Should we consciously invoke each one according to our need, or should we simply aspire to the Divine Mother and allow Her to manifest whichever aspect is needed? How can I practically incorporate these four powers into my sadhana without making it a merely mental practice?
The four aspects of the Divine Mother have been described by Sri Aurobindo to make it a little easier for us to comprehend something of the ways of The Mother’s working. They are aspects of the One Divine Mother. It helps us to know how The Mother would want us to be by inculcating the qualities and ways of being of these four aspects. It means that we should develop in us peace and wideness, equality and compassion (aspects of Maheswari), straightforwardness and strength, truthfulness, fearlessness and frankness (aspects of Mahakali), tender love for all creatures, the spirit of harmony and beauty in speech, thought, feelings and actions (aspects of Mahalakshmi), and perfection, patience, perseverance and kindness (aspects of Mahasaraswati). Developing these qualities prepares us to receive the Mother by making the inner temple ready for Her Living Presence. But there is no need nor is it expected of the sadhak to do sadhana of these aspects separately. In this yoga, our whole aspiration and surrender should be placed at the Feet of the Divine Mother in her present embodiment. Sri Aurobindo makes this abundantly clear in a number of letters, one of them being quoted below.
‘But the surrender must be to the Mother—not even to the Force, but to the Mother herself.
There is no need of all this complication. If the psychic manifests, it will not ask you to surrender to it, but to surrender to the Mother.’
(Ref. https://incarnateword.in/cwsa/32/surrender-to-the-mother#p43)
Affectionately,
Alok Da
