Day Ten Navaratri Parana, April 2016: Kamala, Lotus Goddess of Delight

Om Shrim Shrim Kamalatmika Shrim Swaha!

Om Shrim Shrim Kamalatmika Shrim Swaha!

Om Shrim Shrim Kamalatmika Shrim Swaha!

kamla-yantraThe tenth day of Navaratri is called Navarati Parana which means the end of the Navaratri celebration and fast. It is the 10th dashami tithi, 10 days after the New Moon and a day of victory. What a great time to embrace this sweet power rising out of the Devi’s victory over darkness just as Mars, planet of war and conflict, is slowing down to his intense retrograde station on Sunday morning, He will retrograde until late June in sidereal Scorpio, where Saturn is already retrograde. Retrograde malefics like Mars and Saturn become more difficult than usual. That means it’s time to be focused and vigilant and hold fast to our highest principles and practices. Everything that challenges us is teaching us to open our hearts and be in a state of unconditional love no matter what! If we can remain truly heart centered kings and queens of love, we are home free.

231839-bigthumbnailAnd, speaking of love, the 10th Mahavidya Goddess to whom I am dedicating my last day’s Navaratri contemplation is Shri Kamala Devi, also known as “Kamalatmika, She of the Lotus.” Kamala is the ultimate manifestation of the Devi in the world. When you are in the immense and often mind-blowing, heart-bursting beauty of nature, that is Kamala in action. She is goddess of not only love and beauty but also comfort, safety, wealth, happiness, and the bliss that comes in knowing one’s own true being (ananda swaroopa). Kamala’s other name is Shree (Shri) which means “Auspicious.”

“With a smiling face, her beautiful lily-white hands hold two lotuses, and show the mudras of giving and dispelling fear. She is bathed in nectar by four white elephants and stands upon a beautiful lotus.” (Todala Tantra) The lotus represents purity and divinity; and the elephants symbolize the four directions, elements, and purusharthas (dharma, artha, kama, and moksha) which are all brought forth and supported by Shri Kamala Devi. 

the_ten_mahavidyas__kamala_wi84Kamala is the consort of Sada-Shiva, the protector of the world who is much like Lord Vishnu who upholds the Earth. She is associated with the lunar mansion called Rohini in Taurus constellation, which is the Moon’s favorite wife (nakshatra). Rohini symbolizes sensuality, grace, and beauty. She is the youngest sister of oldest sister Dhumavati who lives in Jyestha/Scorpio which is directly opposite Rohini/Taurus. Kamala is like the highest frequency of Lakshmi. She came out of the great churning of the ocean known as Samudra Manthan, and she is the source of Satva Guna or spiritual essence.I feel that Kamala is the Alpha and Omega of the Devi, for everything comes from love. We propitiate Her to enhance and strengthen Venus, symbol of vitality-love-comfort-wealth in the Vedic horoscope.

Jai Maa Kamala Devi! We bow before you on this tenth day of Navaratri Parana and give great thanks for all Your blessings and boons that have come through our Divine Mother devotions, and for those which are still yet to come. We open to receive ever more of your Supreme Comfort as it flows like nectar onto our Earth and all sentient beings. May we fully know and experience Your peace, wisdom, and divine love in this Earthly realm. Jai Maa!

kamala

 

Day Six Navaratri April 2016: Chinnamasta, the Great Cosmic Wisdom

Aum Shrim Hrim Aim Vajra-Vairochaneeya Hum Hum Phat Swaha

Aum Shrim Hrim Aim Vajra-Vairochaneeya Hum Hum Phat Swaha

Aum Shrim Hrim Aim Vajra-Vairochaneeya Hum Hum Phat Swaha

800px-Chinnamasta_yantra_color

Jai Maa Chinnamasta! Jai Jai Jai Maa! Today and tonight I bow before the Divine Mother in her aspect as Maa Chinnamasta, Goddess of Awakening Wisdom, and I pray The Great Invocation:

The Great Invocation

From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.

From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.

From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men–
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.

Who is this Goddess Chinnamasta and why would I pray to Her to restore the plan on Earth? Well, quite simply, She is the Pure Absolute Wisdom which transcends the illusion of Maya. She is the pure light that descends from on high. As such, She is also the embodiment of a fierce immensity: “Her left foot forward in battle, she holds her severed head and a knife. Naked, she drinks voluptuously the stream of the blood nectar flowing from her beheaded body. The jewel on her forehead is tied with a serpent. She has three eyes. Her breasts are adorned with lotuses. Inclined towards lust, she sits erect above the god of love, who shows signs of lustfulness. She looks like the red China rose.” Chinnamasta Tantra

Chinnamasta1800Parvati became known as Chinnamasta, the Self-Decapitated Goddess who represents the transcendence of material identification and the sacrifice of ego as wisdom transcends the lower nature in the awakening of kundalini Shakti. Her ferocious iconography also represents the continuous cycle of samsara/sex, life and death in the play of duality.

Chinnamasta’s name is also seen as Chhinnamasta and Chinnamastaka, and in Tantric Buddhism she is known as Chinnamunda. This phrase in Her mantra (above) – vajra-vairochaneeya – refers to Maa Chintamasta’s gift of spiritual awakening. She explodes like thunder and lightning as Her kundalini pierces into pure consciousness. Per Vedic astrology, we can propitiate Shri Mata Chinnamasta for any matter related to Rahu and Ketu including karmic curses, anxieties and fears, as well as health, money and relationship problems,

Her stotra of 108 names is as follows:

  • Chinnamasta
  • Mahavidya (great knowledge goddess)
  • Mahabhima (great fierce one)
  • Mahodari (great bellied one)
  • Candesvari (fierce goddess)
  • Candamata (mother of fierce beings or the fierce mother)
  • Candamundaprabhanjini (killer of demons Canda and Munda)
  • Mahacanda (great fierce one)
  • Candarupa (fierce form)
  • Candika (fierce one)
  • Candakhandini (destroyer of Canda)
  • Krodhini (wrathful one)
  • Krodhajanani (creator of wrathful beings)
  • Krodharupa (wrathful form)
  • Kuhuh (new moon day)
  • Kala (skillful one)
  • Kopatura (afflicted with rage)
  • Kopayuta (filled with rage)
  • Kopasamharakarini (destroyer of rage)
  • Vajra
  • Vajravairocani (adamantine one)
  • Vajrakalpa (competent with a vajra)
  • Dakini
  • Dakinikarmanirata (involved with the work of dakinis)
  • Dakinikarmapujita (worshipped as the work of dakinis)
  • Dakinisanganirata (delighted in the company of dakinis)
  • Dakinipremapurita (filled with love of dakinis)
  • Khatavangadharini (holder of a khatvanga)
  • Kharva (mutilated one)
  • Khadgakharparadharini (holder of a scimitar and a skullcup)
  • Pretasana (feeder of pretas [hungry ghosts])
  • Pretayuta (united with pretas)
  • Pretasangaviharini (plays or dwells in the company of pretas)
  • Chinnamundadhara (holds a severed head)
  • Chinnacandavidya (fierce mantra of the one with the severed body)
  • Citrini (having variegated forms)
  • Ghorarupa (terrific form)
  • Ghoradrsta (terrific to behold)
  • Ghorarava (having a terrific roar)
  • Ghanodari (firm abdomen)
  • Yogini (practices yoga)
  • Yoganirata (practitioner of yoga)
  • Japayajnaparayana (absorbed in sacrifice and recitation)
  • Yonicakramayi (possessing yonicakra)
  • Yonih (embodying the yoni)
  • Yonicakrapravarttini (arising from the yonicakra)
  • Yonimudra (has the yonimudra)
  • Yonigamya (accessible to the yoni)
  • Yoniyantranivasini (abides in the yoniyantra)
  • Yantrarupa (has the yantra form)
  • Yantramayi (possesses the yantra)
  • Yantresi (goddess of the yantra)
  • Yantrapujita (worshipped with a yantra)
  • Kirtya (renowned one)
  • Kapardini (has matted hair)
  • Kali
  • Kankali (emaciated)
  • Kalavikarini (constantly transforming)
  • Arakta (being slightly red)
  • Raktanayana (having red eyes)
  • Raktapanaparayana (quaffing blood continuously)
  • Bhavani
  • Bhutida (gives prosperity)
  • Bhutih (prosperity)
  • Bhutidatri (bestows prosperity)
  • Bhairavi (formidable one)
  • Bhairavacaranirata (engaged in the practice of bhairavas)
  • Bhutabhairavasevita (served by fierce beings)
  • Bhima (formidable one)
  • Bhimesvaridevi (goddess who is lord of the formidable one)
  • Bhimanadaparayana (having continuous formidable sounds)
  • Bhavaradhya (praised by Sankara)
  • Bhavanuta (worshipped by all)
  • Bhavasagaratarini (crosses over the ocean of existence)
  • Bhadrakali (a form of Kali)
  • Bhadratanuh (having a beautiful body)
  • Bhadrarupa (beautiful form)
  • Bhadrika (goodness)
  • Bhadrarupa (embodies goodness)
  • Mahabhadra (magnanimous)
  • Subhadra (wonderful goodness)
  • Bhadrapalini (protectoress of goodness)
  • Subhavya (exceedingly beautiful)
  • Bhavyavadana (having beautiful face)
  • Sumukhi (good face or mouth)
  • Siddhasevita (served by siddhis)
  • Siddhida (gives siddhis)
  • Siddhanivaha (has the collection of siddhis)
  • Siddha (accomplished one)
  • Siddhanisevita (honoured by siddhas)
  • Subhada (gives auspiciousness)
  • Subhaga (elegant)
  • Suddha (pure)
  • Suddhasattva (has pure sattva)
  • Subhavaha (bearer of auspiciousness)
  • Srestha (excellent)
  • Drstamayi (embodies the right view)
  • Devi
  • Drstisamharakarini (capable of destroying by her gaze)
  • Sarvani (Siva’s wife)
  • Sarvaga (omnipresent)
  • Sarva (complete)
  • Sarvamangalakarini (creator of all auspiciousness)
  • Siva (pacifier)
  • Santa (peaceful)
  • Santirupa (embodiment of peacefulness)
  • Mrdani (gladdened)
  • Madanatura (indomitable by Kamadeva)

kundalini

Day One Navaratri April 2016: Jai Kali Maa

Kali Kali Mahakali ~ Kalike Papanasini
Khadgahaste Mundahaste ~
Kali Kali Namostute

Kali_Yantra William ClarkKali Yantra by William Clark

Jai Maa and Happy Day/Night One of Navaratri. This year I am propitiating the Devi in a different order than usual, invoking the Dasa Mahavidya instead of the nine forms of Durga used in an alternate scheme, as the One Truth is expressed in many different personalities.

This night is devoted to the goddess Kali Maa, one of the fiercest of deities, who conquers death, darkness, and time. Her name in Sanskrit comes from the word “kala,” which means time, death, darkness, or lord of death. I always find it interesting that in Hawaiian language, “kala” is associated with true freedom, trans. as “to loosen, untie, release, remove, unburden, absolve, let go, acquit, take off, and undo.”

This Hawaiian meaning of Kala synchronistically expresses the essence of Kali Maa as well, as She frees us from the unreal world of Maya. Interestingly, kala also means black in Sanskrit, whereas in Hawaiian it can also mean “sunshine.” I think her name clearly shows that She takes us from the illusionary external world of darkness into the brightest truest light within.

Wearing a garland of 52 skulls and a skirt of dismembered arms, she slays the ignorant ego that is identified with the temporal reality, which is separated from the true knowledge of Self and Oneness. Kali is often depicted with one foot on Lord Shiva lying like a corpse, which signifies the union of Purusha—Shiva, the absolute unmanifest, and Prakriti—Shakti, the creative power of manifestation. Allegorically, Shiva is the riverbed, while his Shakti flows through as the river.

275px-KaligoddessKali is associated with Lord Shani (Saturn) in Vedic astrology. She is worshiped to protect us from Saturn problems, including fear and worry; health and relationship issues; and material concerns. But one must never undertake Kali sadhana lightly (believe me, I know this firsthand). Kali Maa teaches us about the root chakra, the muladhara, which correlates with Saturn and unresolved issues related to our familial roots or societal conditioning as well as safety and security concerns. As the awareness of our deepest strength and inner knowing, Kali can help us when faced with uncertainty, at those times when we have no other choice but to “let go and let Goddess” run the show for us. Jai Maa Kali Maa!

Dive deep, O mind
Into the heart’s fathomless depths,
Where many a gem lies hid.
Dive deep and make your way
To Mother Kali’s realm. (Ramprasad Sen)

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