Vishwa Vandita Nirmala Mata - Bhajan

 

Meaning and Interpretation of the Bhajan “Vishwa Vandita” 🌹

14 October 1992

In this divine discourse, Shri Mataji explained the meaning of the bhajan “Vishwa Vandita” in English. The following is a professionally refined English translation of the Hindi text.

This song was composed by a very famous music director, Shri Ravindra Jain, who directed the music for the television serial Ramayan, based on the great Indian epic. He was visually impaired. I do not know how it happened, but he met Me only three times, and then he composed this song. He says that among the many names of the Divine Mother, Adi Shakti, the first name is Vishwa Vandita, even though it is not included among Her thousand names.

The word Vishwa means “the universe,” and Vandita means “worshipped.” Thus, Vishwa Vandita means “the One who is worshipped by the entire universe.” I wholeheartedly agree with this name because it is a fact.

Sarva Pujita means that everyone worships Her. Sarva means “everyone,” and Pujita means “worshipped.”

Brahma Swaroopini means that She is the embodiment of the all-pervading Brahma Chaitanya, the Divine Consciousness.

Now, this is a new name. Yoga Niroopini is not included among the thousand names. It means that She explains, reveals, and demonstrates the nature of Yoga.

This, too, is a new name that does not appear among the thousand names.

“Shubhadam Varadam Namo Namah” means that She is the One who bestows auspiciousness and grants blessings. Varada means “the giver of boons or blessings.”

You know the meaning of Namo Namah: it means “I bow to Her in reverence and worship.”

Jagat Janani Nirmala means that She is the Mother of the entire universe.

Moola Prakriti Akhileshwar Ki means that She is the primordial nature, or original creative power, of Akhileshwar, the Almighty God.

Parashakti Parameshwari means that She is Para—the Supreme Power, transcending even the power of the Almighty God.

Vishwadharini Mangalakarini means that She sustains the entire universe and brings auspiciousness and well-being to all.

Once again, “Shubhadam Varadam Namo Namah” means that She bestows auspiciousness and blessings. All right.

Now, Sahaja Yogini Nirmala means that She Herself is a Sahaja Yogini. She attained Yoga through the Sahaja method, that is, spontaneously and instantaneously. She is the Sahaja Yogini.

Nirashraya Sarveshwari means that She is independent of any support or dependence. Yet, She is the Goddess of all that exists—the Supreme Sovereign of everything.

Premamoorti Bhakta Vatsala means that She is the embodiment of love and has profound affection for Her devotees and followers.

Premamayi Mateshwari means that She is filled with love and is the Divine Mother of all mothers. Mateshwari signifies the Goddess or Supreme Mother of all mothers.

Bhakti Pradayini Mukti Pradayini means that She bestows devotion and grants liberation. Bhakti Pradayini means the One who gives devotion, while Mukti Pradayini means the One who grants spiritual liberation.

Once again, “Shubhadam Varadam Namo Namah” conveys the same meaning: She is the bestower of auspiciousness and blessings, and we bow to Her with reverence.

Now, Pragat Saguna Nirguna means that She, who is formless and beyond attributes, has manifested in a perceptible form. Nirguna refers to the formless, attributeless aspect of the Divine.

Riddhi Siddhi Ki Dhatri means that She is the bestower of Siddhis and Riddhis.

Siddhis are spiritual powers through which one can give Self-Realisation to others, help heal people, and manifest the full potential of divinity.

Riddhi, on the other hand, refers to the attainment of contentment, peace, joy, and spiritual prosperity. It signifies progress and growth in these qualities.

Saumya Sarala Mahamana means that She has an exceptionally gentle, simple, innocent, and noble personality. Mahamana means that She possesses the greatest and most exalted mind.

Patanjali Gunapatri means that She possesses all the qualities described by Patanjali.

Ghat-Ghat Vasini literally refers to one who dwells in every vessel. However, in this context, Ghat refers to the human heart. Thus, the expression means that She resides in the heart of every person.

Atma Vikasini means that She expands, develops, and elevates the Spirit within us.

Once again, “Shubhadam Varadam Namo Namah” conveys the same message: She is the One who bestows auspiciousness and blessings. We bow to Her in deep reverence.

— End of the translated excerpt

Mother Mahakali imparted Knowledge to Shankaracharya

 

This episode between Adi Shankaracharya and Bhagwati Adyashakti (Mother Kali) is one of the most authentic and supernatural tales of the union of Advaita philosophy and the principle of Shakti. This story took place on the sacred land of Kashi (Varanasi).❤️

❤️Adi Shankaracharya established 'Advaita Vedanta' in India. His clear view was—"Brahma Satyam Jaganmithya Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah" (Only the formless Brahman is true, this visible world is illusory, and the individual soul is not separate from Brahman). Shankaracharya was at the highest peak of the path of knowledge. He believed that all forms, shapes, and divine plays of the world were merely the play of Maya.

However, he was so deeply absorbed in the worship of the attributeless, formless Brahman that he regarded the importance of the manifest form, appearance, and Shakti (Durga/Kali) as secondary to Brahman or merely an effect of Maya. He felt that knowledge alone was complete and that taking refuge in devotion or Shakti was only for beginning seekers.

The Incident in Kashi: Shankaracharya Without Shakti

Once Shankaracharya arrived in Kashi with his disciples. There he was preaching the Advaita doctrine. One day he became extremely ill (according to some texts, he had a severe fever, while according to others, he had become extremely weak due to continuous arduous spiritual practice and travel).

His body had become so weak that he sat down on the steps of the Ganges and was unable to take even a single step. His disciples had gone some distance away at that time to fetch water and medicine.

Just then, an elderly woman passed by. She had a vessel of water in her hand. Shankaracharya said to her in an extremely feeble voice, "O Mother! Could you give me a little water? I do not have the strength to get up and go to the water."

The elderly woman (who was actually Mother Kali/Bhagwati herself) stopped there and said with a smile, "O ascetic! You are yourself a great knower. If you need water, then get up and take it yourself."

Shankaracharya said plaintively, "Mother, you can see that I do not have the 'power' to get up. Without Shakti, I cannot even move."

A supernatural smile appeared on the elderly woman's face. She said, "O learned ascetic! Just think— you say that Brahman alone is everything and that Maya or Shakti is nothing. Then why are you unable to move even a finger today without 'Shakti'? If Brahman is everything, then why are your knowledge and your body lying lifeless without Shakti?"

There was not merely ordinary speech in the woman's words, but the echo of a cosmic truth. Shankaracharya's eyes opened. He understood that this was no ordinary woman.

At that very moment, the elderly woman revealed herself in her true supernatural form. In one hand she held a skull bowl, in the other the gesture of blessing, and her face radiated infinite compassion—she was Mahakali herself.

Mother Kali imparted knowledge to Shankaracharya:

Shiva and Shakti are one: Just as the heat of fire cannot be separated from fire, in the same way the manifestation of the attributeless Brahman (Shiva), that is, its active energy (Shakti/Kali), cannot be separated from it.

The distinction between Shava and Shiva: As long as consciousness is still, it is Shiva. When that consciousness becomes dynamic and creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe, that same consciousness is called 'Shakti'. Without Shakti, Shiva too is like 'Shava' (inert).

Soundarya Lahari and the Acceptance of Shakti

This encounter with Mother Kali ended the remnants of Shankaracharya's intellectual ego and the misconception that Shakti was merely an illusory Maya. He bowed his head at Mother Kali's feet and asked her forgiveness. At merely the touch of the Mother, his body became energetic again.

It was only after this divine event that Adi Shankaracharya came to regard not only the path of knowledge, but also devotion and the practice of Shakti, as part of Advaita itself. He composed great works on Shakti such as the famous 'Soundarya Lahari' and 'Kanakadhara Stotra'.

The very first verse of Soundarya Lahari bears witness to this event:

 शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं।

न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि॥

Meaning: Supreme Shiva is capable of creating the universe or performing any action only when united with Shakti (Mother Kali/Parvati). If he is without Shakti, he cannot even make a single vibration (move).❤️🙏❤️🙏