Navratra special - Durga Saptashati : What a Shiv Yogi must learn

Namah shivay,

"Durga Saptashati is not an event which took place. It continuously unfolds in every
human being at all times. Different chapters denote different phases of the individual.

All characters in Durga Saptashati are actually traits and qualities within us"


------ Baba ji at Delhi Shree Vidya shivir, Feb-March, 2012


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Navratra Day 1, Presiding Goddess : Shailputri





Ma Shailputri

1st chapter (Madhu Kaitabh vadh)
The first chapter of Durga Saptashati, involves the story of a king named Surath
and a Vaishy named Samadhi. The king, once prosperous loses all his wealth to
invasion by a more powerful ruler. Despite this, his consciousness and attention are
constantly drawn to the kingdom, the whereabouts of his ministers and his subjects
even as he roams the forests in search of solace. There he meets a Vaishy, deprived
of all his wealth, abandoned by his sons and wife and evicted from his house; The
Vaishy too is beleaguered and haunted by the memories of his lost kinship. Both
congregate at the hermitage (ashram) of Medha Maharishi.

Both are irked and puzzled by the fact that despite knowing that attachment to grief
and sorrow is detrimental, are unable to shed the memories of their chequered past.
Both seek an answer to this conundrum of theirs from the Maharishi. The Maharishi
narrates that all this is the grip of Mahamaya which is nothing but a form of Shakti.

Mahamaya originated when Lord Vishnu, engaged in his Cosmic sleep or Yog
Nidra was invoked by Lord Brahma because the demons of Madhu and Kaitabh had
engulfed the universe and could be mitigated only if Vishnu were to come back from
His sleep. Madhu and Kaitabh originated from Lord Vishnu's ears when He was in
His slumbering wakefulness. Mahamaya became the factor,originated by the prayers
of Lord Brahma to awaken Vishnu from His state. Mahamaya, who had fixated
Madhu and Kaitabh too, led the two demons to ask Vishnu for any wish He desired.
The Lord desired that the two demons be slayed at His hands. But the condition from
the demons was that they be killed at a place on Earth where there is no water.
Thus, Lord Vishnu slayed them on His lap.




Graphical depiction of Lord Brahma in the background as Devi (right) awakens Lord
Vishnu. Madhu and Kaitabh in the foreground



Relevance to a Shiv Yogi
Madhu and Kaitabh are not devils outside but the bad qualities and vices within us.
They both originated from the ear of Lord Vishnu. The underlying meaning is that the
genesis and origin of these two bad qualities is when the sense of hearing is polluted
and along with it intention.

Madhu is false praise. One loves to inflate one's ego by hearing all good. This
inflated ego is self destructive.

Kaitabh is uttering negative words.Talking ill of others, called "chugli" in Hindi is a
natural pass time of many people. On an individual level, hearing even constructive
criticism sounds cacophonic since the ego believes the individual to be supreme and
perfect.

Madhu (Meetha bhashan or Mridu vachan) implies sweet talk meant to deceive and
with an ulterior motive. Flattery, buttering, sycophancy are all Asuras which can be
bracketed under the Madhu. Such glib talking is a vice which grows insidiously and
secretly one day consumes the individual indulging in it.

Kaitabh(Karwa bol) refers to talking impolitely as if spewing venom. Criticizing,
abusing, analyzing, passing judgements or any talk which does not have
unconditional love in it on is an overarching devil too. This will over power the
individual quicker than Madhu and is sure to lead one to hell and constant cycle of
suffering and pain.

Baba ji says that whenever the God in us is in a state of temporary sleep, devils are
born. And when is God asleep ? Its when we do not engage in sadhna. The role of
Brahma is played by the sadhak who prays to the Guru and Shiva to awaken the two
within himself.

As the Param tatwa and Guru tatwa get activated, the pain and suffering inflicted by
ignorance of negativity will be terminated.

Every individual is gripped by Maya which makes the individual believe that this
world is all what is worth thinking of. The Maya does not let attachment wither away.






Every second, we are worried about what happened in our past, our familys past,
and our friends past. Every second we regret our actions, mourning all the sorrow
that has come in our lives. Maya is the illusion that the true identity is this physical
body and all one needs to do during ones lifetime is work on this body, the relations
of this body, accumulate wealth for this body etc.

The one who prays to Shakti and performs Her Sadhna, gets blessed and extricated
from this bondage of Maya.




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Navratra Day 2, Presiding Goddess : Brahmacharini





Ma Brahmacharini
2nd,3rd and 4th chapters (Mahishasur sanghar)

The second third and fourth chapters contain the anecdote of Mahishasur and his
army of beasts overpowering all devtas by finally winning a war lasting hundred
years. Mahishasur supersedes Indra Devta and by this act of dethronement
becomes the undisputed tyrannous king of the world.

Aggrieved and dejected, the devtas head to Lord Brahma with their plea to salvage
the situation for them and help regain their lost territory. Spearheaded by Lord
Brahma, the team of devtas approach Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva when both are
present at the same place. Hearing of the sorry state of affairs, Lord Shiva and Lord
Vishnu spawn a divine radiance "TEJ" from their mouths and with contributions from
Brahma and all devtas, this divine radiance and glow fuses to form a mass of
blinding illumination. This mass gives rise to "Mahadevi". The various parts of
Mahadevi are formed by individual contributions of energies of all present. The Devi
is characterized by having angelic beauty,gargantuan size,overbearing presence and
towering existence. The devtas, Lord Brahma,Vishnu and Mahesh offer their
specialized weapons to Devi who becomes omnipotent.



All devtas put in their mite and empowered the Devi with infinite mettle. A lesson to
be learnt here is that Unitedly one can work wonders.


The genesis of the Mahadevi creates ripples across the universe. Perturbed a tad bit
by this happening, the cohorts of Mahishasur - "Chikshuk and Chaamar", also
vicious monsters take turns to defeat the Devi. Mahadevi pounds them however and
their army brutally. The notorious might of the demons comes to naught. They are no
match for the all powerful Mahadevi. She drubs and pummels these monsters much
to the chagrin of Mahishasur.





Mahishasur arriving only after a sizeable portion of his devil army has been
vanquished. Mahadevi with the combined powers of all the devtas, Lord
Brahma,Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh was too much for the demon army


Smarting from this setback, Mahishasur, exercises his ability to manifest into various
forms. By first moulding itself into a bull, followed by a Lion, a man with a sword, big
elephant and again bull Mahishasur foxes Mahadevi and troubles her for a while.
After certain wasted attempts to exterminate Mahishasur, Mahadevi fumes. Her
eyes, baying for Mahishasur's blood, Her roar warning the demon that his last hurrah
was over, sticks Her feet at the chest of the demon and slays it with her trident. In a
vanguard attempt, Maheshasur tries to originate again from its mouth but Devi sees
it and kills it too. She then culls the devil army of Mahishasur.





Mahadevi slaying Mahishasur



The devtas rejoice and sing paens to Her. It is then that "Mahishasur Mardini" is
recited by one and all, offering gratitude to Mahadevi and extolling Her virtues,
majesty and might for usurping the reign of the monsters.


Clearing a doubt of the devtas that despite being all powerful, why doesnt Devi kill
the monsters at once and why the need to engage in a fiight with them at all, Devi
says that when She touches the demons while killing them, it causes their ascension
as She wishes the best for all.





Relevance to a Shiv Yogi
There is a constant battle which is relentlessly being fought within us. The battle is
between the devils and angels. Devils and angels both are within us. When we
indulge in negative karmas, i.e. those which include rejection, hate,resentment,fear,
ego, criticism, we give fuel to the "Asuras" within us. When we follow Siddha Marg of
Unoncditional love, acceptance and forgiveness shown by the Guru, we give fuel to
the Devtas.

Mahishasur stands for the human Ego. In body consciousness we immerse so much
that we forget that we are not this body. Ego, originating from the belief that we are
this body and are immortal, like Mahishasur is very clever. Ego just as Mahishasur
takes different forms at different times, in different states and different
circumstances. In rulers, ego takes the form of superiority, among the ruled it takes
the form of playing the victim card all the time.


Expecting others to salute you,greet you, treat you with respect is Mahishasur.






This is what we at times or rather most times do. In modern times we say there is no
Asura or Danav. But it is all within us. This is the modern day Mahishasur and we
can identify ourselves with it. Self importance is self destructive. Always be humble
and considerate



Ego is like slow poison. It slowly and steadily harms and one day becomes the ruler
in the mind to finally lead to pain , suffering, hell like experiences, negative entities
like ghosts attaching as revenge etc.


Indra stands for the 5 senses(also called paanch indriyan). The defeat of Indra by
Mahishasur implies 5 senses succumbing to the Ego. The ego wishes to see others
working for it, others speaking well for it, others serving tasty food, others
surrendering to it etc.


The devtas are the good sanskaras and karmas. When they are activated, they lead
us to the Guru and Shiva who are the Vishnu and Shiva of the story for us. The
radiance or "TEJ" from which Mahadevi is born is nothing but the energy which we
create when we do sadhna. It is called Sadhna Shakti. This energy, when fuses with
the blessings of the Guru, the Spiritual Masters and all Holy Siddhas is capable of
creating Shakti which is all powerful and which will slay the Ego.



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Navratra Day 3, Presiding Goddess : Chandraghanta



Ma Chandraghanta
5th and 6th chapters (Dhumralochan vadh)
The pantheon of devtas are discontented yet again after another invasion of their
kingdom by the demon duo of Shumbh and Nishumbh. Knowing of the powers of the
Devi and Her promise of descending to them and mankind at large whenever She
would be invoked, the devtas start the invocation. They bow before the powers of the
Devi and extoll her infinite virtues. Meanwhile Goddess Parvati who is abluting in the
holy Ganges near the Himalayas comes to know of this plea of the devtas. From Ma
Parvati's "kosha" or body originates the angelic beauty "Kaushiki" (one who is
spawned from the kosha). Chand and Mund, the servants of Shumbh-Nishumbh
witness the grandeur of Ma Kushiki ( also called Ma Ambika) and are left spellbound.

Chand and Mund then narrate the infinite and indescribable beauty of Ambika to
Shumbh. They also tell Shumbh that having accomplished the whole world through
their clout, he and Nishumbh must accomplish and win over such a beautiful woman
too since thats the only feather missing in their prolific cap.


Shumbh then sends his messenger Sugreev to summon the ravishing Ma Kaushiki
with the proposal of marrying him.The messenger then conveys to the Devi that
Shumbh and Nishumbh are the rulers of all the 3 worlds--- Sky,Earth and the Nether
world. They have triumphed over everything. They have made one and all
subservient to them.Shumbh and Nishumbh are indeed merchants and connoisseurs
of gems. They also consider the Devi to be a gem which is not in their collection.
Thus the messenger requested the Devi to select from either of Shumbh or
Nishumbh to be Her spouse.


The Devi retorts to the messenger Sugreev that all that he said was true but She had
set a pre condition for being a mate to anyone. The condition was that whoever
beats Her in a fight is free to take Her along.


The messenger tells the Devi that it was her illusion and over ambition that She was
keeping such imbecile and unthoughtful proposals and conditions. He also warns the
Devi that Shumbh and Nishumbh are a force to reckon with and are invincible and
that a poor, lonely woman as She wont be able to tolerate and combat their moves.
Despite Warning that She would have to face dire consequences like being dragged
and pulled by Her hair if she refuses to budge from her intransigent stand, the Devi
bids the messenger adieu by telling him that She had not thought of such a scenario
before She had made Her pledge and that she would not move from her stand, pre
conditions and caveats which were very much valid. She also tells the messenger
that he should tell her viewpoint to Shumbh and let him take any action he so
wishes.


Hearing of such obstinacy of the Devi, Shumbh orders Dhumralochan, the
Commander in chief of his army to nab the Devi by her hair and bring Her to court.
Resistance if offered by any protectors for her must be thwarted with unstoppable
force.


Before attacking the Devi, Dhumralochan puts forth a peaceful proposal of surrender
to Devi who spurns the order. Battle ensues between the 60,000 strong army of
Dhumralochan and the duo of Devi and Her Lion. The Lion trounces and beats the
army down-rightly. Dhumralochan too is killed in his duel with Devi.





Dhumralochan bore the brunt of under estimating the docile beauty and innocuous
countenance of Devi.



Incensed by this, Shumbh sends the duo of Chand and Mund to assassin Devi and
bring her dead or alive to his court.


Relevance to a Shiv Yogi
Baba ji says that Shumbh and Nishumbh are asuras which reside in us. They stand
for the bad qualities and vices of greed and lust. Shumbh and Nishumbh taking over
the 3 worlds implies greed and lust overpowering an individual.



Greed gives way to avariciousness called "trushna" in Hindi


The first lesson from this adhyay or chapter is that one must be satisfied with what
has. One must thank the Almighty for whatever has been bestowed upon by Him.
Despite having 99 good things in our lives, our focus invariably is on the 1 thing we
do not possess. We complain. We dont create. Baba ji thus wishes us to liberate
ourselves from this vicious attitude.


A consciousness raised through sadhna will want more accomplishments but in
those achievements it wont get stuck. It will thank and succeed to win more. Such a
consciousness will always live in the Guru's aura and constantly enjoy the blessings
of Shiva.


The second worthy thing to be noted is that whenever we shall invoke the Devi with
our soul and heart, She will come and with Her bring happiness, taking away all the
sorrow, pain and suffering. Just that the invocation has to be wholehearted and with
pure intention.


The third teaching from this is that like Devi, all women must endeavor to develop
their Inner beauty and love through sadhna since love and care are the
embellishments of a woman, but at the same time be ready to combat any hurdle
that may arrive in their life without getting bogged down by stereotypes of being
subservient to the opposite sex. Like Shakti be "Ati saumya ati raudraye" but in
different situations.


The fourth noteworthy lesson is that never underestimate the power of any
individual, situation or circumstance. Dhumralochan did so and paid the price. Thus
never be complacent. Believe in your powers and keep coming good. Never let the
intensity of your sadhna wear out thinking that yesterday was a powerful sadhna and
today it can be taken lightly. Never undervalue any situation, dealing or scenario.
Karmas when not burnt through sadhna can cause devastation. Hence continue the
sadhna with greater vigour every morning you get up.


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Navratra Day 4, Presiding Goddess : Kushmaanda





Ma Kushmaanda

7th chapter (Chanda Munda vadh)
As the news of decimation of Dhumralochan and his strong and sizeable army
trickles down to Shumbh-Nishumbh, they order Chand-Mund to try their hand at
apprehending Ambika Devi. Taking advantage after seeing Devi in a light mood, the
troops of Chand and Mund try and accost Her, some try and grab her
weapons,others surround her.



Mahakali originated from Ma Ambika>/i>


Noticing these developments, Devi is enraged. Her face red with rage, Her brows
raised, overall complexion turns dark and another devi in the form of Maha Kali
appears from Ambika. The Goddess Kali, wearing a garland of human heads,
wielding a sword, wagging tongue, constricted red eyes appears in a mood to
slaughter everything that comes Her way. Like a road roller She crushes and
tramples over the devil army and quite brutally so.


Onlooking such mayhem, Chand and Mund pounce on Her. Mund hurls his chakras
towards the mouth of Kali. Kali however opens Her mouth and with teeth, glistening
like 10000 suns, crushes the chakras in a jiffy.
Next, she growls at the demons (hunkar) and leaps on Chand, beheading him thus. On
seeing this Mund barges towards Ma Kali, only to be slashed to pieces on the floor.





Ma Kali offering the heads of Chand and Mund to Ambika Devi who in turn gives Kali the title
of "Chamunda" Devi.


Kali then offers the heads of Chand and Mund at the feet of Ambika Devi from whom Kali
originated. The latter also requests Ambika Devi that she Herself kill Shumbh Nishumbh.
Elated at such a fine display of valour and perfection, Ambika Devi blesses Ma Kali with the
name Chamunda since its Kali who is the One responsible for liberating the universe of
these dangerous demons.



Relevance to a Shiv Yogi
The lesson from this is that never pester a Shakti (woman) as she wields infinite power to
destroy too. It is the Shakti who has all the powers of creation but she can destroy the devil
too.


Chand and Mund are negative traits which possess the power to cause widespread havoc.
But Ma Kali has the powers to decimate them. And when we do Shree Vidya sadhna, we
pray to Ma Kali too. So Shakti sadhna is omnipotent and must be done without a miss.







The "Hunkar" that Ma Kali does before exterminating Chand and Mund is analogous to the
rising of Kundalini shakti through our Sushmana nadi. Before obliterating all karmas, Ma
Kundalini rises with a "funkar" as if to warn the karmas that their end is nigh. This explains
various kriyas which happen abruptly as Baba ji initiates sadhaks in shivirs.




Also an important lesson is always accord supreme respect to women.








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Navratra Day 5, Presiding Goddess : Skanda Mata




Ma Skanda Mata

8th chapter (Raktabeej sanghar)
The massive bloodshed inflicted by Devi on his army and the brutal killings of
Chanda and Munda riles the Demon king Shumbh no end. He thus orders all his
troops and contingents to gear up for avenging such devastation.

As the demon army approaches Ambika Devi, Ma Kali and the Lion, Devi displays Her
strength through a loud growl as if sounding the war cry. The roar of the Lion and the
sonorous reverberation of the huge bells by Devi adds to the resonance.


The demon army,roused by the war cry instigation besiege Devi Ambika, Ma Kali and the
Lion.





Ma Kali which is analogous to the fierce rising of the Kundalini. The "hunkar" of Kali is the
"funkar" of the Kundalini.




At this stage the trinity of Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh alongwith chief Devtas offer the Devi
with all their powers. The consorts of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and Indra namely Brahmani,
Vaishnavi (Varahi),Maheswari,Indrani (also called Aindri) and Narsinghi also appear to assist
Ambika Devi who resizes Her to a gargantuan Devi.



All the devi devtas alongwith Brahma,Vishnu and Mahesh synergizing their powers to Ma
Ambika


The devis which appeared are (in that order) :



Brahamani or Brahmi devi riding on a swan. She is the consort of Lord Brahma



Maheshwari devi riding on a cow. She is the consort of Maheshwar or Lord Shiva



Kaumari devi. She is the consort of Indra



Vaishnavi devi. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu



Narsinghi



Devi Indrani who is also the consort of Indra



Varahi devi which originated from Lord Vishnu




Ambika devi then asks Lord Shiva to be Her "doot" or messenger and present the offer of
amnesty to Shumbh and his army as a last chance of redemption. Thus Ambika Devi is also
known as "Shiv-dooti" which means the one who made Shiva as Her messenger.


Lord Shiva conveys this last offer of pardon to Shumbh and his army, only to be turned down
outrightly. The army then attacks Devi. Devi makes short work of the army, killing thousands
of troops at will. Ma Kali too trounces the devil army. Similarly Brahmani,
Vaishnavi,Indrani,Narsinghi too pummel the demon army as if it were a cakewalk.


In this backdrop enters Raktabeej. He had a blessing if any of his parts were cut, the blood
droplets that would ooze out from the slashed part would give rise to as many more of his
kind like a sort of asexual reproduction method of growth.


All the devis took turns to kill and disembody Raktabeej but as this happened, more and
more blood dripped on the Earth, giving rise to more Raktabeejas.



More blood meant more Raktabeejas


Steadily, the whole world is besieged by Raktabeejas. This becomes a major cause of
concern for the devtas. Ambika Devi then asks Ma Kali (Chamunda) to open Her mouth so
wide that as She attacks Raktabeeja, the blood that falls and the more asuras that spring up,
are swallowed by Ma Kali.



Ma Kali ingesting the blood and the consequent Raktabeej asuras



Ma Kali after vanquishing Raktabeej


Thus another noxious devil was overwhelmed by Devi and Her manifestations much to the
delight of the devtas and inhabitants of Earth.




Relevance to a Shiv Yogi

Baba ji sermons in many a shivir that the asura Raktabeej is analogous to our sanchit
karmas or accumulated deeds of past and this birth.


There are 2 ways of ending karmas--- first to let them unravel and suffer them out and the
second is to burn them through sadhna.


The first method is nothing but the vicious cycle of Raktabeeja. When we do not engage in
sadhna and let our karmas unfold on their own, it causes suffering. In that suffering we will
be worried and troubled and generate more negative karmas which in turn again will cause
more suffering.



We give rise to more negativity if we let the karmas unfold on their own. Sadhna is thus
paramount.


When a bad incident unfolds, we feel sorrowful,dejected, mournful, hateful,vengeful,
fearful,vulnerble and other such negative emotions. So unfolding of a single karma causes
accumulation of thousand more karmas which if not cleared through sadhna are capable of
overtaking the individual completely.


But when we do sadhna, the negative karmas are burnt beforehand and one can enjoy life
without giving birth to new karmas.



The Shakti generated after sadhna is potent enough to drink the blood droplets of karmas
which fall down when an incident occurs and generate more "Raktabeeja swaroopa" karmas
and suffering.







Importance of sadhna thus is supreme. The priority of sadhna must be above all karmas that
we do. Forget eating, forget sleeping forget reading the newspaper but never forget doing
sadhna.




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Navratra Day 6, Presiding Goddess : Katyayani
Ma Katyayani
9th and 10th chapters (Shumbh-Nishumbh vadh)
Smarting from the mammoth havoc wreaked by Ambika Devi and Her divine
aides,Shumbh and Nishumbh vow to retaliate with greater force. No sooner do they
enter the battlefield than they heap a volley of arrows, maces,sickles,swords on
Ambika Devi and Her Lion. Devi strikes back and with aplomb, cutting all the
weapons hurled at Her to pieces. The armor of Nishumbh too is blasted into
smithereens.



Shumbh Nishumbh engaged in a key battle with Devi


A similar barrage of attacks follows and every time Devi comes out unscathed. Nishumbh is
soon pummeled into unconsciousness. Seeing such a hard blow dealt to his brother
Nishumbh, Shumbh wishes to exact revenge on Devi. Devi blows the conch shell and
signals the death knell of Shumbh by ringing bells, the sound of which reverberates across
the universe. Her Lion too roars; the roar transcending all realms. Witnessing such a fierce
countenance of Devi, all devtas hail the Devi by doing Her "Jai-jai kar".



Devi and Her ferocious Lion




Exchange of aggressive assaults follows, resulting in Shumbh falling unconscious this time
over.



Shumbh falling unconscious as Nishumbh wakes up


Meanwhile Nishumbh gains consciousness increasing his upper limbs from two to ten
thousand.He begins hurling a multitude of weapons at Devi. Devi weathers this onslaught
with ease and is equal to the barrage of attack.Finally, Devi hurls her spiked shovel at
Nishumbh, piercing his chest into 2 parts, and concomitantly a new devil rises from the
entrails of the dying body of Nishumbh. The devil forwarns Devi of her end but with a wry
smile, Devi kills this new demon too. Devi's Lion then gorges on the heads of all the demons
killed in this battle.


Bearing testimony to such cataclysm, Shumbh calls the Devi a cheater who kills Her
opponents through the assists of Her aides like devtas, other devis, Her Lion etc.


To this Devi retorts, "O wicked and daft devil Shumbh ! All the devis and devtas are not
different entities. They are all my manifestations. It is like I have deconstructed myself and
various parts of mine are engaged in war with various Asuras. Despite that if you deem this
scenario as unfair, I am ready to square up and debilitate you as One. "


Thus Ambika Devi assimilates all the demi-gods within Herself and the duel with Shumbh
begins. The battle becomes very intriguing as Shumbh puts up a good fight to all of Devi's
advances.



The battle royal between Devi and Shumbh


Both inflict mutual damage. Weapons cannot separate the two as the battle now moves to
fisticuffs. A long drawn contest follows in the sky. Devi lifts Shumbh in the sky and throws
him to the Earth with infinite force. The savage Shumbh however stands his ground on
Earth. He then barges towards Devi to kill her and even as he does so, Devi flings a
supremely powerful trident at him. As the trident cleaves his body, his pran begin to
discharge. The death of Shumbh shakes the entire landscape of the universe.


As this happens, elation and ecstasy suffuse the universe. Rivers start to flow in their proper
directions, birds start singing, breeze starts blowing, sun radiates in its full glory, cacophonic
sounds give way to tranquility and the shroud of darkness is removed.




Relevance to a Shiv Yogi
Shumbh and Nishumbh are the vices of greed and lust. When one is pacified, the other is
cropped up just like the asuras who fell unconscious for sometime only to arise sometime
later.


The last line of the story reads that the normal functioning of nature is restored as Shumbh is
killed. So when through sadhna this bad quality of greed and stealing others' share which is
present in us will subside, we will start functioning or start treading faster towards self
realization for which we have taken birth.


Desires of an impure consciousness turn into greed and avariciousness. Sense of satiation
and satisfaction eludes such a person.


Greed and lust make us so blind that even God seems unfair just as Shumbh calls Devi a
cheat. We curse God for our pain, suffering and sorrow. The 99 things that we have are of
no use. The 1 thing that we don't is all what matters to us. We complain, crib,pass judgments
and prolong our pining.


If at all through the blessings of Shiva, we get something, we dont thank Him and reckon that
it was due to us.


When we do sadhna and invoke Ma Sanjeevani, She does not come alone. She brings
along all devis, devtas and the divine trinity of Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh.Its is important to
understand what the devis,devtas and the divine trinity stand for.






In doing Shree Vidya sadhna which is the meditation of all aspects of the universe
encompassing every micro particle to every macro structure, we are blessed by :
Ma Lakshmi (gain of prosperity by way of money,assets and all luxuries)
Ma Saraswati (Divine Wisdom oozes out of us naturally and we become the scholar
of all worldly sciences too),
Ma Kali ( at a subtle level confidence builds in us which gives us the faith and belief
that we can achieve anything and everything and tide over all difficulties all by
ourselves),
Lord Brahma( we become the creators of our own destiny and voluntarily so,
deciding for ourselves what will our future be like)
Lord Vishnu (we sustain our lives enjoying everything, leading a lifetime full of bliss)
Lord Shiva (destroying any negativity which comes our way and becoming forgiving,
simple just like "Bhola Bhandari" or Bholenath)
Lion of Ma Durga (the rigidity to stick to resolves, the firm determination, the courage
to pounce on hurdles and bravely fight them out)
16 Nityas of the Moon (when one does sadhna everyday, the presiding devi of the
day, also called the Nitya is appeased and all through the day the shower of
unconditional love of Devi continues)
Blessings of Sun (we become tejoymay, exuding divine energy at all times just like
the glow of 10 suns which adorn our beautiful universe)


Thus a sadhak who meditates daily, if at all encounters a difficulty, he does not fight it alone.
The whole universe fights with him as Ma Ambika is always around. And when Ma Ambika is
around, all divinity is around.


Hail the Shakti who give us so much. Thank Her everyday. Thank the Guru who introduced
"ourselves to our real selves"



===========***********===========
Navratra Day 7, Presiding Goddess : Kalratri




Ma Kalratri

Chapter 11 (Praise of Narayani)
After Ambika Devi elliminates Shumbh and Nishumbh, all devtas hail Ma singing her
divine glory.They extol the praises of Ma chanting aloud:


"Hey Devi Ma youre the one who alleviates all problems of your seekers. Youre the one
presiding over this universe thus the name "vishweshwari" . Youre the one who has cast her
spell "Maya" on all inhabiting mother Earth. Youre the one praying to whom one can attain
liberation from worldly attachments. All directions lead to you. All women of this world are
your manifestations. You alone are ubiquitous across the universe. What can be your
praise? Youre above all qualities and way of expressions. Youre the highest form of
communication ---- Paraavani. Youre the intellect in all creations. Youre the base on which
Earth is premised. Your valour is non pareil. Youre the water element, youre the Vaishnavi,
youre the one granting all wishes, thus hailed as "Sarvamangala". Youre the one creating
positivity and busting negativity. Youre the Goddess of virtues. Youre the Brahmani,
Vaishnavi,Kaumari,Shivduuti,Narsinghi, and present in all consorts of powerful deities. Youre
the one embellished with garland of skulls. Youre the one incarnating and present in various
forms as Laxmi,Lajja,Mahavidya,Shraddha pushti,Swadha,
Dhruva,Maharatri,Mahavidya,Medha,Saraswati ,Vara,Parvati,Mahakali,Sanyamsheela,Sarva
ishwari,Katyayani,Bhadrakali.


O Mother protect us from all threats and fears. Your noble visage with trinetra or three eyes
is beautiful. More menacing than the fire of volcano, may your trident be our protector. May
your bell which sucks out all devilish energy at its mere ring, guard us from evils. May the
incisive sword that you wield in your hands, on which writ large is the blood of asuras,
shepherd us to safety. O mother whenever youre happy, you become the panacea to all
diseases. Those surrendering to you, never find themselves in any form of trouble;rather
such souls help others rectify their problems.


Who else but you can debilitate such monstrous savages as Mahishasur, Chand
Mund,Shumbh Nishumbh, Rakt Beej et al ? It is our request to you to likewise always
accompany us wherever we go and whoever prays to you, may you save the day for
him/her.May you help all overcome all hurdles.


You find a mention in all sciences, all studies, all scriptures. You are the ignorance too who
as Maya, foxes consciousness into darkness. You protect from all evils and in all dire
circumstances, be they getting lost in a forest,getting caught by dacoits or be stranded in the
midst of the sea.


Devi then foretells about how She shall grace this planet in times of crisis as
drought(genesis of Her name Shataksi) ,help in overpowering the oppressive regime of
Vaiprachitti for Her alias of Raktdantika being coined. When a devil named Durgam will be
killed at Her hands, she will be hailed Durga. The name Bheema Devi will gain eminence
when she'll protect the saints in Himalayas from all negative forces. She'll be hailed as
Brahmari when she' ll incarnate as a 6 paw animal and secure all from the devil "Arun"


Likewise whenever mankind will be in times of need, Devi will incarnate indeed.




===========***********===========
Navratra Day 8, Presiding Goddess : Mahagauri




Ma Mahagauri



Chapter 12 (Stuti Phal)
Devi contends that the one who with utmost concentration and dedication prays daily
to Her, he/she will receive the infinite grace for life to be hassle free.The one who
shall ruminate over the essence of Chand Mund vadh,Mahishasur vadh,Shumbh
Nishumbh vadh,Madhu Kiatabh vadh would be blessed in all aspects of life. The
lessons from her conquests are so potent and powerful that they bear the sinew to
extricate one from Maya,raise the energy of the place and individuals engaged in
Her remembrance. Pondering over Her one becomes free of all the phobias,
negativity,ill health, poor financial situation, poor familial relations and Her name is
effective in giving the imaginable and the unimaginable to every seeker alike.

Whichever form we pray to Ma in, She shall with Her benign presence charm us.
Unhappiness, penury,fear etc too are all Her forms and if we choose to stay in these
emotions, Ma is more than happy to grace us in these dreadly ways.







===========***********===========
Navratra Day 9, Presiding Goddess : Siddhidatrri




Ma Siddhidhatri

Chapter 13 (Blessings to King Surath and Vaishy)
Medha Rishi, the narrator of the folklore of Durga to Vaishy and King Surath then
avers that all that unfolds in the world is through the influence of Devi Ma and that all
must hanker after Her auspices in order that positivity per se continues to be
solicited in everyone's life. Devi Ma as Maya will continue to transfix all who have
taken birth on this planet. However those humble enough to seek her blessings
through sadhna will be liberated from this cycle of cause and effect.


Hearing of the legendary tales, Vaishy and King Surath then leave for meditation.They follow
the meditation procedure to the hilt. They reduce their food intake moving from cereals to
fruits and ultimately divert all their energies to rigorous sadhna for 3 years.



Both the King and merchant penance and meditate for 3 years


Ultimately an appeased Ma Ambika appears before the two, asking them to seek their
wishes from Her. The kings seeks return of his kingdom and a kingdom for his next birth too.



The King's wish


The Vaishy, disillusioned with life and the world on the whole, wishes the grant of divine
Wisdom to him , which is capable of Self realization.





The Vaishy's wish




Blessing both, Devi then disappears into thin air.


Durga Saptashati--- What's not to be missed
Although all chapters of this divine text have their own distinct implications and
meanings, all through the Saptashati, there are recurring lessons which merit a
mention and which must be borne in mind forever.

1. United we stand divided we fall- Not that Ambika Devi was any weak to not have
been able to combat all asuras single-handedly but the humility and modesty of the
devtas, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh brought forth the virtue of united power. Baba ji
talks about collective healing and collective chanting on the same lines. Higher level
Shree Vidya however must not be done collectively.
2. Ego, the king of vices- In all the allegorical stories of Saptashati, one trend that is
observed is that greed, lust, anger,sycophancy,criticism all stem from ego and which
became the root cause of the demise of the asuras. Thus doing sadhna, a sadhak
shuns the word "I" and soon "Shiva" takes over. The emotion of selflessness is born.
Happiness is sought not from others but by bowing to the Shiva in others----- Namah
shivay.
3. Humbleness and Gratitude-The demi-gods,Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma,Lord Vishnu
et al despite being infinite themselves do not forget to thank the Devi whenever She
defeats the asuras at their insistence. They sing hymns to Her, praise Her and pray
that may Her blessings be always with one and all exhibiting their altruism too. Thus
a thank you at all times at even slight favours is a must.
4. Sadhna the panacea for all diseases-One thing that became quite apparent after
meditating through Saptashati is that whether its the Mahishasur in us or Raktabeej
or any disease,fear, materialization of any wish, the Shakti is capable of obliterating
all sorts of devils and granting all wishes . Shakti here refers to sadhna shakti,
generated when one practices sadhna daily.
5. Seeking Devi- The most interesting aspect about Shakti is that in whichever form
you worship Her, She shall come in that form. If one complains, cribs and cries all the
time, wishes bad for others and indulges in cheating,forgery, Ma will come to the
person as "Daridrata" or Penury or Poverty. She has pledged that She will never
leave Her creations. So in one form or the other She is present everywhere.
As a Shiv Sadhak invoke Ma in Shree Chakra form by chanting Swadhyay daily, indulging in
sadhna daily and keeping all family members happy. If one wishes to invoke Ma as Laxmi
swaroopa, what better way than spending money on charity ? Do bhandara for the needy.
Engage in Sewa. Ma is ever ready to serve devtas and people of the world. This is the best
example of the will to do sewa. Such a burning desire to help must be there in all Shiv Yogis.





Extend the fast from vices to the whole year long than mere Navratras.


Mere reading of these teachings and casting a perfunctory glance for entertainment
sake would not solve the purpose of this note. Do sadhna daily and read the note
again and again. This is Brahma gyan. This is Baba ji's gyan narrated ornamentally in
your language.


Avail yourselves of this opportunity to attain Moksha in this birth itself. Remember the
year is 2012.


Om Guruve Namah !
Om Namaschandikaye !
Jai Ma !
Namah shivay.


by Shiv Yog Foundation
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 8:52 PM 1 comment:
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The following are common manifestations of the risen Kundalini
Muscle twitches, cramps or spasms.
Energy rushes or immense electricity circulating the body

Itching, vibrating, prickling, tingling, stinging or crawling sensations

Intense heat or cold

Involuntary bodily movements (occur more often during meditation, rest or sleep):
jerking, tremors, shaking; feeling an inner force pushing one into postures or
moving one's body in unusual ways. (May be misdiagnosed as epilepsy, restless
legs syndrome (RLS), or PLMD.)

Alterations in eating and sleeping patterns

Episodes of extreme hyperactivity or, conversely, overwhelming fatigue (some
CFS victims are experiencing Kundalini awakening)

Intensified or diminished sexual desires

Headaches, pressures within the skull

Racing heartbeat, pains in the chest

Digestive system problems

Numbness or pain in the limbs (particularly the left foot and leg)

Pains and blockages anywhere; often in the back and neck (Many cases of FMS
are Kundalini-related.)

Emotional outbursts; rapid mood shifts; seemingly unprovoked or excessive
episodes of grief, fear, rage, depression

Spontaneous vocalizations (including laughing and weeping) -- are as
unintentional and uncontrollable as hiccoughs

Hearing an inner sound or sounds, classically described as a flute, drum,
waterfall, birds singing, bees buzzing but which may also sound like roaring,
whooshing, or thunderous noises or like ringing in the ears.

Mental confusion; difficulty concentrating

Altered states of consciousness: heightened awareness; spontaneous trance
states; mystical experiences (if the individual's prior belief system is too
threatened by these, they can lead to bouts of psychosis or self-grandiosity)

Heat, strange activity, and/or blissful sensations in the head, particularly in the
crown area.

Ecstasy, bliss and intervals of tremendous joy, love, peace and compassion

Psychic experiences: extrasensory perception; out-of-body experiences; pastlife
memories; astral travel; direct awareness of auras and chakras; contact with spirit
guides through inner voices, dreams or visions; healing powers

Increased creativity: new interests in self-expression and spiritual communication
through music, art, poetry, etc.

Intensified understanding and sensitivity: insight into one's own essence; deeper
understanding of spiritual truths; exquisite awareness of one's environment
(including "vibes" from others)

Enlightenment experiences: direct Knowing of a more expansive reality;
transcendent awareness
This article take from :
http://www.elcollie.com/st/symptoms.html
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 9:15 PM No comments:
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Labels: meditation
Friday, March 2, 2012
Shivyog Havan Vidhi
Om Namah Shivaya,


The purpose of this Havan is to increase the positive energy of your home, wards of
sickness and also gets rid of any black magic done.

For this Havan you will have to do it at sunrise where the sun is rising and the moon is
setting. And at sunset when the sun is setting and the moon is rising.

Please check this website for the timings at this website
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=1228

21 Ahuthis should be done. Make sure to say Swaha at the end of the Mahamaritunjaya
Mantra and do the ahutis then.

The Ahuthis ingredients must be picked up by your right hands, 3 fingers i.e your
Thumb finger, Middle finger and Ring finger.

Havan Items:
1. Copper Havan Kund
2. Aam or Pipal Stick Dried (Mango or Pipal Tree)
3. Gobbar Khand (Cow Dung Dried)
4. Karpooram (Camphor)



For Ahuthi:
Cow Ghee (Desi Ghee)
Juah ( Paddy Grain)
Rice (chawal) MAKE SURE THE RICE IS NOT BROKEN
Black Seasame seed ( Kala Til)
Little bit of Sugar






This Shivyog Havan was done in Mr. and Mrs. Rakesh Patel's house. We are very
grateful to their family to provide and share with us the video and photos on how
they did the Havan.








Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 7:25 PM 1 comment:
Spirit Guides: Who are they and how do you connect with them?
Spirit guides are incorporeal beings that are assigned to us before we are born that help
nudge and guide us through life. Theyre responsible for helping us fulfill the spiritual
contract we make with ourselves before we incarnate. Your higher self helps select
these guides, who help us while we are living out our incarnation.
Who are these guides?
Some guides will stay with you throughout your entire life, and others will pop in every
now and again to help you with specific areas of your life or goals you are trying to
achieve. These guides are at varying levels of consciousness themselves. Some may
be highly ascended masters (such as Jesus) and others might be your average spirit
who just happens to be a master in a certain area. They may appear to have a male or
female energy, though in reality they are just energy. They may be spirits who have had
physical incarnations, or they might be spirits who have never taken corporeal
form. You may be the only person they are guiding, or they may be on the panel for
other people as well. They might be deceased relatives, but that is less likely. When its
time for your spirit guides to help you, they tune in to your energy and help direct you to
fulfill your earthly mission.
How do guides help us?
Spirit guides can see whats going on in our lives, and when its time for them to actually
guide and/or intervene they have several ways they can accomplish this.
1. Sending signs. Guides can arrange synchronicities to help alert you to
something you need to see or know about. Pay attention to those when they
happen. Recently the same scene from the movie, The Incredibles, was shown
to me 3 times in 3 different ways in a 24 hour period. I saw it at home while my
kids were watching it, at Office Depot (it was playing as a demo on the tv), and
someone else mentioned that particular scene to me in conversation. Thats a
sign, folks. I got the message.
2. Gut feelings. Guides can poke you in the gut when youre experiencing
something they want you to pay attention to. Following your gut feelings is
probably a good idea. Have you ever had this eerie feeling that something
terrible was going to happen but you couldnt quite put your finger on it? That
might be a guide poking you in your gut.
3. Intuitive insight. Guides can send you flashes of intuition which may sound like
a voice in your head. Slow down! and then you realize you were almost in a car
accident. Or Hes cheating on you. These are thoughts that appear to come
out of nowhere but which contain important information youll want to
notice. Many people tune out their intuition, but its a valuable source of
information.
4. Sending people into your life. Your guides sometimes get together with other
peoples guides and together they try to create a meeting between their
charges. Perhaps you are thinking about someone from college and whammo
blammo see them in the bookstore later that day. Chance encounter? Probably
not. Perhaps you were thinking about moving and you run into your old realtor
friend in the supermarket. If it feels like a coincidence, consider that it might be
more of a set up.
5. Arranging and nudging. Guides can also nudge you in the direction they want
you to go, or arrange for something to happen to you. For example, perhaps
youre running late and cant find your keys. Youre frustrated because you need
to get somewhere on time. Suddenly, your phone rings and its a really important
call you would have missed if you had found your keys earlier. Who do you think
actually misplaced your keys? This is hard for them because you have free
will. They can only arrange so much or nudge so hard. The more you can pick
up on their clues, the better. Sometimes you just need to surrender to a situation
that seems frustrating.
How do you connect with your guides directly?
Wouldnt it be great if your guides could just call you on the phone and tell you whats
coming in your future, or tell you to look out for a guy named Joe, or that your child
needs you and you should get to them right away? For some people thats quite nearly
how it works. It just takes time and practice to be able to hear, see, or feel your
guides. Here are some ways you can work on increasing your connection directly.
1. Listen to your intuition. That little voice that tells you to slow down or buy
bread or take notice of the pretty woman in line in front of you is a direct
communication from your guides or higher self. Try listening to your intuition and
see what results you get. Many people dismiss their intuition. See what
happened to me when I ignored mine. Its not always pleasant. Do not mistake
your ego for your intuition, however. If youre hearing thoughts like, Dont bother
asking her out, shell never go out with someone like you then thats your
ego. Flick him off your shoulder.
2. Go with your gut. Following your gut instinct is also a manner in which guides
try to direct you. For example, lets say youre in a business meeting and logic
and reason tell you that the people sitting in front of you will fulfill their end of the
deal, but your gut feeling says these people are going to fail to deliver and youll
be stuck holding the bag. Listen to that gut feeling. If something doesnt feel
right, it probably isnt. At the very least, use your gut feelings to protect and keep
yourself safe.
3. Watch for signs. Ask your guides for what you want and then watch for signs
that youve been heard. My guides like to show me interesting license
plates. For example, at my mastermind meeting recently I put out the intention to
become fit, trim, and slim. When I left the meeting I found myself driving behind a
vehicle with the license plate, Fitness. But signs can come in so many
ways. Maybe youre wondering if you should take up tennis and you go out to
your car and see a flyer offering tennis classes in your area, and then you get
home and your spouse has coincidentally brought home a tennis racket that a co-
worker just didnt need anymore, and you see a news story about tennis later that
night on television. Those are all positive signs.
4. Journal. A method I recommend to a lot of people during my readings is to open
a journal program or just a Word document and write down some questions youd
like to ask your guides. Be quiet and meditative and type up the answers you
hear. Keep going as if youre having a conversation with them. It may seem like
youre just typing answers from your imagination, but keep going. When you get
to a point where the answers youre getting dont feel like your own voice, take
notice of what they say. A benefit of this approach is being able to refer back to it
later.
5. Meditate. Do a meditation where you imagine yourself going to a room or a
garden and ask your guides to appear before you, sit with you, and chat. Like the
journaling method, just see what they say. In time your connection will become
stronger, and the information you get will be more accurate and applicable to
your life.
6. Dream. One of the best ways to meet and connect with your guides is to meet
them halfway. Open your dream up to them. You can put out the intention every
night to see and connect with your guides in your dreams. It may take a while,
but it will probably eventually work. If you can master lucid dreaming youll have
success much faster since once you become lucid you can simply ask your
guides to appear and talk to you.
7. Ask a psychic. One of the services I offer in my readings is to help people
identify at least some of their guides, usually the ones working with them on the
areas theyre asking about in the reading. This introduction can help you tune in
on your guides yourself.
How do you know if youre just imagining them?
Youll know by the advice you get. Does it resonate with you? Do you feel like its
coming from them and not you? Does the advice make sense to you? Do you get great
results when you listen to their counsel? Do they appear the same way every time? If
the answers to these questions are all yes then you are on the right track. You may
wonder if youre actually in tune with your guides or not, but the most important thing to
remember is that if you get great results and youre happier, does it really matter where
the information is coming from?

This article is taken from : http://www.erinpavlina.com/blog/2006/11/connecting-with-
spirit-guides/
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 5:14 PM No comments:
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Daily Meditation
The routine to follow for daily practice of sadhna is broken up into the morning sadhna
and the evening sadhna as Babaji's has described during the Shivir.

MORNING
1. Begin with Swadhyay - advisable to use the Swadhyay book or CD
o Guru Khand
o Shakti Khand
o Laxmi Khand
o Eleven (11) repetitions of Maha Mrutyunjay Mantra
o Sankirtan of your own choice
2. Sadhna - sadhaks who have completed course 1 & 2 (Siddha Dhyan &
Shambhavi Dhyan)
o Invocation
o Chakra meditation
3. Sadhaks who have completed up to course 3 (Shri Vidya Dhyan)
o Invocation
o Chakra meditation (with Sun - Lord Surya Narayan)

EVENING
1. Sankirtan of choice
2. Invocation
3. Chakra meditation (Shri Vidya sadhaks - with Meru or Shri Yantra)
You can also download the Prana-Kriyas.pdf from Download section.
This info was extracted from http://www.shivyogsouthafrica.com
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 4:59 PM No comments:
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Monday, January 16, 2012
Visions in Meditation
The visions can be divided into four major categories :

1. Visions coming from purification of Chitta.
These visions are mostly seen in the beginning days of sadhna. A Sadhaka normally
sees himself with giants, serpents, evil spirits or sees himself in very shabby and poor
condition . Often one is afraid and the concentration breaks ..but these should be seen
bravely as when these type of visions are seen, it indicates some very bad karma or our
own evil desires are dying . These type of visions denote progress in Sadhana.

2. Visions showing future.
These visions are like his Kripa to tell us forehand that we should be ready for some bad
times. Though some people, without any sadhana also see visions about future, but
these are more common with sadhkas. One should not feel distressed to see the future,
as God wishes to warn us and to be ready for this.

3. Visions guiding in sadhana
Once we have made little advancement on the path of sadhana, our burden of Yoga is
taken over by HIM (As shri Krishna has beautifully explained in Gita). These type of
visions are seen by those sadhaka who do not have a guru, or their guru is not available
to help him. These visions give clear guidance on .
4. Visions showing the mysteries of the Universe
These type of visions are seen by advanced sadhaka (or by a novice if God so wishes).
In this one may see sky, stars, kundalini or his body functions, or may see different
energies working in the universe. The vision had by Swami Yogananda falls under this
category. So by careful analysis of the vision, we may categorise it and find out whether
it indicates Chittashudhhi, warning, guiding or showing great mystery and use its results
in our sadhana. STRANGE LIGHTS : Seeing strange lights by closed eyes is a very
common phenomenon. these are seen even by new sadhakas. There are different
explanations for seeing the lights, but we will not go into dry intellectualism. These lights
may be seen as a dot against the black back ground as seen by closed eyes or we may
see a fog/mist of colours, or the light may be seen as a thunderbolt. How we see the
lights is not important. The importance of light lies in its color. We should carefully note
the color of the light seen which may give us an insight into its significance.
Below some examples gathered from new and advanced sadhakas :-
(The colours may be common colours, but they tend to change in such wavelengths as
are never seen in practical. Seeing a colour in strange wavelengths denotes higher
stage of concentration)

1. A less black dot seen in the darker background :- It denotes the sadhana is on right
path. The dot represents wavering but settling Manas as seen by the Agya Chakra.

2. A bright dot (color milky white) : denotes progress in sadhana. If possible we should
concentrate on this dot, though in the beginning it sparks and fades in seconds, but
becomes stable with progress in concentration.

3. Self-illuminating cob-webs or strange shapes : These may denote visualizing one of
our chakra, or a complex system of our Nadis. Instead of wasting our time as to what it
is, we should continue with our sadhna and He will reveal slowly what He wishes to
show.

4. Color Pink : denotes higher stage of purified chitta

5. Color Green : denotes peace attained by Manas

6. Color Yellow or golden : denotes Ishwar Kripa coming to us

7. Color Orange : denotes lust and Kama under control

8. Color Violet : denotes higher stage of sadhna. It signifies activation of Agya Chakra.

9. Color Blue : denotes feeling of Vairagya becoming stronger.

These were some common colors seen by sadhakas. If You see some other color, try to
find its nearer color and deduce your result.

The following symptom, if felt during meditation , prove the advancement of sadhna :-

1. Sudden jerk in limbs - this happens due to Prana suddenly rushing away from the limb
to the Sushumna. This sign denotes higher stage of concentration and advancement in
sadhana.

2. Cool air felt on eyelids / forehead :- another very good sign of progress. This normally
happens in deep concentration. One feels as if super cooled air is being blown gently
over one's eyelids, forehead, throat, nose or any other part. This happens due to inflow
of prana from the supreme power (Mother Nature/Durga). After some more practice, one
may feel this cool air any time even while not meditating.

3. Throbbing/pulsing - sometimes sadhaka feels throbbing in the end of spinal region, or
on genitals, or on the forehead. This sensation denotes activation of concerned chakra.

4. Tingling in the spinal column :- One may feel tingling in the spinal column, or upper
tips of genitals , or on lips. This happens due to Prana opening the fine nadis and is a
good sign, but one should be careful during this sensation as Sexual desires may flare
up suddenly. One has to control his sex-needs during this sensation, then it becomes
very helpful in sadhana.

5. Sudden jerks in the body :- some sadhaka may feel sudden jerks during mediation.
This is most common in sadhakas doing TM, RajYoga, or Vipasana. These jerks are
sometimes so violent that they break the concentration. These jerks happen due to
Prana suddenly flowing into Sushumna Nadi. It is a very good sign and should be taken
as a progress on the path. If they disturb the concentration, one should not lose heart
because by the passage of time, and advancement of sadhana this break in
concentration will stop.

6. Feeling of lightness/floating : Many sadhakas feel that their body has become light like
feather or some may feel they are in the air in an unbalanced position, or some just feel
blown in the air. This sensation is felt when the astral body detaches itself from the
physical body, and starts floating in the air. This is a very good sign, provided one does
not get disturbed out of fear or any such thing. If one continues he may start having the
astral visions after this sensation.

7. Listening strange sounds :- Though listening astral sounds is a part of Anahat Naad
Sadhana, but any sadhaka can listen the astral sounds. Some sadhaka listen the sound
of a flute, or sound of conch, or sound of rain, or sound of thunderbolt, or sound of river
flowing. All these sounds are normally heard in the upper region of brain. This sensation
is felt due to activation of astral ears. These sounds are in fact the sounds of the astral
world. One may continue with his sadhana without giving much importance to these
sound. If we concentrate on these sounds, our path will change and we will start Naad
Anusandhan which is another powerful path for salvation. The last sound heard in this
case will be of OM.


This info was extracted from
http://namahashivaya.blogspot.com
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 11:02 PM No comments:
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Spiritual Awakening
1. Body aches and pains, especially in the neck, shoulder and back. This is the result of
intense changes at your DNA level as the "Shiva seed" awakens within. This too shall
pass.

2. Feeling of deep inner sadness for no apparent reason. You are releasing your past
(this lifetime and others) and this causes the feeling of sadness. This is similar to the
experience of moving from a house where you lived in for many years into a new house.
As much as you want to move into the new house, there is a sadness of leaving behind
the memories, energy and experiences of the old house. This will pass.

3. Crying for no apparent reason. Similar to #2 above. It's good and healthy to let the
tears flow. It helps to release the old energy within. This too shall pass.

4. Sudden change in job or career. A very common symptom. As you change, things
around you will change as well. Don't worry about finding the "perfect" job or career right
now. This too shall pass. You're in transition and you may make several job changes
before you settle into one that fits your passion.

5. Withdrawal from family relationships. You are connected to your biological family via
old karma. When you get off the karmic cycle, the bonds of the old relationships are
released. It will appear as though you are drifting away from your family and friends. This
will pass. After a period of time, you may develop a new relationship with them if it is
appropriate. However, the relationship will be based in the new energy without the
karmic attachments.

6. Unusual sleep patterns. It's likely that you'll awaken many nights between 2:00 and
4:00 AM. There's a lot of work going on within you, and it often causes you to wake up
for a "breather." Not to worry. If you can't go back to sleep, get up and do something
rather than lay in bed and worry about humanly things. This will pass.

7. Intense dreams. These might include war and battle dreams, chase dreams or
monster dreams. You are literally releasing the old energy within, and these energies of
the past are often symbolized as wars, running to escape and boogiemen. This too shall
pass.

8. Physical disorientation. At times you'll feel very ungrounded. You'll be "spatially
challenged" with the feeling like you can't put two feet on the ground, or that you're
walking between two worlds. As your consciousness transitions into the new energy, you
body sometimes lags behind. Spend more time in nature to help ground the new energy
within. This will pass.

9. Increased "self talk." You'll find yourself talking to your Self more often. You'll
suddenly realize you've been chattering away with yourself for the past 30 minutes.
There is a new level of communication taking place within your being, and you're
experiencing the tip of the iceberg with the self talk. The conversations will increase, and
they will become more fluid, more coherent and more insightful. You're not going crazy,
you're just Lightworkers, moving into the new energy.

10. Feelings of loneliness, even when in the company of others. You may feel alone and
removed from others. You may feel the desire to "flee" groups and crowds. As
Lightworkers, you are walking a sacred and lonely path. As much as the feelings of
loneliness cause you anxiety, it is difficult to relate to others at this time. The feelings of
loneliness are also associated with the fact that your Guides have departed. They have
been with you on all of your journeys in all of your lifetimes. It was time for them to back
away so you could fill your space with your own divinity. This too shall pass. The void
within will be filled with the love and energy of your own Shiva consciousness.

11. Loss of passion. You may feel totally dis-impassioned, with little or no desire to do
anything. That's OK, and it's just part of the process. Take this time to "do no-thing."
Don't fight yourself on this, because this too shall pass. It's similar to rebooting a
computer. You need to shut down for a brief period of time in order to load the
sophisticated new software, or in this case, the new Shiva-seed energy.

12. A deep longing to go Home. This is perhaps the most challenging of the conditions.
You may experience a deep and over-whelming desire to leave the planet and return to
Home. This is not a "suicidal" feeling. It is not based in anger or frustration. You don't
want to make a big deal of it or cause drama for yourself or other. There is a quiet part of
you that wants to go Home. The root cause for this is quite simple. You have completed
your karmic cycles. You have completed your contract for this lifetime. You are ready to
begin a new lifetime while still in this physical body. During this transition process, you
have an inner remembrance of what it is like to be on the other side. Are you ready to
enlist for another tour of duty here on Earth? Are you ready to take on the challenges of
moving into the New Energy? Yes, indeed you could go Home right now. But you've
come this far, and after many, many lifetimes it would be a shame to leave before the
end of the movie. Besides, Spirit needs you here to help others transition into the new
energy. They will need a human guide, just like you, who has taken the journey from the
old energy into the new. The path you're walking right now provides the experiences to
enable you to become a Teacher of the New Divine Human. As lonely and dark as your
journey can be at times, remember that you are never alone.

This info was extracted from
http://namahashivaya.blogspot.com
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 10:53 PM No comments:
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Labels: meditation
Meditation Tips
1. Allow yourself to be exactly the way you are.
The moment we stop deeply, and relax completely, we can look inside. Then we will
discover the infinite presence and essence of our eternal being who is always present.
By letting you and your ego be exactly as they are, you stop getting caught in the mind's
eternal trap of desire. You discover pure freedom. Some people will need to sit silent for
weeks, months or even years (if their mind is deeply chaotic) to alleviate this trap of
thinking. However the moment the thinking and desiring program ceases, an amazing
bliss will occur in that instant. When you have become the master and your mind the
servant, something very magical happens. Your first real taste of unbounded freedom
and unlimited potentiality is unleashed. To master this state of being, look inside for
roots of peace and compassion and your life will automatically grow it's wings of
freedom!

2. Accept the Universe exactly as it is.
Do not let the mind get attached to what meditating should feel like, look like or be like.
Let go of all "shoulds" in your life and simply be here now. This day is as it should be,
your life is EXACTLY as it should be, just as your thoughts and feelings are as they
should be about it right now. However the more you can accept what's happening to you
right now, the deeper you can relax about it. Acceptance always makes one relaxed and
at ease. If self-acceptance comes in a trickle or a downpour, then that is right for you.
Acceptance is the key to releasing all suffering and issues of avoidance or attachment.
As you practice embracing everything inside and outside you, remember whatever you
have trouble accepting, is here to serve your highest purpose by pushing you towards a
deeper experience of acceptance. If you encounter a serious negative emotional pull
that is totally overwhelming, stop buying into it's dramatic story and step out of the game.
Become aware! Pure awareness always burns through the mind's illusions...in an
instant. Depending on how long you've been ignoring certain issues in your life or
running away from certain thoughts, the longer it may take you to actually relax, train
and quiet the mind. Yet the very moment you let go of your life, and are infinitely patient
and accepting of yourself the way you are, a completely over-flowing abundance of
relaxation and energy will rise into you and through the world around you.

3. Explore everything with a childlike state of wonder.
When you're ready to take on a deeper meditation challenge, you are ready for self-
inquiry. Start by asking the question, "Who am I?" Ask yourself, "Who is the one who is
thinking this thought right now?" Dive into yourself! Meditate on questions like, "Who is
watching this experience now?" and "Who is hearing this interpretation of this
experience now?" and "Who is experiencing this experience of living in this body?" and
"Where is this thought coming from?" Notice what kinds of thoughts your mind creates to
answer to this instantly enlightening ancient question. When meditating, if you
experience an increasing feeling of lightness, go with it! Ground it into your body with
your breath. It's best to stay centered, in your body and integrate your experiences as
they come, rather than get lost in the phenomena they produce. The greatest meditators
blend heaven and earth at all times. They discover within each moment this deeper
"knowing-ness" that they are this always connected to an Infinite Source of goodness
inside.

4. Surrender to whom or what is present here now.
Surrender is the ultimate Key. We are imprisoned in the present moment for an eternity.
Your body cannot escape the Now. The mind pretends it exists in the past and future by
dreaming about them, yet the Truth contains you here. The moment you surrender to
ANY internal battle in the mind and be present to the now, you'll notice the issue simply
disappears! If you are having trouble surrendering, let your greatest fear arise in you.
Face it directly. See if your fear is coming from a fear of loss, or a fear of separation from
the Source. The meditative mind doesn't participate in such illusions because it is not
attached to the gristle of each passing experience.

5. Know your a spiritual being without boundaries.
Understand a few things as you meditate for the next few months. You are not your
thoughts or your body. You are also not your income, job, relationships, or lack of all the
above. You are MUCH bigger than all of this. Do not participate in the drama of the
mind! Your body is your temporary home, not your mind, thinking or head. Take time to
be still, and totally present to the body. Listen to your breath, to your life. Feel your heart
beat and see the awakening being inside! We are always having an experience, be
present to the one the most important one, the one that's happening NOW. If you're
demanding to have a experience, you're cutting off this one and completely missing the
river of your life-force. The moment you stop trying to make something Big happen, LIFE
happens to you. If whatever you're doing doesn't work, do the opposite of what didn't
work before. The more you can relax and simply be, the more abundant and full of life's
infinite riches you'll become.

6. Watch The Mind!
This moment contains the entire Universe and is happening faster than you can think.
The mind cannot keep up with the moment, there is too much happening in one moment
to be contained by the mind. The mind is a very small container for this existence. Only
when the mind surrenders to pure consciousness can the whole universe be contained
within its grasp. Then it is gone. So watch the mind, be aware of its infinite agendas. The
mind will get caught in very subtle moments of the past and future. When you are totally
in the moment, there truly is NO mind. Only a pure awareness remains. When you're
sitting and being silent, being open to everything and resisting nothing, the Enlightening
process suddenly begins. It happens in an instant. When the mind is completely at
peace, when absolutely no worries, no concerns and no thoughts arise, notice what is
there! The untainted being who is eternally present to the river of moments in existence
slowly awakens!

7. Always, always, always be gentle with your self.
Be extremely gentle with yourself. Especially if this is your first attempt at meditating. If
you ever get lost in the process always remember and repeat this ancient secret Zen
saying, "Simply Being With What Is." If you can't stay focused on anything for more than
7 seconds, its O.K, you've just been stuck in the habit of not pulling back on the reigns of
the mind. Relax, and be patient with yourself. Never ever allow yourself to go into a
state of feeling guilty. Guilt is one of the lowest vibrations on the planet and will
never manifest the results you want. Encourage yourself to stay FAR away from
feeling guilt no matter what and always be gentle with YOU! You are the most important
person in your life! When you are 100% at peace with your past, present and future, the
blissful state of samadhi in meditation happens instantly!! Self love and gentleness are
golden keys in my book to developing a state of meditation and are a result of stepping
into a samadhi experience.. If you have trouble relaxing into this gentleness...Imagine a
warm gentle light entering in through your toes and then moving all the way up your
legs, torso, chest, neck, arms, hands, head and finally all throughout your body Breathe
in and out slowly repeating this affirmation, "I am safe, I am loved, all is well in my world.
Let these words sink deeply into your body. Allow any calming energy to grow and
spread to the areas of tension. Give yourself permission to absorb feelings of relaxation
and dissolve the stress that arises in the body and mind.

Meditation Techniques to Quiet The Chattering mind
1. Follow your breath. Don't try to control or change it, simply watch it.
2. Repeat a mantra (say a drawn out sound like AUUM)
3. Visualize a sacred/beautiful symbol.
4. Look directly into your another persons eyes.
5. Look into your eyes (in a mirror).
6. Visualize and feel your Kundalini and Chakras.
7. Focus on the space between the stars (pure nothing-ness)
8. Focus on an Infinite Source (Shiva,God, the Universe, Consciousness etc...)
9. Look directly into a candle flame 6 inches from your nose.
10. Meditate on the silence between your heartbeats. Inner peace is always a choice...

This info was extracted from
http://namahashivaya.blogspot.com
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 10:50 PM No comments:
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Labels: meditation
Monday, January 9, 2012
Churna for for BP, cholesterol and blood-related illnesses
Preparation: Grind the below together and make a fine powder.
100 gm of dry seed of jamun (Indian black plum)
100 gm of dry karela (bitter gourd)
100 gm of methi seeds (Fenugreek seeds)
100 gm of dry amala (Indian gooseberry)
50 gm of tulsi leaves (Holy Basil)
50 gm of dry bilva patra leaves (leaf of bel)
50 gm of dry haldi (turmeric)
50 gm of pudina (mint)



Usage: 1 teaspoon with water

1st teaspoon - empty stomach in the morning
2nd teaspoon - after lunch
3rd teaspoon - before sleep

This info was extracted from
http://shivyog-sadhana.blogspot.com
Posted by Mike P. Shanker at 8:29 PM No comments:
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Labels: Herbal Churna
Churna for detoxification of the body/nadis
For detoxification divya sanjeevani churna is used. The following is the method to
prepare it. You need:

100 gm tulsi, preferably Shyama tulsi (Holy Basil)
100 gm dry pudina (mint)
100 gm dry amla (Indian gooseberry)
100 gm haldi (turmeric) - ground at home not from market.
100 gm bilva patra (leaf of bel)
100 gm neem
100 gm arjun saal (bark of Terminalia arjuna tree)

Powder all of them and take two heaped teaspoons with say 50ml of water first thing in
the morning and last thing in the night before retiring. This will completely cleanse and
detoxify the body and all the nadis.


This info was extracted from
http://shivyog-sadhana.blogspot.com