Coconut pieces ready to eat

We were on our way to Bhilai from Amarkantak when a small temple and huge statues adjacent to it attracted our attention. We stopped and admired the huge statue of dancing Shiva and other statues.

Deciding to pay obeisance at the temple, we bought a thali with flowers, coconut, scentstick and camphor and offered it at the sanctum sanctorum. The pujari gave back prasad tied in a plastic bag. I could feel half coconut with a good amount of husk inside the plastic bag.

Usually we use a knife to take out coconut pulp. We were going to stay in a hotel in Bhilai, where this procedure would have been difficult. I prayed that somehow the coconut pulp is in pieces and we could eat it there and then. I gave Reiki also to this effect and then opened the plastic bag.

And there they were! The shell inside the husk was broken into many pieces and the pulp was also in small pieces which we could easily munch on. In my whole life it has never happened like this before. Every time either a knife or coconut scraper was needed to take out the pulp. The moment I discarded the coconut shell it struck me that I should have taken a photograph of that. So I decided to make a drawing to show you what I found on opening the plastic bag:

 Later I searched for the information on the temple. It was Kaal Bhairav Mandir  situated at Ratanpur, about 25 km from Bilaspur, in Chhattisgarh. 'Bhairav', Lord of Terror is another form of Lord Shiva, regarded as his 'rudra' or dreadful form. The temple lies around 3 km away from Shri Mahamaya Devi Mandir towards Bilaspur. The temple is dedicated to Kaal Bhairav, one among the 52 Bhairavs.

 A popular belief among the devotees is that Kaal Bhairav Mandir should be visited first before the visit of the Shri Mahamaya Devi Mandir as the deity here is regarded as the door keeper of Devi. Devotees have been practicing worship in the Mahamaya Devi temple since centuries ago, the first 'Abhishek' and pooja are said to have occurred in 1050 AD. 

Water offering accepted

A bird bath in the balcony

I had kept a bird bath in the balcony of our bed room a couple of years ago. It was my silicone baking dish. I used it for baking two three times, but somehow I didn’t like it and was lying in my kitchen. One day I thought it will be good for bird bath, so filled it with water and kept it on the parapet in the balcony.

After a few days, I saw a bird plunging into the water gleefully and enjoying a bath in the afternoon. When it came out and was shaking its body to dry the feathers, another one dived into the water. My happiness knew no bounds! After a few days I noticed that the birds take bath in the morning also.

The empty bird bath

Every day morning when I go to the balcony to offer water for the Sun God, I replenish the small quantity of water that is reduced in the container. Last week I noticed that the container was totally empty one day. I was confused, it has never happened before. I asked my maid whether she threw away the water, and the answer was negative.

If some animal, like a cat or monkey, who is occasional visitor, has drank the water, I think the container cannot remain exactly in its position. I was really confused for a few days.

The revelation

Then it struck me. As per instructions, I had started water offering for Tara and a week had passed. 

Here was the indication that the water offering has been accepted. This is not the first time a miracle has happened in that balcony. My heart was filled with reverence and gratitude. 

When Buddha took me along

‘Buddham sharanam gachhami, Sangham sharanam gacchami, dharmam sharanam gacchami’- that’s what I learned in school and thought that’s all about Buddhism. The main thing that impressed me was the concept of non violence or ahimsa. Going through the literature I found that there are four divisions in Buddhism and it is very vast and deep.

Buddha’s picture

 I was in awe of the magnificent Buddhist temples in Thailand during our visit in 1985. The Thai music and dancing were balm to my agitated self. I got this Buddha’s picture in 2006 as a gift.

I hung it on the door of my puja room. It had a yellow cloth over Buddha’s picture and I was at a loss to find a way to expose the picture without destroying the yellow cloth. So Buddha remained behind the veil for 11 years.

Last March (2017) when we visited Buddhist monasteries in Bhutan, the mystery was solved. I saw how the covering cloth could be rolled up and kept in a particular way to expose the picture.

Tara’s statue

We got a statue as a memento during a dental conference in early 1990s. It is a graceful female figure and I had kept it in the show case.

In 2008 I bought the book “Tantric yoga and the wisdom Goddesses” autographed by the author David Frawley. That is when I realised that the statue was of Tara.  I had read the complete book in 2008, but today when I brought it from the library to refer, I was amazed at how much more information I am grasping now.

Once I realized that it was Tara, I used to clean the statue periodically and offer flowers daily. Somehow, I was associating her with Buddhism all the while.

The Vajra cross

When I was browsing through the gift shop at the Tiger Nest base in Bhutan, I was drawn to this small cross with red and blue stones on either side and I bought it.

I had absolutely no idea what it was. Then I collected information. The double dorje or crossed Vajra represents the stability of the physical world and is a powerful protective symbol in that it cannot be destroyed but itself destroys all evil.

It is also associated with Amogasiddhi , one of the five Dhyani Buddhas whose mudra is granting protection or fearlessness and whose consort is the Green Tara.

Before time began, there was only darkness and the emptiness that is the Void. A gentle wind arose from the four directions that, over time, filled the Void.  It began to grow in power until, after eons had passed, the wind coalesced into a substance so thick, so heavy, so solid, so immutable that it formed Dorje Gyatram, the vajra cross that is the basis of the physical universe. 

The vajra cross is also considered an emblem of protection. It is also the emblem of Buddhist deities whose influence encourages immoveable determination.

Ok, now I know why it came to me. While attending the course on ‘Activating blueprints’, during the symbolic drawing to the question, ‘What’s the way in which you can sabotage your journey?’ I had got the answer that I may have a tendency to not let go.  I need the protection and staunch determination that the vajra cross can provide.

Instructions from Tara

When I kept the vajra cross near the statue of Tara, I got instructions to chant her mantra and to do water offering daily. I was confused why this sudden shift to a Buddhist deity has happened. I started looking for a clue.

Tara is not only the most important of the Buddhist Goddesses; she is also an important Hindu Goddess. Among the Ten Wisdom Goddesses Tara resembles Kali and is her first transformation. I have been doing Kali sadhana for many years with rituals being dictated from time to time. 

Durga- Tara

As the power of deliverance Tara is related to the Goddess Durga, who similarly takes us across all difficulties (durgani). Hence she is also called Durga-Tara. Whereas Durga represents the power that overcomes or destroys obstacles and difficulties, Tara is the power which takes us beyond them.

Tara is the power to transcend all things. She not only lifts us beyond dangers but allows us to rise beyond our achievements and accomplishments to higher levels of realization.

During a previous visit to an ancient temple, this Durga’s replica came to me.

I have been doing kumkumabhishek on this, as per guidance once a week so far. Now I can see the common thread running through all this and I am ready to walk the path.

In the morning I got confirmation from the Universe when I saw this rose flower, with a bud in its center in our garden.

  

Activating Blueprints

I was eagerly looking forward to attend Jacqueline Maria Longstaff’s workshop on Activating Blueprints (Realise your full potential). It was an amazing learning experience.

She had asked us to bring drawing paper and color pencils/crayons. In the afternoon of first day, she told us we had to make three drawings. It was not simply any drawing, there was to be some introspection needed before deciding on what to draw.

•      She asked us to do a brief meditation on ‘Where do you come from? What is your journey?’   She asked us to stay in the heart, zero in on what picture comes, then look for all the smaller details.

The picture that came to my mind was that of a mother bird sitting near three eggs. One of the eggs had cracked open and the chick was trying to emerge out. The nest was on a huge tree and as I watched for the details, I could see a feather falling down.

•     The second drawing was to be based on ‘Where do you go from here? What is the journey about?'

I saw myself in Varanasi, the temple was visible in the background. There was a dead body being burnt at the pyre. There were steps leading to the Ganges and a man was sitting on a boat, just waiting.

•  'What’s the way in which you can sabotage your journey?’

There was a clothesline on which three cloths were hanging. They were tied at their corners onto the string. The middle cloth represented me, one corner of this cloth had opened up and left the string, but the other corner was still tied onto it. There was Sun shining brightly in the background.

After everybody had finished the drawing, we were asked to look at our drawings, then close the eyes  and see what message the Universe was giving.

The three eggs in my first drawing represented the three completed decades of my intense spiritual practices. The egg cracking open gave an indication that a breakthrough for my sadhana is imminent. Then there was the falling feather. I know that whenever I sense the presence of angels, I get to see feathers in all unimaginable places. So, that meant the angels are there to always help me in my efforts.

It is interesting that on the previoius day, when I was asked to just blindly pick up one bookmark from a box with different bookmarks, this was the one that I got:

The second drawing depicts  that I have yet to burn my vasanas. Then there is somebody waiting to take me across!

Even after knowing things, I may have a tendency to not let go, which is shown by one corner of the cloth still tied to the string. But there is the Sun shining on the cloth. When the cloth is totally dried up, it will shrink and I can decide to let go of the string.

It is interesting that in all three situations, Divine presence is there to render help. This is my core belief too. If we just take one step ahead, the whole Universe will be there to take us forward!

Divine manifestation in Valparai

A friend had booked for stay in Valparai and since she couldn’t go due to some reason, we got to avail the facility. It was a tough journey, there were 40 hair pin bends on the way to reach there, but once we arrived, it was magical. There were tea plantations all around and a plethora of birds with unique colors, singing melodies!

In the evening time we sat in the balcony, trying to absorb the beauty and serenity around. My eyes stopped at the mountain top straight ahead, visible between trees, and I was strongly guided for an open eye meditation. 

It was a very powerful experience and after a while I began seeing images on the mountain top. First it was a shivling that appeared. I have superimposed the divine images from the net onto the photographs I had taken, just to give an idea of what I saw. But the images that I saw were lifelike, not like pictures.

After I meditated on the Shivling for some time, it slowly faded out and the image of Shiva appeared in its place. 

Sometime later Goddess Parvati  appeared to his left side and the divine beauty exuding from her face was mesmerizing! Then came Goddess Saraswathi and for quite some time I could meditate on those celestial beings.

The evening turned to dusk and it was somewhat dark when I finished meditation. Suddenly a bird came and sat  in front of the balcony. 

There were no other birds visible at that time; probably they were already in their nests.  It looked black, but I knew it was not a crow. It spread its tail like a fan for a few seconds. 

Turning to left side, it spread its tail again. Further it turned ninety degrees, spread the tail, again ninety degrees and fanned tail. Now it sat there, looking at us (my husband, daughter and me) for some time and flew off.

Next day I saw the bird in day light and realized it had a  very beautiful blue color; the Malabar whistling thrush let us listen to its divine melody during brahma muhurt and dusk time. I managed to record it at 4.30 am. Click here to listen.

It was a surreal experience to me and I am indebted to the friend because of whom we visited Valparai.

Column of light coming to me

For the last five years we have been spending our New Year eve in Tiruvannamalai, entering the New Year in deep meditation with Jacqueline at the Singing Heart Ashram. 

 After having spent many years partying on the New Year ’s Eve, it is amazing how peaceful and tranquil it is to open the eyes to the next year from meditation. The first thing we see on January first is the magnificent sun rise from the Arunachala hill.

Arunachala

Arunachala (red mountain) refers to the holy hill at Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. The hill is also known by the names Arunagiri, Annamalai Hill, Arunachalam, Arunai, Sonagiri and Sonachalam. It is one of the five main Shaivite holy places in South India. At the base of the hill is the Annamalaiyar Temple, a temple of Lord Shiva. 

According to the legend associated with the Temple, a dispute occurred between Brahma the creator, and Vishnu the preserver, over which of them was superior. In order to settle the argument, Lord Shiva is said to have manifested as a column of light, and then the form of Arunachala.

In the Maheswara Khanda of Skanda Purana, sage Veda Vyasa describes in great detail the wonder of Arunachala.

Ramana Maharshi

Arunachala is also an important place for devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi, with Sri Ramana Ashram situated at its foothills.

A verse in the Arunachala Mahatmyam, translated from Sanskrit into Tamil by Sri Ramana Maharshi says: "Arunachala is truly the holy place. Of all holy places it is the most sacred! Know that it is the heart of the world. It is truly Siva himself! It is his heart-abode, a secret kshetra. In that place the Lord ever abides the hill of light named Arunachala.”

 Asked about the special sanctity of Arunachala,  Ramana Maharshi said that other holy places such as Kailash, Varanasi and Rishikesh are sacred because they are the abodes of Lord Siva whereas Arunachala is Lord Siva himself.

As the above verse of Arunachala Mahatmyam says, Arunachala is a secret kshetra. It is this place that bestows jnana (Self-knowledge) and because most people have so many other desires and do not truly want jnana,  Arunachala has always remained comparatively little known. But to those few who seek jnana, Arunachala always makes itself known through some means or other.

Mahadeepam

Every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December), the Karthigai Deepam (Light) is lit atop the hill.  Devotees take embers in pots from the sacred fire lit in the Arunachaleswara temple and carry them to the top of Arunachala, along with cloth wicks. An enormous cauldron is placed on the highest of Arunachala's five peaks and filled with hundreds of gallons of ghee mixed with camphor. At precisely six o'clock, as the sun sets and the full moon rises, lights are lit on the top of the Hill, on a flagstaff in the temple, and at Sri Ramanasramam, accompanied by chants of Arunachala Siva by the vast crowds. The fire on top of Arunachala can be seen for miles around.

Sri Ramana Maharshi described the meaning of this event in this way:

"Getting rid of the `I am the body' idea and merging the mind into the Heart to realize the Self as non-dual being and the light of all is the real significance of darshan of the beacon of light on Annamalai, the centre of the universe."

The Thought of Arunachala 

By seeing Chidambaram, by being born, in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kasi, or by merely thinking of Arunachala, one will surely attain Liberation.

The supreme knowledge (Self-knowledge), the import of Vedanta, which cannot be attained without great difficulty, can easily be attained by anyone who sees the form of this hill from wherever it is visible or who even thinks of it by mind from afar.     Such is the assurance given by Lord Siva in the Arunachala Mahatmyam about the power of the mere thought of Arunachala, and this assurance has received confirmation from the life and teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana. 

 According to Ramana Maharshi, anyone and everyone can think of Arunachala from wherever they may be, and they will surely attain liberation.

30 December 2016

While I was meditating on 30th December 2016  in Arunachala, I felt a column of red light coming from the hill and occupying my spinal column. I could feel the heat, vibration and then there was immense peace.

I have been doing puja and sadhana according to the instructions from the Universe for many years and there has been presence of divine feminine energies with me all the time. This time I could feel the masculine energy getting integrated into my being.

Confirmation from tarot card

Since the last three years, we join Pia Sofia Koren to check  tarot card for the new year. This year the card that I picked up promised integration of masculine and feminine energies for me. That was a confirmation of what I felt during the meditation, and  it made me really happy.

Ref: 

http://davidgodman.org/asaints/powerofa1.shtml

Ashapura Devi’s instruction

During our Gujarat road trip, we visited Mata no Madh temple of Goddess Ashapura. It was so divine and I could feel intense vibrations. This temple is also known as Desh Devi Maa Ashapura of Mata no Madh. Ashapura Mata temples are there in other cities of Gujarat , Maharashtra and Rajasthan but the main temple is located at Mata no Madh inKutch. 

Later we went to the Koteshwar temple: 

Before climbing the steps to the main temple, we entered the side room that contained many idols and photos. It was dim inside the room and they all looked like male deities. We prayed and sat down on the floor.

Suddenly I felt the strong presence of female energy, giving me an instruction. I was surprised, looked again at the photos and idols, and couldn’t see any goddess. I asked my husband whether he saw any female deities in the room. No, he also didn’t see. My sense of the presence of a goddess was so strong that I was totally confused.

When we came out, a sadhu explained the story behind the temple. Then he mentioned that there was a picture of Ashapura Devi in the room that we sat. I was so glad that what I sensed in the room was correct.

I had never heard of Ashapura Devi, so I was totally surprised to get instruction from her. Since I always trust my intuitions, I made a note of the instruction, to follow on reaching back home. 

Ashapura Mata is one of aspect devi and one of the principal deities of Kutch. As the name indicates, she is the Goddess who fulfills the wish and desires of all those who trust and believe her. The unique thing about most of the idols of Ashapura Mata is that it has 7 pairs of eyes.

From childhood, I have been guided through my spiritual path, and when time comes for the next step, I always get instructions. On coming back home, I did a search on Ashapura Devi. Her temples are mainly found in Gujarat. Some people in Rajasthan and Gujarat consider her to be an incarnation (avatar) of goddess Annapoorna devi.

 Wow! That explains it. If she is an incarnation of Annapoorna Devi, it makes total sense to me. During our visit to Annapoorna temple in Karnataka long back, I bought a small idol of her and kept in my kitchen. Before I start my day’s cooking, I offer flower and  light a candle in front of her.

So now the next step is being given to me and my heart is filled with reverence and gratitude!