Sri Sarada Devi::I am the seer of Brahman as my inner Self

Swami Hiranmayananda gives a superb interpretation of the Shodashi puja. The Puranas hold that the great Cosmic Energy or Shakti makes it possible for the unborn and eternal Paramatma to manifest Himself as man, as an Avatar. This Cosmic Energy is called Kali, Shodashi and so on. Brahman, as seen through ‘the mist of the senses,’ is Shiva or Ishwara.   Shiva and his power (Maya) are one. The empirical world is a manifestation of Maya. Speaking of Sri Ma, Thakur said: “Who is she but my Shakti.” He saw her as an incarnation of Shakti as Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Sankara says in ‘Ananda Lahari’: “Shiva is able to create only when he is united with Shakti. Without her he will be unable even to move.” Shodashi or Sri Vidya is considered the highest form of the Divine. “ सेयं  समराजनी, सेयं  सर्वैश्वरेस्वारी” – She is the Empress. She is the God of all other gods and goddesses. She has three facets: ‘Vagbhavakuta’ or knowledge (Saraswati), ‘Shaktikuta’ or energy of action (Durga) and ‘Kamarajakuta’ or Will (Kali). Shodashi is ‘’Jnanechhakriyamayi’ – i.e. an incarnation of knowledge, will and action. (p.29) Sri Ma as Shodashi epitomizes the highest wisdom. She is   the seer of Brahman, the giver of Mukti and Ananda.

Source: Sri Sarada Devi: The Great wonder by Apostles, Monks, Savants, Scholars, Devotees.

Pic re shared courtesy: www.vimokhananda.com