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.

Homa: the sacred fire ritual

 Hari Aum.

As yogis, most of us will be familiar with the role of fire in worship. Many of us light a lamp at the altar when we sit to meditate. We also light lamps during arati and puja ceremonies. During festivals such as Deepavali, we light multiple lamps as we celebrate the victory of good over evil.

The light of the lamp signifies many things in worship--- it represents God who is the Supreme Light, it represents auspiciousness, goodness and prosperity. It represents all that is good, both spiritually and materially.

Fire is one of the five 'great elements' that constitute the material universe according to the yogic scriptures. The deity who rules over this element is known by many names, particularly as 'Agni'. He is also known as 'pavaka', the one who purifies. Many metals are purified or refined by melting them over fire. In common language, we talk about 'trial by fire' meaning an extremely challenging situation that seriously tests our capacities (In Sanskrit, this is known as 'agni pariksha' or 'fire test'). 

Fire in the material world can be external or internal according to the yogis. The external fire is the one that is visible to our eyes. The internal fire is energy, a force-- invisible but still powerful. One example would be the 'jathar-agni' or 'fire of digestion'. The divine energy known as Kundalini is also a type of sacred fire that resides within us. 

Fire, thus, is a key part of our nature. We cannot live without fire, both internal and external. It is no surprise, therefore, that fire plays a key role in the rituals of worship of many of the religions of the world.

In the world of yoga or the Vedic tradition, there is a special type of worship using fire. This ritual is popularly known as 'homa' (some say 'homam') or 'havana' in Sanskrit ('Havana' is a another word for Agni, the demi-god of fire).

According to our Gurus, in ancient times, this ritual used to be a key aspect of daily worship in households. It was performed by both men and women. Over the centuries, this ritual became largely restricted to temples, and was performed mainly by priests (who, for social rather than spiritual reasons, were mostly men). The training required to perform elaborate homas was given only to a select group of people and was not available to all.

Times have changed (fortunately) and knowledge of the method of performance of this ritual is increasingly available to all regardless of gender, background, culture or anything else. Some homas are simple and can be performed relatively easily. Some are more complex and elaborate, and training would be required to perform them correctly (if one has not had the training, as with any other field, it would be wise to consult someone who is more experienced such as a priest).

The principle of a homa is this: 

-God is invoked in the fire using mantras

-Offerings are made into the fire with the utterance of mantras. These offering are usually 'ghee' or clarified butter, and other plant-based materials such as raw rice, milk, sesame seeds, herbs and so on. 

These are regarded as 'sattvic' or energetically 'clean' substances (usually mild and sweet in flavour). Other materials are generally avoided. (In particular, hot, pungent substances such as onion, garlic, chillies, meat, alcohol, stale foods etc are generally never used in sattvic forms of worship). The type of offering may vary slightly depending upon the deity being worshipped (but ghee is almost universally used).

-Agni, the deity of fire, is here seen as the messenger or 'portal' between our human world and that of the demi-gods or the Supreme Being. When we make offerings into the fire after invoking God in it, it is said that he 'transports' the subtle essence of these to the Supreme. And in return, we are able to receive blessings, both spiritual and material (depending upon what we are praying for).

-The utterance of mantras while making offering into a fire is said to significantly magnify the effects of those mantras (some say it is a tenfold increase but one may not be able to put a precise number upon this). 

A homa will usually involve reciting one or more mantras a certain number of times (often multiples of the sacred number 108) while making offerings (of ghee, rice etc) into the sacred fire with each recitation.

-The word 'Svaha' is crucial to the performance of a homa. This word is said to represent the wife of the deity 'Agni'. It is uttered at the end of every mantra recitation during a homam and is said to 'open the doorway' of the sacred fire. Therefore, it is regarded as important to time the release of the offering from the homa ladle or spoon into the fire with the exact utterance of the word 'Svaha'.

For example, if one wanted to offer worship to Shiva via the performance of a homam, one would invoke His presence in the sacred fire, and then make offerings into the fire while reciting one of His mantras with 'Svaha' at the end, e.g. Om Namah Shivaya, Svaha.

-The smoke generated by the performance of a homa is regarded as being energetically (and some say, even physically) cleansing or purifying. It is said to create a positive atmosphere in the surroundings and a feeling of general wellbeing in the performers of the homa and others who may also be present. It is said to provide divine protection and create a strong sense of inner connectedness with the Divine if performed correctly with faith and devotional feeling.

Needless to say, therefore, a homa or havana is a valuable addition to a mantra japa practice. It enhances, magnifies and builds upon a mantra japa practice (hence it is also a part of the purascharana practice).

As I mentioned earlier, simple homas can be performed by anyone who is willing to study the subject just a little. There are Gurus and other excellent teachers online who have kindly provided 'do it yourself' manuals to conduct a simple homa.

One example, whom I have mentioned previously on this website, is Shri Narasimha Rao. He has done an excellent job of making the homa ceremony easy to understand and perform even by those with no previous experience. 

I have used his homa manuals to perform homas occasionally for Narayana, Shiva and the Divine Mother. I have always felt a great sense of joy, peace and contentment afterwards and felt that the atmosphere was somehow cleansed. 

Please see link below for his website with a lengthy list of wonderful manuals for various forms of the Divine: https://www.vedicastrologer.org/homa/download.htm. I have mostly been using his 'simplest' manuals in recent years due to the lack of time in performing the more lengthy ones and even these have been a wonderful experience.

I would like to say a little more on the subject of simple homas. Life, as we all know, can be very busy. And the idea of performing even the simplest homa of the type mentioned above can take around an hour or more from scratch (getting together all the materials, doing the homa and tidying up afterwards). For many of us with work and home-related commitments, along with our mantra japa sadhana, this may be tricky to do regularly. However, with regard to spiritual sadhana, it is regarded as far more effective to do a simple form of worship regularly rather than an elaborate one very rarely.

Therefore, I would like to mention another even easier sort of 'homa' that I discovered some time ago. This is known as a 'deepa homa' or 'lamp homa'.

In essence, the deepa homa involves lighting a lamp (an ordinary lamp like the one we would have on our altars) and then making offerings of little drops of ghee into this. This is relatively easy to perform as it requires minimal materials and preparation and can be done even weekly if not more often (the duration of time required for this may be as little as 10-15 minutes to longer if one wishes).

You must ensure that you take all precautions for fire safety while performing this form of worship (make sure your surroundings are safe and appropriate; also ensure that children do not have access to the fire). If you have a fire alarm at home, and wish to perform a regular homa, you will either need to do this in the garden (when not too rainy/windy) or if doing it indoors, figure out how to manage your fire alarm. This will not be an issue with a deepa homa generally as there is virtually no smoke produced.

Based upon what I have read and understood regarding this subject, the procedure for a deepa homam is broadly as follows:

1. Light a lamp (with ghee ideally) and a cotton wick (it is possible to buy ghee from grocery stores in most countries; alternatively, one can make it at home by gently heating unsalted butter; there are websites that explain how to do this; fresh ghee is lovely, both for homas and to eat!).

2. Obtain a bowl with some melted ghee in it and a spoon to make the offerings

3. Sit down next to the lamp and offer some simple initial prayers. This is in order to mentally prepare for the ceremony, to connect with the Divine within yourself and within the fire, and invoke the blessings and protection of God. 

For example, spend a minute or two invoking/reciting the mantras of Ganesha, your Guru (if you have one, otherwise simply say 'Om Shri Gurave Namah to invoke the Universal Guru/God) and your favourite deities.

4. Start the ceremony: 

Invoke the form of God whom you wish to worship in the sacred fire of the lamp. Ask Him/Her to be present in full manifestation and accept the offerings that you are going to make. State the purpose for your conducting this worship (i.e. the spiritual or material goal).

5. Perform the ceremony: 

Recite the mantra you have selected and utter 'Svaha' at the end. As you say, 'Svaha', offer a drop of ghee from the spoon into the fire of the lamp (be careful not to accidentally extinguish the flame when offering the ghee as the fire here is a small one; this is not usually an issue in a regular homa where the fire is much bigger).  

These drops of ghee will be consumed by the fire gradually over time. Let the fire extinguish itself after consuming the ghee (this usually occurs within a few hours; do not artificially put out the fire). 

You can also recite slokas (such as the Saptasloki Durga) or a set of mantras (such as the 108 names of Vishnu, Kali etc) and make offerings while adding 'Svaha' in the same way as with a mantra.

5. Complete the ceremony:

Once the ceremony is completed, offer gratitude to God for being present and for His/Her blessings and help in performing it. Make an apology for any accidental mistakes or lapses in concentration/devotion, and surrender the doership of the ritual to God. 

Here is a useful website of the Guru, Anandi ma, with a video by her disciple demonstrating the performance of the lamp/deepa homa: https://dyc.org/simple-ghee-lamp-fire-ceremony/

With Navaratri coming up next week, I have taken up the chanting of some mantras of the Divine Mother, particularly the Navarna mantra which my Guru advises should be chanted during this time. 

I have also performed the above deepa homa a couple of times in recent days with mantras for Narayana, Durga and Kali (including the 108 mantras for Kali https://www.drikpanchang.com/deities-namavali/goddesses/parvati/mahavidya/kali/108-kali-names.html). The purpose of this has been to pray for protection of innocent people (especially children) on both sides of the current unfortunate war in the Middle East. I plan to continue this worship and prayers in the coming days and weeks, particularly during Navaratri and the upcoming eclipses.

In times of distress and suffering, it is the Divine Mother and Narayana who are associated with taking avatars and actively intervening to protect the good, destroy evil and grant protection and peace. 

I very much hope and pray for Their divine intervention in this extremely sad situation. I pray that They may protect both the people of Israel and Palestine, especially those who are young and vulnerable. I also pray that They may do whatever They feel is right to resolve this situation and bring lasting peace to this region. 

May They give strength, courage and protection where They feel this is needed; may Divine justice be done in full; may Divine will be done. 

Please do also consider doing some mantra japa and homa for peace in this region.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Om Shri MahaKalikayai Namah.

Om Shri Durgayai Namah.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. Kali kavacha (the shield of Mother Kali):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TURckgElHg&list=RDLDsNoU4pbzY&index=2

I recently discovered this very beautiful prayer for protection addressed to Mother Kali. Like other 'kavacha' prayers of various forms of God, this is not merely a prayer but rather, is said to be a 'shield' of mantras ('kavacha' means 'shield' in Sanskrit). One who recites or hears this prayer receives Her protection. 

I have been listening to this quite a bit in recent days as a form of prayer for the people caught up in the war in the Middle East. May the Mother's protecting hand shield the children on both sides of the war especially, may Her will be done. 

Hari Aum Tat Sat.