Twin flamery: the predictable rollercoaster

 Hari Aum.

I would like to write an update on the twin flame vibe for any twin souls out there who are reading this. I would like to begin by stating that this is of course a very fascinating and valuable connection (and it is not my intention to upset anyone by writing this, least of all, my own dear twin if they are here. :)

But, really, I feel compelled today, to share the current twin flame vibe that I and some other so-called 'twin flames' (particularly the female polarities) seem to be feeling (based on discussions I have had and what I have read). 

Really, this connection is beginning to feel just a little bit dull (and repetitive). Let me explain what I mean using an example.

I recently went to a theme park with my daughter. It's one we had been to before-- and predictably, it had quite a few rollercoasters (which I admit, I am not a massive fan of-- they make me nauseous. I don't mind some of the gentler rides but being thrown about at high speed is not really my idea of fun. I don't care if it makes me sound boring, it is simply the truth).

The twin soul journey, once the initial shock passes, is like a predictable rollercoaster. Up and down you go (literally feeling nauseous on occasion- if it really gets to one, even vomiting and other maladies are  possible-- yes, not attractive at all!).

Just as getting on a rollercoaster may be fun or shocking or interesting the first few times, but can become very dull indeed if one has to do it every single day-- so, also my dear friends, is the case with the twin soul rollercoaster (because many would agree that a rollercoaster is a good description for this journey-- up and down one goes, being flung about in various directions by the universe!).

It has been around four years, I would say, since the twin souls on this planet underwent a fresh stage of awakening (which felt rather alarming for many). All the drama of the past few years is now settling, and those involved seem to have an idea of what this connection is.

And, although it has been quite fascinating so far, it is getting a little bit repetitive and dull. I don't mean that anyone's twin soul is boring at all (of course not!), I mean the connection itself is getting predictable and dull. And, it is nobody's fault (except maybe the Universe's for designing it this way in the first place)!

It really is getting to be a case of 'same old, same old' for most people on this journey. The same old predictable drama that comprises various elements or 'energies' such as:

The 'miss them' energy. 

The 'this is toxic' energy. 

The 'love them- hate loving them' energy!

The 'what is hell is going on' (or the 'this is so confusing') energy

The 'dunno what the universe wants/let it decide’ (resigned) energy

The 'what's with all the karmics' (more confusion!) energy

The 'must get on with spiritual life' (heroic!) energy

The 'it's all very unpredictable' (uneasy) energy

The 'get out of my head now' (fed-up!) energy 

The 'here we go again, running and chasing' (exhausted!) energy

I kid you not, my dear friends, having a twin soul is interesting at first, but then descends into a very predictable experience. One significant difficulty, is the fact that stuff happens over a very, very tediously long cycle of time.

One meets them, and then separates....and then 'encounters' them (in some way or the other) and then again separates.....communication is virtually non-existent or very limited (that is, in the waking state or 3D; in the astral realm/dream state, there seems to be more contact…).  

It's like reading a series of books where the author publishes a new volume every five or ten years—how dull is that! Anyone would be forgiven for losing all patience with it. The universe seems to have completed a chapter in the past four years and we have no guaranteed certainty as to where we are all going next--that is my current update!

Meanwhile, those who are apparently wise, and claim to understand this weird journey, tell us that it is all about spiritual life and perseverance. 

On that note, may I suggest that something useful come out of this experience. Since the world is getting madder by the minute, with nations going to war (and others jumping into the fray), let us utilise the twin soul energy to create something positive.

I am no expert at numerology (been meaning to study this for a while, will try and get around to this at some stage this year), but people say that 'angel numbers' have significance. 

And, it is the experience of various so-called twin souls, including myself, that these (e.g. 11:11, 22:22, 44:44, 23:23 etc) do have some meaning (oddly, I realise that every home I have lived in in the past has been numbered either 22, or 44, or 84 or some combination of these. Furthermore, I realise that, for years, I was repeating 11 malas of mantra a day, which would mean a purascharana would take around 22 months if it all went to plan. I have also dreamt of 22:22 and 11:11 on a few occasions-- it is really all very peculiar).

Anyway, on a very practical note, how about starting a 22:22 (10:22 pm) or 11:11 am/pm meditation for world peace? i.e. meditate intensely for 2 minutes at 22:22 (Sivananda and other Gurus say that even brief intense thoughts of God can bring peace to our planet)? Or for 11 minutes at 11:11 pm, or something similar?

I feel this would be a very good plan for all twin souls at the very least, and it would be wonderful if other people could join in-- after all, we are all experiencing the chaos of this planet, so why not work together to try and bring some peace? Something good surely has to come out of this rollercoaster journey-- and this might as well be a part of it!

On that note, I am going to do a mini-meditation and sleep! See you again soon. Please keep chanting for world peace--this is our duty according to all our Gurus.

Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Shyamasundara: the darkness of Lord Krishna

 Hari Aum.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Om Shyamasundaraya Namah.

Lord Krishna is described as the Lord who is dark in colour, dark as the monsoon clouds. He is quite literally described as the embodiment of male beauty-- 'tall, dark and handsome'. This is the meaning of His name 'Shyamasundara'. He is called by various terms of endearment-- the ultimate charmer, the flute-player of Vrindavan, the irresistible One. The best friend, the true Lover, the all in all. So say the Gurus, so say the yogis.

But, as we weary spiritual seekers, trudge upon the spiritual path, repeating His holy names, what is our experience? Before we reach the happily enlightened stage that our Gurus attained, while we are caught up in the mire of samsara (worldly existence), what is our actual experience of this handsome Lord, this so-called charming One? 

Unfortunately, our experience of Him (in the form of this world that He has created) is not always very savoury! The tall, dark and handsome One can appear to have a very dark side indeed-- one that we may actually tremble to see!

On that note, it seems that every few weeks this year, the world holds its breath as another dangerous war breaks out somewhere on the planet (and various world leaders mutter the word 'nuclear' to threaten each other with little care as to the consequences). Yes, this is the world that the good Lord has created, that Krishna has created-- and a wonderful Creation it is, no doubt (despite the horrific side, there is also great beauty-- though we may struggle to see it at times!)

As He Himself says in the Gita, He moves us all as though we were puppets in a play. And, He Himself is the face of Death. We should not be surprised, therefore, at any of today's events on our planet. It is all quite natural. 

Our ancient Puranas highlight the strange and whimsical nature of Shyamasundara or Lord Krishna. On the one hand, He saves Ajamila and Pingala, whose actions could be described as less than entirely dharmic-- they sought refuge in Him and were protected. On the other, He creates a terrible Lila of destruction where the children of His own beloved friends and relatives, the Pandavas, are massacred along with countless other people, both noble and ignoble. 

While praising Him, Queen Kunti, mother of the Pandavas, asks Him to grant Her suffering so that she may ever remember Him (as the mind is said to remember God more intensely in suffering than in joy). And we know that Krishna certainly granted her wish (based on the events that took place in the Mahabharata)! (We may not all share Kunti's prayer but He generously provides us a dose of suffering anyway!). 

Equally, while cursing Him, Queen Gandhari, mother of the Kauravas (all of whom had died in the Mahabharata war) declares that, as the Creator of the world, and orchestrator of this divine Lila, His earthly clan (the Yadavas) too should perish. Krishna smilingly grants her wish, saying that it was already ordained in accordance with His will.

He is alike, indeed, to friend and foe-- as He says Himself, there is none to whom He is partial. He favours none, He rejects none. 

However, He always upholds dharma (righteousness/goodness) and the law of karma (the law that says we will reap what we sow). Those who walk the path of dharma are protected by it, and those who do not, fall foul of the law of karma-- that most unforgiving and inexorable of laws.

In His destructive aspect, Krishna is no less terrible than Mother Kali (interestingly, They both share the same beeja mantra 'Klim' suggesting that They are truly One in essence). The only difference is that Krishna looks charming, while Kali looks fearsome. 

The childhood Lilas of Krishna may be portrayed as sweet and adorable (filled with music, dancing, play and games), but when He reveals His true divine form to Arjuna (in the Gita), as the Almighty, He is both wonderful and terrifying in equal measure (to the extent that Arjuna is filled with fear and begs to see His usual human form).

As devotees, we play with our Krishna, we worship Him, we talk with Him, we walk with Him, we embrace Him in our lives in so many ways. But truly, we know Him not. We do not know His consciousness, His divine will and His plans for us. 

So He is dark in so many ways-- both in His appearance and in His deeds, but most of all, in the form of the future which lies hidden from our view. We know not what tomorrow will bring; it is shrouded in mystery. And we know, that His Lilas can be brutal to both devotee and non-devotee alike-- He impartially gives everyone the results of their own karmas. 

Ultimately, He sits upon the throne of judgement, and sees us as we really are-- we cannot hide anything from Him. And Yama (also known as 'Dharma') is His right-hand man (His own manifestation, in fact)-- the one who keeps a score, a count of our deeds, both good and bad, so that we may be given our just desserts in accordance with the law of karma.

And so, as we walk through the darkness of this strange world that He has created, this world that is increasingly filled with violence and madness, we have little choice but to hold on tightly to the hand of this dark Lord, this One who hides His face, who inspires both love and fear within us. 

We have little choice because He is the only certainty here-- He alone exists, His will alone prevails over all our little wills, and His justice will ultimately prevail over all of the chaos and madness that we generate. 

As the fighting in the Middle East intensifies at the present time, let us do the only thing that we can possibly do, namely, pray. Let us pray to Krishna (or whichever form of God we are drawn to as they are all ultimately One according to the Gurus), whose Lilas are both charming and terrifying, that our minds and hearts may be filled with light instead of darkness. 

As the ancient Upanishadic prayer goes:

"Asato ma, Sat gamaya,

Tamaso ma, Jyotir gamaya,

Mrityor ma, Amritam gamaya".

Meaning:

"Lead me from untruth to Truth, 

from darkness to light, and,

from death to Immortality".

Om Namo Narayanaya.

P.S. Please can we all continue to recite the ashtakshara or any mantra or prayer of our liking for 5-10 minutes at least every day for world peace. Let us pray to Krishna and Kali that all wars may end and that a state of relative peace may be created on our planet as soon as possible.

Markandeya: devotion and destiny

 Hari Aum.

I hope all readers are keeping well and that your sadhana is going smoothly. My sadhana is carrying on steadily-- I am on holiday visiting family at present and am managing to keep up my daily japa in the midst of all the social activity. I am very relieved that the situation in Asia has calmed down (it was a horrible nightmare to put it mildly—am so grateful to the Divine Mother that the situation has been brought under control. Hope it stays that way).

Anyway, now that that nightmare is behind us (for the present anyway), I thought I would write a post about Lord Shiva's Lila as Mrityunjaya (I have dreamt about this name of Shiva a couple of times including recently which has contributed to my desire to write this post).

'Mrityunjaya' means the 'defeater of Death'. Why is Lord Shiva known by this name? Well, He is of course the Supreme Being who removes the illusion of this mortal world and grants us knowledge of our true immortal, deathless spiritual nature-- and therefore, this name suits Him perfectly.

However, there is also a famous Lila or Divine play related to Shiva as Mrityunjaya. Many of you will be familiar with this famous story already. However, for those who may not be familiar, I would like to narrate this here. 

This story describes the power of 'purushartha' or self-effort. It demonstrates how sheer determination and hard work can enable the spiritual seeker or devotee to overcome the effects of karma and destiny. It describes how the devotee invokes the grace of God to conquer death itself and attain immortality. This, in fact, is the meaning of the famous 'Mahamrityunjaya mantra' of Lord Shiva (will come back to this again later). 

So let us begin the story-- this is originally from the Puranas. Om Mrityunjayaya Namah. Salutations to Shiva, the One who conquers death.

This story centres around the life of Markandeya, a young devotee of Shiva.

Markandeya was born of a rishi and his wife after they had prayed ardently to Lord Shiva to be blessed with a child. Shiva had appeared before the couple and said that He would grant their wish-- they could choose to have a wise and noble child who would be short-lived or an ignoble child who would live long.

The couple chose to be blessed with a spiritual child and Markandeya was born. His parents were overjoyed at his birth though this was mixed with sorrow due to the knowledge that he was destined to die at the age of sixteen. 

They showered their love upon Markandeya who blossomed into a wonderful young boy. He excelled in all aspects of spiritual life, both jnana (wisdom) and bhakti (devotion). He mastered the Vedas with ease and developed strong devotion to Lord Shiva whom he worshipped daily.

The sage and his wife rejoiced as they saw their child grow and reveal his talents but secretly grieved as each year passed by. They had not told Markandeya about his destiny but, as his sixteenth birthday approached, found it difficult to conceal their sorrow.

One day, Markandeya noticed his parents seemed to be plunged in grief, and asked them what the matter was. What, he asked, was this secret sorrow that they seemed to harbour all the time and which appeared to rob them of the ability to enjoy their lives fully. 

They initially declined to tell him, but upon much persuasion, gave in. They explained that he had been born as a result of a blessing from Lord Shiva and that his destiny was to die upon attaining the age of sixteen.

Markandeya heard of his destiny in silence and spent some time contemplating upon this. He then addressed his parents, resolutely assuring them that all would be well. Telling them not to grieve, he declared that he would conquer his destiny by attaining the grace of Shiva Himself. His parents blessed him and made a prayer for success in his sadhana and the boy began his worship in right earnest.

He immersed himself in worshipping Lord Shiva dedicating every moment to Him alone. He remembered Him constantly and performed various rituals to worship Him daily (such as puja, homam and so on). Thus Markandeya became a true devotee of Lord Shiva, reaching the pinnacle of bhakti, and the state of atma-nivedana (or self-surrender).

The sixteenth birthday of Markandeya now dawned. On this day, like every other, the boy arose early in the morning and commenced worship of Lord Shiva. He performed a puja of a Shiva linga (symbolic abstract representation of Lord Shiva) while reciting His names and mantras. 

As he did so, Lord Yama, the demi-god of death, approached, a fearsome figure of dark hue, riding upon a large black bull with sharp horns. The appointed hour, the time for Markandeya's death, had arrived.

Seeing Markandeya, Lord Yama called out to him saying his time on Earth was up. It was time to give up his body and all worship. Whatever had been achieved had been achieved, and there was no further time available for more. Markandeya, however, did not notice Yama at all. He remained with eyes closed, absorbed in contemplation upon Lord Shiva. 

Seeing this, Lord Yama called out to the boy more loudly, declaring that it was time to leave and that death waited for nobody. Markandeya now opened his eyes and, upon seeing Yama, told him that he had not yet completed his worship. He was not ready to depart the Earth, he said.

Yama, who was familiar with souls who were not yet ready to leave, now took up his famous noose (this noose was the tool he used to remove the unwilling soul from the body and thus give death). He then threw the noose around Markandeya, intending to draw his soul away from his body. 

Markandeya, however, seeing the noose coming towards him, threw his arms around the Shiva linga that he had been worshipping. The noose of Yama thus fell upon both upon the boy and the Shiva linga. 

As the noose of death tightened around Markandeya, he concentrated his mind upon Shiva with intense devotion and uttered the following words:

Markandeya said:

Om Trayambakam yajamahe,

Sugandhim pushti vardhanam,

Urva rukamiva bandhanan,

Mrityor mukshiya mamritat!

This means:

Om - syllable that is the Supreme Being in sound form

Trayambam- O Three eyed One (Shiva has two eyes and the third one in the centre of His forehead which is a symbolic 'spiritual eye'. This third eye opens when He wishes to unleash His destructive power to dissolve the cosmos)

Yajamahe- I worship You

Sugandhim- the One who is fragrant (symbolic of being filled with virtues)

Pushti vardhanam- the One who nourishes all beings

Urva rukamiva bandhanan- as a ripe cucumber is released from the stalk

Mrityor mukshiya mamritat- free me from the bondage of death and grant me immortality

These words comprise the famous Maha Mrityunjaya mantra of Lord Shiva. It is said that Markandeya is the sage who first revealed this mantra to humanity.

As the boy uttered these words, it is said that a terrible sound was heard and Shiva Himself emerged from the linga. He had come in response to the ardent prayer of His devotee. 

Glaring at Yama, He rebuked him for daring to cast his noose around His devotee and upon the Shiva linga. Filled with Divine wrath, He gave death to Death himself and Yama fell to the ground lifeless. 

Thus, Shiva came to be known as 'Mrityunjaya', the One who is victorious over death, and as 'Kalantaka', the One who ends time or death.

Having dealt with Yama, Lord Shiva now turned to Markandeya and blessed him. Declaring that He was greatly pleased with his devotion, He stated that Markandeya would live in the form of a sixteen year old youth for as long as the cosmos existed. 

Markandeya was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude at the appearance of Lord Shiva and venerated Him with many hymns.

Upon realising that Yama had been given death, the other demi-gods/devas were greatly distressed. Who, they asked, would now perform the important task of overseeing the departure of souls from their bodies in the mortal realms? Who would keep an account of the karma of souls and dispense justice in accordance with Divine will? Lord Yama simply had to be brought back to life to perform this vital task, they declared!

The devas thus approached Lord Shiva and ardently prayed to Him to bring Yama back to life. Hearing their pleas, Shiva relented and granted their wish. Yama thus opened his eyes as life returned to his body. Upon seeing Lord Shiva, he bowed to Him asking for forgiveness and then departed for Yamaloka, his own realm. 

Having blessed Markandeya and Yama, Lord Shiva departed. The young sage then went to his parents who were overjoyed to discover that their son had overcome his destiny.

Markandeya went on to become a great sage in his own right and a Guru to many disciples (there is an entire Purana named after him). The Mahamrityunjaya mantra (described above) that he revealed to humanity has been recited by many Gurus and their disciples over the centuries.

In the Vedic tradition, the recitation of this mantra is said to grant both spiritual and material benefits. Aside from the spiritual benefits (it is a great 'moksha' mantra or granter of Self Realisation), it is a particularly important mantra for preservation of health/overcoming karma related to disease, and prevention of accidents/untimely death. In many spiritual traditions (including the lineage of Sivananda), this mantra is recited on people's birthdays and when they are unwell to pray to Shiva for health and a happy, prosperous life (it is also recited after death to pray for the peace of departed souls).

The legend of Markandeya thus gives encouragement to every soul to overcome unfavourable destiny through the power of devotion. He teaches us that we too can, by self-effort or 'purushartha', draw the grace of the Divine upon ourselves, and thus overcome death and attain knowledge of our true spiritual nature.

Om Mrityunjayaya Namah. Om Kalantakaya Namah. Om Namah Shivaya.

Salutations to Lord Shiva, and to His great devotees, sage Markandeya and Lord Yama, who participated in this Divine Lila.

Om Sri Durgayai Namah. 

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

The Kali kavacha: ahimsa and dharma

 Hari Aum.

Aum Sri MahaKalikayai Namah.

"Ahimsa paramo dharma" meaning "Non-violence is the highest virtue" is only half of this famous Sanskrit sloka from the great epic, the Mahabharata.

The full sloka is:

"Ahimsa paramo dharma, 

Dharmam himsa tathaiva cha"

Meaning:

"Non-violence is the highest virtue,

as is violence when required to serve righteousness"

In other words, it is true that non-violence is the highest virtue. This spirit of non-violence towards others comes from the recognition that the Divine exists in all. However, the material realm that we live in on Earth is a place of duality. 

Divine and undivine forces are forever in battle here--both internally within our consciousness, and externally between people and nations.

When the undivine gains strength and violence is perpetrated, non-violence is not the answer according to our scriptures. Accepting the victory of undivine forces within and without ourselves is not non-violence-- rather, it is cowardice, it is indifference, it is unspiritual and in many ways, it is the tacit support of violence.

There are times when a very firm stance needs to be taken against an undivine force. And we must each do what we can in our own way to help in the battle between the divine and undivine (within and without-- as the yogis say, 'God helps those who help themselves').

I am no expert on the subject of war and terrorism, however, this is now said to be a global issue. In the past decade in particular, this menace has expressed itself over and over again in virtually every corner of the globe. And the frequency seems to be increasing in the past couple of years.

Every week, if not every day, we hear of innocent people being massacred as a result of this curse upon humanity. People armed with various weapons and bombs, gain entry into concerts, stations, airports, markets, places of worship and so on, intent only upon the destruction of innocent lives. They provide various false types of justification, ranging from religious ideology to saying that they too have been the victims of violence by others.

However, if we look at the history of the world, is there any nation that can claim to be truly better than others when it comes to violence? Surely every square inch of our planet has witnessed the brutal nature of humanity over thousands of years. 

Human minds are ultimately the same everywhere; regardless of the nation that we belong to. The capacity for brutal violence exists everywhere-- as does the capacity for the opposite, namely forgiveness and peace. 

Clearly, it is not a particular religious group that is responsible for the menace of terrorism today. It is a warped understanding of the world, a dark consciousness where the light of humanity does not exist that is responsible for these horrific, senseless acts of violence. 

Two wrongs can never make a right. A terrorist attack can never be justified under any circumstances. It is absolutely abhorrent and vile. Equally, the divine and righteous response to a violent, unjust, horrific terrorist attack cannot be the unleashing of war upon other innocent people (as this then becomes another form of unrighteousness/adharma).

However, it is perfectly appropriate and just to tackle the networks and systems that violent individuals use to unleash suffering upon others-- this may include their finances, weaponry, physical infrastructure and those who support them.

On a practical level, countries need to work together to effectively deal with this and protect innocent citizens. 

As a result of the recent appalling terrorist attack in Kashmir (where twenty-six civilians were killed by terrorists simply for being Hindu), the Indian authorities appear to have decided to take some action against the terrorist networks in and around the area.

There is much uncertainty as to what may happen in the coming days, weeks and months. I very much hope we are not going to have a war in Asia (in addition to the ongoing ones in Europe and the Middle East). (There is always the potential for the situation to spiral out of control-- though I am hopeful that under the current leadership in India, this will not occur.)

It is very tragic when men and women in the armed forces experience severe injury or even death while discharging their duty to protect their fellow countrymen from violent extremists and terrorists. It is every family's nightmare to lose a loved one in such terrible and traumatic circumstances, be it a father, mother, sibling, child or other relation.

We may not be members of the armed forces but we can pray for them. I believe that our prayers can help keep them safe and enable them to perform their duties while remaining on the side of dharma/righteousness.

Based on the teachings of my Guru Sivananda (and some limited experience of my own), I know that mantras can be a truly remarkable force for peace and protection.

I was listening today to the Kali kavacha, a set of mantras that invokes the protecting power of Mother Kali. And, as I was doing so, I strongly felt that this kavacha would be a very good one to protect those battling terrorism. 

As India stands on the brink of war against terror today, I felt that (for my own peace and sanity if nothing else), I would like to pray to Mother Kali every day with this kavacha. I would like to request Her to shield every single man and woman engaged in battle against terrorists in India (and around the world). 

I hope to be able to perform this kavacha sadhana for a month (started this today)-- if nothing else, I feel that it will help alleviate my own anxiety regarding this extremely disturbing and uncertain situation. 

If you are also interested in this kavacha, and would like to recite or listen to it, please see below for a link to a beautiful rendition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TURckgElHg

The Kali Kavacha is said to have been recited by Lord Shiva to Lord Narayana/Vishnu. In this prayer, Shiva praises the power and glories of His divine consort, Mother Kali, declaring that Her worship grants one ultimate protection from all danger. Furthermore, She grants all material and spiritual blessings.

Let us, with complete humility, ask Mother Kali to first enable us to conquer our own lower nature and become Her instruments. Having made this prayer, let us then invoke Her power and protection for all those brave men and women who place their lives on the line for our safety, to allow us to sleep peacefully at night.

May Mother Kali destroy terrorism and eradicate this from the Earth-- and sooner rather than later. And may She ensure that any action taken by India in the coming time with regard to this issue is successful and in accordance with Her wishes. 

May dharma prevail.

Om Sri MahaKalikayai Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S.

A simple, quick Kali puja with the kavacha.

Obtain a murti/idol of Mother Kali. (Alternatively, visualise Her form and perform the puja in the mind, as 'manasik puja').

Light a lamp and burn a little incense (incense is said to keep negative energies at bay).

Mentally bow to Ganesha, your Guru (if you have one), all Gurus, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Invoke the Mother in the idol or within your own heart space/anahata chakra; ask Her to be present and accept your worship (and trust that She will be present as She exists everywhere). 

Make offerings of any or all of the following while listening to or reciting the Kali kavacha mantras:

-milk

-honey

-water

-kumkum

-sandal paste

-food (fruits, nuts, raisins etc)

-flowers 

At the end (in accordance with tradition), offer an apology for any errors in the worship (including most importantly, any lapses in devotion/concentration/any negative thoughts). 

Ask Her to bless yourself, those dear to you, the whole world and especially those who are engaged in the battle against terrorism-- may She bless and protect us all.

{Note: the energy created by Mother Kali (that is felt in the mind and body) can feel intense (I find this to be the case particularly with this kavacha). I personally like to balance this by worshipping/reciting mantras etc for Mother Lakshmi (the gentle, nourishing aspect of the Mother). These two aspects of the One Divine Mother complement each other beautifully. 

While worshipping Kali, it is especially essential to attempt to adhere to the yogic ethics as far as possible. This is because She is the Goddess of justice (and does not take kindly to any deliberately unethical conduct; She is a deeply loving but also stern aspect of the Mother who will correct us very firmly to enable spiritual growth). Accidental mistakes in worship/lapses in concentration/devotion would not be an issue provided we are being sincere and trying our best.

Victory to Mother Kali! Jaya Kali ma!

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Peace in Asia

 Hari Aum.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

This is a post that I must admit I had hoped that I would never have to write. Those of you who follow the news would be aware that there is currently is a major escalation of hostility between the governments of India and Pakistan.

The situation there is complicated and messy-- there has been simmering discontent for decades. However, the current escalation seems to be one of the worst in recent times. It is one thing to have clashes between two militaries. It is quite another for armed individuals or terrorists to attack unarmed civilians as in this case. 

Terrorism has many shades and has increasingly spread all over the world. The recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, India is heartbreaking, especially because it occurred at a time when there had been a de-escalation of tensions and an increase in peace and prosperity in the region. Sadly, all the progress that had been made in recent years now appears to be threatened as a result of this heinous incident.

I have close family and friends in India with whom I am regularly in touch. And, while it may not be particularly popular to admit this at present, I do have friends in Pakistan (whom I met years ago in Europe). I do therefore feel a sense of deep concern for people in both nations. 

There may be some significant differences, but I do know that the people of India and Pakistan also have much in common-- especially food, music, movies, sports and many other things that bring us joy. 

This makes it all the more tragic that peace eludes us. Why must there be this needless death and destruction? Let us not allow the terrorists to create hatred between our people-- because that will grant them victory. This hatred is exactly what they want; they revel in bloodshed and violence. Let us refuse to give this to them. 

Let there be no division in the country due to this tragedy-- let people remain united. I would specifically like to request avoiding the burning of any flags, joining violent protests or engaging in any act of civilian violence. This is completely counterproductive. Let us not sink to the level of others but stick to our own spiritual principles.

I know the pain in India today is great (and I feel this myself)-- not only because of this appalling and horrific incident, but because of the decades, and even centuries, of violence that has been experienced. There is a feeling that this is the last straw, that this cannot be allowed to continue.

However, the response needs to be sensible and measured (and I am hopeful that it will be as the current leadership has shown maturity over the years). War will only cause more pain. And we know, that violence only begets further violence. 

It is absolutely right for countries all over the world to take steps to protect their citizens and to respond appropriately when there is a terrorist attack. I hope and pray that the response in this case will be a measured and reasonable one. And that a full-fledged war in Asia with suffering on both sides can be avoided.

I feel a sense of fatigue in saying this but I will say it nonetheless-- please can we continue to pray for peace. Hopeless though it seems sometimes, and helpless though we may feel, this is the advice of our Gurus. We must trust and obey them-- this is our duty as spiritual seekers (and it is not as though we have many other options at present). And let us always remember that spiritual forces are much more powerful than material ones.

I particularly want to recommend the recitation of mantras (such as the ashtakshara of Narayana and the Navarna of the Goddess) and deity 'kavachas' (or 'shields') for our armed forces as they prepare to act for justice -- may the Divine inspire them to act with restraint, with maturity and grant them protection. 

May good people on both sides of this unfortunate conflict be protected by the Divine. May war-mongering and wicked forces on both sides be controlled and defeated. May God bless all of us and our planet with peace.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Om Sri Durgayai Namah.

Om Namah Shivaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. I have today heard a very sad account of the impact of this tragedy on the family of one of the victims of this horrific attack (as they are known to a close relative of mine in India). It is utterly devastating. There can never be any justification for attacks on civilians in any country. We must pray and recite mantras daily for peace on our planet in accordance with the advice of our Gurus.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Bala Kanda Part 10: Encounter between two avatars

 Hari Aum.

I hope all readers have had a wonderful Rama Navami celebration. I attended a Sita Rama kalyanam event for the first time and found it wonderful-- would highly recommend attending one if you haven't so far (I hope to participate in these again in the future).

Let us return to our study of the Valmiki Ramayana. I wanted to write this post a couple of weeks ago but, like this time last year, I am once again grappling with material for an upcoming dance examination in a few months (now that I am in year two, the syllabus is at least three times what it was last year-- lots of Sanskrit slokas to memorise from the ancient text called the Abhinaya Darpana and some complicated dance pieces-- so I am panicking slightly! I intend to do what I can and leave the rest to Rama-- it is not particularly easy to find time to study in the midst of work and home responsibilities so I will definitely need His help to pass, am keeping my fingers crossed!).

In the last post on the Ramayana, we read about the wedding of Rama and Sita and of their siblings too. It was a very happy occasion and after all the festivities had been completed in Mithila, it was time to return to Ayodhya.

King Dasharatha was in very good spirits as he set off for his kingdom accompanied by his four sons and their brides, the sages and the army. As the father of an avatar, he was blissfully unaware of the many perils that unfortunately lay in wait for him and his son, Rama!

The first of these perils appeared even before they had arrived at Ayodhya. After travelling for some time, Dasharatha and his entourage heard the loud screeches of birds of prey which appeared to be an ominous sign (the behaviour of birds and animals in those days was interpreted to indicate upcoming good and bad events). However, at the same time, a number of deer of gentle appearance crossed the path in front of them from left to right-- this was regarded as a good sign! 

In confusion, the King turned to his Guru, sage Vasishtha, and enquired as to the reason for these mixed signs. What did this mean, he wondered. Why, he asked, did he feel gripped by a strange fear and sorrow. The sage explained that the screaming birds of prey did indeed indicate that grave danger was approaching. However, he said the presence of the deer was reassuring.

As Vasishtha and Dasharatha mulled over this matter, an extraordinary change suddenly took place in the weather. Dark clouds appeared and rapidly obscured the sun. A dreadful wind began to blow with such terrible force that several trees were uprooted and great clouds of dust filled the air. A tempest had begun completely out-of-the-blue!

The entire area was covered by a strange darkness and many people lost consciousness; the only people who remained conscious and standing were Vasishtha and the other sages, as well as King Dasharatha and his sons.

As they peered through the darkness, trying to make sense of what was happening, they saw a shadowy figure approaching. They were able to make out that this was none other than sage Parashurama, an exceedingly fierce avatar of Narayana/Vishnu. 

The purpose for which this avatar had manifested had been for the elimination of evil-minded warriors and kings (kshatriyas) and He had completed His task in full. He had destroyed countless wicked kings and their supporters and had thus made His contribution towards the restoration of dharma/righteousness upon Earth.

Parashurama blazed with spiritual power as He moved rapidly towards them. He held a divine axe in His right hand, and the bow of Vishnu rested upon His left shoulder. In His left hand, He held arrows that flashed like lightning in the gloom. He appeared to be no less fearsome than Lord Shiva Himself when He dissolved the universe at the end of a great cycle of time.

Seeing Him approach, Vasishtha and the other sages immediately bowed and offered Him worship. He accepted this graciously but then, to the great dismay of Dasharatha, singled out Rama for His attention.

Addressing Rama, sage Parashurama spoke the following words:

"O Rama!", He said. "I have heard of Your power and Your feat in breaking the bow of Lord Shiva"

"Here, take My mighty bow and, after fitting an arrow, draw it to full length. After I see You perform this feat, I will challenge You to combat with Me. Take this as an opportunity to prove Your valour!".

Hearing these unwelcome words, King Dasharatha was gripped with a terrible sense of dread. Placing his hands together in worship, he addressed sage Parashurama. He reminded the sage that, having completed His work as an avatar, He had said He would give up all war! He was to have retired to the sacred mountain (known as Mahendra) to meditate and perform austerities for the welfare of the world.

Why then, asked the King, had He come here now! Declaring that the avatar had surely arrived with the purpose of annihilating him, he stated that if Rama were to be slain, it would be as though they had all been destroyed by Him. He therefore pleaded with Parashurama to show compassion and spare his beloved son. 

Parashurama, however, showed no sign of even noticing the King's presence. He addressed Rama again saying that the divine bow He wielded belonged to Vishnu, and that this was equal in power to that of Lord Shiva. This bow had been placed in the care of His ancestors and had been inherited by Him. He again declared His wish to see Rama wield it and to fight Him.

Rama had so far, out of respect for His father, remained silent. However, upon being challenged in this way, He responded.

He said:

"O noble sage, I have heard of the work that You have performed on Earth and I approve of it. You appear to despise Me due to my birth as a kshatriya/warrior and question my power. I accept Your challenge and shall demonstrate My strength to satisfy You!".

Saying these words, Rama extended His hands and accepted the divine bow and arrow from sage Parashurama. As the bow of Vishnu was transferred from one of His avatars to the other, so too was all the divine power. As Rama accepted the divine bow, He seemed to withdraw all the power of Parashurama into Himself.

Rama then proceeded to lift the bow of Vishnu, and fitting an arrow, drew it to full length. He then addressed Parashurama in an angry tone as follows.

"As You are both a sage, and the nephew of Vishvamitra, I must honour You-- I cannot release this arrow at You therefore! However, an arrow drawn upon the bow of Vishnu cannot go without hitting its mark. As an alternative to striking You, I will release this arrow and take away the fruits of Your asceticism, namely the ownership of various divine realms!"

As Rama held aloft the bow of Vishnu for the first time, ready to release the divine arrow, various celestials appeared the heavens above to witness the glorious sight. 

Parashurama too gazed at Rama in wonder and bowing His head, spoke in a low tone. He said:

"O Rama! By Your ability to not only wield My divine bow but also withdraw My power, I know You to be an avatar of Vishnu Himself. May all be well with You! Release the arrow for the purpose You have stated; the loss of My power in Your presence is not a matter of shame for Me as I stand in the presence of the Lord of all the worlds! Upon Your doing so, I shall retire to Mount Mahendra and perform austerities!"

Even as He spoke, Rama released the divine arrow. As He did so, all the darkness lifted and pleasant weather was restored. Parashurama then went around Him as a mark of respect and departed for His abode on Mount Mahendra. 

Rama then gave the bow of Vishnu to Varuna, the demi-god of water, for safe-keeping. Having done so, He greeted His Guru, Vasishtha, and the other sages.

Next, He turned to His father, whom He observed was in a state of deep despair. It appeared that he had not even realised that the challenge was over and that his son had been victorious! Rama approached Dasharatha and addressed him with a gentle and soothing tone:

"Dear father", He said, "Parashurama has departed. Let our army, headed by you, now proceed to Ayodhya".

Hearing these words, Dasharatha started and gazed upon his son. Realising that Parashurama had gone, and that Rama was still alive and well, the King was filled with tremendous joy. He clasped Rama in a loving embrace, feeling as though both of them had been granted a new lease of life.

Dasharatha then conveyed the happy news to his army, and they all travelled rapidly to Ayodhya without any further obstacles! Upon arrival, they received a grand welcome from their excited family and citizens!

This concludes the narration of the most unusual event of an encounter between two avatars of Lord Vishnu!

Om Sri Ramaya Namah.

Om Vishnave Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat

P.S. The birthdays of Hanuman and Parashurama occur this month and are wonderful times for spiritual practice. 

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Bala Kanda Part 9: The Sita Rama kalyanam

 Hari Aum.

Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Sri SitaRamabhyam Namah.

We are at that time in the year when Rama navami, the birthday of Lord Rama approaches. This occasion is celebrated by devotees in various ways, for example, through mantra japa, puja, bhajan and so on. The various versions of the Ramayana (including the original one in Sanskrit by sage Valmiki, and other versions in local languages composed by various Gurus and saints over the centuries) are read and reflected upon.

One special ceremony that is conducted in some parts of South India (such as Andhra Pradesh) to commemorate this day is known as the 'Sita Rama Kalyanam'. This involves a celebration of the wedding ('kalyanam' in Sanskrit) of Sita and Rama by re-enacting the entire experience. 

To conduct this celebration, a venue is selected and decorated beautifully. The wedding 'guests' are invited (these are the devotees of course). The presence of Lord Rama and Mother Sita is then invoked. They are thus 'brought' to the wedding venue and sacred mantras and hymns are recited by priests to conduct their wedding ceremony! This is usually accompanied by much music and dancing (and of course some good food)! (I am going to attend this ceremony for the first time in my life in around three weeks and am looking forward to it!) 

Therefore, I feel this is the perfect time to continue my study of the Valmiki Ramayana and to write about the next section-- which happens to be the wedding of Sita and Rama!

So let us begin!

In the previous section, we saw how Sri Rama won the hand of Princess Sita by breaking the great bow of Lord Shiva Himself. King Janaka, father of Sita, was overwhelmed with happiness and had sent messengers to inform King Dasharatha, father of Rama, of this wonderful event. 

Upon receiving this auspicious news, King Dasharatha was filled with immense joy. He immediately accepted the match for his son and the messengers spent the night at his palace. The next day, the King woke up in a state of great excitement and summoned his chief minister, the noble Sumantra. He declared that they must set forth for Mithila as soon as possible. And, in accordance with the royal custom, they would be accompanied by a sizeable portion of their army and a great number of eminent sages. 

Sumantra set about following the instructions of the King and quickly ensured that all these arrangements were made. They then set off for Mithila and arrived there after a journey of four days. Hearing of their arrival, King Janaka hastened to meet them. He greeted them with great affection, and declared that he felt very blessed that Sri Rama had won the hand of his daughter, Sita, in marriage. His family was greatly fortunate, he said, to have obtained such a valorous son-in-law from the noble and illustrious family of the Raghus!

King Dasharatha, in turn, stated that he was too was completely overjoyed at the prospect of the marriage of his son to the lovely Princess Sita. He humbly asked Janaka to tell him what needed to be done with regard to arranging the wedding ceremony, saying he would do as instructed. Janaka was astounded at the humility of the King and said that all arrangements would be discussed the next day after his guest had rested for the night. 

Sri Rama and Lakshmana, accompanied by sage Vishvamitra, then arrived. The two Princes bowed low and touched the feet of their father to express their respect and love. Seeing them, King Dasharatha was filled with immense happiness and blessed them. The sages on both sides also greeted each other with great affection. The entire atmosphere was one of great jubilation and rejoicing and everyone retired for the night feeling very happy.

The next morning, King Janaka summoned his family priest, Shathananda. He told the priest to tell his younger brother, Kushadhvaja, who lived in the beautiful city of Sankashya, to come forthwith to Mithila to participate in the upcoming wedding. Hearing of this wonderful news, Kushadhvaja travelled swiftly to Mithila and met with his brother. 

The process of formalising the marital alliance then began. King Janaka, seated in his court, surrounded by his family, ministers and sages, invited King Dasharatha to attend accompanied by his own entourage of ministers and sages. 

Then, the chief sages of both families, namely Vasishtha and Shathananda, were asked to describe the ancestral lineages of the two Kings in full to make it clear to all present that this was a noble and appropriate match. Sage Vasishtha described in detail the descent of the family of the Raghus, right from the demi-god of the Sun to the present. Shathananda then described the lineage of Janaka’s family who were descended from the great King Nimi.

After the lineages of both families had been heard by all, the sages Vashishtha and Vishvamitra addressed King Janaka. They declared that both families had great and noble ancestry and the match between Sri Rama and Princess Sita was entirely appropriate. This being the case, they suggested that the alliance be expanded to include their siblings! 

They suggested that Prince Lakshmana be wedded to Princess Urmila, the younger sister of Sita. And also, that Princes Bharata and Shatrughna be married to the cousin sisters of Sita, namely the two daughters of Prince Kushadhvaja! This, they said, would create a wonderful alliance between the two noble families! King Janaka and his brother, Kushadhvaja, were delighted by this proposal and gladly agreed. 

King Dasharatha then made arrangements to perform the pre-wedding ceremonies for his four sons. This involved conducting various sacred rites and giving much wealth and gifts in charity.

While this ceremony was being performed, Prince Yudhajit, the maternal uncle of Rama's brother, Bharata (son of Queen Kaikeyi), arrived at Mithila. He affectionately greeted King Dasharatha, saying that his father, the King of Kekeya, was eager to see his grandson, Prince Bharata. He explained that he had gone to see his nephew in Ayodhya, but upon hearing the auspicious news of his upcoming wedding, had come to Mithila to witness the joyous event. King Dasharatha was very pleased to see his brother-in-law and honoured him in every way. He said that Bharata could travel with Yudhajit to Kekeya after the wedding.

The auspicious day of the wedding of Sita and Rama, and their siblings, finally dawned. The wedding venue was decorated exquisitely in a manner befitting the union of the two royal families. Sage Vasishtha, the family priest of King Dasharatha, oversaw all the arrangements. He had pots of gold and silver placed at the altar where the wedding ceremony would be conducted. There were jars made of precious materials and of many colours containing rice, turmeric, darbha (sacred grass), ghee and other materials that were necessary to conduct the wedding ceremony. The wedding pavilion was covered in beautiful flowers and sandal paste. There were many lamps and the air was scented with incense. 

The wedding muhurtha (hour selected based upon astrological principles) arrived at last. Sri Rama, and His brothers arrived at the venue and the sages guided them to their places at the altar. Princess Sita and Her sisters then arrived, and the four brides were seated opposite the grooms. The entire atmosphere was divine and everyone watching was filled with immense joy.

It is an ancient custom for the father of the bride to give his daughter's hand in marriage to the groom (this is known as 'kanya danam' in Sanskrit). King Janaka, therefore, accordingly ascended the wedding pavilion. Holding his daughter, Sita's, hand, he placed this in the hand of Rama, declaring that he gave his daughter to Him in marriage. 

Requesting Sri Rama to accept Her as His wife, he declared that She was highly fortunate and would help Him conduct His duties in life. He stated that She would ever be devoted to Him alone and would follow Him faithfully like a shadow. At this moment, the demi-gods who were watching from the heavens, played celestial music and showered flowers from the skies upon the divine couple. 

King Janaka then placed the hand of his daughter, Urmila, in the hand of Prince Lakshmana, giving her in marriage to him. Then, as the head of the family, and acting on behalf of his brother, he similarly placed the hand of his niece, Mandvi, in that of Bharata, and of her sister, Shrutakirti, in the hand of Shatrughna, thus uniting them in marriage.

The sages then went on to recite the various hymns and wedding vows. Under the guidance of sage Vasishtha, the four Princes, holding the hands of the Princesses, went around the sacred fire, solemnising their marriages. As they did so, musical instruments were played in celebration both upon Earth and in the heavens. As the gandharvas (celestial musicians) played the most enchanting music, and the apsaras (celestial dancers) danced beautifully, the devas (demi-gods) showered heavenly flowers upon Sri Rama, Princess Sita and their families.

Thus was completed the joyous occasion of the wedding of Sri Rama and Mother Sita. This is perhaps the happiest moment in the entire Ramayana. As Their devotees, many of us would like to press the 'pause button' here if we possibly could. 

As Their well-wishers, we would say "Do not leave Mithila, O Rama and Sita! Remain here, where You are both safe and well, where You are happy! Do not leave this sacred land. Stay here just a little longer!"

However, the demi-gods had other ideas as we know. They needed some urgent work to be done by Sri Rama, and Sita played a very important role in this. As Their devotees, we wish They could have delayed Their work a little, that They could have remained in Mithila for some more time. However, this was not to be.

The day after the wedding, sage Vishvamitra returned to the Himalayas to continue his austerities. King Dasharatha then affectionately took leave of King Janaka and said that he would now return to Ayodhya accompanied by his sons and their brides. Janaka, lovingly bade his daughter, Sita, and Her sisters farewell, giving them much wealth and jewels as wedding gifts. 

Accompanied by the sages, his sons and daughters-in-law, King Dasharatha then left for the kingdom of Ayodhya. As soon as they departed from Mithila, the various challenges began (I will aim to write my next post on the Ramayana in the next couple of weeks). 

To be continued......

Om Sri SitaRamabhyam Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

 

The Lakshmi-Narayana bank

 Hari Aum.

For those of us who are householders especially, one cannot avoid the tedious subject of finance. One has to have a job and a steady income to run a household. The yogis would say this is all very well, but it should be done with dharma as the foundation; the earning of wealth must never be at the expense of dharma but rather, based upon it. 

They say one should never sell the soul for money, because the soul is our essence, it is priceless (one Swami, who is one of my main spiritual mentors, told me many years ago at the beginning of my spiritual life, 'Remember Faustus, the mistake he made. Never be like him. Never sell your soul, never compromise on dharma'. 

She is of course absolutely right-- the imperishable cannot be sacrificed for the perishable). While pursuing worldly goals, running a household, providing for children and so on, one should keep dharma as the basis -- the spiritual goal should never be sacrificed for the material (as far as possible).

On the other hand, there is one bank where the yogis and Gurus encourage us to be very greedy about! That bank, they playfully call, the 'Lakshmi-Narayana' bank. This is the spiritual bank-account and the most important and vital bank account we have in life. All other accounts have their basis in this account alone; all good fortune in life stems from this account alone. 

Once at a satsang some months ago, the spiritual teacher told the listening audience, 'Your various bank accounts and investments may fail one day, you may lose money in these material banks. However, whatever spiritual practices such as japa, kirtan etc, you put into the Lakshmi-Narayana bank will never fail you! This can never be lost, it will remain with you forever. Unlike your material wealth which must be left behind when you leave the planet, your wealth in the Lakshmi-Narayana bank will follow you when you leave!". So both here and hereafter, spiritual wealth is the everlasting wealth, the imperishable wealth of the soul (and not the material).

How then are we to become 'mantra millionaires' as the Gurus advise?! It is all very well to aim to have a decent material income to be able to perform our duties as householders towards our families and society at large. But, while doing this, how are we to ensure that we create and invest great wealth in the Lakshmi-Narayana spiritual bank?

The answer, obviously, is a daily spiritual practice. Just as many people save some part of their income every month, it is vital to assess one's 'spiritual savings' on a regular basis.

Not a single day should pass without mantra japa according to Sivananda and the Gurus. As the sun rises and sets, a portion of our life goes away. We do not know how many more sunrises and sunsets we will see-- life is inherently unpredictable (particularly in the times we live in today).

At any time, we may be dispatched and sent away from here. Not a single coin or note of our material wealth will follow. But, every single mantra recitation, every single spiritual song that was sung, every act of karma yoga/service of God, will follow-- this is the emphatic declaration of all Gurus of all spiritual traditions.

In many countries, the financial year begins in April and various people draw up savings plans and make budgets and so on. They eagerly consider how to maximise their material wealth in the coming year. In the same manner, we spiritual aspirants should eagerly consider how we are going to maximise our spiritual wealth.

March-April is the time when the Vedic New Year begins (based upon the lunar calendar). This year, the Vedic New Year begins on March 30 (with the festival known as 'Ugadi', 'Gudi padwa' etc in various parts of India).

So, as we approach the end of this spiritual financial year, and prepare for the arrival of the next one, let us carefully consider what 'spiritual savings, investments and interest' we wish to generate in the coming year. Let us be extremely vigilant and diligent about our spiritual savings. (By the way, giving in charity of course counts as a spiritual saving even though it may be seen as a material expenditure!)

Let us chalk out a clear programme to maximise our spiritual growth, be careful about investing our time in spiritual pursuits and be intent upon amassing as much spiritual wealth as possible. 

The yogis say 'Direct all the impurities of the mind towards God. If you must be greedy, be greedy about spiritual wealth. If you must be angry, be angry if the mind does not turn Godward. If you have to be proud, be proud of the good qualities of the deity you worship. If you must have desire, direct this towards God. Whatever purity and impurity exists in the mind, turn it all Godwards, give it to God. In this way, you will find the mind transforms from impure to pure and you will receive the grace of God'.

So, as the Gurus advise, let us aim to be 'mantra millionaires' this year. It is not good to boast about sadhana, about the japa we do. But let us quietly, diligently and seriously, pursue the spiritual path in the coming spiritual financial year and make sure that we have a very healthy spiritual savings account at the end of it. 

Let our spiritual wealth increase substantially year on year as long as we remain in this Earthly realm. Our Lakshmi-Narayana bank account should always receive regular (preferably daily) deposits of mantra, kirtan, svadhyaya, karma yoga and so on.

In my case, I am steadily plodding on with my sixth purascharana at the rate of seven malas per day. I also do some additional chanting of mantras of the Divine Mother when I feel like and some random bhajan. I am glad to say that, by the grace of God, the daily mantra japa continues, along with medical work, family/societal duties and spiritual study. I continue to practice the 'integral yoga' advised by my Guru, Sivananda as far as possible.

For those who have not yet opened their Lakshmi-Narayana spiritual bank account, I would strongly encourage you to consider this as soon as possible-- as there is gain and gain alone in doing so. 

May Lakshmi-Narayana bless us all with immense spiritual wealth and success in our spiritual lives.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. Devotion to God is a great spiritual wealth that can be generated through mantra japa, kirtan, spiritual study, service of God and so on.

Siddhis or 'spiritual powers'/psychic abilities are a serious menace and distraction on the spiritual path. These are not at all a form of spiritual wealth and should never be sought after. Mantra japa should certainly not be wasted on acquiring these worthless powers (as some Gurus and people seem to suggest).

The purpose of mantra japa is the attainment of the highest and most valuable goal of Realisation of our true nature as being one with God, and the peace and bliss that results from that experience.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

2025- a year of spiritual transformation

 Hari Aum.

I hope the first month of the New Year has gone well for all readers. According to various spiritual teachers and psychics, this year is supposedly particularly significant for humanity from a spiritual perspective. This is supposedly a year where there is great potential for inner growth and transformation, for connecting with our Higher Self or God within. It is a time when there can be a lot of releasing of past negative karmas and creating a new positive energies in our lives.

This is not an easy time for our planet. There are various wars still ongoing and also significant disturbances in the climate and environment. There is also an ongoing tug of war between spiritual and materialistic forces.

When each of us embraces a daily spiritual practice, whether it is a mantra or other practice from any tradition, we are uplifting not only ourselves but also helping our collective human consciousness-- this is the view of all the Gurus. We help each other, even without realising, when we perform a daily sadhana.

Some say that this year is a particularly significant for those on the spiritual path known as twin souls. They say that this period provides a unique opportunity for them to grow spiritually, and that this is also apparently a year of twin soul reunions (whatever form that may take).

There is only one factor that can lead to a healthy union for twin souls in my view-- and that is an adherence to dharma or the principles of goodness.

Since discovering the existence of twin souls, and my discovery that I am apparently walking this spiritual path, I note that there is a general gloom in the 'twin soul collective' (or larger group of twin souls-- I have connected with some of them in recent years). 

Many twin souls seem to have undergone a specific spiritual 'awakening' or experience since 2020/2021 and it has been challenging to put it mildly! There have been kundalini upheavals (many have described this as an insatiable physical lust for their twin-- quite unnerving as one may imagine, especially for spiritual seekers!), health issues, and the 24/7 mental link with the twin (when one cannot get them out of one's mind due to the astral connection). Most twin souls have not enjoyed this sudden awakening at all (and quite understandably!).

However, now in 2025, the dust seems to be settling a bit for most twin soul pairs. More and more of them are beginning to realise that they are on a spiritual path.

Some twin souls seem to view this dynamic as a simple relationship (though it is far from that) and attempt to play games with their counterpart -- this is a terrible idea. Many exhibit very foolish behaviours such as pretending to be uninterested, being interested in somebody else, denying that they feel the connection and so on. 

In addition, for some extraordinary reason known only to themselves, it appears that a number of men genuinely believe that openly discussing their feelings with women is a dreadful crime, and the best way forward is generally to pretend they do not have any (even if they do); this seems to apply particularly in the twin soul dynamic.

These men seem to suffer from the delusion that this sort of behaviour helps to draw women (even worse, some men actually attempt to make the women they are interested in jealous-- nothing could be more devastating for a connection, as most sane women will leave and find a partner who does not play mind games with them.)

If only men would realise that there is nothing more attractive than a man who knows his own mind and has the courage to speak it and express his own feelings. Frankly, there is no greater turn-off than men who play mind games in connections with others, particularly with women. 

In the twin soul dynamic too, unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of this nonsense. In this dynamic, more than any other, there is a need for complete frankness, honesty and courage. These are spiritual qualities, these show real character.

Whereas mind-games, sulking, blaming and being resentful have a very low energy and only indicate that the person in question is still in the grip of their own lower mind (and that the higher Self has sadly been forced to take a back seat-- that is unfortunate from a spiritual perspective). As we are all spiritual seekers (and not yet Self-Realised beings), we need to accept the existence of our lower minds, but we cannot allow it to control us as far as possible-- it may trouble us occasionally, but the higher mind needs to be given the upper hand the majority of the time.

Spirituality has to manifest in our day-to-day relationships with other human beings, including especially in the connection between men and women. It is no use saying 'Men are from Mars and women are from Venus' (!); we all inhabit the Earth and have to find a way to live peacefully on this planet! It may be a struggle at times, but we simply have to keep practicing! 

As for all souls, the life paths of twin souls are pre-determined by the Universe. The people they meet, the families they are born into, and those they create, their relationship and professional circles- all these are ordained by the Divine. There is a duty to perform, there is a job to do-- and that is spiritual growth. Where then is the need for twin souls to resent each other?

Based on my own experience, I accept that the twin soul path is not easy. It is not easy to get out of the grip of the lower mind and its emotions (and it is very common for twin souls to be resentful and angry at each other-- however this needs to be overcome to experience peace). This is true for all spiritual seekers, not only twin souls (though it can feel particularly painful and intense for twin souls as the separation from their counterpart is a very difficult experience). 

However, I remind myself that this twin soul path is a spiritual path, it is about something bigger than the individual souls involved. This path is about playing a small part, along with many other souls, in the spiritual transformation of our planet.

Many people today are embracing spirituality, many are tuning in to their own Higher Self. The twin soul path is also primarily about this. There is no doubt that there is a strong connection with the twin soul counterpart-- this includes a romantic aspect, and therefore, it is very likely that, in one lifetime or another, twin soul pairs will end up together in a relationship. 

As the Universe eventually ensures that they think about each other virtually all the time and that they feel an intense connection, one would think there is no other way to survive on the planet but to get together.

The most dangerous thing in my view for twin souls is to play foolish relationship games with each other (e.g. trying to make each other jealous, act disinterested etc). It should be obvious that this path will only lead to a healthy and positive outcome if the twin souls adhere firmly to the ethical path or dharma-- including the key principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and satya (truthfulness). 

There is nobody in a twin soul's life who can ever even remotely compare or compete with their counterpart-- this is a unique connection (as are all connections in our lives). There is simply no sense in denying this fundamental fact of life once this realisation dawns-- this takes time but does eventually occur for every twin soul.

This connection, which has a sacred, spiritual dimension, is to be respected and acknowledged (not treated like some casual relationship and be subjected to absurd games). One needs to ask the Universe what to do with this, how to live with it. As the Universe/the Divine has created this, the answers must come from there alone.

So, I will conclude this post by saying that I hope that this year will be one of great spiritual transformation for numerous souls as many have predicted. And, I hope this especially applies to all twin souls-- I feel that, after everything we have been through as a group (particularly in recent years), the Universe/Divine owes us some peace and positivity! 

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Gupta Navaratri and an introduction to Tantra

 Hari Aum.

Last night was the first night of the extremely auspicious nine-night festival of worship of the Divine Mother known as 'Gupta Navaratri' ('gupta' means 'secret' in Sanskrit). Worship of the Mother during this time is said to yield great spiritual benefits.

Unlike the well-known Navaratri festival that occurs in autumn, this one is celebrated only by select groups of devotees of the Goddess, particularly those who follow the path of Tantra (which includes worship of the Dasha Mahavidyas-- ten powerful forms of the Mother). However, any devotee of the Mother (not only Tantriks) can worship Her during this auspicious time. 

This year, the duration of Gupta Navaratri is from January 30 to Febuary 7 inclusive. This is an amazing time to read the Saptasloki Durga, recite the Navarna mantra or any other mantra of the Mother, and if one is able, to read or listen to the entire Devi Mahatmyam. 

One can listen to or recite the famous Vedic prayers such as the Shri and Medha Suktams. Recitation or listening to the Durga kavacham will grant protection. The Lalita Sahasranama or one thousand names of the Goddess is also an excellent way to worship Her.

In addition to the recitation of mantras and hymns, one can perform pujas and homams. In India, there is an ancient tradition of giving presents to little girls during this time as a form of honouring the Divine Mother who resides within them-- this is a good time to make donations to support charities dedicated to the welfare of girls and women in particular (living forms of the Mother).

In short, this is the perfect time to connect deeply with the Divine Mother via a variety of spiritual practices and to gain Her grace and blessings.

Furthermore, you may have heard that there is currently a beautiful planetary alignment in the skies. The planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are broadly arranged in a line-- various people say that this indicates some positive spiritual energies in the cosmos.

From a Vedic astrology perspective, Venus, the planet symbolising the Divine Mother, has recently entered the sign of Pisces where it is 'exalted' or particularly strong. Venus also signifies happiness in life, material prosperity, divine love and devotion to God. This is an additional factor that makes this time especially conducive for worship of the Divine Mother.

To have this combination of Gupta Navaratri, with an exalted Venus in Pisces, and a beautiful planetary alignment is not that common, and I feel one should make the best use of this precious time to worship the Mother.

I am certainly going to do my best to make the most of this opportunity. My favourite form of the Mother is Durga, the protective, compassionate and powerful aspect, and I will spend extra time in this period soaking myself as much as possible in Her mantras and worship. 

In previous posts, I mentioned that I am developing an interest in the field of Tantra, and that I would like to educate myself a little with regard to this style of worship (I have been following the Vedantic path so far in my spiritual life).

This Navaratri feels like the perfect time to introduce myself to this style of worship. I recently came across this excellent and detailed video (please see link below) on Tantric worship of Mother Durga. I am currently in the process of watching and understanding this; I note that it involves the use of mantras, detailed visualisations and hand gestures (mudras). It seems to be an extraordinary method of developing a sense of oneness or unity with Mother Durga.

{I am fond of using the technique of visualisation in devotional practices (manasik puja), and have been learning hand gestures or 'mudras' in my recent study of Bharatanatyam dance, so find this type of worship very interesting. I am also curious because it describes the tradition of Tantra as practiced in Kerala, India from where my family originates (my paternal ancestors have worshipped Mother Kali in our home temple for centuries with the help of priests who are practitioners of this method)}.

 

I hope you have a wonderful Navaratri, and if like me, you are curious about the practices of Tantra, I hope you find this video helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izbN5lV_eMQ

Om Sri Durgayai Namah.

Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche.

May Mother Durga bless us all.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Krishna books

 Hari Aum.

This is just to say that the Krishna books written by me will be available for free download from Amazon Kindle for three days from Jan 21 (tomorrow) to Jan 23 inclusive (from midnight PST). (I actually wanted to make this available for five days next week but cannot due to some technical glitches with Amazon.) 

Anyway, I hope you find these books useful. The link for the download is below. 

The books are based upon the life and teachings of Lord Krishna from the ancient scripture known as the Srimad Bhagavatam. Happy reading!

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vishnupriya-Devi/author/B07B95YQCV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

The Kala Bhairava ashtakam

 Hari Aum.

Kala Bhairava is a form of Lord Shiva. He has a fierce form and is particularly associated with the destruction of sins and death (in Sanskrit, 'kala' means 'time', and 'Bhairava' means the 'fierce One').

Lord Shiva has two main aspects-- a sweet, peaceful, auspicious form  (I have described this in a previous post https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/803812822913447625/6919573210704216119).

However, He also has another aspect-- a furious, tremendously energetic form that destroys sin, suffering and negativity. 

Kala Bhairava is one of His particularly fierce forms and is an embodiment of divine power. He is described as being blue-black in colour (like His divine consort, Mother Kali/ Bhairavi). His dark matted locks are decorated with the crescent moon, and celestial serpents ornament His person (as garland, amulets and anklets). 

Like Mother Kali, He holds a skull, symbolising complete annihilation of the lower ego (symbolised by the head). He holds the trident and sword, His divine weapons to destroy suffering, disease and death. He holds the drum, the symbol of cosmic sound and all Creation. 

Although He is extremely fierce in appearance and in His deeds, He is said to have a gentle compassionate aspect, and is particularly known for granting protection (He is known for being a protector of anyone who is vulnerable and of women in particular).

The worship of Kala Bhairava is undertaken by those who walk both the right-hand (dakshina marga) and left-hand (vama marga) spiritual paths. He is worshipped by Tantriks and Aghoris as well as Vedantins. He is worshipped by many for both spiritual and material benefits.

His worship is said to be associated with intense cleansing of past negative karma, thus paving the way to experiencing peace, bliss and spiritual enlightenment. 

There are various famous prayers and slokas dedicated to Him. One particularly well-known one is the Kala Bhairava ashtakam. 

These eight verses in praise of Kala Bhairava were composed by Adi Shankaracharya, great Guru of Advaita Vedanta. 

Listening to or reciting this prayer is said to produce great spiritual benefit in terms of overcoming the effects of past negative karma and experiencing spiritual joy and material wellbeing.

Please see below for links to the Kala Bhairava ashtakam (words and set to music): 

https://greenmesg.org/stotras/shiva/kalabhairava_ashtakam.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkmaPmCRiJA

I discovered the Kala Bhairava ashtakam recently and feel drawn to listen to it these days. It feels like the worshipping the other half of Mother Kali whom I have worshipped for a while (including recently when I visited our family temple dedicated to Her in Kerala). I have been to Kashi previously and would like to visit again sometime when possible and offer worship at the Kala Bhairava temple.

Om Sri KalaBhairavaya Namah.

Om Sri MahaKalikayai Namah.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat

P.S. In these complex times on our planet, it would be useful to pray to Lord Kala Bhairava to protect the Earth, dispel all negative energies and to allow peace to be restored.

P.P.S. Based on some recent experiences, I feel the worship of Kala Bhairava and Mother Kali will help twin souls cleanse themselves of the effects of past negative karma, attain a state of inner peace and achieve a harmonious reunion in the 3D in a form that is in accordance with Divine will.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.