MATANGI – THE GREAT COSMIC POWER OF ARTS
By yoga instructor Dan Bozaru
Hindu tantric tradition mentions that MATANGI is the ninth Great Cosmic Power, the Divine Mother who is often depicted in dark green, like emerald. She is also portrayed offering her grace and blessings, ceaselessly in a most blessed and profound state of divine ecstasy.
She inspires you to create masterpieces
Etymologically speaking, MATA means “a thought” or “an opinion”. Therefore, MATANGI is the Great Cosmic Power who penetrates the thoughts and the mind. Actually, a more nuanced depiction of the main aspect she represents refers to “the word” as a sort of “embodiment” or an objectivity of the thoughts, and she therefore governs the act of speech. MATANGI is also correlated with the sense organs, the ears, and with our ability to listen, which is in fact the origin of the process of understanding and learning, which in turn gives birth to strong and profound thoughts.
Thus, the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI offers the profound power of knowledge to her sincere worshipers, who are prepared and mature enough from a spiritual point of view and who also have a certain aesthetic refinement. This knowledge includes that of the symbols and archetypes and great artistic talent, and she offers the help to achieve perfection in such works of art. Therefore, she is the Great Goddess of the “uttered words” and of any type of exterior manifestation of the inner knowledge, including all forms of art, music and dance. From this perspective, MATANGI is one of the three Great Cosmic Powers who are correlated with the Divine Logos, the other two being TARA and TRIPURA BHAIRAVI.
Like TARA, MATANGI is also a Great Cosmic Power that governs the power of learning and eloquence in debates and discussions. However, while TARA refers to the Superior Divine Logos (PASHYANTI), which contains everything in an implicit form, MATANGI represents the intermediate, middle level (MADHYAMA) of the Divine Logos, the level that governs the ideas that later become the words we utter, in other words, the level that governs the very process of thought. At the most elevated level, MATANGI is PARA-VAIKHARI, the Supreme Logos that manifests through effective (audible) speech. MATANGI also represents the Divine Inferior Logos (VAIKHARI), the lowest level of differentiation of the Divine Logos, the objective level of the “spoken word” and the actual speech (utterance) of the words.
In reference to TARA and MATANGI and looking at things from the same perspective (the expression of the Divine Logos), TRIPURA BHARAVI represents the Great Cosmic Power of the Divine Transcendent and Non-manifested Logos (PARAVAK).
Discover the sacred mystery of the initiatory art
Another very important aspect we ought to mention is that in the spiritual traditions of India, the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI is correlated with SARASVATI, who is the goddess of wisdom and also the consort of the great god BRAHMA – the Creator of the Macrocosm in the Hindu trinity (TRIMURTI – BRAHMA, VISHNU and SHIVA (RUDRA)). Like SARASVATI, MATANGI is portrayed playing the sacred Hindu instrument (VINA), which main significance is that it expands its sphere of influence and governs the field of music and audible sound in general, not just the domain represented by the spoken word. That is why MATANGI is often rendered as the manifested form of the song or the song itself.
Like SARASVATI, her symbols are the storm clouds and lightning, as well as the rivers that flow into the sea or the ocean. At the same time, MATANGI is the vibratory resonance or NADA of the subtle sound that manifests at different levels of subtlety within the entire subtle structure of the NADIs of our being.
However, there are differences between the two great goddesses (MATANGI and SARASVATI). MATANGI represents that form of SARASVATI that involves inner knowledge. In other words, she is the mystical, occult and yet ecstatic form of SARASVATI and this becomes more evident as SARASVATI is known as the goddess of the ordinary knowledge, of art and culture. By antithesis, the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI governs the extraordinary mysterious domain of the divine knowledge, which leads us beyond the limits of the conventional. Emphasizing this aspect by comparison, we can say that MATANGI is, in fact, the face of SARASVATI correlated with the transforming energy of the Great Cosmic Power KALI.
She sustains those who spread true knowledge
Another fundamental aspect about MATANGI is that she expresses herself in her most elevated forms through the spiritual Guide who offers their teachings to the aspirants, especially through the spoken word. Therefore, we can say that MATANGI is the teachings of the spiritual Guide and of the spiritual tradition that he/she embraces. On a more general level, MATANGI represents the continuity of all the spiritual traditions in the world, traditions that are marked by all the great spiritual masters who have enlivened them and made them known over time. That is why the worship of MATANGI is, to some extent, the adoration of the Spiritual Guide. Those who seek to teach others, especially those who want to spread spiritual teachings to large groups of people, are especially blessed and helped by the divine grace of MATANGI, if, of course, they act in a just and divinely integrated manner.
She helps you achieve success in any beneficial action
From another etymological perspective, MATA also means “wild” or “passionate”. Therefore, MATANGI is the one who is agile and passionate in the movements of the body. In Sanskrit, MATANGI also means a female elephant. In Hindu mythology, the elephant is the main symbol of the god GANESHA, who is the firstborn from the love of the goddess PARVATI and the great SHIVA. GANESHA is also known as the god with an elephant head. Among other attributes of GANESHA, he represents the Lord of the Uttered Word and of the Knowledge, thus ensuring victory and success in debates or in any other actions that concern the material plan. He is worshiped as the One who removes the obstacles from the actions we take. For example, in India, the adoration of GANESHA is almost mandatory before any process of teaching knowledge (especially the spiritual knowledge), and before some important worldly activities such as marriage, travels or business meetings.
Due to these resonances between MATANGI and GANESHA, the Great Goddess is adored even as GANESHA’s consort (at a certain level). Generally speaking, GANESHA’s two consorts are BUDDHI (the brilliant intelligence) and SIDDHI (the success and the fulfilment of desires). However, these same powers are also ascribed to MATANGI, and therefore she is often invoked both to remove the obstacles from a certain action, to give it full success, and to gain a profound knowledge of the essential truths of the Creation.
Discover what is beyond words
Another aspect about the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI is that she is often described as being “impure”. At a certain level, this peculiarity is explained by the nature of the uttered word, which is inherently limited in what it can express. Only if we can perceive the true power and subtle influence of MATANGI, who is beyond the “walls” of the spoken words, will we be able to eliminate this sort of impurity. At the level of the maximum objectivity, the spoken word makes things somewhat profane, because the designation of an object determines a relative misunderstanding of that object, and thereby a kind of “devaluation” of it. That is why numbers, descriptions, explanations, etc. become true “barriers” to our elevated perceptions of the real nature of the things that surround us. MATANGI represents the Great Cosmic Power that governs this level of manifestation, and she offers us the possibility to use it correctly and to go over its gregarious significance.
She reveals the highest knowledge in the manifested world
There is a level that can be correlated to the so-called “impurity” that is symbolically assigned to MATANGI. The Supreme Self (ATMAN), the essential divine nature of our being, transcends all laws of Nature, being eternally beyond good and evil. So long as we remain “attached” in one way or another to the impurities (MALA) of the manifested world, we will confront this level, these “remnants” of duality, without having access to the immaculate and perfectly non-dual divine transcendence. From this point of view, the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI can help us because she is, among other things, the attribute of the Knowledge that can lead us to the Truth.
Thus, through her grace, the sincere and devoted worshiper is helped to transcend the “impure” limitations and conventions of the manifested world. This is another essential aspect of MATANGI, the ecstatic revelation of the highest metaphysical knowledge, even in the manifested world (that, in relation to the non-manifestation (divine transcendence) is considered “impure”). We could even say that MATANGI represents the first of the Great Cosmic Powers (and other deities) that allows the knowledge of her great powers and perfections through direct revelation to the aspirants who are sincere and devoted to the spiritual search.
According to the Upanishadic doctrine, the essence of human expression is the speech or, in other words, whatever we utter. The great sages who wrote the Upanishads affirmed that what we express in speech is the final “product” of everything we take on in our lives, at the level of conception and experience. This final “residuum” and representation of what we are through speech is actually the manifestation of the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI. Although, here we must specify that this ultimate “synthesis” of our being is not the ordinary speech, but rather the most profound expression of our inner heart, that is our soul.
On a universal level, the Divine Logos manifests a series of essential attributes, such as power, sentiment and passion, which are identified with the Endless Divine Beatitude itself (ANANDA), not only with relatively limited emotions, but in all their nuances of expression. Therefore, the Divine Logos is not only a theoretical and practical aspect or statement, but also a vivid and effervescent energetic expression and ecstatic happiness. This beatitude (ANANDA) is also another aspect of MATANGI, which appears to us to be very active, passionate and full of happiness in this divine game of manifestation.
She reveals the glaring beauty of the Creation
In her aspect as the divine creator Logos that manifests in the entire Macrocosm, MATANGI embodies the great powers of nature. Thus, she embodies the wild beauty and attraction, and at the same time the hidden mystery and power of the tropical jungle; in which she is envisioned as a very powerful and active elephant, reflecting the natural rhythms of Nature. From this perspective, we can observe that MATANGI’s forms of expression are similar to those of TRIPURA SUNDARI. However, in the case of TRIPURA SUNDARI this beauty is an inner experience at the level of consciousness, and in the case of MATANGI, the predominant expression is the external, objective manifestation. The resemblance also consists due to the fact that she represents the dazzling beauty of Creation as an expression of the essential Self.
In the tantric pantheon, among the other deities, MATANGI is associated with the “prime minister” or the “counsellor” of the Great Cosmic Power TRIPURA SUNDARI and she is considered the Supreme Queen of the entire Creation. In this hypostasis, MATANGI is called MANTRINI, and she has the perfect power and supremacy over all the MANTRAs that exist, especially when they are expressed aloud. Thus, she offers us the ability to “communicate” with all the other deities through MANTRAs. She governs all forms of knowledge, being an invaluable counsellor and teacher on this path. Therefore, especially those who seek to shine in this area will have to devoutly admire MATANGI in order to enjoy full success in their work.
She inspires us in a divine way
The tantric tradition asserts that MATANGI’s subtle projection (in the microcosm of the human being) is at the level of VISHUDDHA CHAKRA, which is the subtle “plexus” of speech. She also resides at the level of the tip of the tongue (where the articulated speech is born, and where we are able to perceive the essential tastes, that are more or less refined of different foods). There is a subtle energetic channel in the auric structure of the human being, which goes from the third eye (AJNA CHAKRA) to the tip of the tongue. This subtle energetic channel (NADI) is called SARASVATI and it is in close correlation with the energetic manifestation of the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI. Thus, SARASVATI NADI is that subtle NADI that favours the divine inspiration in the mind through speech. MATANGI is the beatific subtle energy flow that penetrates this subtle NADI (SARASVATI), inspiring us in the art of metaphysical poetry and in the verbal expression of divine truths.
As for the form of meditation, the Great Power Cosmic MATANGI is rendered in dark green, like the colour of a pure and precious emerald, signifying the profound knowledge of the meaning of things in Creation, and at the same time being a specific symbol for the essential energy of life. In fact, green is the colour of the planet Mercury, which in Western esotericism is the planet that governs intelligence. MATANGI should be envisioned playing RUDRA-VINA, which in terms of music signifies the power and inspiration she can offer to the sincere and devoted worshiper, as well as on all vibratory manifestations of the energy.
Meditate on the wise words of the spiritual Guide
MATANGI is a goddess whose beauty is dazzling and she wears many mysterious objects that fascinate and magnetize her honest worshipers. From this point of view, she wears the same ornaments and objects as TRIPURA SUNDARI in her iconographic representations. She is often represented holding a multi-coloured parrot in her hands, which is the symbol of the power of expression in Nature. When we meditate, we should envision MATANGI sitting on a wonderful throne of precious stones.
One of the most widespread forms of adoration of the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI (especially in India) is the precise intonation of the phonemes of the Sanskrit alphabet. Unlike the spoken word, they represent the subtle non-manifested sound, which signify the differentiated manifestation of these essential divine energies in the Creation. The correct pronunciation of the phonemes in the Sanskrit alphabet can also be correlated with the energetic petals (or “spokes”) of the main subtle force centres (CHAKRAs) of the being, thus purifying, energizing and activating them plenary.
Another effective way of worshiping MATANGI is to muse on the profound meaning of the sacred spiritual texts, but especially on the words of the Spiritual Guide, which are full of wisdom. Over time, this effective practice will turn into a genuine process of meditation and contemplation of the teachings of the spiritual guide and an understanding of the way they correlate with our own life experience.
She guides us to the Ultimate Truth through the arts
Music is also an effective way of worshiping MATANGI. In fact, the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI is venerated as the main goddess of music and of the musicians. The daily practice of deep meditation with the BIJA-MANTRA, which corresponds to MATANGI’s sphere of force and consciousness, lends its power to all genius inspiration, in many forms of artistic expression, especially in music.
However, from the highest point of view, we should acknowledge in MATANGI the mysterious meaning of the perfect silence and stillness of the Supreme Self (ATMAN), which in reality represents the true essence and power behind all our thoughts and words. In other words, we should gradually understand that the Great Cosmic Power MATANGI, manifested through speech and art, guides the objective, visible world (SAMSARA) into the divinely integrated, holy and pure field of the divine transcendence.
yogaesoteric
February 1, 2019
