Lucknow: Sharadiya Durga Puja is not merely the worship of an idol made of clay but a celebration of the awakening of divine power, said Swami Muktinathananda, president of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow, during a morning spiritual discourse on Friday.
Explaining the significance of Sri Sarada Devi as the living embodiment of Goddess Durga, Swami Muktinathananda said that the divine feminine power worshipped during Navratri also manifests itself through human life, compassion and selfless love.
He explained that Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa regarded Sarada Devi as the Divine Mother and worshipped her as a manifestation of the Goddess. While the clay idol of Durga symbolises the destruction of the demon Mahishasura, Sarada Devi represents the power to overcome inner evils such as anger, greed, attachment, ego, jealousy, despair and fear.
“The real Vijayadashami comes when we conquer the impurities within our own minds,” he observed.
Swami Muktinathananda said Sarada Devi taught through her life rather than through sermons. Her virtues of patience, forgiveness, motherhood and unconditional love embodied the essence of the Divine Mother. Her message, “All are your own; no one is a stranger,” reflects a vision of spirituality rooted in universal acceptance.
He also highlighted Swami Vivekananda’s understanding of Sarada Devi’s spiritual stature. According to the discourse, Vivekananda recognised the significance of worshipping the Divine Mother in a living form. His association with the introduction of formal Durga Puja at Belur Math in 1901 was cited as an important milestone in the Ramakrishna tradition.
Referring to accounts associated with devotees Girish Ghosh and Vasana Nandi, Swami Muktinathananda explained how deep faith and complete surrender can transform a devotee’s perception of the Divine. He said such experiences represent an inner spiritual transformation rather than an external miracle.
The Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow, has also scheduled a discourse on “Sarada Devi in the Life of Sri Maa” on the occasion of Shashthi, highlighting the spiritual significance of her life during Durga Puja.
Concluding his address, Swami Muktinathananda said that sincere prayers to Sri Sarada Devi were equivalent to seeking the blessings of Goddess Durga herself. He urged devotees to look beyond ritual worship and awaken divine qualities within themselves through compassion, forgiveness and selfless service.
“Durga is not far away; she is among us in the form of the Divine Mother,” was the central message of his discourse.
