Chinmaya Mission Brisbane welcomes Devi Bhuvaneshwari
Chinmaya Mission Brisbane hosted a spectacular festival of Vedanta talks on Devi by Global Head of the Mission, Swami Swaroopanandaji, from March 21 to 23, 2025 at the University of Queensland. Enlightening spiritual stories and knowledge about Shakti Devi were enriched with lively and colourful cultural performances by talented local artists. Pujya Swamiji’s talks marked the auspicious occasion of the naming of the Chinmaya Mission’s Brisbane ashram -Chinmaya Bhuvanam.
The presiding deity of Chinmaya Bhuvanam ashram is Devi Bhuvaneshwari Mata, Queen of the Universe. Appropriate that Mother is coming to Queensland! Pujya Swamiji’s talks on Devi -The Power Within You unfolded the glory and potency of Bhuvaneshwari as Shakti, in all her splendid forms. The talks elaborated on a melodic composition, Durga Maha Kali Stotram, that Pujya Swamiji was inspired to write during the time of COVID.
The formal inauguration of Chinmaya Bhuvanam Ashram at 8 Julie Road, Ellen Grove has been delayed by a few weeks due to Mother Nature sending a cyclone to remind us of her mighty power. She is also Durga Devi, protector of the Universe and remarkably, no lives were lost in Queensland during the wild event.
To celebrate the imminent opening of the ashram and welcome Mother Bhuvaneshwari, each night before the talks, the audience was treated to cultural programs with vibrant dance and music performances in praise of Devi. Offerings included a vocal item by Dr Jyotsna Unnikrishnan accompanied by violinist Shri Praveen Paila, a flute recital by Shri Murali Ramakrishnan accompanied by Shri Guhanesh Ganesh on tabla, and beautiful devotional dances from prominent schools in Brisbane: Shraddha School of Dance, Lalitha Kalalaya Dance School, Nadananjali School of Dance. The highlight of the celebrations each night was the truly mesmerizing talk on “Devi, the Power within you” delivered by Pujya Swamiji.
Throughout, Pujya Swamiji referenced his talks to the Devi Mahatmyam, where the Divine Cosmic Mother is described as ‘anirvachaniya’, one who is beyond description and one who is inexplicable. As Maya, she is the manifested form of the infinite and the cause of the entire universe with its multitude of forms and creations. As, Prakriti, which constitutes the three gunas -Tamas, Rajas and Sattwa, Maya is depicted as three forms of the Divine Cosmic Mother, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, to remove the three doshas or limitations in our personality. According to Vedanta, we are all of the nature of Satchitananda swaroopa -existence, consciousness and bliss. However, ignorance of our real nature and true self, and subsequent falling prey to the agitations of the mind is the cause of our sense of limitation and bondage.
Pujya Swamiji’s composition of Durga Maha Kali Stotram describes the Divine Mother as Maha Tripurasundari, Tripuramohini, Tripurapalini and Tripuradwamsini -the loveliest, enchantress, protector and annihilator of the three worlds. Her beauty is on display as Mother Nature. As the supreme enchantress, Mother is ever gentle, kind and protective of all creatures, but can also be at her destructive best to protect the good from evil.
The essence of Devi Shakti
Seated on the Lotus as radiant Mother Lakshmi, Devi represents the lccha (creative) Shakti in us. Seated on the lion as Mother Durga Kali, Devi represents the Kriya (energetic) Shakti in us and seated on the swan as Mother Saraswathi, Devi represents the Gnana (Knowledge) Shakti in us which liberates us from delusion and blesses us with discrimination between the real and the unreal.
The Divine Mother is indeed the illuminator of the three states of consciousness in usÂJagrat (waking), Svapna (dreaming) and Sushupti (deep sleep). A life lived abiding by virtues, contentment and caring for the well-being of all begets positivity in all states of consciousness.
Pujya Swami reminded us that we don’t have to go far in search of the Divine Mother. She is present in our own mother, who is indeed a true manifestation and embodiment of the Divine Cosmic Mother, the Supreme Shakti. Each of the attributes of the Divine Cosmic Mother can be verily seen in our own mother.
Pujya Swamiji encouraged us to recognize these attributes of the Divine Mother in our own mother. He posed the important question -do we give our own mothers the respect and care they deserve? It is to instill such respect for mother that, Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda, commenced Matru-puja to our own mothers, as part of the Navarathri celebrations each year.
Pujya Swami Swaroopanandaji, invited the audience to keep their devotion ever fresh by visiting Goddess Bhuvaneshvari, the Divine Mother of the entire universe at the aptly named Brisbane Ashram -CHINMAYA BHUVANAM -as often as possible.
Join Chinmaya Mission Brisbane to make a positive difference in your life and to those around you! Visit our website https://www.chinmaya.com.au/pages/brisbane-centre.
Sevak Anantharaman
In Your Service
At His Feet
