Shiva Yoga

08/06/2022

You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.

It’s easy in times of uncertainty to feel like we have to do something, any thing, to make that uncertainty go away. The pressure can be enormous to create a new life, find the magic that will bring the change very fast.

I myself have felt some of that. And yet , Even as I’ve done that, I’ve felt the call to go within, to get quiet. There’s a part of me that knows I need to sit with this sense of uncertainty and see what it brings to me.

Often, in my experience, it is EXACTLY at a time like this when some of the best ideas break through, or a completely new path emerges that we couldn’t even see before.

I know it’s uncomfortable…. but why don’t you join me? Before we jump headlong into action – any action, just so we’ll feel better – let’s stop for a moment. Let’s sit with the uncertainty and listen to our own internal voice.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve recommitted to my daily mediation practice. Sitting quietly for 20 minutes, hands lose in my lap, back straight, breathing and being, I let the silence in, and wait to see what comes with it.

Why don’t you try your version of this? If 5 minutes is all you can do, then do 5 minutes. But explore the silence. Sit with the uncertainty. Listen , And be well! ✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

Hari Om Tat Sat ~ OM NAMAH SHIVAYA ✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

02/05/2022

13/04/2022

10/04/2022

Rajarajeswari Tripura Sundari Puja with Sri Chakra PujaTripura Sundari is also called Goddess Shodashi. As the call suggests Goddess Shodashi is the most lov...

08/04/2022

According to legend, the Devi or the Divine Mother waged ravaging wars against horrifying demons who wrecked the peace of the universe now and then. At those times, when the devas prayed for an intervention from a higher power, the Goddess Durga appeared and fought for the welfare of the universe.

As She fought, She created tales of adventure and awe that continue to thrill Her devotees and invoke deep faith in them.

These legends went on to be called the Durga Saptshati in the North which is also known as the Devi Mahatmya in South India and Chandi in West Bengal. Compiled and penned by Ved Vyasa (the author of the Mahabharata) the Durga Saptashati is found in the Markandeya Purana. Consisting of 13 chapters, the book recounts the Devi’s tales of valor through 700 stanzas.

The Devi defeats and kills through different avatars. She kills some demons through the tamasic avatar of Goddess Vishnu Maya, some through the rajasic avatar of Goddess Lakshmi and some through the sattvik avatar of Goddess Saraswati.

All legends symbolize the power of good over evil. Maybe to remind oneself of this eternal truth, people recite the Durga Saptashati at their homes during the nine days of Navratri. Listening to the glories of the Goddess, the devotee revels in the realization of Her omnipotence.🌷🔱💀🌼🌸🌷🔱💀🌼🌿🌸🔱💀🌷🌼🌿🌸🔱💀🌸🌿🌿🌸🔱💀🌷🌿🌿🔱💀🌸🌷🌿🌿🌸🌼🔱💀

Jai Maa Durga Jai Maa Shakti! 🌷🔱💀🌼🌸🌷🔱💀🌼🌿🌸🔱💀🌷🌼🌿🌸🔱💀🌸🌿🌿🌸🔱💀🌷🌿🌿🔱💀🌸🌷🌿🌿🌸🌼🔱💀

07/04/2022

The Vahana of Goddess Durga as we see with her is the lion. In Hindu iconography, positive aspects of the vehicle are often emblematic of the deity that it carries. Nandi the bull, vehicle of Shiva, represents strength and virility. Parvani the peacock, vehicle of Skanda, represents splendor and majesty. The hamsa, vehicle of Saraswati, represents wisdom, grace and beauty.

However, the vehicle animal also symbolizes the evil forces over which the deity dominates. Mounted on Parvani, Skanda reins in the peacock's vanity. Seated on Mushika, Ganesh crushes useless thoughts, which multiply like rats in the dark. Lord Shani, protector of property and Lord of justice, has a vulture, raven or crow in which he represses thieving tendencies. Under Shani's influence, the Vahana can make even malevolent events bring hope.

According to the Puranas while the Gods gave Devi Maa the different weapons to slay Mahishasura , it is the mountain King Himavat who gave her a lion to ride on. The Vahana of Maa Durga is known by different names like Kesari, Somnandi and Dawon. The lion is a symbol of uncontrolled animalistic tendencies (such as anger, arrogance, selfishness, greed, jealousy, desire to harm others etc.) and Devi sitting on it reminds us to control these qualities, so that we are not controlled by them.

Durga is the Goddess of power or the supreme energy (Shakti) and Lion or Tiger are like embodiments of power which are controlled by the Goddess. There are different stories of devi getting the lion as the vahana. As per another legend, once Devi Parvati being called kali by Mahadev started meditating in a forest to gain her Mahagauri Swaroop . While she was meditating , a lion came by in order to eat her but when the lion saw it was Devi, he started guarding her so that no one could disturb her. After Devis tapas was over, she blessed the lion to be her vehicle who guarded her out of devotion.✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

Jai Maa Gauri ~ Jai Bhawani ! ✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

05/04/2022

One of the manifestation of Maa Durga is referred to as Shri Maha Gauri. As Maha Gauri , she is the consort of Lord Shiva.

Gauri or Parvati before her marriage with Shiva performed a great penance to win his heart. Her spiritual Sadhna amazed even the accomplished yogis, as unable to understand her strength and stillness they realised this is Maha Devi, the supreme Goddess herself incarnated in a human form.

So when Shiva finally appeared before her, she revealed her cosmic Shakti form to him and overflowing with ecstasy he called her as Maha Gauri. As Maha Gauri, the Devi became Lord Shiva's consort and he became a complete divine being. As only union with the feminine , the masculine finds expression in creation , without her presence Shiva stays inert or unwilling to manifest.

Maha Gauri's form has the radiance of a full moon , as she is bliss as well as intelligence . Her worship unfolds the path to ultimate completeness with Divine . She gives a stable mind to her devotee and sustains their inner strength.✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

Jai Maha Gauri ~ Jai Shankar Parvati! ✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

03/04/2022

As per Shrimad Devi Bhagawatam, Bhagwan Veda Vyasa gave phenomenal importance to the worship of Universal Mother Goddess Aadi Shakti during the four annual Navaratris. Among these Vasantha Navaratri which comes in the month of Chaitra, and Sharad Navaratri which comes in the month of Ashvina are of crucial significance for all people aspiring for Bhagwati's grace and spiritual transformation especially those who don't live a regular spiritual dharmic lifestyle.

During these Navaratris, different Shakta traditions propitiate forms of Goddess based on their spiritual lineage and Guru's commands. Uninitiated devotees of Mother, can perform puja to Devi by the recitation of her Ashtotthram (108 auspicious names of Devi). Begin the puja by offering her sandalwood, turmeric, kumkum, flowers, incense, Diya lamp and food/naivedya. During the recitation of any Devi Ashtotthram such as Durga Ashtotthram, Lakshmi Ashtottram, Lalita Ashtottram or any other, you can offer pushparchana by offering flowers to Goddess by reciting each name. At the end of puja, offer her an aarti by lighting camphor.

Recitation/listening to her auspicious chants like chapters of Devi Mahatmayem, Soundarya Lahari, Sri Suktam, Durga Suktam, Lalita Sahesranamam etc are also essential in enhancing one's devotion by imbibing the grace of Mahashakti during Navaratri.

During Navaratri, apart from all aesthetics of pujas, the greatest offering which Bhagwati expects from you is Bhakti. Shakti Upasana has no meaning unless the person has devotion and is a devotee, or is willing to transform himself/herself into one. As only the great devotees in all ages who experienced divine in every moment of their lives, enlightened the path of humanity towards their ultimate awakening or self-realization. Sri Adi Shankaracharya in his Devyaapraadhakshamapana stotram says:

न मोक्षस्याकाङ्क्षा भवविभववाञ्छापि च न मे
न विज्ञानापेक्षा शशिमुखि सुखेच्छापि न पुनः ।
अतस्त्वां संयाचे जननि जननं यातु मम वै
मृडानी रुद्राणी शिव शिव भवानीति जपतः ॥८॥

O Divine Mother Bhavani I do not have the desire for Moksha (Liberation), Neither have I the desire for Worldly Fortune, Neither do I long for Worldly Knowledge, O Shashi Mukhi (The Moon-Faced One), I do not have the desire for enjoying the Worldly comforts again, Henceforth I implore You, O Mother, May You direct my life towards regular remembrance of Your auspicious Names. The string of Your auspicious Names as Mridani Rudrani Shiva Shiva Bhavani become a part of my life and May my future life be spent in performing Japa of Your Holy Names.

By keeping these words of Sri Shankara in our mind, always keep the Bhavani Nama japa on your lips which flows from your heart.✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

Jai Maa Bhagwati ! ✨🕉🍃🌼🌈👁🌷🏔🍂🔱💟💀🍃🌙📿⌛️🌺🍂🐍🐚🔆🍃🌀🔔🌈🍂🌸🌻🏔✨

(THANKS TO AADI SHAKTI)

08/03/2022

The Devi Sukta hymn of Rigveda, a scripture of Hinduism, declares the feminine energy as the essence of the universe, the one who creates all matter and consciousness, the eternal and infinite, the metaphysical and empirical reality (Brahman), the soul (supreme self) of everything.

The woman is celebrated as the most powerful and the empowering force in some Hindu Upanishads, Shastras and Puranas, particularly the Devi Upanishad, Devi Mahatmya and Devi-Bhagavata Purana.

Ancient texts of Hinduism expound a reverence for the feminine. The 10th chapter of the Rigveda asserts the feminine to be the supreme principle behind all of cosmos, in the following hymn called as Devi Sukta ;

“I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship.

Thus Gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in.
Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them,-each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken.

They know it not, yet I reside in the essence of the Universe. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it.

I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that gods and men alike shall welcome.
I make the man I love exceeding mighty, make him nourished, a sage, and one who knows Brahman.

I bend the bow for Rudra that his arrow may strike and slay the hater of devotion.
I rouse and order battle for the people, I created Earth and Heaven and reside as their inner controller.

On the world's summit I bring forth the Father: my home is in the waters, in the ocean.

Thence I prevade all existing creatures, as their Inner Supreme Self, and manifest them with my body. I created all worlds at my will, without any higher being, and permeate and dwell within them.

The eternal and infinite consciousness is I, it is my greatness dwelling in everything.

~ Rigveda ! ❤️👁❤️

Jai Maa Durga ~ Jai Maa Shakti ~ Happy Women’s Day Lovely Souls ❤️🔱❤️

01/03/2022

25/02/2022

Goddess Durga symbolises power and fearlessness. Hence, by worshipping Durga, one can eliminate fear and anxiety.

Feminine power is strong enough to face the deadliest of challenges. And it also symbolises the victory of the good over the evil. Here we share a few shlokas with you that you may chant every day to get rid of fear and stress.

1- Sarvaswarupe Sarveshe Sarvashakti Samanvite, Bhaye Bhyastraahi Nau Devi Durge Devi Namostute.

Meaning : Salutations to the omnipresent one and the most powerful of all, eliminate all my fears, as I bow to you, Mother Goddess Durga.

2- Etatte vadanam soumyam, lochana thraya bhoosh*tham, Patu na sarva bheetethebhya, katyayani namo sthute.

Meaning : Salutations to the one blessed with radiance and beautiful eyes, rid me of all the fears, O, Mother Goddess Katyayani.

3- Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shakti Roopena Samsthitah, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.

Meaning: Salutations to the omnipresent one and the one who represents strength. I bow to you.🌷💟🍃🌸🕉🌻🌷🍂💟🌼🌺🍃🌻🕉🍃🌼🌷🍃🌸💟🍂🌷🕉🌺🌼🍃🌻🌸💟🍂🌺

Jai Maa Durga Jai Maa Shakti! 🌷💟🍃🌸🕉🌻🌷🍂💟🌼🌺🍃🌻🕉🍃🌼🌷🍃🌸💟🍂🌷🕉🌺🌼🍃🌻🌸💟🍂🌺

25/02/2022

Surrounded by worries and stress? Know the mantra to get rid of all your problems and fears.

In today’s competitive world, many people complain of stress. This stressful life can lead to many health problems and can even prove fatal. Stress management is the need of the hour. It is very important that people know how to manage stress and lead a calm and happy life.

There are many mantras inscribed in our scriptures that can help you get rid of all those problems in life. The third shloka of 11th chapter of Shri Durga Saptashati is one such mantra.

It is believed that chanting this mantra helps you get rid of all those problems that are making your life miserable.

Devi prapnnartihare praseed, Paseed maatarjagatokhilsya
Praseed vishreshravari pahi vishram, Tvamishrari devi charaacharasya.

Maa Durga is the Mother Goddess, as well as the slayer of evils at the same time. Chanting her name alone removes all worries and gives you problem free life. There are 108 names of mother goddess that should also be chanted to get rid of all evils in life.

How to chant the mantra-

Wake up early morning, wear clean clothes after taking bath and worship Goddess Durga. Then sit at a quite place and chant the above mantra with a red sandalwood rosary. Chant the mantra five times the number of beads on the rosary. Follow this process everyday and watch your problems disappear.🌷💟🍃🌸🕉🌻🌷🍂💟🌼🌺🍃🌻🕉🍃🌼🌷🍃🌸💟🍂🌷🕉🌺🌼🍃🌻🌸💟🍂🌺

Jai Maa Durga Jai Maa Shakti! 🌷💟🍃🌸🕉🌻🌷🍂💟🌼🌺🍃🌻🕉🍃🌼🌷🍃🌸💟🍂🌷🕉🌺🌼🍃🌻🌸💟🍂🌺

23/02/2022

09/02/2022

The Devi Mahatmyam or "Glory of the Goddess" is a Hindu religious text describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe. It is part of the Markandeya Purana, and estimated to have been composed in Sanskrit between 400-600 CE.

Devi Mahatmyam is also known as the Durga Saptashati or Chandi path. The text contains 700 verses arranged into 13 chapters. Along with Devi-Bhagavata Purana and Shakta Upanishads such as the Devi Upanishad, it is one of the most important texts of Shaktism (goddess) tradition within Hinduism.

The Devi Mahatmyam describes a storied battle between good and evil, where the Devi manifesting as goddess Durga leads the forces of good against the demon Mahishasura—the goddess is very angry and ruthless, and the forces of good win. In peaceful prosperous times, states the text, the Devi manifests as Lakshmi, empowering wealth creation and happiness. The verses of this story also outline a philosophical foundation wherein the ultimate reality (Brahman in Hinduism) is female.

The text is one of the earliest extant complete manuscripts from the Hindu traditions which describes reverence and worship of the feminine aspect of God. The Devi Mahatmya is often ranked in some Hindu traditions to be as important as the Bhagavad Gita.

The Devi Mahatmya has been particularly popular in eastern states of India, such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Assam, as well as Nepal. It is recited during Navratri celebrations, the Durga Puja festival, and in Durga temples across India. During the nine days of Navaratri many of us read the Devi Mahatmyam with all the stotras, kavacha , Devi and devi sukta.

The Devi Mahatmyam is a highly occult text. “Only those who have inner eyes will perceive the hidden truths; others know not”. It is held that Markandeya the seer of this myth had seen the ever existent glory of the goddess with the inner eye. It is referred to as Saptashati as it comprises of seven hundred mantras. It is more popularly known as Chandi because it describes the glory of the Goddess as Chandika, the terrible. 🌷🌈👁🐚📿🔔🌈🌷🐍💕💀💖🔱🌸🌈🌙🌷🙏

Jai Maa Durga ~ Jai Maa Shakti 🌷 🌈👁🐚📿🔔🌈🌷🐍💕💀💖🔱🌸🌈🌙🌷🙏

02/02/2022

Greetings on these auspicious Magha Navaratri.

Magha Navaratri is celebrated in the lunar month of Magha in hinduism. It is also known as Gupt Navaratri, because personalized sadhnas are majorly performed these days to please certain manifestations of Devi, in whose worship secrecy is maintained. Secrecy means, more involvement with the divine, to fathom our true nature which unfolds with her grace. This True Nature is fundamentally discussed in shastras as the Aananda Svarupa or form of divine bliss. This bliss is recognised during Navaratris with the worship of Shakti, whose spandan/movement gave birth to universe and created eroticism and bliss in existence. As the root life force of cosmos, the blissful and erotic, life-giving energy which is Devi lives in all life forms.

Matangi and her different forms are worshipped during these Navaratris in Shakta traditions of Shyamala, Sri Vidya and others. Matangi is one of the Dasha Mahavidyas, who grants spiritual and materialistic wisdom, proficiency in arts and music and attraction/vasikarana. Attraction or Vasikarana is an important quality of Devi, as she attracts all devotees and seekers towards spirituality. Matangi is worshipped as Saraswati in the Vedas, and as Ucchishta Chandalini in the tantras. Devi is ferocious, but grants auspicious boons to her bhaktas. Authentic worship of Matangi must be performed only by receiving initiation in her mantra and worship from a genuine Guru/Master.

In absence of initiation, Goddess can be worshipped as Saraswati by devotees. Recitation of Saraswati Sahesranamam, Saraswati Ashtottram and Medha Suktam is beneficial in receiving the abundant grace of Matangi/Saraswati. If recitation is difficult, listen to these stotras and suktas.

May these auspicious days of Magha Navaratri bring grace and wellbeing to your lives. May Devi's blessings be upon you.

Magha Navaratri dates: 2nd February - 11th February, 2022.

Picture artist: Sai Tharun Vs.

30/11/2021

30/11/2021