The Universe, of which I am a part of, resonates with subtle secrets that are beyond ordinary human comprehension. The human race, from its inception, has always been in search of liberation from the fetters of life, that bind us to earthly attachments and is the cause of all distress. Man seeks freedom from all kinds of crisis like financial crunch, loss of our near and dear ones, onslaught from enemies - all of which cause emotional upheaval that add to the already prevailing misery of our existence.
In this pursuit, Man adopts two paths, either he blindly follows the material objects and possessions that are the cause of pain, which, he believes, is logical and is the only solution; or he tries to overcome this discomfort by treading on the path drawn out by the sages and seers through Japa, Meditation and various rituals. These spiritual practices will unfetter the seeker from the repeated cycles of birth and death, and bless him with eternal peace and joy.
This inner knowledge is known as Atma Gnanam or Brahma Gnanam which will expose the secrets of the Universe and submit answers to all our questions about life and death, attachments and affections.
Mother Goddess Parashakti is the central substratum for any seeker who chooses these paths, whether it is the path of action and development or the path for inward contemplation, spiritual progress and perfection. Mother Goddess Shakti, is responsible for all the fivefold activities in this world, She is the creator, the protector and the vanquisher of all evil, She veils and unveils the truth and blesses humankind with prosperity and auspiciousness. She is the absolute reality or the Paramaatman, as experienced and propagated by Adi Shankaracharya, Mahakavi Kalidasa and many sages and seers, tapasvis and sanyasis, who believe She is the ultimate truth.
All our Vedas focus on the 'Brahman' as the ultimate goal for mankind. This knowledge of the Supreme Consciousness has been propagated by Advaita Sidhantis as the basis of cause and effect of any action according to the Advaita Vedanta. They also reiterate that the concept of 'Siva-Shakti', which is the Iswara Tatva, is also none other than our Mother Goddess. Adi Shankara expounds this truth in the first three divine verses of the Soundarya Lahiri.
He extols the greatness of Shakti in his Soundarya Lahiri, where he affirms that, Shakti is the energy, the power without which Lord Siva will be unable to create, protect and destroy the Universe. He will be incapable of making even a movement without this feminine force. Brahma creates the world with the dust collected from Her lotus feet. She is the luminous one who fills ignorant minds with the light of spirituality; She showers the nectar of awareness on the dull witted; She becomes a necklace of gems for the poverty ridden and for those who are immersed in the ocean of worldly affairs, She becomes Varaha's (an incarnation of Mahavishnu) tusk that lifts them from this quagmire.
In the Srividya Paddathi, this Shakti is Mata Sri Lalita Maha Tripura Sundari, and is worshipped as Para Bhattarika Dasha Maha Vidya. She is regarded as Maha Chandi, the combined incarnation of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati and She is revered as Prtyangara, Varaahi, Raja Mathangi and as the subtle tatva of the Kundalini Shakti and the Maha Meru.
In the present era of the Kali Yuga, Devi is considered to be the supreme Goddess Sri Maariamman, who is the mother of the wise and the ignorant. 'Maari' means rain. She showers infinite mercy on Her devotees. She is the basis of Maya tatva and hence She is celebrated as 'Mahamaayi' or 'Mahaamaari'. In Devi Mahatmyam, Devi is referred to as 'maari' in certain portions.
In the Kaaranaagama, which is one of the 28 siddhantagamas, a classification of the Saivagamas, there is a reference that states, "Mahato Brahma tenapi, dhaarayati Mahaamaari"
In the Pradhaaneeka Rahasyam, which is an appendix of the Devi Mahaatmyam, Sage Markandeya reveals the greatest secret of secrets to the king, where he refers to Shakti as "Maha Maya Maha Kali Maha Maari Svaroopaya."
T emples in India are much more than places of worship; they have been the centres of cultural heritage and social interaction. They make sacred every event within their premises; rituals sanctify birth and marriage, arts and customs.
Samayapuram, in the South of India, is a temple of this kind, dedicated to the worship of the Universal Mother. It is hallowed hearth, where the embers of compassion and love, kindness and benevolence, flicker, and ignite in the hearts of its devotees, confidence and faith.
This small village, which is the home of Maariaathaal, is many centuries old. The presiding Goddess, Maariamma, is the Adi Parashakti, who is believed to have come from the temple of Srirangam. The Chola, the Pandya, the Nayaka, the Hoysala and the Vijayanagara Kings have worshipped Her whenever they were in the Tamil regions. King Vikramadithya from Ujjain visited this temple on one of his forays in the forests of South India and left behind his idol of worship, the Ujjaini Kali.
The legends woven around the presiding deity Maariamma speak of how She undertakes a fast for the health and happiness of Her devotees, and list the miracles performed by Her.
This coffee table book talks about the interesting stories that are spun around Maariamma, the Mother Goddess, the colourful festivals that are celebrated every month, and the blind devotion exhibited by the devotees through the fasts they undertake and the feats that they perform, to prove their devotion to Her. The greatness of Her Moorthi (idol), the Vriksha (Temple Tree), the Teertha (sanctified Water Body) and the Sthala (Pilgrim Centre) are all discussed by Vrinda Ramanan, the author, and supported by the photographs, captured by J. Ramanan. The evocative images bring alive all the exciting moments both inside and outside the temple. Every day is a celebration of the Mother at Samayapuram!
At The Hindu, we are happy to publish 'Samayapuram, The Sacred Seat of Shakti', a hardcover that extols the stories around this Goddess.
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