Delusion and Deliverance

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Delusion and Deliverance
In this aspect of all power, She has a twofold form. The devout Hindu worships Her as both.
It is a beautiful conception: and what a wonderful depth of significance there is in this conception of
Mother in Her twofold aspects—that of the Cosmic Delusion as well as of the Cosmic Deliverance!
She binds down all to this mysterious illusory appearance, this world-play, and turns them in her
own playful manner in the wheel of birth and death. As such She is known by the name Avidya, the
delusion that is opposed to spiritual wisdom or knowledge. She is also the Cosmic Deliverance. In
this aspect She smiles upon Her children and She releases them from the delusion of Her other
aspect Avidya. In Her aspect as this Cosmic Deliverance, we know of the Mother as Vidya-Maya.
Artists have therefore visualised Her in the form of a radiant being, a Goddess, having in one hand a
noose or a type of rope by which She binds, and in the other hand a sharp knife by which She snaps
the bondage if She is propitiated. Thus she is a mysterious combination of Avidya Maya and Vidya
Maya. Therefore, She is called Indescribable.
In both these aspects She has set up the Drama of universal phenomena. Lovers of the
Mother who have worshipped Her and obtained Her Grace and have been vouchsafed with a vision
of Her real nature have lovingly depicted Mother and Her play in this secret way. We all know that
as children when in a group we gather together, we wish to play; and not knowing how we may
carry on this play we approach the grandmother of the house. Lovingly she consents to show us a
game; and thus she sets going a game of hide-and-seek. She tells the children: Children, run about
and play. The children engage themselves in play. They run; they catch each other and the game of
hide-and-seek goes on. But, then, should some child feel that it has had enough of the play and wish
that it may be released from the play, tired of running here and there it has only to run up to the grand
dame and lay its hand upon her. One who touches the grand dame cannot now be caught. Even as
the grand dame brought about this play, watches the play in progress, and takes care of the children
at play, and in the end touching her the child is released from the play,—even so, this universe is but
a child’s play to the great Mother. Anyone who is fed up with this constant running about in this
wilderness of the sense-world and longs to be out of the play, he has but to run up to this great
Mother and touch Her; and once for all he is released from the bondage of this play. Thus have
devotees of the Mother sweetly and intimately conceived of this world-play with the Mother as
both; one who initiates it and one who ends it.

[Cheryl]

Interesting! Insightful! Intriguing!