Oh My God!!!

The form of our Hindu Gods and Goddesses at times make us wonder why they appear in such forms. It unusual for a non-Hindu to be flabbergasted at the appearance of some of our Hindu deities.

To see a God/Goddess with an animal head or several heads, multiple hands, strange skin color, wearing odd ornaments or clothes, paints a very different picture when defining the appearance of God for some. A popular Hindu Goddess that has attracted many Hindus and non-Hindus is Goddess Kali also known as Kali Ma, Kaliamman, Kaliamma. All the names I speak of combines the name of Goddess Kali together with the word ma.. or mother. As a Tamil, I feel the sweetest word in Tamil language is “amma”(mother).

The exterior form of Kali, would project different views from different people, so lets take a closer look at Goddess Kali to have an insight of her symbols.

In one hand she carries a sword, and in another the head of the slained demon Raktabija. With the other two She is raising the spirits of Her worshippers. She wears a necklace of skulls and Her tongue protrudes from Her mouth. She is depicted standing with one foot on chest of Her husband, Lord Shiva.

Kali's blackness symbolizes Her all-embracing nature, as all colors disappear in black, so all things disappear in Her. It is also said that black represents the total absence of color, again signifying the nature of Kali as ultimate reality, transcendence of all form. Kali's bloody tongue, symbolizing rajas (the color red, activity), and is held by Her teeth, symbolizing sattva (the color white, spirituality).

In Her nakedness She is free from all hidden illusion. Kali is the bright fire of truth, which cannot be hidden by the clothes of ignorance. Such truth simply burns them away.

“…as all colors disappear in black, so all things disappear in Her. “

Her necklace of fifty human heads represent the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, some say 50 sounds in the Vedas and wearing them, She is the repository of all knowledge and wisdom.

Her sword is the sword of knowledge that slices through ignorance and destroys false consciousness. She is said to open the gates of freedom with this sword, having cut the bonds that bind human beings.

The image of Shiva laying under the feet of Kali, from a scientific point of view it represents Shiva as the static energy and Kali as kinetic energy.

Kali's human and maternal qualities continue to define the Goddess for most of Her devotees to this day. In human relationships, the love between mother and child is usually considered the purest and strongest. In the same way, the love between the Goddess Kali and Her human children is considered the closest and most tender of relationships. Kali may be frightening, but She is, after all, the Mother of All. As such, She is accepted by Her children- accepted in wonder and awe.

When you come across an image of a God or Goddess that you aren’t familiar about, take your time to research it, cause your findings might give you a completely different perspective.

The post above was taken from my writings in Yuvan.

Darshan

Darshan - meaning seeing or sight. In my contexts it used as being in God's presence or being in a Guru's presence. I have always been following the teachings of Gurudeva. Even since then I've been a great admirer of Him. It was too late when I knew that he passed away and his successor has taken over. Came to learn that his successor the reigning Guru was coming to Malaysia all the way from their Adheenam in Hawaii. I really wanted to see Him, but honestly didn't place him in the same level as Gurudeva until the day I came in contact with Him. It changed everything.
Bodhinatha Velyanswami is Gurudeva's successor. When I saw him, my hair stood up, I was shaking. His gaze had a piercing effect. It was like he was not only looking at the physical body but much more. It was after that day I knew the greatness of Darshan and enjoyed his presence, ever since then and will do for time to come.

Finger Licking Good

The title may suggest something from KFC but its not.

After being a year vegetarian and coming back or going back to non veg seem a bit fun for the tongue. Got to savor char siew (sweet pork) along with chicken rice (my all time favorite during my secondary school days). Seemed and is nice to the tongue, but not healthy for the mind.

I read somewhere that one cannot live a good spiritual life and consume meat. I 'm beginning to believe this. I 'm not saying that all who eat meat are not spiritual people. There are even saints amongst meat eaters and rogues who are vegetarians. Switching from vegetarian to a non vegetarian diet, I feel it's effect on me.

While i was vegetarian, getting up to do my chanting was normal, since switching to a non veg diet, I have lost my "mood" to chant. When i force myself to chant I can see my mind wandering leaving only my body in the prayer room. I have to admit that instinctive urges is also above the regular level. Not to say I was a saint when I was vegetarian, but it was at my pleasure. Non veg diet has brought it.....let's say often pleasurable.

Should I swing back into a vegetarian diet. I think i would as it's my future goal to become a vegetarian. I took my first vegetarian diet at the good day of Vaikasi Visakam for a year(2005-2006). The next one was somewhere during November December 2006, it was last one ended on 1st December 2007 (2006-2007). The next one should be.....well a nice date is around Thaipusam or Thaiponggal. Well I have more than 2 weeks before thaiponggal. Let me makan makan some delicious meat during this buffer period and serve the karmic consequences latter.

One blog which i enjoy reading is Zenhabits .Read his story of becoming a vegetarian on "How to become a Vegetarian, the easy way"

A lot of things out there motivated me to be come vegetarian. The most motivating or shall i say piercing was the wisdom from thirukkural verse 251 which says "How can he practice true compassion who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?"

We can ignore the verse above and do what we do, but we can't deny the truth in the verse above.