Maya’s Manifestations

A Time for Introspection
Navratri by any account is a celebration of demise and destruction of demons and demonic instincts. It is supposedly a triumph of divine over ungodly, good over evil, virtue over vice. Good and virtuous may be relative concepts and so may well be bad and evil. Yet, there is a continuity and coherence in their comprehension, something that have sustained through the ages.
Still, somethings are always abhorrent and repulsive. Arrogance and transgression is always evil, usurpation and seizure of others’ legitimacy is always wrong, cruelty and lack of region is always unfair.
The ancient text of Durga Sapta Shati is a treatise of exceptional gravity and complexity. It has been interpreted and commented upon in diverse ways. Its many layers of meaning and the salience of each one of them offer profound comprehension of intricacies of human nature, the relevance of gods and the eternal conflicts that define their existence. While the story it narrates communicates a plain simple message, it also presents the most complex and abstract explanation of human nature and tendencies. The wisdom that is contained within its text is as gross or as nuanced as the depth and understanding of the seeker’s wisdom and faith.
‘Surath’, the deposed king and ‘Samadhi’, the discredited and disowned tradesman represent broadly the travails and pains of attachment and the eventual outcome of all worldly materialism. The elements of pain and dissatisfaction are alike to both of them but the reasons for the same are very different. Surath and Samadhi symbolise basic human emotions and tendencies- ambition, attachment, expectation. Their spheres are not convergent but their pain and suffering is concentric. Attachment whether material or emotional; and expectation whether of love or authority, define the misery and sorrow of both of them.
They both attain enlightenment and realize the futility of the emotions that were the cause of their suffering, and yet when presented with an opportunity to get out of the entrapment  of such continuing misery and pain, the boon that they asked from the Goddess were so differently contrived. While the king chose to return to the world he was so unhappy with, with greater vigour and stronger ambition, the tradesman chose to ask for the wisdom that should see him through in his journey of his quest for salvation.
We choose the termination of our miseries so differently because our desire to liberation from such miseries still evolves over countless births and carry varying degrees of urgency and conviction.
The question then is, who eventually inspires and motivates us to seek a path so different in each case. The answer comes from the text itself. It is the Goddess herself. Therefore, a steadfast desire to seek that path becomes possible only through Her intervention. But She does not intervene till we will like her to intervene, and that implies an unconditional faith, devotion and complete surrender. All ancient wisdoms argue in favour of personal effort, Durga Sapta Shati illustrates it so lucidly and forcefully, and so unequivocally.
Every time, Devtas, supposedly divine forces face existence- threat from Asuras, supposedly the non-divine forces, the energies of individual Gods emerged and converged to create a super force that could destroy the formidable and apparently unconquerable demonic coalition. An important message emerges thus. And this message signifies the power and potential of collective endeavour. The Goddess herself, is an embodiment of these collective energies that emerged out from so many divine entities. Because the evil of the proportion that prevailed then, could be countered only through such collective collation of power and energies.
Many of the modern ills are as demonic. They will also require collective response of all those who claim to be good and reasonable and fair. Navratri must spur the good to come together and emerge to destroy and demolish the bad, the evil, the undesirable!
Wishing you and your dear ones a very auspicious and blessed Navratri!