67 - Discourses on Tantra Volume One

Chapter 16 The Psychology behind the Origin of Tantric Gods and Goddesses (4)

It is not that the concepts of different gods and goddesses are based on Tantric ideas alone. For instance, when people suffer terribly from various incurable diseases, they conveniently invent one deity Rakśá Kálii (that Kálii which protects one from disease). When society faces some problem, people worship Shmashána Kálii or Vámá Kálii, and so on. Here also you see that the people are creating deities depending on their own psychic ideation.

When the deity stands with the right foot forward, she is called “Dakśińá Kálii”; whereas the Kálii deity with her left foot forward is called “Vámá Kálii”. This much is the difference between the two deities. Then again there are other deities, such as Durgá, Navadurgá, etc. The system of worship of Navadurgá – she is worshipped through nine varieties of plant – is centered around Tantra, but the worship of Durgá in general does not originate in Tantra. The worship of Durgá originated in the Puranic tradition.

The nine kinds of plant having special qualities of their own are themselves treated as deities. They are repositories of power, but of partial nature. They are not as vast as the Supreme Entity. As they are conceived to be as powerful as the goddesses, they are worshipped. These nine plants are kadalii [plantain], kacu [arum], haridrá [turmeric], jayantii [sesbania], ashoka [sarica], bilva [bel-fruit], dád́imba [pomegranate], mán [alocasia], and dhánya [rice]. Before the actual worship of the goddess Durgá, these nine plants are bathed in pure water. A plantain tree is considered as kalábau, but it is not a kala [plantain] tree as the bau [wife] of somebody. And some think that kalábau means “wife of Gańesha”; but no, nothing like that exists.(10) A plantain tree is taken as a symbol of Brahmáńii Shakti. So the presiding deity in plantain is called Brahmáńii. The presiding deity of arum (kacu) is Káliká. Likewise the presiding deity in turmeric is called Durgá. The presiding deity in jayantii is called Kárttikii; in ashoka is called Shokarohitá; in dád́imba, Raktadantiká; in bel-fruit, Shivá; in mán, Cámuńd́ii; and in rice, Mahálakśmii. The nine plants are worshipped as symbols of nine Tantric deities. For instance, the plantain tree, as mentioned represents Brahmáńii Shakti, the mythological mother of Gańesha (and not the wife of Gańesha, as commonly misunderstood by the masses). So you see, these are just small ideas and limited powers. No benefit will come from adopting these ideas.

Suppose a person meditates on turmeric; one will become turmeric. If one meditates on Gańesha, one will become Gańesha. Gańesha is dalapati; dalapati means gańapati [mass leader]. A kind of leader worship is still to be observed in many countries! So if you meditate on Gańesha, it means you want to become like Ganesha, you want to become a “leader” – but in fact you will develope a long trunk and a fat belly. People become like their objects of meditation.(11)

I do not know whether Gańesha has any spiritual knowledge or scientific understanding, wisdom, spiritual quality or not. I know that he has some occult power, so if one meditates on him, one may or may not get some of his powers; but the problem is that if one meditates on Gańesha, one will have to meditate on his mount also – his mount being a mouse. Think what the consequences could be!

Each of the gods and goddesses has a particular mount, or vehicle. Had they been modern gods and goddesses, their vehicle would have been a jeep. But the ancient gods and goddesses had birds and animals as vehicles. Now if you meditate on these birds and animals, yádrshii bhávaná yasya siddhirbhavati tádrshii [As you think, so you become]. How dangerous it is! It is more dangerous for women. They generally like to remain well-dressed and well-decorated. But if they worship Lakśmii and if they become like an owl which is the mount of Lakśmii (because in meditating on Lakśmii you are meditating on owl also), then would it be good?

(10) The foregoing two sentences have been transcribed from the original tape for this edition and incorporated here. –Trans.

(11) The foregoing two sentences have been transcribed from the original tape for this edition and incorporated here. –Trans.