Disciple:
Gurudeb, pranams (my respect to you).
Gurudeb:
Blessings, my son. Tell me.
Disciple:
We often see in your episodes that listeners ask a recurring question: Did Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar (Shiva) originate from Mother Durga, or was Mother Durga created by Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar?
Gurudeb:
First, let me say one thing. You are grown and educated; you should know that creation happens in a womb. The idea that Brahma, Vishnu, or Maheshwar "created" Durga is a misconception.
Gurudeb:
In the Chandi, Mother Durga herself says: "I have no fixed form. I am the manifestation of this entire universe. I am the rising sun in the morning, the awakening of the rivers, the mountains, and the people. I am all of this and nothing else."
Gurudeb:
Now, regarding who created whom—this is explained in a specific chapter of the Chandi called the Vaikritika Rahasya (The Secret of Changes). It is a profound secret that Brahmins usually do not discuss openly. It is the final mystery of the Chandi.
Gurudeb:
Creation cannot happen without a womb. So, where did Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar come from? Did they create Mother Durga, or did she create them?
Gurudeb:
It is mentioned in the Puranas that when the world was tormented by the atrocities of the demon Mahishasura, the saints and sages were in distress. At that time, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar meditated upon the Mother. The world was submerged in water then. Lord Narayana (Vishnu) was reclining on the Ananta Shesha (the celestial serpent). Brahma emerged from the lotus in Narayana's navel and was planning the creation.
Gurudeb:
Because Mahishasura's tyranny was so great, the three deities combined their energies to summon Adi-shakti (the Primal Power). To call her "Durga" at that stage would be slightly inaccurate; she is Adi-shakti, the power beyond even Durga.
Gurudeb:
The poet Ramprasad Sen once wrote a profound verse addressed to the Mother: "Oh, you with the full moon on your forehead! When the universe itself did not exist, where did you find that garland of skulls to wear?"
Gurudeb:
He was highlighting that before the universe existed, there was only the Adi-shakti. Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar were not yet there. Through her divine action (Kriya), she created Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar.
Gurudeb:
She realized that no man can exist alone, so she provided them with their respective female energies (Maika Shakti). Without this feminine power, no action is possible. She created Brahma and gave him Saraswati as his consort. She created Vishnu and gave him Mahalakshmi. She created Shiva and gave him Parvati.
Gurudeb:
So, it is clear: before creation, they did not exist. Adi-shakti, the Great Illusion (Mahamaya), manifested them to manage the world. She decided who would oversee the creation, the preservation, and the destruction.
Gurudeb:
In the Chandi, when Brahma invokes the Mother during the creation phase, he chants: "Tvam Svaha, Tvam Svadha, Tvam Hi Vasatkara Svaratmika... Tvam-Eva Sandhya Savitri Tvam Devi Janani Para..." (You are the sacrificial offerings, you are the nectar, you are the Mother of the Universe, the one who creates, protects, and eventually withdraws the world into yourself.)
Gurudeb:
He describes her as the Great Knowledge (Mahavidya), the Great Illusion (Mahamaya), and the Great Memory (Mahasmriti). This proves that the Adi-shakti is the source. Whether you call her Durga, Kali, or Tara, she is the primal force. When the world faces a great cataclysm, she is the one who sustains it. Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar do not have the power to hold the world during such a Pralaya (dissolution); only Adi-shakti Mahamaya can.
Gurudeb:
Many people speak without knowing these depths, but your question is excellent. This mystery is found in the final chapters of the Chandi. Scientifically and spiritually, the feminine principle is necessary for birth. Adi-shakti created these three gods to perform the functions of the universe:
Gurudeb:
Brahma: The Creator.
Gurudeb:
Vishnu: The Preserver (to maintain what is created).
Gurudeb:
Maheshwar (Shiva): The Destroyer (to bring about the end).
Gurudeb:
She gave them Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Mahakali/Parvati as their powers. While we popularly worship "Durga," it is actually the Adi-shakti who manifested. This is also why, at the 51 Shakti Pithas (the spots where parts of Sati's body fell), it is always Kali who is worshipped, not Durga. Kali is the Great Destroyer. For example, at Kalighat, in the morning, the Mother is worshipped as Saraswati (Brahma's power). In the afternoon, she is decorated as a Vaishnavi (Vishnu's power). In the night, she is worshipped as Mahakali, the power of Shiva (Mahakal).
Gurudeb:
As the saying goes: "In the lap of Mahakal (Time/Shiva), Gauri became Mahakali."
Gurudeb:
Because of time constraints on platforms like YouTube, we can only touch upon these vast topics briefly, but this is the essence of it.
Disciple:
Thank you, Gurudeb. From what you have explained, it is clear that Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar originated from the Adi-shakti.
Gurudeb:
Exactly. Not just "Durga" as a specific idol, but from the Adi-shakti through the veil of Maya. She created them and gave them their roles and their powers. She is the ultimate power who manifested to slay demons like Madhu, Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Raktabija, and Shumbha-Nishumbha to bring peace to the world before leaving the administration to the Trio.
Disciple:
Pranams, Gurudeb.
Gurudeb:
Blessings, son.