967 – Bhairavi – The Warrior Goddess

She who has the color of the fire, effulgent with the power of Tapas blazing, the one who is desired in the fruits of all actions, I take refuge in her, the goddess Durga. Reverence to the wonderful savioress for all our deliverance.

Fire, deliver us anew, across all difficulties to wellbeing. Be a wide, vast and abundance city for all the progeny of our creative work.

Fire, Knower of all births as a ship across the sea, deliver us across all difficulties. Like the Sun, chanting with the mind, awaken as the protector of our being.

Mahanarayana Upanishad. Durga Sukta 2-4. Continue reading

190 – Hindu Gods and the significance of their vehicles

Every important Hindu God has an animal as its vahana (vehicle). They are never without them. In Sanskrit vahana means that which carries or that which pulls. These vahanas are either animals or birds and they represent the various spiritual and psychological energy that bears the Gods. The vahana may wear a saddle upon which the deities sits, or they may pull a chariot, driven by the deity. Continue reading