Bhuvaneshwari and Cosmic Wisdoms

Fourth Great Cosmic Wisdom in the
Hindu pantheon is Bhuvaneshwari, or Bhuvanesi,

PART 1
THE MACRO COSMOS IS HER BODY
The fourth Great Cosmic Wisdom in the Hindu pantheon is Bhuvaneshwari, or Bhuvanesi, as She is also named in certain areas of India.

This Great Cosmic Wisdom is worshiped as the Great Goddess who protects all manifested worlds. This attribute of the goddess is also suggested by Her name: the Glorious Queen, or the Governor (Ishwari) of the whole realm of creation, with all the worlds (Bhuvana) which are contained in Her.

In other words, She is the Divine Mother who protects the worlds and consequently the whole universe is Her body on which the numerous beings that exist are like jewels adorning her.

SHE PROTECTS THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN WORLDS
From a symbolic point of view, Bhuvaneshwari is depicted as a goddess with three eyes, a sign of her complete knowledge of the manifested worlds, very big breasts (all beings are nurtured from Her), and a smiling face, once again underlying the maternal aspect of this Great Cosmic Wisdom.

Her glory and greatness are signified by Her brightness filled with goodness that irradiates from Her, just as the rising sun or by the moon that drops the divine nectar (soma) from the goddess’s head.

Bhuvaneshwari sustains all the worlds, with the beings and things that are characteristic to all of them.

In other words, we may say that Bhuvaneshwari is in fact the whole universe embodied as a deity. Her ardent worship attracts the cosmic vision of Reality, thus surpassing any limits imposed by a certain opinion, or belief.

The goddess’s help is manifested mostly for overcoming any types of false identifications and preconceived ideas, including ideas about social class, race, religion, nation, etc., sublimating into global and superior forms of knowledge and understanding.

This general vision offered to us by the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuvaneshwari (when our aspiration is sincere and ardent enough to make it possible), offers us an intuitive understanding of the great mysteries of creation, helping us understand and perceive the indescribable reality of the absolute.

HER WORSHIP GRANTS THE PERFECT VISION OF REALITY
In the four Hindu Veda -s Bhuvaneshwari is known as Aditi, the Great Cosmic Mother, infinite and indestructible, the origin of all manifestation, the primordial space.

The light comes to life in Her and therefore She is the mother of all suns and of all solar deities. The
Divine Mother Bhuvaneshwari creates space so that all the things in the manifested world could eventually come into it.

Similarly, the space of our consciousness is also created by Bhuvaneshwari so that we are allowed to manifest as individuals in the world in which we exist.

Consequently, it has become obvious that on the level of the whole creation, space has several levels of manifestation, in perfect harmony and resonating with the subtle energies. For instance, in the physical space that is around us there is also the mental space, which is just as infinite as the physical space.

This mental space also has several levels of subtlety, which culminate with the supreme space of the pure divine consciousness, which is beyond all manifestation. All these different types of space represent only various aspects and functions of Bhuvaneshwari.

According to the law of correspondence and analogy, from the Eastern spiritual tradition, the whole macro cosmos is contained in the small, subtle space in our hearts. In other words, the heart is Bhuvaneshwari’s residence.

One of the infallible methods that allow to communicate with this Great Cosmic Wisdom’s gigantic sphere of force is to direct our consciousness towards a loving investigation of this mysterious, subtle space found in our spiritual heart.

PART 2
SHE IS THE SCENE ON WHICH TIME DANCES
Because She represents space, Bhuvaneshwari is complementary to Kali, who, as we know represents Time. Thus, the two goddesses represent the two main faces of the Great Goddess, Shakti, infinity and eternity.

In other words, we may say that Bhuvaneshwari creates in a certain way the stage on which Kali will perform Her dance of life and death.

This analogy of Bhuvaneshwari allows us to notice that at the same time the supreme goddess represents the observer, and the observed, the one who enjoys and is involved in Kali’s dance of life and death. To help you understand this relationship better, know that Kali creates events in time, and Bhuvaneshwari creates objects in space.

This is also an important theme for meditation, indicating one of the methods for the revelation of our Supreme Self through Bhuvaneshwari’s worship.

The deep understanding of these aspects is that all events represent nothing but “sequences” on Divine Mother Kali’s gigantic consciousness (Time), and all locations in space are mere phases of resonance with the Divine Mother Bhuvaneshwari, who represents space.

Reaching thus the mysterious knowledge that the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuvaneshwari is in fact the “base” on which we are supported and at the same time the subtle reality that saturates us every moment, we gain the capacity of practicing the highest and most elevated yogic techniques with utter success, techniques that may lead us in a very short time to Supreme Spiritual Freedom.

Bhuvaneshwari is also correlated to the cardinal points. The four main directions of space (north, south, east and west) are nothing but different visions or hypostasis of this Great Cosmic Wisdom’s presence, each of them having distinct qualities.

HER RESIDENCE IS YOUR HEART’S HEART
As a significant parallel, Kali creates in the same way what we name the “directions” of time, which as we know are the present, the past and the future. The Tantric spiritual tradition notes the fact that space is mysteriously particularized in time.

For instance, the spatial direction east represents almost always the beginning of an action, while the north represents spiritual illumination. West is correlated to experience and the process of spiritual maturity, and south represents the fullness of spiritual realization.

Because of this, we may state that in a mysterious way, space contains time and similarly time contains space. Each moment in time is characterized by a location and a direction or spatial orientation.

Philosophically speaking, a certain place from space (be it physical or subtle) represents only a reflection of our vision on that particular reality. If this vision changes, the place and the space in which it was will also move and change.

Furthermore, our visions or our imagination also determine the direction of our field of experiences. Thus, when we direct our minds to a certain space-time area, we will perceive various events and places that are characteristic to that particular area.

Therefore the tantric writings of the Hindu sages say that Bhuvaneshwari represents God’s very initial creative vision; in other words, the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuvaneshwari represents the direction in which the Divinity directed his attention towards the act of creation or the force of awareness of manifestation.

PART 3
SHE REVEALS THE THREADS OF ILLUSION
Modern science has recently reached the conclusion according to which space (named in yogic terminology akasha) represents the primordial “matrix” from which were born all the other elements (air, fire, water, and earth). For example, the substance from which the earth is made is essentially a concentration characteristic to space in a certain area.

Under this aspect of primordial substance from which emerges everything in the manifested world, the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari is also known as Prakriti, or Mother Nature.

However, we need to remember that this primordial space, which is a base for any ulterior manifestation is essentially pure consciousness and consequently it is an ineffable expression of endless freedom and bliss.

From a different perspective, Bhuwaneshwari is also Maya, or the cosmic illusion. Bhuwaneshwari thus spreads the infinite “threads” of illusion in which ignorant people are entangled and end up complicating their lives.

When we measure, appreciate, or compare the different things or situations in life, we simply fall into Mayas illusory trap, forgetting almost entirely the reality of the fundamental unitary space, the primordial matrix from which all things appeared.

Any manifested form is in fact a system of energy waves that exist based on subtle relationships, or resonance’s with the macro cosmic sources of energy from the Infinite.

Therefore, one of the important methods for transcending illusion is to learn to see around us the sacred space of the Divine Mother Bhuwaneshwari, a space that is in fact her gigantic, ineffable consciousness that surrounds us in a kind and loving embrace.

Consciousness is also the fundamental “field” in which all things and events appear and manifest. Consequently, a synthetic and effective awareness on this fundamental reality will immediately grant us the capacity of accessing any of her ways of expression, through a simple act of focused will on our part.

BHUWANESHWARI AWAKENS THE THRILL OF THE INFINITE
Bhuwaneshwari is the space in which Gods endless will and love manifest. Indeed, the pure and deep feeling of a sincere and unconditional love offers the feeling of space and infinite freedom.

Such sublime love does not limit a persons options and does not try to obtain or keep anything for itself, it always manifests altruistically.

On the other hand, the ineffable space of love represents a nurturing space granting the people who are capable of it as well as to their loved ones the possibility of growth and development.

We may state that if love does not create the feeling of space and freedom, it does not represent divine love, but merely the egotistical expression of a possessive and non-spiritual form of affection.

It is known that such affection leads the people in cause to absurd states of suffering and attachment especially when it is manifested through fierce jealousy.

The frenetic worship of the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari makes it possible even for such people to transcend their pitiful limitations through the revelation of the fact that the genuine universal love has no form (it is not “constricting” and focuses on one person, or object), yet it is found in all forms.

BUILD HER A TEMPLE INSIDE YOUR OWN BEING
Gods infinite love gives birth to the desire to create and then to follow the wonderful spectacle of Creation. From this perspective, Bhuwaneshwari creates the worlds in which the endless power of the divine love manifests.

This divine game (Lila) is continuously effervescent because space (akasha) represents an infinite potential energy, which is always updated in the infinite ways and forms of manifestation.

Therefore, the yogic spiritual tradition says that the whole universe comes from the infinite space of the Divine Consciousness. Especially for those struggling to become artists, or creators, their devotion for this Great Cosmic Wisdom, Bhuwaneshwari, will prove unbelievably helpful.

This devotion will help them create a sacred space inside their beings. At the same time,
creating a certain space, we become free from stress and tensions, which are merely limited forms of our conceptions, preconceived ideas and attachments.

PART 4

In other words, endless space can be associated to rest, peace and perfect equanimity. This ineffable state is granted through Bhuwaneshwaris grace and consequently one needs to obtain Bhuwaneshwaris grace in order to find supreme peace and tranquility.

Bhuwaneshwari represents the power of openness and infinite expansion, of equanimity in spirit and profound peace that contains in it all things and that cannot be disturbed. Indeed, we will be able to understand this assertion better when we evoke the tantric teachings referring to the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari.

These teachings state that the goddess is the original space from which emerges any being and any thing. The Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari represents the Void in its creative form, from which creation then emerges and which sustains creations further development.

It is important to understand that this void is not the void anterior to creation, which is transcendent and which is represented by the Great Cosmic Wisdom Dhumavati. From a location point of view, Bhuwaneshwari is everywhere in space.

We can say that we are always in Bhuwaneshwaris sphere of consciousness but beyond
this reality that implies a macro cosmic reality, the goddess represents the very subtle space of our hearts in which the whole manifestation is contained mysteriously. At the same time it also represents the sacred place in which we may become one with the consciousness of our Supreme Immortal Self, through spontaneous, beatific revelation.

Bhuwaneshwari offers you the enlightenment and revelation of the Self. The iconographic representation of the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari resembles the representation of Tripura Sundari.

As we mentioned in our previous articles, the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari has the color of the rising sun, with the crescent moon on her forehead, four hands and three eyes. In two of her
hands she holds a chain and respectively a stake, and with the other two hands she makes the gesture of casting away fear (abhaya mudra) and the gesture of offering wonderful spiritual gifts (varada mudra).

Sometimes she is represented with a lotus and a jewel bowl in tow of her hands, and in other cases her left foot is placed on a jewel bowl.

The Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari is sitting on a bed resembling a throne, which represents the five forms of manifestation belonging to the God Shiva, as described in the article about the Great Cosmic Wisdom Tripura Sundari.

From this throne, the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari controls and organizes the movement of the entire universe. Different gods and goddesses who serve her and immediately obey her orders
surround the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari.

Meditating with great perseverance on this beautiful goddesss form, the sincere practitioner may
obtain her infinite grace, become enlightened, and reveal his or her supreme Self.

Another way through which one may obtain her grace is to meditate on the reality of infinite space. Another method is to develop and refine within ourselves the attitude of detached witnesses in manifestation, witnesses who simply observe the various events, things, beings that may cross our paths, but without identifying with these aspects.

Another way is to try to eliminate the idea that surrounding names and forms represent the ultimate reality from our mind.

This method resembles the practice of Jnana Yoga, and is based on the fact that everything we know is based on an over positioning of names and forms, which are in fact just conventions, over an unknown presence, which is nothingelse but the creative void supported by an infinite energy.

Of all these spiritual processes of worshipping the Divine Mother Bhuwaneshwari, becoming
perfectly detached from the illusionary nature and dual aspects of the cosmic illusion and at the same time manifesting a sincere and complete openness towards finding the Supreme Truth represent the best ways of adoring Her and also of honoring the charming presence of the Great Cosmic Wisdom Bhuwaneshwari.