GODDESS RAJA MATANGI:
She is the Goddess of Knowledge, Talent and Expertise. In their meditative state, ancient rishis provided various paths to reach the Supreme Divine. The microcosmic representation of divinity in each individual is con...nected with macrocosmic manifestation of the Divine. Thus they expressed the divine symbolically and metaphorically so that various attributes of the Goddess Devi is understood and appreciated according to one’s station in life. They gave particular forms and mantras to identify particular aspects of the Divine Mother. Supreme Cosmic Consciousness manifests in the material world as various saguna deities.
Goddess Raja Mathangi Ambika is said to be the most important Goddess of Shakthi pantheon. She is the
consort of Lord Shiva and she is also considered as the sister of Lord Vishnu. She connects the phenomenal world with that of the noumenal world and its experiences. This paves the way to break through the cycle of birth and rebirth. Mother gives wisdom as prasada to for us to connect with her Divinity. Human kind, having descended to the material world, revere Goddess Raja Mathangi for her blessings to realize the return journey and yoga with Divine mother. Saying it another way, Mother seeks us that we travel back to Paramatman.
Raja Mathangi is the Goddess presiding over Manifestation. Through her, thought becomes ‘word, unmanifest ‘sound and vibration’ becomes music and ideas unfold into expression. Divine Consciousness becomes the created Universe. Raja Mathangi is the highest of the Goddesses in that She allows all their powers and principles to be realized.
DEPICTION:
Goddess Raja Matangi is often represented as emerald green in colour or ‘syama varnam’; the color of depth of
knowledge and profound life energy. This is also the colour of planet Mercury which governs intelligence. While Ucchishta-Matangini carries a noose, sword, goad, and club, her other well-known form Goddess Raja Matangi, plays the veena. Also Mother Raja Matangi is said to have stood before Mathanga Maharishihka with her twelve hands in a ferocious form to spread her greatness all over the universe. Veena is a string instrument showing musical and vibratory power over sound. It becomesMother is shown with a beautiful green parrot.
Parrots, although bird species, are capable of enhancing speech. Thus the parrot represents the powers of speech inherent in nature. In the ‘parrot sense’ often Goddess Raja Matangi is said to be linked to Goddess Karumariamman and Meenakshi.
DASA MAHAVIDYA:
All knowledge, arts, music, dance, literature, sciences, crafts and skills are the blessings of Goddess Saraswathi.
She is also the total sattva of complete spiritual purity. Goddess Matangi of the Dasha Mahavidya, on the other hand is barely known outside the Vidya Mothers and is more of the Tantric lore. Opposed to Saraswathi, Matangi is an outcaste goddess presiding all that is impure, polluted. Indeed she is the Goddess of
Leftovers and Scraps. So we have Saraswathi – Purity and Matangi – Pollution. Yet they are all one as can be seen in the personification of Goddess Raja Matangi if one has Vedic and Tantric vision of divine reality.
Raja Matangi represents knowledge, talent and expertise.‘Mata’ means mother but literally in means a thought. It can also mean an opinion. Thus it can be said that Rajamatangi is shakti energy that penetrates the mind. She makes us understand powerful thoughts and relates words to the ears and enhance the ability to listen. In that sense she is the articulator of inner knowledge and partners with Goddess Saraswathi, the Wisdom Goddess.
Words have an effect on us. Divine words has power, feeling and passion which is beyond human emotions. Divine words are divine bliss which have effusion of energy and delight. This indeed is the joyous aspect of Mother Raja Matangi. In the Dasa Mahavidya set up of Mothers, She is known as ‘Mantrini’ meaning she is sort of counselor to Mother Goddess Tripura Sundari. ‘Mantri’ means minister or one having power of all mantras. This points to the power over vocalization and articulation. Indeed mantra is the medium of communication with devas, Gods and Goddesses.
Saraswathi and Raja Matangi are not without their obvious differences. Mother Saraswathi is directed towards ordinary learning, art and culture. Rajamatangi can be said to be the Saraswathi directed towards inner knowledge; she is Saraswathi’s mystic or wild form. So she takes us beyond the boundaries of convention. It has been suggested elsewhere that Mother Saraswath is the Goddess for Wisdom and Learning for the Brahmins while Goddess Raja Matangi is also the Wisdom Goddess for all other class of people. Suggestions such as this are but a ludicrous load of rubbish. In the Dasa Mahavidya pantheon Mother Raja Matangi is that portion of Mother Saraswathi allied with the transforming energy of Mother Goddess Kali. May Mother Kali rule over the wisdom of such writings.
SHIVA PURANA:
In her mantiri role to Mother Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari, the Siva Purana describes Mother Raja Matangi as, Lalitha Parabhattrikka, Viswa Mathangi, Karna Mathangi, Sukha Mathangi, Lagu Shyamala, Veena Mathangi and Venu Matangi.
MATANG – MATANGI:
Shiva-Shakti can be expressed as Matang-Matangi. Lord Shiva is also known as Matang; Shakti or power is called Mathangi. Goddess Raja Matangi is a destroyer of the demons by enchanting them first with Her beauty and a fulfiller of every desire of Her devotees. She is worshipped for the attainment of great powers, power of speech, happiness in family life, etc.
Mathangi is the intelligible manifest sound. The primordial throb or adya spanda, originating from the Supreme starts as a series of vibrations in the form of a nada.This is the Eternal Word, the creator of manifestation. The manifestations takes place in four steps: Sthula -gross, material principle; Sukshma - subtle, life principle; Karana - causal, mind principle and Mahakarana - great causal, orginal rhythm. These correspond to the four steps of Jagrat, Swapna, Sushupti and Turiya.
Mathi is the thinking mind; Matha is thought. “Vithiyai mathiyaal vellalaam” in Tamil means ‘fate can be overcome by a thinking mind.’ Matanga can mean that word fashioned by the heart is formulated by the mind.
When it is expressed it becomes Mathangi. You see, words descend from the Supreme Lord. It is a small part of His glory. But He does not send all of it to everyone, everytime. What reaches us, is the leftover of His Glory and therefore it is indeed a Uchhista prasada or leftover prasada. To indicate this, Mother Matangi and Raja Matangi have manifested as Uchhista Chandali.
There are two aspects to this also: (a) What emanated from the Supreme Source as pure usually gets coloured during expression or varana and therefore also becomes uchhista is some sense; (b) Now, we have a chance of catching the word, ie the articulated speech and get to the Divine source, ie, move from uchhista to purity. Understanding (a) and (b) means one is one his or her way to Realization or godwards to Mother Lalitha Tripurasundari and further towards Shiva-Shakti. Hence yet again, Mother Raja Matangi establishes Herself as Mother Lalitha’s mantiri.
GURU:
Like Saraswathi, Mother Raja Matangi plays the veena, symbolic of music and audible sound; not just the spoken word alone. It is also symbolic of vibratory sound or ‘nada’ flows in the subtle channels or nadis. As
such, Raja Matangi is the vahana of a guru as the latter also instructs through the spoken word for the continuity of spiritual instruction. Honouring Mother Raja Matangi is also honouring one’s guru.More than often several gurus venerate Lord Dakshnamurthi and seek the grace Mother Raja Matangi.
RAJA MATANGI ASHTA LAKSHMI PUJA:
This puja was performed in a very elaborate way by kings in the olden days. Thus it is known as ‘Samrajya Lakshmi Puja.’ Generally Lakshmi Puja invokes Mother Lakshmi and Goddess Meenakshi and Ashta Lakshmi’s in a Deepam vilaku or oil lamp. It is also performed during Navarathri,Vara Lakshmi Vrata, Vaibhava Lakshmi Puja and Diwali in various regions of India worshiping Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity. This puja is performed to invoke the blessing of the eight Lakshmis: Maha Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Bhagya Lakshmi, Santhana Lakshmi, Vasya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi and Vara Lakshmi.
RAJA MATHANGI MOOLA MANTRA:
Om Im Hreem Shreem Namo Kaameswaritta Kaamam Pala Pradhay Sarva Shakthi Vasangari Vasamaanya Namaha.
Om Namah Shivaya
(draft
Gods and Goddesses)
Yogi Ananda Saraswathi
She is the Goddess of Knowledge, Talent and Expertise. In their meditative state, ancient rishis provided various paths to reach the Supreme Divine. The microcosmic representation of divinity in each individual is con...nected with macrocosmic manifestation of the Divine. Thus they expressed the divine symbolically and metaphorically so that various attributes of the Goddess Devi is understood and appreciated according to one’s station in life. They gave particular forms and mantras to identify particular aspects of the Divine Mother. Supreme Cosmic Consciousness manifests in the material world as various saguna deities.
Goddess Raja Mathangi Ambika is said to be the most important Goddess of Shakthi pantheon. She is the
consort of Lord Shiva and she is also considered as the sister of Lord Vishnu. She connects the phenomenal world with that of the noumenal world and its experiences. This paves the way to break through the cycle of birth and rebirth. Mother gives wisdom as prasada to for us to connect with her Divinity. Human kind, having descended to the material world, revere Goddess Raja Mathangi for her blessings to realize the return journey and yoga with Divine mother. Saying it another way, Mother seeks us that we travel back to Paramatman.
Raja Mathangi is the Goddess presiding over Manifestation. Through her, thought becomes ‘word, unmanifest ‘sound and vibration’ becomes music and ideas unfold into expression. Divine Consciousness becomes the created Universe. Raja Mathangi is the highest of the Goddesses in that She allows all their powers and principles to be realized.
DEPICTION:
Goddess Raja Matangi is often represented as emerald green in colour or ‘syama varnam’; the color of depth of
knowledge and profound life energy. This is also the colour of planet Mercury which governs intelligence. While Ucchishta-Matangini carries a noose, sword, goad, and club, her other well-known form Goddess Raja Matangi, plays the veena. Also Mother Raja Matangi is said to have stood before Mathanga Maharishihka with her twelve hands in a ferocious form to spread her greatness all over the universe. Veena is a string instrument showing musical and vibratory power over sound. It becomesMother is shown with a beautiful green parrot.
Parrots, although bird species, are capable of enhancing speech. Thus the parrot represents the powers of speech inherent in nature. In the ‘parrot sense’ often Goddess Raja Matangi is said to be linked to Goddess Karumariamman and Meenakshi.
DASA MAHAVIDYA:
All knowledge, arts, music, dance, literature, sciences, crafts and skills are the blessings of Goddess Saraswathi.
She is also the total sattva of complete spiritual purity. Goddess Matangi of the Dasha Mahavidya, on the other hand is barely known outside the Vidya Mothers and is more of the Tantric lore. Opposed to Saraswathi, Matangi is an outcaste goddess presiding all that is impure, polluted. Indeed she is the Goddess of
Leftovers and Scraps. So we have Saraswathi – Purity and Matangi – Pollution. Yet they are all one as can be seen in the personification of Goddess Raja Matangi if one has Vedic and Tantric vision of divine reality.
Raja Matangi represents knowledge, talent and expertise.‘Mata’ means mother but literally in means a thought. It can also mean an opinion. Thus it can be said that Rajamatangi is shakti energy that penetrates the mind. She makes us understand powerful thoughts and relates words to the ears and enhance the ability to listen. In that sense she is the articulator of inner knowledge and partners with Goddess Saraswathi, the Wisdom Goddess.
Words have an effect on us. Divine words has power, feeling and passion which is beyond human emotions. Divine words are divine bliss which have effusion of energy and delight. This indeed is the joyous aspect of Mother Raja Matangi. In the Dasa Mahavidya set up of Mothers, She is known as ‘Mantrini’ meaning she is sort of counselor to Mother Goddess Tripura Sundari. ‘Mantri’ means minister or one having power of all mantras. This points to the power over vocalization and articulation. Indeed mantra is the medium of communication with devas, Gods and Goddesses.
Saraswathi and Raja Matangi are not without their obvious differences. Mother Saraswathi is directed towards ordinary learning, art and culture. Rajamatangi can be said to be the Saraswathi directed towards inner knowledge; she is Saraswathi’s mystic or wild form. So she takes us beyond the boundaries of convention. It has been suggested elsewhere that Mother Saraswath is the Goddess for Wisdom and Learning for the Brahmins while Goddess Raja Matangi is also the Wisdom Goddess for all other class of people. Suggestions such as this are but a ludicrous load of rubbish. In the Dasa Mahavidya pantheon Mother Raja Matangi is that portion of Mother Saraswathi allied with the transforming energy of Mother Goddess Kali. May Mother Kali rule over the wisdom of such writings.
SHIVA PURANA:
In her mantiri role to Mother Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari, the Siva Purana describes Mother Raja Matangi as, Lalitha Parabhattrikka, Viswa Mathangi, Karna Mathangi, Sukha Mathangi, Lagu Shyamala, Veena Mathangi and Venu Matangi.
MATANG – MATANGI:
Shiva-Shakti can be expressed as Matang-Matangi. Lord Shiva is also known as Matang; Shakti or power is called Mathangi. Goddess Raja Matangi is a destroyer of the demons by enchanting them first with Her beauty and a fulfiller of every desire of Her devotees. She is worshipped for the attainment of great powers, power of speech, happiness in family life, etc.
Mathangi is the intelligible manifest sound. The primordial throb or adya spanda, originating from the Supreme starts as a series of vibrations in the form of a nada.This is the Eternal Word, the creator of manifestation. The manifestations takes place in four steps: Sthula -gross, material principle; Sukshma - subtle, life principle; Karana - causal, mind principle and Mahakarana - great causal, orginal rhythm. These correspond to the four steps of Jagrat, Swapna, Sushupti and Turiya.
Mathi is the thinking mind; Matha is thought. “Vithiyai mathiyaal vellalaam” in Tamil means ‘fate can be overcome by a thinking mind.’ Matanga can mean that word fashioned by the heart is formulated by the mind.
When it is expressed it becomes Mathangi. You see, words descend from the Supreme Lord. It is a small part of His glory. But He does not send all of it to everyone, everytime. What reaches us, is the leftover of His Glory and therefore it is indeed a Uchhista prasada or leftover prasada. To indicate this, Mother Matangi and Raja Matangi have manifested as Uchhista Chandali.
There are two aspects to this also: (a) What emanated from the Supreme Source as pure usually gets coloured during expression or varana and therefore also becomes uchhista is some sense; (b) Now, we have a chance of catching the word, ie the articulated speech and get to the Divine source, ie, move from uchhista to purity. Understanding (a) and (b) means one is one his or her way to Realization or godwards to Mother Lalitha Tripurasundari and further towards Shiva-Shakti. Hence yet again, Mother Raja Matangi establishes Herself as Mother Lalitha’s mantiri.
GURU:
Like Saraswathi, Mother Raja Matangi plays the veena, symbolic of music and audible sound; not just the spoken word alone. It is also symbolic of vibratory sound or ‘nada’ flows in the subtle channels or nadis. As
such, Raja Matangi is the vahana of a guru as the latter also instructs through the spoken word for the continuity of spiritual instruction. Honouring Mother Raja Matangi is also honouring one’s guru.More than often several gurus venerate Lord Dakshnamurthi and seek the grace Mother Raja Matangi.
RAJA MATANGI ASHTA LAKSHMI PUJA:
This puja was performed in a very elaborate way by kings in the olden days. Thus it is known as ‘Samrajya Lakshmi Puja.’ Generally Lakshmi Puja invokes Mother Lakshmi and Goddess Meenakshi and Ashta Lakshmi’s in a Deepam vilaku or oil lamp. It is also performed during Navarathri,Vara Lakshmi Vrata, Vaibhava Lakshmi Puja and Diwali in various regions of India worshiping Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity. This puja is performed to invoke the blessing of the eight Lakshmis: Maha Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Bhagya Lakshmi, Santhana Lakshmi, Vasya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi and Vara Lakshmi.
RAJA MATHANGI MOOLA MANTRA:
Om Im Hreem Shreem Namo Kaameswaritta Kaamam Pala Pradhay Sarva Shakthi Vasangari Vasamaanya Namaha.
Om Namah Shivaya
(draft
Gods and Goddesses)
Yogi Ananda Saraswathi
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