Ma Siddhidatri

Ma Siddhidatri

Ninth and the final form of feminine energy Ma Siddhidatri  is the culmination of spiritual journey.  Siddhi means perfection and datri means provider. Spiritual power attained through meditation is the boon Ma Siddhidatri provides. 

She is the primordial source of life. When the whole universe was still a ball of hot fire without any life and everything was dark, she appeared as the first light and gave life to flora and fauna and humans. It is she who created the trinity or Tridev namely, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh who symbolize the creation, sustenance and destruction in Sanatan Dharma. 

She is also depicted as Ardhnarishwar or half man- half woman symbolizing the twin energy in all of us. The yin and the yang balance is necessary and Ma Siddhidatri gives that. Worshipping her gives us spiritual guidance and connection to the higher power. When that happens there is bliss. 

Ma Siddhidatri is associated with planet Ketu or the second moon node. Worshipping her takes away the confusion and lack of vision that are the  malefic effects of ketu. Her blessings bring Moksha or being one with the divine. 

Let’s invoke the prime source of this universe in the form of Ma Siddhidatri. 

So be it !!!

Ma Mahagauri

Ma Mahagauri 

Eighth form of feminine energy Ma Mahagauri teaches us perseverance. She is lord Shiva’s consort and to marry him did lot of penance. She went without food and water for a long time and as a result her skin became parched and accumulated dirt. Shiva then bathed her with holy waters of Ganga to restore her radiant beauty. 

Her story emphasizes that with determination we can achieve our goals. Her transformation symbolizes washing away of all negativity and impurity of thoughts through determination.  It shows that inner beauty comes after we have conquered our own heart. Her calm appearance is comforting and promotes harmony. 

Her story gives an opportunity for introspection, to realize areas of growth in our personality, to work towards mental peace. Ma Mahagauri wears white which is symbol of purity and simplicity. We can live a simple life by shedding our jealousy, avarice, anger and fear. 

She rules planet Rahu , the moon node which creates confusion and conflict. Worshipping Ma Mahagauri gives us clarity of thoughts and vision bringing us enlightenment. 

Feminine energy always brings tranquility even in the midst of chaos. Invoking this powerful energy can make our life easier and happier. Let’s invoke it.

So be it !!!

Ma Kaalratri

 

Ma Kaalratri

Ma Kaalratri represents the destruction of evil and ignorance. She is the fiercest of all forms of feminine energy. She dispels all negative forces and brings enlightenment. She helps us in overcoming our ego and attain wisdom by guiding us on the path of spirituality. She killed the demon Raktabeej who had the ability to multiply himself in thousands. That symbolizes our egoistic tendencies and our endless desires that cause problems.

Ma Kaalratri represents the Shasrara or the crown chakra. Crown chakra is the seventh energy centre located at the crown of our head. The name means thousand petals which symbolize perfect connection to the cosmic energy. A balanced chakra means the person has attained peace of mind by immersing himself in the divine. 

Such a person has universal love  and is devoid of all jealousy, anger or anxiety. 

A blocked crown chakra on the other hand results in confusion, emotional imbalance and lack of purpose. Meditating everyday imagining a white light engulfing you helps in opening the crown chakra. 

Ma Kaalratri is also associated with the planet Saturn or Shani who is a hard task master. So she puts us to hard work but rewards us with peace and tranquility. 

The feminine energy creates harmony in the universe. We have to invoke it with meditation and an open heart.

Let’s do it.

So be it !!!

Ma Katyayani

 

Ma Katyayani

Sixth form of feminine energy is Ma Katyayani. She fought and destroyed the demon Mahishasur. Her appearance and demeanor is fierce but she gives us courage to overcome obstacles and strengthen our relationships. Worshipping her enhances our will power and determination to face any challenge that comes. Chanting her mantra gives us peace, destroys our negativity and promotes vitality. 

Ma Katyayani represents the Ajna or the third eye chakra. This chakra is the centre of wisdom, intuition and higher knowledge. A person with a balanced ajna chakra is able to see beyond normal perception. They get the ability to connect with the divine. It gives us the ability to manifest things with clear intention. 

A blocked ajna chakra on the other hand creates confusion, emotional instability and fear fullness, difficult to concentrate and lack of empathy. 

The ajna chakra is situated between the eyebrows. So meditating with focus on this spot helps in unblocking this chakra. Worshipping Ma Katyayani helps in balancing this chakra. For married couples it helps in resolving their conflicts. 

The feminine energy is both fierce and benevolent, kind and savage, intimidating and comforting. Like a mother it protects us while pushing us hard to focus and achieve not just materialistic goals but spiritual enhancement too. 

Let’s all invoke the feminine energy to lead a positive and fruitful life. 

So be it !!!

Skandmata

Ma Skandmata

Fifth day of invoking the divine feminine energy. Ma Skandmata is the fierce but nurturing mother of Skand who killed the demon Tarkasur. She symbolizes the mother who motivates her children to fight their internal demons and be victorious in the quest of spirituality. 

Skandmata represents the Vishudhhi or the throat chakra which is associated with how we express ourselves. It acts like a bridge between the heart chakra and the third eye chakra. A balanced throat chakra helps us in clear communication with a calm demeanor while a blocked chakra results in fear of expression or being over talkative. We all want others to listen to us and focusing on our throat chakra helps us in that. To balance this chakra, imagine a bright blue light in your throat while meditating. 

Skandmata helps us in not just fighting our own battles but also navigate in the world through clear expression. When we state our thoughts and intentions confidently , others take notice and listen to us. 

Skandmata encourages us for positive action in our lives and to follow the path of righteousness.  The spear she carries is the symbol of sharp and clear action. 

Let’s all strive for effective communication skills by worshipping Skandmata.

So be it !!!

Ma Kushmanda

 Kushmanda

The fourth day of Navratri is to worship the feminine energy of Ma Kushmanda. Her name means the cosmic egg, denoting that she created the universe. She represents the energy that sustains life. By aligning our life with her brings us health, prosperity  and emotional balance. 

Ma Kushmanda also represents the heart chakra called anahata. This is the chakra that is the middle of lower and higher energy points in our body. It stands for compassion, forgiveness and our connection to others. A healthy heart chakra means we have self acceptance and healthy relationships and a blocked one results in jealousy, insecurity and anger. Self acceptance means realizing our weaknesses and accepting them. Only then we can conquer them. Once we do that, we can accept others as they are and maintain a positive attitude towards them. We can feel the joy and love in the world with an open heart. 

The heart chakra affects our heart, lungs, chest, arms and hands. A blocked heart chakra can cause high or low blood pressure, bronchitis and other chest related illnesses. It also results in manipulating behavior and feeling of isolation. Such a person feels lonely and holds grudges against others and often feels like a victim. They blame others for their misfortune. 

Worshipping Ma Kushmanda helps us in balancing our heart chakra. Meditating everyday can help us in gaining our emotional balance. She is the primary source of the cosmic energy so let us dive in that energy.

Let’s all open our heart chakra. 

So be it !!!

Chandraghanta

Chandraghanta

The third form of feminine energy. Ma Chandraghanta carries moon bell  which signifies emotions and produces a sound like the primordial sound of OM that helps us to focus. She is fierce in appearance but still has a calming effect. She teaches us to find courage in the face of adversity and find inner peace. 

Inner peace doesn’t mean avoiding challenges or conflicts but face them with grace and tranquility. Ma Chandraghanta is for conquering negativity and consolidating our scattered mind. Establishing a harmonious relationship with self is what she symbolizes. To achieve any success we have to first be at peace with ourselves, resolve our own conflicts and focus. 

Ma Chandraghanta is both fierce and benevolent. All human beings have the duality of good and evil and worshipping her helps us to overcome our own evil and conquer it. 

In the indian culture feminine energy is the source of creation which manifests itself in various forms in different times. 

Let’s try to bring inner peace while fighting our battles in life.

So be it !!!

J’apprecie

 J’apprecie

I am enjoying in French. I am in Montreal right now on a vacation but it’s Friday so I had to write my blog. My husband said to leave it for today but I believe if I have made a decision to write my blog every weekday, I should do it. 

This is our second trip to Montreal and a lot has changed in the last ten years but the city still remains as charming and challenging as before. Charming because of its historic buildings like Notre Dame Basilica which takes your breath away and the beautiful St. Lawrence river. There are other attractions of course. 

It’s challenging becsuse of language. You can navigate with English but at times it becomes tricky. The French pronunciation of words is difficult so if you are asking for directions, then it’s hard. Fortunately we have AI to translate on our phone but we had a good laugh when my husband I asked for directions from someone using phone translation and he couldn’t understand the French accent. But the food in Montreal is amazingly good and if you are a wine lover, then the city is for you. 

I am having g a good time right now and I hope all of you enjoy your weekend. I’ll talk to you on Monday. Till then s’amuser - enjoy yourself and au revoir. 

So be it !!!

What are you carrying?

 What are you carrying?

There is an old story about a monk who asked his disciples a question. What if you were carrying a cup of coffee and someone bumped into you and you spilled your coffee? Why did you spill your coffee? Everyone answered because that chap bumped into to me. No said the monk. You spilled coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had it been tea you would have spilled tea. 

Same goes for life the monk said. If you get bumped by life and you will you will spill whatever you are carrying within you. If you’re carrying anger, resentment, hatred , you will spill that. But if you are carrying love and compassion, you will spill that. How true.

We all carry anger to some extent. We all have resentment and we often react to situations in a negative way. But we do have compassion and love also. Why then only anger comes out? It’s because we have conditioned our minds to snap when faced with an unpleasant situation. 

I find blessing the person who upsets you works great. After you have had the negative experience, take a deep breath and bless the person. Immediately your anger will subside. it’s for your mental health that you bless the person.  

I talked about power yesterday. So don’t give power to someone to upset you. That power is yours. Will you let anyone stay in your home rent free? Then why allow anyone to stay in your mind ? Take back your power. Spill out a smile even if you are seething with anger. It works. You start feeling calm. Try it.

Do tell me if it worked for you. Go ahead and bless the person who upsets you. 

So be it !!!

Do you have your power?

 Do you have your power?

I am not a politician or royalty you would say . No I am  asking about power within you. Do you have it or have you given it away to people in your life? Do you chart out your action or are you dictated by choice of others around you? Do you respond to people or situations or do you react? Do you take control of things or do you survive from crisis to crises?

For most of us, specially women, the answer will fall in the second category. We let others take control of our life. We allow others to run things, we cater to their needs and we try to please everyone and forget to take care of ourselves. When we can’t please them, we feel guilty. We do it day in and day out. At the end of the day we feel so drained out that we don’t have the energy to devote 10 minutes to look after ourselves. Our shoulder blades are stiff, our lower back hurts and our skin is dry. 

It is because we have given away our power to others. We have allowed them to control us. We feel powerless and so we are agitated most of the times and that is why we react instead of responding. 

Don’t have time or energy to cook after a long working day? Ask for help. Let everyone in the family join hands to dish up a meal. Someone criticized you in a social setting? Smile and look at them for a moment, they will get rattled. Got a dressing down from your boss? Take a short break and then come back with your explanation. 

It takes time and practice to regain your power but you can do it. It will not be easy because people will get offended and will ask you are you alright? They can, in some cases become nastier to begin with but if you stick to your guns, will accept the new you. It doesn’t mean we don’t do our duty as a parent or as a friend or employee. It’s just a matter of not others being in control. 

It took me some time and I still succumb but I have gained my power to quite an extent. First step is to set boundaries. Once that is done, it’s easy . 

Try it and get your power back. 

So be it !!!

Friends

 Friends

My blog yesterday elicited quite a bundle of responses. My school friend Jagpreet very correctly pointed out that a friend is with whom you can be yourself. Also you can talk about anything and sit in comfortable silence too.Many readers wrote that they are still in touch with their school and university friends. So good to know and a big thank you to all who gave their feedback. 

My idea of writing about old friends drifting apart was to highlight that it’s okay if you drop a friend because there is nothing left in the relationship. We should look forward to be with friends who are there for us. In fact,  I started writing my blog again after a gap of almost four years because my friend encouraged me to. She is very supportive and is always there with not just moral support but practical help. Thank you Vanita. 

However sometimes we carry a friendship only as an obligation. That to me is avoidable. Friends can have different perspectives but there should be a level of trust, respect and warmth. If meeting a friend is sapping you of all your energy, is it worth the effort? I may sound selfish but I feel our mental health is very important. When I meet my friends, there is no expectation of any kind. I am  just happy to be with them. I come back recharged. If I were to face negativity and whining every time I meet a friend, I’d rather avoid meeting them. 

All our friends play different roles in our life. Some are there to make us laugh, some to give us reality check, still others who take you under their wings and guide you. Some seek attention and others satisfy our intellectual needs. 

Whatever their role, our friends are an integral part of our life. So a small misunderstanding should not be allowed to spoil years of friendship. 

Again I would say, be the friend you want others be to you.

So be it !!!