Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Birth of Saraswati, And The Spiritual Significance Of Her Praises– Brahma Kumar Jagdish Chandraji:
The Shrimad Bhagwad Gita says, the Supreme Father, Supreme Soul created the world through the yagya (sacrificial fire), established through the medium of Prajapita Brahma. There are various types of yagyas, but the “gyan-yagya” (sacrificial fire of knowledge) is considered the most elevated of all. Undoubtedly, the Supreme Being would have established the sacrificial fire of knowledge in order to create the elevated Golden-Aged deity world. In other words, the Supreme Being established a world spiritual university. Along with ‘gyan’ (knowledge), the word ‘yagya’ has been associated because people who listen to spiritual knowledge gradually offer the sacrifice of lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego, as well as body-mind-wealth in the gyan-yagya. If these offerings (sacrifice) are not made, it cannot be acknowledged as a ‘yagya’, since a sacrificial fire requires that an offering or sacrifice of some kind be made. This is why ‘sacrificial fire of knowledge’ holds more importance than the term ‘university’.
THE BIRTH OF SARASWATI
The Mahabharat scripture describes Draupadi’s birth as having occurred through a yagya, for which reason she is called ‘Yagya-Seini’ (member of the yagya-army). Similarly, the Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswati, too is said to have taken birth through a yagya, but a human being cannot possibly take birth from an agni-kund (fire-pit or wide-mouth basin used in sacrificial fires), since the body is perishable. But the fire of knowledge does not destroy the physical body. This fire cannot give birth to the physical body, however, it purifies sanskars and swabhav and a new human life begins. This life is called the “Marjeeva Janam” (one lives in the old body with new consiousness), or can also be called alokik (spiritual) or second birth. Brahmins of the world are called ‘dwij’ or twice-born, as they take a second birth through knowledge. This is how Jagadamba Saraswati is born. The Supreme Being established the sacrificial fire of knowledge through Prajapita Brahma, and this knowledge gave her a new birth. Though physically the same, her mind, speech, and actions were cleansed by knowledge, thus making them as pure as a lotus. This is the reason why artists portray Saraswati seated on a lotus flower. Today, not a single scholar would be able to explain how Goddess Saraswati took birth through knowledge nor her relationship with Prajapita Brahma. Brahma, the one to create the gyan-yagya, is called Yagya-Pita (Father of the Yagya), and those who have made a new life through knowledge are called Brahma Kumars and Brahma Kumaris. Keeping this in view, Saraswati too was Brahma’s daughter, a Brahma Kumari.
KÃLI, WHO SACRIFICED MIND, INTELLECT & MORE
The Brahma Kumars and Brahma Kumaris sacrificed vices into the sacrificial fire of knowledge, and offered the co-operation of body, mind, and wealth according to their individual capacity. This is how the yagya brought forth many more Brahma Kumars and Brahma Kumaris. The new children of Brahma too offered their ãhuti (offering to the fire of knowledge). It is relatively easier to sacrifice one’s body and wealth than the mind, since the latter is quite mischievous, but Saraswati sacrificed her mind fully to the yagya. She offered everything she had to God. Having made this bali (sacrifice) of the two faculties (mind & intellect), she is remembered as Goddess Kãli. Amongst Brahma’s children, she was most prominent and unequalled in spiritual endeavour. This practise enabled her mind and intellect to forge a link with the Supreme Being. Consequently, on the basis of her strong experiences, she was capable of giving motherly sustenance to all children of the yagya with knowledge, thus earning her the title, ‘Yagya Mata’ (Mother of the Yagya).
Her heart was filled with parental affection towards all women and men. For this reason, she is called ‘Jagadamba’, the World Mother. It is otherwise impossible for anyone to be Mother of the entire world in the corporeal sense.
OM RADHE - WHO CHANTED ‘OM’, SARASWATI - WHO PLAYED THE VEENÃ OF KNOWLEDGE,
AND WORLD MOTHER - WHO SANG THE LULLABY OF KNOWLEDGE
Before being named Saraswati, she was called Radhe. When the sacrificial fire of knowledge began in the name of ‘Om Mandali’, she would chant ‘OM’ in the gatherings. Detached from the body, she would be so deeply intoxicated in Godly remembrance that her divine voice made the listeners feel detached from their bodies and they would be completely lost in Godly love. A few would go into divine trance and have a vision of Shri Krishna; consequently, people re-named her ‘Om Radhe’. In those days, whenever Brahma Baba went on tour to other cities, he would send Om Radhe letters filled with spiritual knowledge. She would then read them and relate the knowledge to others, after developing an extensive explanation. The audience would feel as if she were singing a lullaby or song of knowledge and began addressing her as ‘Mata’ (Mother) or ‘Mama’.
THE CHAOS, & HOW MATESHWARI FACED IT WITH INTENSE YOGA POWER
The audience were so enticed listening to her sweetly share the knowledge that they began abstaining from onion, garlic, meat, fish, egg, alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco etc. This instigated much commotion in Sindh to the extent that people even picketed against them. But Mateshwari Saraswatiji had disciplined the children so well that they were able to influence the picketers into yielding their stance. Some of the opposition even prosecuted them at court but Mateshwariji faced them with a clean, selfless stage free from fear or worry. In that era of world history, there was perhaps no other young woman of her age who had faced such dire circumstances. A number of radically new concepts in the knowledge given by the Supreme Father, Supreme Being built up opposition from self-centred individuals at different places, but Mateshwari Saraswati remained constantly humble, fearless, and worriless. Whenever anyone (from the opposition) saw her or spoke with her, they would become her admirer. In this manner, Mateshwariji’s stage lifted above the attractions of the world and she stayed in the Supreme Soul Shiva’s magnetic field. Despite the fact that her body remained in this world, her intellect was continuously connected with Father Shiva. This made her personality highly influential and spiritually attractive. Her speech was sweet and the words could calm down one’s mind, that is, transmit power to the mind.
CONSTANTLY FEARLESS AND CARE-FREE
The power of Mateshwari’s tapasya was of a very high level of purity. Whenever I went to meet her, I would experience her in a powerful stage of yoga, spreading vibrations of purity and divinity. Her eyes would be still, and a sweet smile and divine aura seen around her face. She not only served everyone through knowledge, but empowered souls with her power of yoga and stage. She gave souls the experience of coolness with her own cool nature. Many situations in her life were fearsome and overwhelming, but her unshakeable faith in this multi-faceted world drama enabled her to remain care-free. If Baba ever gave her a task which she had no experience of, or found very difficult, she never said, “How will I do this? I am ignorant about it.” She always said, “Ji Baba” (Yes, Baba), took on the responsibility and accomplished the task.
