The Prayers We’re Taught to Recite
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Think about the nature of prayer. In most traditions, we pray to a higher power. We ask for strength, we plead for guidance, we hope for blessings. We position ourselves as supplicants, as seekers looking for something outside of ourselves. This dynamic is so deeply ingrained that we rarely question it.
We are taught that power is something to be requested, a gift to be granted. This belief subtly shapes our lives, encouraging us to look for validation, permission, and strength from external sources.
But what if the most ancient and profound spiritual texts contained a radically different model of power? What if there was a hymn that wasn’t a prayer to the Goddess, but a declaration by the Goddess herself? A divine monologue where the feminine principle doesn’t ask for power, but announces that she is the power. This is the secret of the Devi Suktam from the Rigveda, and it holds a revolutionary truth about a woman’s true, innate power.
The Goddess Speaks: The Secret of the Devi Suktam
The Devi Suktam is one of the most stunning hymns in the Vedas. It is unique because it is spoken in the first person by the Goddess, who reveals herself as the ultimate, all-pervading reality. She is not a consort or a helper; she is the sovereign queen of the universe, the force that moves through all gods, all beings, and all of creation.
She doesn’t say, “Please grant me strength.” She says, “I am the strength that moves the gods.” She doesn’t say, “Please bless me with wisdom.” She says, “I am the wise one, the first among those worthy of worship.”
This is not a request for power; it is a statement of being. The Devi Suktam teaches that divine feminine power is not something to be acquired. It is the fundamental fabric of existence, a reality to be realized.
Wisdom in Verse: The Power to Create Greatness
In one of the most potent verses of the hymn, the Goddess declares her power not just to exist, but to actively create greatness in those she chooses. She is the ultimate kingmaker, the source of all formidable power.
अहमेव स्वयमिदं वदामि जुष्टं देवेभिरुत मानुषेभिः । यं कामये तं तमुग्रं कृणोमि तं ब्रह्माणं तमृषिं तं सुमेधाम् ॥
Ahameva svayamidaṃ vadāmi juṣṭaṃ devebhiruta mānuṣebhiḥ, yaṃ kāmaye taṃ tamughraṃ kṛṇomi taṃ brahmāṇaṃ tamṛṣiṃ taṃ sumedhām.
(Rigveda, 10.125.5)
Translation: “I myself declare this, which is pleasing to gods and to men. He whom I love, I make him formidable, I make him a sage, a seer, and a man of brilliant intellect.”
This is a complete reversal of the power dynamic we are used to. Power, wisdom, and brilliance are not qualities one earns to win her favor; they are gifts she bestows out of her own sovereign will. She is the source, not the reward.
How This Philosophy Is Relevant to Your Life, Success, and Wellness
This ancient hymn is a radical blueprint for modern female empowerment. It’s not about asking for a seat at the table; it’s about realizing you are the one who built the room.
- In Daily Life: From Self-Doubt to Self-Declaration. How often do our inner monologues sound like a plea? “I hope they like me. I hope I’m good enough.” The Devi Suktam invites you to change the script. It encourages a shift from a mindset of seeking validation to one of self-declaration. Your power isn’t dependent on anyone else’s approval. Like the Goddess, your presence and your worth are self-evident.
- For Your Success: The End of Imposter Syndrome. Imposter syndrome thrives on the belief that your power is conditional and can be taken away. The Devi Suktam is its antidote. It teaches that your true power is your very nature. It is the source from which all your other forms—the leader, the creator, the nurturer—emerge. This is the same truth we see in Parvati, who manifests her fierce forms when needed. When you know you are the source, you can’t be an imposter.
- For Your Overall Wellness: Innate Worthiness. Much of our anxiety stems from a feeling of inadequacy. We strive, we hustle, we perfect, all to prove our worth. The Devi Suktam gently whispers, “You don’t have to prove anything.” Your worth is not in what you do, but in who you are: a manifestation of the same divine feminine energy that moves the cosmos. Resting in this knowledge is the foundation of unshakeable mental and emotional well-being.
You Are Not the Prayer, You Are the Power
The Devi Suktam is a mirror. It reflects back to you a truth you may have forgotten: your power is not a request waiting to be answered. It is a declaration waiting to be spoken.
You are not just the prayer. You are the power that makes the prayer possible. Stop asking. Start declaring.
What is one “I am” statement you can declare for yourself today? (e.g., “I am creative,” “I am resilient,” “I am wise.”)
Speak your power into existence in the comments below!
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