Vaicharik Maha Kumbha Shakti Kumbha
May 15, 2016
On the second day of the Vaicharik Mahakumbha, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji was one of the main speakers in the panel titled Shakti Kumbha — Kumbha for the upliftment and empowerment of women, and focused on the Divine Feminine or Shakti. The panel consisted of:
– H.E. Smt. Mridula Sinha Ji, Governor of Goa
– Hon’ble Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhanji, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
– Sadhvi Ritambharaji (Didi Ma), Vatsalya Gram
– Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, President Divine Shakti Foundation, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh
– Sushri Gita Gunde Ji, President, All India Mahila Samanvay, Mumbai
– Swamini Vimalananda Ji, Chinmaya Mission, Coimbatore
– Sushri Nivedita Bhide Ji, Vice President, Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari
Sadhviji spoke about how Indian spiritual tradition is the only major faith tradition which worships and highlights the Divine Feminine so pervasively. We say Radha-Krishna, Sita-Rama, Lakshmi-Narayan, Gauri-Shankar, etc. The Goddess’s name is always first! She emphasized also that the true Shakti is an inner one, not a superficial made-up one. Giving the example of Shurpnaka and Shabari from the Ramayan, she said, “Bhagawan swyam Shabari ke pas chel ke gaye….Why? Because tyaga, bhavana, bhakti , pavitrata, sanskaron mein bahot Shakti hai, aur Issi Shakti ne Bhagawan Ramo ko kinch-liya.” [Lord Rama didn’t pay any attention to the beautifully made-up demoness Shurpnaka which He went personally to Shabari. Devotion, faith, love and purity are the true Shakti, the true power, and this Shakti is so strong that it brought God to Shabari’s doorstep and home!]
She also emphasized the importance of protection and preservation of the Divine Feminine in the Creation — our Mother Earth and Mother Nature. It is not enough to pray to the Mother Goddess if we do not also have prayer in action through service of the Mother in all Her forms.
