the moon reflected in water."5
1. Amrtabindu Upanishad 17-18 Vijnana ("the plenitude of knowledge"): the vi here refers to Infinity, which is all comprehensive and leaves no margin wherein any unincluded, second entity might exist. Vijnana is therefore nondual (advaita) knowledge (jnana), and as such synonymous with the state known to Vedanta as Turiya, the "Fourth." This is beyond the three planes of waking consciousness, dream consciousness, and deep sleep. Such would seem to be the meaning of the term vijnana in the Bhagavad Gita also.
2. Throughout the later periods of Hindu tradition the term "lower wisdom" (aparavidya) has been regarded as referring to wisdom committed to writing: book lore is to be finally discarded. The injunction resembles that of the European alchemists, "rumpite libros ne corda vestra rumpantur," but lacks the touch of polemic criticism.
3. Mundaka Upanishad 3. 1. 5. (cf. Hume, op. Cit., p. 374.)
4. Ib. 3. 2. 3. (cf. Hume, op. cit., p. 376.) Compare the Christian doctrine of Grace.
5. Amrtabindu Upanishad 11-12. There is but one moon in the nightly firmament, yet it is reflected in numerous jars standing in the moonlight. The jars, perishable clay, are compared to individuals.
Heinrich Zimmer, Philosophies of India
701) Sri Desa-kala-paricchinna
The Truth unbroken by Time and Space.
The All Pervading Eternal Truth.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
702) Sri Sarvaga
Present Everywhere and in Everything.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
705) Sri Sastramayi
The Mother of all Scriptures.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
706) Sri Guhamba
The Mother that dwells in the Heart.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
707) Sri Guhya-rupini
Beyond the Senses.
Unseen and Secret.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
713) Sri Guru-mandala-rupini
The Unbroken Line of Divine Messengers.
The Succession of Gurus that is She Herself.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
718) Sri Mahi
The Mother Earth.
Giver of all Life and Food.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
719) Sri Ganamba
The Mother of Sri Ganesha.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
725) Sri Daksinamurti-rupini
The Form of Sri Daksinamurti, The Cosmic Guru.
The Treasure-House of All Knowledge.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
736) Sri Muktida
The One who confers Liberation.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
737) Sri Mukti-Rupini
The Form of Liberation.
The Supreme Knowledge of Liberation.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
739) Sri Layakari
The Fifth State beyond Turiya.
The State where individual and Cosmic Consciousness merge.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
741) Sri Rambhadi-Vandita
Worshipped by the most beautiful Celestial Courtesans.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
742) Sri Bhava-Dava-Sudha-Vrstih
Ambrosial rain which extinguishes the forest fire of Samsara.
Ends the cycle of births and death.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
743) Sri Paparanya-Davanala
Forest fire that burns all sins.
Destroys sins of devotees.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
750) Sri Mahesvari
The Great Ruler.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
751) Sri Mahakali
Wife of Sri Shiva.
The Destroyer of Death.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
755) Sri Candika
Angry with evil forces.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
757) Sri Ksara-Ksaratmika
Eternal and Indestructible.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
758) Sri Sarva-Lokesi
Queen of all 14 Worlds.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
765) Sri Suddha
Pure Knowledge.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
768) Sri Dyuti-Dhara
The Light.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
772) Sri Duraradhya
Difficult to be worshipped by the incompetent.
Difficult to be worshipped by those unable to control the senses.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
777) Sri Viraradhya
Worshipped by the valiant.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
780) Sri Visvatomukhi
Creatrix of the Universe.
"Having eyes and faces everywhere." Svetasvataropanisad 3.3
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
783) Sri Pranada
The Giver of Life.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
788) Sri Jayatsena
Having victorious armies of Divine Forces.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
800) Sri Rasa-sevadhih
The Ocean of Bliss.
Sri Lalita Sahasranama
(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers, 1989.)
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