In the previous episode, we had witnessed the significance of Goddess “Yoga-Maya” and how Bhagawan Vishnu controls the world with her. We’ve seen that just like how a magnetic field controls the iron pieces within it, Goddess “Yoga-Maya” unleashes the “illusion” amongst all of us and makes sure that we keep revolving inside this magnetic field called “Samsara”. As Bhagawan Krishna Himself explains in His Bhagawad Gita, none of us have the power within ourselves to escape this “Maya” that is created in this world. In fact, it is only because of the “Maya” we have all sort of bondings with people around, as friends, relatives, parents, spouse, children, etc. Coming out of this “Maya” is nearly impossible for us. However, the catch here is that, only if we’re able to come out of this “Maya”, we’d be able to attain Moksha. How do we do that? This is where Bhagawan is explaining that, although we do not have the power to come out of the “Maya”, if we surrender to Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet, He is going to pull us out of it and in turn, we shall attain “Moksha”. This is why we have the entire concept of “Sharanagati Dharma”, which we’ve also spoken about in our previous episodes as well.
Moving on thus, Sage Paraashara is now going to explain what is going to be the role of this Goddess “Yoga-Maya” in Bhagawan Krishna’s birth, and how is she going to shake Kamsa with the fear of death. We’ve seen already how Kamsa is fearing his upcoming death, and this is why, as a knee-jerk reaction, he has jailed both Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura City. As all this happens, Sage Paraashara explains the role of Goddess Yoga-Maya thus,
“Yoga nidra mahaa maayaa vaishnavi yogitam mayaa!
Avidhyayaa jagadh sarvam taamaah bhagawan harihi!!”
Now Bhagawan Vishnu calls Goddess Yoga-Maya and gives her some orders thus, “Oh Yoga-Maya! You’re going to be given a big task now – Go and take birth in Gokula village as the daughter of the couple – Yashoda and Nandagopa. You’ve to do two things here – Firstly – The seventh baby that would be born to Devaki at Mathura jail, should be shifted to the womb of Rohini, who is in Gokula. This Rohini Devi is Vasudeva’s second wife. You’ve to create an illusionary situation wherein the world should believe that Devaki’s seventh baby has died within her womb itself (“Garbha Sankarshana”). Whereas, the baby should be safe and shifted to Rohini’s womb. I shall incarnate from that womb as Balarama. Secondly – I would incarnate as the eighth son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Vasudeva would bring me from Mathura City to Gokula, wherein you would just be born as a girl child to Yashoda and Nandagopa. He would place me there at Gokula, and bring you to Mathura. Kamsa would try and kill you, as you arrive into the Mathura jail. At that time, you escape from his hands and warn him again saying that, the baby who is going to kill him has already taken birth and is residing at Gokula! Once you finish this task, you may come back to me at Vaikunta. So please do these two tasks that I want you to do!”
Thus, the tasks for Goddess “Yoga-Maya” is cut out here! She is waiting for the right time to take birth as the daughter of Yashoda and Nandagopa at Gokula, while Bhagawan Vishnu is waiting to incarnate as the eighth son to Vasudeva and Devaki. Meanwhile, Balarama’s incarnation should also happen. Thus, all of them were just waiting for the right time to conspire, and the plans are set!
Bhagawan Vishnu continues to tell Goddess Yoga-Maya as to how she would be praised in this world, if she does this duty correctly. Bhagawan Vishnu says thus,
“Ye tvaam aaryeti durgeti veda garbhaa ambiketi cha!
Bhadreti bhadra kaali thi kshema daa bhaagyathe vi cha!!”
Most of these names would appear in the “Shri Lalitha Sahasranama” too – Durga, Ambika, Bhadra, Bhadra Kali, Padmanaabha Sahodari, etc. For readers who are familiar with the Lalitha Sahasranama – A collection of thousand divine names of Goddess Devi, these are important divine names given to Her. Bhagawan Vishnu explains here that if Goddess Yoga-Maya completes these two tasks properly without any blemish, she would be revered and respected by the world in terms of these above names. Hence, next time when we chant the Lalitha Sahasranama, we should lay special emphasis on these names of Goddess Devi!
So for today, let us understand the significance of Goddess Yoga Maya and what is going to be her role to play in the Krishna-Avatara. We shall wait till the next episode to continue with Sage Paraashara’s accord on how things conspired further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 