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:
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.
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