i was asked by Swami to prepare a brief statement on what Mother means to me for our birthday puja and celebration. I have always felt there was a special significance that Mother was born during the Christmas season. As I wrote, a possible meaning arose:
Who is Mother to me? She is Mary reborn. Think of it! Before the manifestation of the Lord there is Mother Maya. The Lord manifests from and by Her Shakti Power. The Christmas story reflects this primordial truth within creation. Jesus who is Christ the personal Lord and Incarnation was born of Mary, Mother of God and Queen of the Universe. Generally, from Hindu accounts we have the pairing of the Lord with a Divine Consort, such as Shiva/Kali, Rama/Sita, Krishna/ Rada, Ramakrishna/Sarada Devi. India already has the concepts of Maya and Incarnation imprinted within. We did not have this highest understanding in the West, so the Divine Pair re-enacted the first Divine Play of Creation through Mother Mary giving birth to Lord Jesus and providing him nurture, spiritual training, and life-long support. As a Protestant I no concept of the veneration of Mary, hence nothing that in anyway approximated the motherhood of God. Through Mother Sarada I found Mary and the Motherhood of God!
