We were on the train to Banaras. It was dusk and the sun’s light was gentle and soft. Shree Maa and Swamiji were sitting besides the window in our train compartment and the rest of us were peering outside along with them. The country side was so beautiful and we could see little huts, cows […]
Bara Maa shares stories about Shree Maa: 1
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Bara Maa was a child bride, so she was still a little girl when Shree Maa was born. As she was a young mother, when the others of the family went outside, they most often left her at home. She often complained to Grandmother that they never took her any place. When Shree Maa was a little girl, she heard that complaint and she said, “Don’t worry, Mom. When I grow up I will take you to many places, even outside of India.”
Bara Maa told that story while sitting in Shree Maa’s living room in Napa.
Shree Maa- Trip to India- Banares by day and night- March 27-29, 2008
Shree Maa and Swamiji are in Banares! Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares. Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares. Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares. Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares. Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares. Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares.
Recite one scripture or many?
~~OM~~
Video: Story of How Hanuman Came to be on the Pandavas’ Flag
~~OM~~ Draupadi found a lotus, it was a mountain lotus that we call Pahari lotus, (Pahari Pomo) and they grow up above the snow line. She said, “Bhima, I love this lotus, could you go up in the mountains and see if there are any more. Go find me some lotuses. I want to offer […]
Shree Maa- Trip to India- Holi Festival in Delhi
Shree Maa giving blessings on Holi. Picture taken March 21 2008 in India. The Divine Mother’s holy feet decorated for Holi. Picture taken March 21 2008 in India. Sushil and Sanjay properly adorned for Holi. Picture taken March 21 2008 in India. Our Delhi sat sangh after playing Holi. Picture taken March […]
Chandi Sadhana 2008: Navarna Viddhi
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We continued our discussion of the Chandi Path with the Navarna Viddhi.
Navarna Mantra is the bija mantra of all three Divine Mothers, Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati. So it embodies all three Mothers.
The Mantra is Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicce. Swamiji provides a beautiful explanation for the mantra.
Aim is comprised of two letters a and i and the anuswara, m. a is the letter of creation and i is the letter of the causal body and m is perfection. Aim is the seed of wisdom. It means that the creation of perfection in the causal body is the wisdom. Aim is Maha Saraswati.
Hrim is everything that can perceived by the senses, conceived in the mind, known through intuition or meditation, and beyond. Hrim is Maha Lakshmi.
Klim is comprised of ka, la, i, and m. Ka means the cause, la means the gross body, manifested existence, i means the causal body, and anuswara m means perfection. So Klim is the cause of the perfect union between the gross body dissolving into the causal body. Klim is Maha Kali.
Cha means to move, Munda means head. So Chamunda is She who moves in the head, meaning the paradigm of reality, all that we know, all that we see.
Yai mean to or unto.
Vic means all that is knowable which is called samvit
Ce mean Chaitanya, consciousness
Thus the mantra means that the three gunas, the three Goddesses are constantly moving in the paradigm of reality giving birth to all that is knowable as perceived by consciousness.
Once we deeply intuitly the meaning we cease to say to the Goddess, “please don’t change”. We make ourselves the witness of nature and free us from the pain of attachment.
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Follow these links to useful resources on the Navarna Viddhi:
- Listen to Shree Maa chanting the Navarna Viddhi
- Listen to Swamiji’s Class on the Navarna Viddhi
- Swamiji answers FAQ on Navarna Viddhi
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Shree Maa & Swamiji- Trip to India- March 20 2008
~~OM~~
A Temple in Every Home, God’s Abode in Every Heart
Our plane touched the sacred soil of Mother India on March 11, 2008 and our hearts were filled with love and joy! Shree Maa and Swamiji humbly bent down and bowed down to Mother India as soon as we got off. Swamiji has explained to us that Bharat means the land where the Light of Wisdom shines. Today, even amidst neon signs proclaiming malls and global brands, we still see the eternal light of Divine wisdom shining and feel the sweet love of God in the lap of Mother India.
We were taken to a devotee’s house which was decorated with marigold flowers and lights and most of all devotion to Mother and Swamiji! We went to their temple room which had many little Shiva lingams, numerous deities and beautiful pictures of Shree Maa and Swamiji. The shrine room is small and can seat only 10 people.
We walked around the house and saw the living room. It was decorated in a modern cosmopolitan style – with western European hand sketches, an ancient blouse from the Mughol era and decorative statues. Maa and Swamiji said, “We will make a temple here.”
In a matter of minutes, the couches were moved and space was made on the northern wall. A long table was placed and Chandi Maa’s picture housed in the middle. The walls were decorated with artificial flower garlands. Shree Maa placed two beautiful vases of flowers besides Chandi Maa. She was smiling at all of us – in Her new home! We brought a Shiva Linga for Maa’s puja and all other deities came running too!! Besides the main altar, Maa made an altar for Ganesh on the right and Thakur Ramakrishna on the left. Tea candles were placed all around the altars and incense sticks were lit.
Maa started ringing the bell and lit the arati lamps! She was singing to God and our hearts were brimming with delight! The room was completely transformed – from a room for dinners and parties to the divine abode of Gods and all devotees. In a matter of minutes, we learnt from Shree Maa and Swamiji, make place for God and God will come! We learnt that as we create a divine atmosphere outside, we create space within ourselves for divinity to reside.
That very evening, we had satsang with arati and little singing. Our host, Maa’s devotee was drowning in tears of joy, adoration and love. The whole community joined us in singing to God and feeling divine presence in our lives.
A Song to Sarada Devi – March 19, 2008
Listen here..
Shree Maa- Trip to India- Family Reunion
Bara Maa, Shree Maa’s mother, came today along with many members of the family. After twenty-five years their family joined in one place. We all joined in arati. After arati, Summi, Shree Maa’s niece, sang. It was a great delight for us all. Listen Here… This is Shree Maa’s immediate family. They all met in […]
Shree Maa- Trip to India- more greetings- March 14, 2008
~~OM~~ >Double Click the Video to Play<
Dissolving Sivalinga!
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Photo of the week – Mar 14 – Mar 20, 2008
(Picture taken March 2008 at Devi Mandir, Napa, CA)
After Sivaratri, we dissolve all 1008 clay Siva Lingas in the creek