There is no contradiction in Her but it is to the limited mind’s way of seeing that it appears as contradictions. In fact everything in creation is full of paradoxes, partly because we see things very partially and only on the surface missing the intent and therefore the Wisdom behind Her Works. Besides, our seeing is limited to a cross section slice of Time hence we cannot comprehend Her actions that sees across lives and vast vistas of Time. Even a human mother who scolds a child one moment and caresses at another is yet acting out of love though the two outer actions may seem paradoxical.
Thus, She is both form and formless because She is the Knowledge and Power that gives birth to form out of the formless Existence. She is full of pride before the titans and the gods so that they may grow humbler and wiser but She is without any pride and easily becomes the care-giver, nourisher and nurturer of all bearing with all our defects if we approach Her with love and devotion. To the Asura, She is a mass of formidable Strength, Durga and MahaKali, that can slay in one stroke the mightiest of the mighty, to the devas, She is the Wisdom that inspires them and the power that helps them function, Maheswari and Mahasaraswati, the devatmashakti. To the devotee She is the all-fulfilling heart of Beauty and Love, Mahalakshmi. To the ordinary average human, She is the inner healer and the giver of the bowl of rice, Annapurna. She appears in million ways and aspects and yet even all of them cannot exhaust Her Mystery as She is Herself and Infinite.
Yes She has created steps for our soul’s return to the Supreme and hence become both Ignorance and Knowledge to school us depending upon the stage of our inner evolution. Yet is She beyond Knowledge and Ignorance, beyond every duality which is simply the mind’s way of seeing. But to a greater deeper vision that She grants to some, She is simply the Grace that acts in unseen ways to help and succor and compel us to progress. And She is Love that bears our cross and leans into the Abyss to uplift and transform. And Beauty that even the eyes of the Immortals cannot behold. And Delight that is the Home of Truth.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
