Hare Krishna to all the devotees
All glories to srila Prabhupada
In Krishna book in the chapter "KRSNA kidnaps rukmini". Srila Prabhupada tells about 4 famous children of goddess Durga. two sons- ganesha, and kartikey and two daughters - Lakshmi and Saraswati.
I am a bit perplexed on how it is. Can anyone please explain.
Replies
Hare Krishna,
"Rukmiṇī offered her prayers to the deity by saying, “My dear goddess Durgā, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you as well as to your children.” Goddess Durgā has four famous children: two daughters—the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, and the goddess of learning, Sarasvatī—and two sons, Lord Gaṇeśa and Lord Kārttikeya. They are all considered demigods and goddesses."
The very next line the answer is given.
"Since goddess Durgā is always worshiped with her famous children- Ordinary people pray to goddess Durgā for material wealth, fame, profit, strength "
Normally ordinary mortals worship durga devi for 4 things material wealth ( LAKSHMI), profit ( Ganesha), Fame and name ( Saraswati devi) with knowledge people get recognization, Strength ( Kartikeya)
It doesn't mean literally that they are real sons and daughters of DURGA devi.
It means People who pray to Mother Goddess Durga for these things usually who are like her property ( like son and daughters) whom she grants freely. But rarely Devotees go to her and ask for Krishna prema.
Rukmani ji didn't ask Mother Goddess for money, power, fame name or profit. she simply requested Durga to grant her a boon to get married to Sri Krishna.
Don't take the literal meaning of son's and daughters.
Secondly it is not wrong to say all Devi's or feminine energies are coming from Durga and Parvati devi ( Durga devi) she is External energy of Lord and She along with Shiva has Ganesha and Kartikeya as their sons.
Though, we all know Laxmi emerges during Sagar Manthan time and Sarsavati is Brahma's creation.
Basically, Laxmi ji and Saraswati ji and Parvati are running the material universe. They are expansions of Durga devi basically. So Durga devi's ansh avatars are Laxmi, Saraswati ( so they are daughters in that way not in real sense). AND DURGA DEVI is totally under the control of Sri Krishna as SHE is External potency of Lord who is incharge of this mrityu loka.
Laxmi ji gives money to run this material world
Durga herself aka Parvati devi aka Kali mata ji along with her son Kartikeya ( who is cheif of the demigod's army) gives the strength to survive in this material world, and
Saraswati devi, knowledge name fame to survive in the matieral world.
So basically all these three devi's are running the material world under the guidance of Durga devi.. so she is treated as mother to all these three goddesses.
Rukmani ji prayed to Durga mata for not these material things but She prayed to get Krishna as her husband. In this case the demigod worship is approved ( is given following in the paragraph).
" Ordinary people pray to goddess Durgā for material wealth, fame, profit, strength and so on; Rukmiṇī, however, desired to have Kṛṣṇa for her husband and therefore prayed that the deity be pleased with her and bless her with that benediction. Since she desired only Kṛṣṇa, her worship of the demigods is not condemned."
So, we can pray to Demigods but the purpose of the praying is only for asking Krishna prema. If you ask anything other than that to a demigod like Durga devi, She can make you go in circles in the maya prapancha.
Hare Krishna
Ok mataji, understood.
Thank you
Hare Krishna