Recorded at the Vedanta Society of Western Washington on September 18, 2011.
In this lecture, Swami Bhaskarananda explains why Hinduism worships God as the Divine Mother, focusing on the form of Durga. He begins by recalling that the ultimate reality in Vedanta is formless, beyond time, space, and gender, yet human minds naturally project familiar relationships—such as father, mother, or friend—onto that infinite Being. Because Sanskrit gives the word “shakti” (power) a feminine gender, the dynamic creative power of God that manifests the universe is revered as the Divine Mother. Swami Bhaskarananda shows how different aspects of this power are personified as deities like Saraswati (knowledge) and Lakshmi (wealth), stressing that they are not separate gods but symbolic expressions of the one reality.
He then surveys the scriptural roots of Mother worship in the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Tantras, noting references to female deities and the evolution of Durga’s cult over thousands of years. The swami clarifies the original meanings of “sura” and “asura,” and recounts major Durga legends, including her slaying of Mahishasura and the later story of the demon Durgama, from whom she receives the name Durga. Along the way he explains the symbolism of Durga’s many arms and weapons as representations of divine powers. He concludes by connecting these teachings to the society’s upcoming Durga Puja, reminding listeners that all these forms lead back to the one infinite Mother who is the source, sustainer, and protector of all.
