Basant means one who bestows wishes and season of spring. Spring is about new beginnings and transformations. Panchami means the fifth day of the Hindu lunar month in the Hindu calendar marking the beginning of winter’s end and the coming of spring. And in the western calendar it is January—February. Continue reading
There is a ritual to be followed when one offers flowers to the Deity. There are many flowers which can be offered. Some of the favorites I have listed below.
Hibiscus—Botanical name Hibiscus rosa-Sinensis. The goddess loves the Hibiscus flower. It is her favorite flower. The hibiscus belongs to Kali. She represents empowerment, and with that comes destruction of evil. Therefore, she is considered a fierce Goddess. The red hibiscus is symbolic of Kali’s tongue. She portrays a form of energy and this blood symbolism becomes life affirming and it ties her to the life forces that pulsate in all of us. Continue reading
Parvati is the power of Shakti of Lord Shiva, the beloved wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesha and Kartike. She is the Yogamaya of Lord Vishnu, she tied a rakhi (sacred thread) on Vishnu’s wrist, thus making him her brother. She wears a Mangal sutra (a string of gold and black beads), which is a sign of marriage for Hindu women round her neck. Continue reading
Das Mahavidyas are the divine forms of the Goddess. They are very powerful forms of the Goddess and can be worshipped in their individual manifestations. Their origin is when Sati manifested herself into the ten forms of Adi Shakti because Shiva would not allow her to attend her father’s Yagna uninvited. Both Sati and Shiva had not received an invite. When Shiva found that he was surrounded by these Goddesses in every direction, he agreed to attend the function. Continue reading
Our prayers are gender neutral and yet we have so much conflict between couples. I have listed four prayers and they are recited as invocations and supplication. There is no discrimination in them.
Our prayer to the Cosmic Mother, Durga is a prayer which can be said by all. Durga is known as Devi or Shakti. Devi means woman, and Shakti means power. Durga in Sanskrit means a fort. Ma Durga protects us all. Continue reading
When we think of umbrellas, we think of a protecting force or influence. Umbrellas are never thought of as negative objects. It prevents us from being exposed to rain, snow, and sunshine. The umbrella also signifies the canopy of the heavens, and our shelter. It is a symbol of the sun, and a symbol of the shade. It also represents power and dignity. Umbrella also means something that brings unity, and one agency can be an umbrella for many smaller and related agencies to flourish. Continue reading
Shakti is the divine energy that is connected to each God. Shiva’s Shakti is Parvati, Vishnu’s Shakti is Lakshmi and Brahma’s Shakti is Saraswati. Shakti is also addressed as Devi or Mother Goddess. Continue reading
I speak and write about fear but it is an ongoing battle for all of us. A few days ago I fell down on the moving escalator, flat on my back. I will now share with you the history of my fall. Continue reading
The signs of spiritual progress are joy, fearlessness and constantly remembering the Divine. This is blessed awareness and this will guide you in your path. Continue reading
Diwali, our festival of lights gets its name from the lamps we light outside our homes. The light symbolizes the inner light within us which protects us from spiritual darkness. Diwali is a time for joy and happiness and an invitation to the Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, to visit our homes. Continue reading
The keys are there for all of us and they are waiting to be used. Once we have them, they are with us forever. Only our thoughts can steal them. Everything happens in tandem. If we use even one key and are genuine and sincere, we can be on the path of equanimity and harmony. Continue reading
A platinum key! What kind of lock would this key fit? The platinum key is our anchor and our savior. A symbol is what we must seek. We are blessed if our Guru gives us one or we find one. The usual place for a symbol is behind our eyebrow centre. It can be a yantra, mandala, deity, sun, moon, star, or flower. Once we feel comfortable with it, we stay with it. How do we use it? It becomes a part of us.it never leaves us and when we use the other four keys, it is present. It rescues us and protects us. Continue reading
This sadhana to bring you closer to the Supreme Goddess.
What is pratyahara? It is described as withdrawal of one’s senses. The maximum dissipation happens when one is involved with everything that is happening around one. One’s eyes are gazing at some object or happening, the ears are listening, there may be a smell, a sense of lingering taste and lastly the sense of touch. Continue reading
Why is the Devi Sukta important?
It brings spiritual and material wellbeing to the believer, listener, and the reader. If one is neither and is only a believer in the power of The Goddess, then the visualization will help. The Devi Sukta destroys all illusions in one’s mind. The Devi Suktam cleanses one’s mind of all apprehensions and suspicions.
It removes all the misfortunes and imperfections of the devotees. A suktam is a hymn in praise of the deity intended a collection of very beautifully composed incantations is called a sukta. Continue reading