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Transform Your Spirit: Pilgrimage to Kumbh Mela & Varanasi January 10th - 20th 2025
The Kumbh Mela 2025 is the greatest spiritual gathering on earth, celebrated every 12 years at the confluence of the three sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Millions of devotees gather to offer their prayers and take a dip in the holy waters, believed to cleanse sins and grant salvation.
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Serpent Wisdom: What Naag Panchami Really Means
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Kriya Yoga Course and Initiation in South Africa Cape Town.
#meditation
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9 Reasons 108 is such a sacred number
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Close you eyes
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#peace
The Anahata Chakra, The Heart Chakra / Centre is teh centre of our existance #Chakra #heart #yoga
Lakshmi Mantra for prosperity
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OM SHREEM HREEM SHREEM MAHA LAKSHMAYA NAMAHA Mahalakshmi, also known as Goddess Lakshmi, She blesses those who pray to her with Devotion, Wealth, Prosperity, Happiness, and Fortune. She is considered the embodiment of these ideals and is revered as the consort of Lord Vishnu. Inthe Rigveda, Lakshmi is not merely associated with material wealth but also symbolizes auspicious fortune. For those seeking financial stability or success, this mantra is recommended for chanting.
Full Video - https://youtu.be/8YPZ_K2G3tw
VITTHALA REVOLUTION - RISE UP IN VITTHALAS NAME
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Mantra for Peace - Mahavatar Babaji Gayatri #peace #kriyayoga #mantra #meditation
Siddhidatri Devi
Day 9 of Navaratri celebrates the ninth form of Nava Durga called Siddhidatri Devi. She helps us spiritually with the burning of past karmas and the ability to move forward clearly.
The meaning of Siddhidatri is – “Siddhi” means Perfection and spiritual power while “Datri” means “the one who gives” that’s why she is recognized as Mata Siddhidatri. The one who gives perfection or spiritual power
As mentioned in the Devi Purana, Siddhidatri Mata was pleased with Lord Shiva’s worship and blessed Him with eight Siddhis, namely:
1. Anima – the power to reduce to the size of an atom
2. Mahima – the power to become enormous in size
3. Garima – the power to become very heavy in weight
4. Laghima – the power to become very light in weight
5. Prapti – the power to acquire anything at will at any time
6. Prakambya – the power to do anything you desire from flying to walking on water
7. Ishatva – power over all the elements of creation
8. Vash*tva – power to control all the natural forces, and power over life and death
According to an ancient belief, the ‘Ardhanareshwar’ form of Lord Shiva has Goddess Siddhidatri as His other half.
Appeased with Lord Shiva’s worship, Goddess Siddhidatri blessed Lord Shiva with the ‘Ardhanareshwar’ form, which is a symbol of the holy unification of divine feminine and male energies. In this form, half the body of Lord Shiva and half the body of Divine Mother Siddhidatri are unified.
Dressed in red, She sits on a lotus flower and In her four arms She holds a club, discus, conch, and lotus. She is surrounded on all sides by sadhus, sages, rishis, and Gods, who worship Her as Jaya or Victory.
Lotus that is fully bloomed and means she completes the blossoming of the spiritual aspirant. The kundalini shakti which was just awakening in the first chakra as Shailaputri Devi, has now travelled to the crown and fully bloomed above the head, as Siddhidatri Devi.
Worshiped by great sa
Maha Gauri
Day 8 of Navaratri celebrates the eighth form of Nava Durga called Mahagauri, and she is worshipped on Ashtami, the eighth day of Navratri.
There are two stories of how Maha Gauri came into being:
Goddess Gauri is the kanya, unmarried girl who performed severe penance to attain Lord Shiva as her husband. Scriptures say the little girl was none other than Goddess Parvati. She performed severe penance for many years and due to this, dust settled on her skin, making her appear black. Lord Shiva was pleased with her penance and blessed her with the promise of marriage. The sacred water of the river Ganga was used to wash the soil and dust from Goddess Parvati, turning her skin white and she came to be known as Mahagauri.
The second understanding from the scriptures says the demons, Shumbha and Nishumbha, were creating havoc on earth. They could only be destroyed by Parvati’s daughter. Based on advice by Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva turned Goddess Parvati’s skin black. He teasingly called her, Kali, enraging her.
The Goddess performed severe penance and prayed to Lord Brahma to restore her complexion. Lord Brahma was pleased and told her to bathe in the Manasarovar. In the cool waters of the famed lake, Goddess Parvati’s dark skin separated from her, and took a female form. That form was called Kaushiki who went on to slay the demons. And Goddess Parvati’s form with her white complexion was called Mahagauri.
Her fair complexion is compared to the whiteness of the conch, moon and jasmine flowers. ‘Maha’ means great, and ‘Gauri’ means white. Seated on a white vrishabha, bull, Devi Mahagauri is depicted with three eyes and four arms.
Two of her arms on either side are in the varada and abhay mudras, to bless her devotees and remove all fear from their lives. Her other arms hold the trishul, trident and damaru, drum. Her clothes and ornaments are white and pure.
Looking at the depiction of this great Goddess, Her purity and calm nature com
Kali
Kali Mata
Day 7 of Navaratri celebrates Kali Mata, the dark night for the soul where all we hide deep inside comes up so we may free ourselves of our negative qualities, as inevitably on the spiritual path we become acutely aware of our egoistic tendencies.
Rātri means night and Kāla means time, death, black or dark. Kalaratri is the one who is beyond time, and the darkness of night.
Kalaratri Devi is the great Dark Night Mother of overcoming egotism.
She represents the unfolding of time: the reality of time on our bodies as we keep moving forward, getting older, leading us to our final destination of the soul leaving the body.
Though Her appearance appears fearful and scary, in truth She is not to be feared, because when She is pleased, She grants very auspicious fruits to spiritual aspirants. She takes aspirants beyond the darkness of attachment into the illumination of deep wisdom.
For a spiritual aspirant, this process of surrendering the ego can feel painful. Ultimately though, the removal of the darkness opens up space for the Divine Light to penetrate our awareness, moving us into wisdom.
Kālarātri is black and naked except for her ear-ornaments on her large ears. Her lips hang open, her body is covered in oil, and she sits on a donkey.
In the war with the Demons Kali Devi, rampaged through the battle field killing everything in her path. Raktabeej had the boon that when even one drop of blood hit the ground another demon as strong as Him would manifest from the drop. As the Devi cut the demon countless times his blood was flowing everywhere and new versions of Raktabeej manifested and covered the earth. To counter this Kali drank His blood as it fell and swallowed all of Raktabeeja’s manifestations eventually killing Him.
However, Her rage was unstoppable and the Devas became terrified as who ever went before her was swallowed up. So the Deva’s approached Lord Shiva and realising only He could stop Kali He lay down in her path. As she stood
Katyayani Devi
Katyayani Devi
Day 6 of Navaratri celebrates Katyayani Devi, as the sixth manifestation of Goddess Durga. She blesses Her children with purity as She destroys our negative qualities.
Katyayani Devi presides over the hidden and intangible realm, the subtle world, which eludes our sight and understanding. In this aspect, she embodies the aspects of existence that are beyond ordinary perception, symbolizing the profound mysteries and intricacies of the Divine.
The Vamana Purana recounts the tale of Katyayani's incarnation and her glorious times.
Among a group of demons who sought to appease the Gods and gain boons, Mahishasura was their leader. With the visage of a buffalo and unmatched strength, he performed rigorous penance to Lord Brahma, who granted various boons making him almost invincible and that only a woman could vanquish him.
Empowered by these blessings, Mahishasura wreaked havoc upon heaven and earth, perpetrating unspeakable atrocities against Devas and humans alike.
At the same time, Sage Katyayan longed for Devi Durga to be born as his daughter. He prayed and practised austere penance for years.
Witnessing the escalating chaos, the Tri Murthi of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva went to Sage Katyayan’s ashram and unleashed a blazing flame together, birthing Devi Katyayani, as radiant as countless suns, adorned with three eyes, eighteen arms, and flowing black hair. Revered by celestial beings, she was armed by the Gods with formidable weapons and set forth atop her lion mount to confront Mahishasura.
As she was born in Sage Katyayan’s Ashram She was called Katyayani Devi and the sage was the first to worship Goddess Durga in the form of Katyayani.
Upon encountering the goddess, Mahishasura was entranced by her beauty, opting to propose rather than battle. Unfazed, Katyayani Devi challenged him to prove his worth.
In a fierce clash, she emerged victorious, severing Mahishasura's head with her sword. Grateful for her triumph, the world hailed Ka
Skanda Mata Devi
Skanda Mata Devi
Day 5 of Navaratri celebrates Devi Skandamata along with her son Skanda or Lord Muruga in child form on the divine mother’s lap. Being the mother of the warrior god Skanda, she is glorified with the name, Skandamata.
Skandamata Devi supports us and nurtures our path to divinity, enabling our spirituality to blossom as it envelopes everything we touch.
Skandamata Devi is the gentle, compassionate Mother, who inspires, nurtures, and exemplifies in such a way that all of our actions become divine, so we exist with Kriya Yoga, action with the awareness of the Divine.
How Skandamata Devi got Her name:
At that time there was a demon called Tara Kasura, who was formidable in battle. His greed and desire for power plagued the heavenly Gods, who were all defeated.
He became invincible in battle through rigorous penance and eventually pleasing Lord Brahma, who granted Him a boon that only Shiva's son could end his life.
At that time, Shiva was mourning his first wife Sati's self-immolation and had withdrawn into the mountains, embracing asceticism and meditation.
With Shiva in deep meditation on Lord Rama, Tarakasura believed He was invincible, as Shiva being a renunciate would not have a child.
Thus, he brazenly assaulted the Devas, wreaking havoc in the celestial realms.
Parvati, through unwavering devotion and determination of 600 years of penance, won Shiva's grace, persuading him to abandon his ascetic life and marry Her.
Their union bore Lord Kartikeya, who led the Gods against the demons, ultimately slaying Tarakasura.
Hence, Lord Skanda, or Kartikeya, liberated the heavens from anguish and turmoil.
In honour of her courageous son, Parvati came to be known as Skanda Mata, the mother of Lord Skanda.
She has four arms and rides on a lion:
She holds Baby Skanda sitting on Her lap.
In her two upper hands, she holds Lotus flowers.
Her two lower hands give Blessings.
and She sits on the lion of Dharma.
When we pray to her and chant her
Kushmanda Devi
Kushmanda Devi
Day 4 of Navaratri celebrates Kushmanda Devi, as the fourth manifestation of Goddess Durga.
Her divine effulgence, which is Her smile, created the light that illuminated what was once vast darkness in the Universe. Residing in the core of the sun, Kushmanda Devi provides energy to the sun, the provider of light and energy to the entire world. Since she created the universe, she is also called Jagat Ja-nani.
For spiritual aspirants, She is the Goddess of Purification, Tapasya, adding fire and light to purify all of our actions so our material and spiritual paths merge as one.
As we become inspired to learn the sacred texts and dive deep into our spiritual practice, grace falls upon us from Kushmanda Devi. This purification elevates us on our Path by purifying all of our actions, making everything we do a form of prayer to the Lord who resides in the spiritual heart. Our existence becomes Kriya Yoga, action with the awareness of the Divine in every moment.
As the Mother she brings light into darkness and establishes harmony in your life, she is a form of “Adi Shakti ” and worshipping Maa Kushmanda lets us enter into the heart chakra.
Upon obtaining the grace of Goddess Kushmanda, all of our actions are continuously purified so that they become the Prem, this Divine Love
She is known as ashta bhuja, the one with eight hands.
She holds a Kamandulu, Bow and Arrow, Jar of Amrit, Chakra, Gada, Japa Mala and a lotus Flower.
The Chakra is a Divine weapon which is constantly in motion keeping away negative energies.
The Gada for power and strength packing a powerful concentrated blow.
She holds a Japa Mala in one hand, blessing her devotees with ashta siddhis (the eight supernatural powers as elaborated in ancient yoga) and nav niddhis (nine different types of wealth).
A pot of Amrit, the divine immortal nectar.
A Lotus flower for peace.
Bow and Arrow for focus of potential and moving energies.
Kamandalu for self-sufficiency.
Golden and Radiant l
Chandraghanta Devi
Chandraghanta Devi is the 3rd form of Goddess Durga and is worshipped on the 3rd day of Navratri. Those who worship Devi in this form with faith are said to gain eternal energy and strength and can lay a strong foundation with their spiritual goal and get the protection to stay focused.
After meditating for 600 years, Lord Shiva was pleased with Parvatis penance and at the request of various God’s accepted Parvati to be His eternal consort.
Shiva along with all the other Gods, ascetics, ghosts, Sages and Saints arrived at the palace of King Himavat for the wedding, the father of Goddess Parvati and the ruler of the Himalayas.
When Shiva arrived He displayed His ferocious form as part of His eternal pastimes.
Upon seeing such a form Menavati, Parvati’s mom, fainted with shock wondering how her daughter who shines brighter than the moon could marry such a person.
Parvati reassured her mom of Shiva’s greatness and She assumed the form of Goddess Chandraghanta, the one who adorns her forehead with half Chandra (the half moon) bringing wonder and awe, to all present including Shiva.
Seeing this Shiva assumed His calm form and Menavati by the grace of Shiva again came to her senses and became thrilled with her daughter’s divine marriage.
Goddess Chandraghanta is seen riding on a tigress and She wears the semi-circular moon (Chandra) on her forehead. The half-moon on her forehead looks like the bell (Ghanta) and because of that, she is known as Chandra-Ghanta.
Here the Moon represents the mind, and the bell represents the inner sound calling our mind back to the source of creation.
So Chandraghaṇṭa is the bell that calls our minds back to the source of all, She does this by blessing us with devotion for our spiritual practice and protecting us from distraction.
During the battle between the Goddess and the demon armies, the terrifying sound produced by her bell sent thousands of demons to their death, such is the strength of her bell that stops ou
