Kali Ma's topics - tribe.net

A murti of Mother

Grihastha — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:37:17 GMT

I'm in the process of constructing - to be honest, cobbling together - my altar for the daily puja I offer to Ma.

Being an extremely visual and aesthetically aware person (too much so, sometimes) I'm trying to get everything right, which isn't easy out in the cultural wasteland that is VT. I have a nice old south Indian oil lamp, but that's about it. I'm going to build a mandir. For Puja implements I'll probably go to the ISKCON store online, but my real stumbling block is the image of Her.

My principle deity is Matangi, but there doesn't seem to be any such thing as a Matangi murti. There are statues of Meenakshee, but that isn't how I see Her, 'cause I'm much more Kalikula oriented. I've been thinking of buying a Saraswati sculpture and working on it to substitute Matangi's attributes. BUT my actual question is:

As Shaktas we're all worshipping Mother. So does it actually matter from anything other than an aesthetic point of view which of Her aspects we have on our altars? If I see Her as Matangi but find an image of Durga in which I find Her to be strongly present, is it allowable to worship that image? Personally I tend towards the viewpoint that it doesn't matter at all, as She is as much present in me and the air around us as she is in any image and that image is at best a visual reference for meditation and a random focus for devotion, but I'm interested to find out what you all think, and if anyone has any ideas for creating/acquiring an appropriate murti.

Cheers, Pip

Matha marakatha shyama, Mathangi madha shalini
Kuryath kadaksham kalyani kadambha vana vasini!

posted in Kali Ma - 16 replies

sacrifice

Sidhu — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:45:11 GMT

Have any of you ever seen the animal sacrifice duri Kali Puja? Pls explain the same with your feelings like whether it is wrong or right or you enjoyed it or not etc.

posted in Kali Ma - 36 replies

Invoking Kali

Gina — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:53:11 GMT

A few years ago at a Samhain ritual I decided to aspect Kali. I wrote out a beautiful poem covering many aspects of life and the changes in life that people usually look towards...new job, new relationship, new friends... I also had symbols on paper that when I painted over them with blood red paint they would emerge giving the devotee a tool for them to divine their future for the year. This was all done very random during the ritual. So the ritual went off without a hitch. It was one of my best performances as a High Priestess. As the time I was married, employeed and pretty happy...AND THEN CAME KALI! She came in kicked my ass and took no prisoners...that night, I had become quite taken with a friend of a friend. I had no idea what this was about...I had been married for 8 years and never even noticed another man. He asked me to see what I saw in his divination symbol and I saw the two of us making love...uggghhh! I turned it upside down and it was even more so us. Oh my, so I lied to him and said I saw a butterfly for change...LOL. I was also very secure as a massage therapist. I had attended a wedding the next night of an ex-coworker and found myself longing to go back to work there...what was going on...I figured it was a blip in the radar and things went back to normal for a few weeks.
Next thing you know it was December...I went back to work for the old firm, asked for a divorce and was courting the man from the party. My life was turned upside down. In some ways I was devistated. in other ways, i was relieved. The chaos went on for about another 6 months. At some point I re-read the invocation to Kali that I had read at the ritual. EVERYTHING in the poem had or was happening to me!
I am greatful to Kali for coming in , kicking ass and taking no prisoners. I am now happily married to the man from the Samhain ritual, we have a beautiful baby and I am making money hand over fist at my old employer.
THANK THE GODDESS KALI!

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

Mata di, mater dei

Margot — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:05:45 GMT

I am no linguist, but I was just thinking about the similarities between "mata di" and "mater dei" (Latin for mother of God). And I'm pretty sure that Sanskrit and Latin are assumed to derive from a common proto-language. Anybody have any insight?

I was raised in a Catholic family and I keep coming across concepts, stories, traditions, etc in Vedic religions that are really similar to things I learned about as a kid. The stories of Manu and Noah are a good example of this, as are praying to saints and the rosary (of course, malas are part of many traditions). I'm sure a lot of research has been done on this...have any of you read anything about this?

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

12 Aspects of KALI

joanofart — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:45:32 GMT

Too often, people seem to associate Kali with pure destruction and fail to see that in pure destruction resides pure creation. Also, as a dispeller of illusions, Kali represents a kind of divine trickster, a clown even, defying our notions of so-called reality. I have been told that there are 12 aspects of Kali- and that to those who respect her unadulterated power, she is the MOST compassionate goddess- Kwan Yin Bin Bubble Gum. I invite this discussion open to all the multifarious aspects of Kali.

From the VOID of our dark mother- birthed infinite possibilities.

As with the TAO, The REAL Kali is the Kali that can't be named.

-Kali Blah Blah

posted in Kali Ma - 32 replies

what would you say to Kali?

alxindia — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:35:51 GMT

if you had the opportunity to stand in front of the Mother Divine as Maha Kali, seeing Her in a form with your two eyes open, able to ask Her for any blessing or knowledge that you deeply desire -- what would you say?

Alx

posted in Kali Ma - 26 replies

Site about Kalighat temple

durgaputra — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:02:50 GMT

Here is a site which has been put up about the temple. This is not a commercial site, but put up by a bhakta who resides barely 100-200 metres away from the temple.

http://kalighat.jagaddhatri.com/

posted in Kali Ma - 3 replies

An Ancient Kali Ma Incense Recipe?

MacMorrighan — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:07:28 GMT

Hey guys, a while back, I had heard a rather matter-of-factual mention of an ancient incense devoted to Kali Ma that includes the addition of rose. But, I never COULD find a formula for it. Might anyone, here, know of any Hindu scripture that contains such a formula?

posted in Kali Ma - 12 replies

Music

Grihastha — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:22:22 GMT

I'm curious as to whether anyone uses music or musical instruments in their practice - what, how and why? As a musician I'm attracted to the idea of musical sadhana, though I'll fess up and admit that I'm not entirely sure what that entails. But does music have a role in your everyday devotion, and how?

posted in Kali Ma - 13 replies

Portland kali temple

Monica — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:42:23 GMT

Does anyone here ever go to the Sri Mahakali temple in Portland, OR?

posted in Kali Ma - 12 replies

Approaching Ma

Maharaja Tajeshwar — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:57:23 GMT

I have a very simple question (well i think its simple, depends?), how can I approach Ma? because I kinda need some help in my life right now. I know there are many perspectives - however I am coming from a very simplistic, non-tantric view. Please if you can keep the answers non jargon as possible for the layman.

Tej

posted in Kali Ma - 15 replies

Sri Amma Karunamayi

kael — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 13:57:39 GMT

I will be experiencing her for my first time this June, 2006 as she comes to America.
I admit I don't know alot about her. I've just started reading a book on her.
Suddenly, she seems to be a topic in books I read, magazines I puruse....I'm not sure if it's the media, but I am drawn to her.
I can't help but to wonder if my finding the advertisement for her American visit means something for me.

Can anyone share their experiences with Sri Amma? Have you seen her in person? In spirit?
Thank you.
Namaste

posted in Kali Ma - 16 replies

Kali: comforting and serene... for tattoo work...

Levana — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:37:05 GMT

I have had many visions of Kali over the years... almost always after someone close to me has died. She's come to my visions, but never in a terrifying form, with an extended tongue. She comes with a smile, and a very serene look to her feminine face. And... she is always just a total vision of beauty.

I have been considering for years now, getting a tattoo of her on my left side... but... I can't find any images of her that portray her the way she looks in my visions. I saw one here that was close, but still too terrifying.

Are any of you artists... who might be able to help me bring her to life? Please? Or any suggestions where I can find someone who can help me get her drawn up?

posted in Kali Ma - 21 replies

Visitors of Supernatural Kind

Chakora — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:32:33 GMT

I have been discussing with a friend of mine who was into Tara Diksha. He keeps telling me that he had visitors of Supernatural Kind when he is performing Japa. He tells me that the other day when he was in deep sadhana, he saw a small girl come and sit next to him. That she was just looking into his eyes and left after 10min.

He says once a elderly man visited him and was doing Japa along with him. And in the end told him that at this rate,he will get siddhi of Tara Devi in another 6 months time.

Other than this he is so normal and is a typical guy next door.

What is your take on such experiences? Illusions? How does this go with the Kundalini Awakening and Energy Concept?

C

posted in Kali Ma - 16 replies

The Veiling Brilliance: Journey to the Goddess

wolf — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:35:20 GMT

has any one read this ???
i did - i found it interesting ???
i'd like to discuss it - theres some beutiful storyes in here about her - some stuff i just did not know.....
http://www.amazon.com/Veiling-Brilliance-Journey-Goddess/dp/0892541288

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

What does it mean

Chakora — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:43:41 GMT

I am doing Dyana and Mantra Japa of Chinnamastha Devi.. daily.. I do not follow major rituals but take bath at midnight, sit alone in very low light near dark with a japa mala and chant 3-4 rounds of mantra daily with her Picture in front of me.

Last 7 days I notice that when I am chanting the Japa, I feel spikes of electric chanrge in my nerves when I am chanting it. Something which makes my body jerk very mildly.. It builds up for 30 secs and gives a jerk subsides and slowly builds again after 4-5min..

What does this mean? Am i doing something wrong by not following rituals.

-C

posted in Kali Ma - 17 replies

MuahaHa!

innessa — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:22:25 GMT

oh how i love Kali
there are really no words
she just is
and that is so potent
i have to laugh out loud sometimes!

posted in Kali Ma - 27 replies

Ma Kali mantra in sankrit

bugwitch — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:56:56 GMT

I'm looking for the sanskrit "character" version of Ma Kali's mantra. Is that it on the header page of this group? Can someone direct me to an image of it.

Thank you.

posted in Kali Ma - 6 replies

Kali Sahasranama

Sedusa — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:38:17 GMT

So, one of my current projects is to memorize the Kali Sahasranama. However, I've found variances in a few different recordings and texts. Does anyone have a link to, or list of books that have the Kali Sahasranama in Devanagari? I'd like to compare as many versions as I can, study the differences, and figure out which one is correct.

posted in Kali Ma - 6 replies

What is the cuase of manifestation of Maa Kali?

Vijay — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:04:17 GMT

I know one but I want to ascertain whether I am correct.

posted in Kali Ma - 75 replies

How to make real natural Sindoor/kumkum

Rasa — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:05:34 GMT

Sindoor or Vermillion is the red paste applied to the forehead as tilakam, and used in Pujas. The commerical Sindoor sold over the counter contains Lead Oxides and is actually very toxic. I found that my headaches and twitching was caused by my exposure to sindoor that contains lead.

Recipe:
1 part tumeric
1 part slaked like/hydrated lime/calcium hydroxide
A little water.

Mix all these and the yellow tumeric will turn a brilliant red. Make sure to get all the pastey lime mixed in well with the tumeric. This is much better for you and much better for your puja.

posted in Kali Ma - 18 replies

movies suggestions

m moon — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:44:12 GMT

we have been speaking of darshan.

and I am wondering if anyone has other suggestions of good movies about kali, india, spirituality. Movies that where not just entertaining but inspiring as well.

thank you love and light

posted in Kali Ma - 106 replies

Vasantha Navarathri (x posted from Aghora/practical tantra/Sri Durga Devi.)

Rasa — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:33:40 GMT

It is now the Ashtami of Vasantha Navarathri... Or the eighth day of the nine night celebration of Mother Durga and all her manifestations. Spring time is a very auspicious time for many things. With Holi, you can use this time to clean out your mind, body, and house. Through the sacred vratham of fruit and milk for 9 days, the body is thoroughly cleansed in the digestive areas and other areas of impurities. By making the house spotless and organized every day before night fall so that Mother can come to her devotee in a clean house. Through worship and prayer of Maa you cleanse the mind and karmas. When you meditate Maa, and when you pray Maa, as a baby child crying for her mother she comes and has to take you into her arms like she came to Shiva when she was dancing the Universe to dust with her lotus feet. When you pray Maa, and take her sacre vratham during the three auspicious occasions for Navarathri throughout the year, one cleanses the body, the house, the mind, and destroys all kinds of Karma loads. Even if one celebrates three days out of the nine, one for Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Sarasvathi one can obtain benefit. For the ardent devotee who cries out with tears for Maa, she will come. For those who really stick to the vratham and perform pujas mentally and physically for Maa, so many auspicious things happen! It is the best time of year to draw close to god. These nine days are filled with Shakti and the blessedness of Maa Jagadambe. If one takes the Navarathri Sadhana of Nava Durga, or nine forms, one for each day, with proper guidance, and whoever chants the ancient shlokas and mantras of Maa during this occasion, one will most likely attain liberation and Siddhi without any sort of hinderance. Everyone who prays to Maa during this time will be victorious with her in the battle against your asuric tendencies that may hinder you.

There is no other relationship better in any world than the relationship has with mother. Whether it is your physical mother, or Mother Jagadambae... When you pray to God as Maa, she will take compassion and pity for a helpless child like any good woman with mothering instincts. She will take you into her beautiful arms and auspicious lap and show you everything you need to know.

And pay special attention to any women, and especially little girls who may come to you during this time. Whether it's a small girl or withered elderly woman, you never know when Maa comes in disguise to surprise her devotees! She is so beautiful and so playful, and so very auspicious. You can be sure that if you pray Maa, you will succeed in life.

So a very happy and blessed Navarathri to all who love Maa. Jai Jagad Ambae Maa, Jai Ambae Bhavani, Jai Lalitha Ambikae. Always victory to the mother who is the cosmic empress of the three worlds.

posted in Kali Ma - 4 replies

New temple

Ananas — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:44:28 GMT

I am thinking to build/make a little temple for Kali in the Netherlands. Does anybody have an idea how to begin?

Greetings
Erik

posted in Kali Ma - 5 replies

Tara Ma

Sedusa — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:12:29 GMT

anybody read this?:

http://www.exoticindia.com/book/details/IDJ751/

it's the first time I've come across a book that addresses Tara in an exclusively Hindu light.

posted in Kali Ma - 8 replies

Kali dance

Erika — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:43:21 GMT

Just thought I'd share...
Very beautiful Kathak dance about Kali:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgOmm1AglUc

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

Hello everyone.

CC — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:52:27 GMT

my name is CC...and im new..hopeing to share some good topics and learn from u guys..;-)

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

12 Kālīs of the Krama school of Kashmir

Sedusa — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:20:36 GMT

सृसटिकाली ॥१॥

(i) Sŗsţi Kālī

the conception of creative power in relation to the object

रकतकाली ॥२॥

(ii) Rakta Kālī

the conception of the power of maintenance of the objective world through the five senses

स्थितिनाशकाली ॥३॥

(iii) Sthitināśa Kālī

the power of संहार sanghāra or withdrawal of the objective world

यमकाली ॥४॥

(iv) Yama Kālī

the अनाख्या anākhyā or indefinable power in relation to objective experience

संहारकाली ॥५॥

(v) Sanghāra Kālī

in the stage of संहारकाली Sanghāra Kālī, the experience is, "The object is non-different from me"

मृत्युकाली ॥६॥

(vi) Mŗtyukālī

She swallows up even residual traces of the idea of the withdrawal of the objective world

भद्रकाली ॥७॥

(vii) Bhadrakālī

afflorescence of different objects and the dissolving of those different forms again in Her essential Nature

मार्तण्डकाली ॥८॥

(viii) MārtaņDakālī

dissolution of the 12 senses in the अहंकार ahangkāra to such an extent that they become unnameable

परमार्ककाली ॥९॥

(ix) Paramārkakālī

the emergence of the limited subject by merging अहंकार ahangkāra in Her creative power

कालाग्निरुद्रकाली ॥१०॥

(x) Kālāgnirudrakālī

She makes the limited self rest in the Universal Self; महाकाली Mahākālī, She holds within Herself everything including Time

महाकालकाली ॥११॥

(xi) Mahākālakālī

the dissolution of the "I" which is posited in opposition to this in the "Perfect I" which is free from all relation to objectivity; withdrawal in relation to the limited subject

महाभैरवघोरचण्डकाली ॥१२॥

(xii) MahābhairavaghoracaņDakālī

the subject, the object, the means of knowledge and knowledge are all dissolved into I-conciousness.

मन्थानभैरव ॥

Manthāna Bhairava is the ultimate resting place of all.

- from Jaideva Singh's notes on the Spanda-Kārikās

posted in Kali Ma - 5 replies

Introduction

Nabarz — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:21:45 GMT

Namaste.

A short intro, while I get me head around how Tribes work!

My interest in Kali is based on my work with AMOOKOS (The Arcane Magical Order of the Knights of Shambhala), and Nath tradition (info on Naths at http://www.cix.co.uk/~mandrake/naths.htm).

I mainly work in the Mithraic system and Persian base ideas (Magi and Sufism), and have written couple of books on the subject. My other interest is the Druid tradition and I help to run a Grove.

I have a very universal approach :) more info on my interests:
www.myspace.com/nabarz

Best wishes,
Nabarz

posted in Kali Ma - 4 replies

Durga Saptashati

Maharaja Tajeshwar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:27:41 GMT

I am not very good at reading the Saptashati in transliterated form. Can one derive benefit by actively listening to the verses through a tape recording?

Taj

posted in Kali Ma - 14 replies

you tell them

SHERVIN — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:43:16 GMT

I am gone
And far beyond
Yoú tell them:
“This the time t say goodbye to him, let him go”

I am not from here
nor do I belong to this talks and thoughts
Yoú tell them:
“He is useless, faithless, worthless, let him go”

My chants are not made for earthly ears,
I dance like a savage, in their eyes
My love song sounds like a scream in their polluted, dark caves
Yoú tell them:
“kick him out, away with him, send him to the wild”.

The mountain height, the depth of ocean, the dark jungle
Yoú tell them:
“put the beast where he belongs!”

posted in Kali Ma - 32 replies

Lakulish Yogasan Championships 2008: Feb. 22; 23; & 24th, - City of Surat, Gujarat State, India

Dennis — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:43:56 GMT

For details and application forms, please refer to: http://www.lifemission.org/ and under "New" go to item #4 and click on "World Open Yogasan Championships".

Please note, to optimize your India trip and your experience of Lakulish Yoga you could attend or participate in the Yogasan Championships and also take in the 3 week Certificate Yoga Training Course being offered at Swami Rajarshi Muni's Malav Ashram from January 30 -February 20th. For details on the training go to http://www.lifemission.org/ and under "New" click on item # 5 " "Overseas Students Annual Yoga Certificate Training Program"

posted in Kali Ma - 3 replies

The question of human sacrifice

Petrus — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:09:25 GMT

Hey guys,
The proverbial dinosaur in the living room, human sacrifice, had been bothering me again recently, despite what people have said on here, and my own feelings on the issue. Because of this, I decided to go hunting for what I at least hope is a definite scriptural answer to the issue. Most of you will probably be a lot more familiar with the Kalika Purana than I am, but it seems to be a relatively obscure text...I had to dig hard to find this on the web, and even then it was from a commentary. Here's the text, though.

"The flesh of the antelope and the rhinoceros give my beloved Kali delight for 500 years. By a human sacrifice, attended by the forms laid down, Devi is pleased for a thousand years; and by the sacrifice of three men, a hundred thousand years. By human flesh Kamakhya, Chandika, and Bhairava, who assume my shape, are pleased a thousand years. Blood drawn from the offerer's own body is looked upon as a proper oblation to the Goddess Chandika.

Let the sacrificer repeat the word Kali twice, and say, 'Hail, Devi! Goddess of thunder; hail, iron-sceptered Goddess!' Let him then take the axe in his hand, and again invoke the same by the Kalaratri text, as follows: 'Let the sacrificer say, Hrang, Hrang! Kali, Kali! O horrid-toothed Goddess! Eat, cut, destroy all the malignant; cut with this axe; bind, bind; sieze, sieze; drink blood! Spheng, Spheng! Secure, secure. Salutation to Kali."

From what I saw on the web, in comparison to the Aztec gods in particular, the above is fairly tame. Not only that, but according to the above, if two antelope were used, human sacrifice could be avoided altogether.

That tells me that the perception of Kali as craving human blood is erroneous...and that the idea can be dumped pretty much once and for all.

posted in Kali Ma - 25 replies

Dakshina Kali

Dani — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:08:42 GMT

Can any one give me a propriet picture of Dakshina Kali, so that i can meditate upon her!!!!?

posted in Kali Ma - 6 replies

Beejaksharas for Kali Yantra

krish — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:56:31 GMT

My Pranams to Maa Kali and all members,

I am a Kali devotee and I need certain details about the Beeja alphabets of a Kali Yantra having 54 upadevadas. Eg. Kali – Kreem)

Jaya Vijaya Ajitha Aparajitha Nithya Vilasini Dokthri Agora Mangala

Kalabhairavi Mahabhairavi Simhabhairavi Doomrabhairavi Beemabhairavi Unmakthabhairavi Vaseekaranabhairavi Mohanabhairavi

Indra Madhava Yama Rudra Varuna Vinayaka Kubera Soorya

Brahmi Narayani Maheswari Chamunda Gowmari Aparajitha Varahi Nrusimhika

Premasara Vidyullatha Rasanandha

Ukra Ukraprabha Deeptha Neela Ghana Bhalaka Mathra Muthra Amitha

Kali Khabhalini Gulla Gurugulla Virodhini Viprachittha

Mahakala Pathratmaja Dakshina kalika

Sincerely

Kalekrish

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

In praise of Kali

Petrus — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:37:39 GMT

Earlier, on reflecting how I've finally been able to leave a terribly restrictive relationship, I found myself writing this. Sorry if the length is a problem...I hadn't planned that.
-
Before I knew you were there,
Or even who you were,
I know now that you were with me.
You were with me during the darkest moments of my life,
and when my grandmother lay dying,
18 hours before her death,
In my mind's eye,
It was you that I saw,
At the foot of her bed.
You had come to take her home.
Though again, at the time I recognised you not.

At times when I was younger, I would wake in the night,
or the early morning, rigid with fear,
From a nightmare I had had, or a passing spirit.
At the time, I had been raised Christian, and prayed earnestly
to the God of Israel for some comfort.
Silence was my only answer.
Yet I eventually learned in time,
That if I but lit some sandalwood incense,
one of your recorded offerings,
that that alone was enough to cause the source of my terror,
to depart.

The Bible promised me, the peace of God,
and I sought it, but it went unfound.
Only mindless terror was in its' place,
Fear constant, of the fires of hell.
This peace I have found, with you.

And so I say again, you cared for me,
before I knew your name,
before I could praise you,
before I could offer to you,
before I knew how.

Truthfully, for the most part,
I still have no real clue.
A few mantras, found from the Internet,
and your images, which confirmed to me,
who it was in the past that I had seen.

Again, just recently, when I cried out to you,
For help in freeing me from the bonds,
of a relationship that has held me in misery,
For half a dozen years,
You were there.
Your scythe came down on them,
The outer world changed,
And I was freed.

There are none other like you, my Mother.
None in the whole world.
At the site of your temple in California, they write,
of men who are Christian the rest of their lives,
but who are drawn, inexorably to you, at the New Moon,
To offer to you, and to partake of your love.
And of one, who of visiting your shrine for the first time,
Was overwhelmed by your love, and your presence, and fell in love himself.

The ignorant call you a demon,
And deride your children, as monsters giving praise to a monster,
But they do not know what we know.
They have not been alone in the dark, afraid,
Watched over by one, blacker than the surrounding darkness,
and so able to bind and destroy all of it,
Yet gleaming gold in your infinite compassion.

I hesitated at first,
The guilt and fear of the Christians giving me pause,
As well as the colour of my skin, for I am not Indian,
Yet I was drawn to you, and kept being drawn to you,
And now I fight it no longer.
I recognise you,
I acknowledge you,
I am grateful to you,
I love you.
I now join with anyone, anywhere else, who says,
JAI MA KALI!

posted in Kali Ma - 4 replies

Pashchimamnaya

Sedusa — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:15:24 GMT

I heard of an extant Kaula following in Nepal but don't know anything about it. Does anyone have any information on this stream of thought?

posted in Kali Ma - 3 replies

sacrifice

Ananas — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:12:39 GMT

Today, thursday 26th April at 10.30 I have sacrificed a goat to Kali at the Kalitemple Kailghat at Calcutta, India. I thought it would be a change of burning incense.

Erik

posted in Kali Ma - 44 replies

opinions requested, but...

Sedusa — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:34:17 GMT

...smack me down if you think I'm being a hypocrite. have any of you met Shree Maa? what did you think? I like their publications and that a) they seem to have the attitude of "hey, unless we invite you, please don't come visit us. we are busy getting our sadhana on" and that Mahakali is the focus in Kali Puja (the manual they put out).

I just don't know of a better place to ask. (if this is too Guru-centric for anyone because I discourage that generally, just tell me and I'll wipe my OWN thread)

posted in Kali Ma - 19 replies

An introduction

Petrus — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:18:59 GMT

Hey everyone,
I've already written a couple of posts here, but found myself remembering my manners, and wondering if I should have done that without introducing myself. I've only fairly recently begun learning anything about Kali at all...but without being directly presumptuous about possible experiences, (since I notice that tends to bother some people) I will simply say that I do very much feel drawn to Kali, and to trying to learn what I can about the worship of Her.

I'm finding the threads that I've already read here to be very interesting, and am hoping that this is a place where I can both learn more about Kali and also possibly continue to read about other people's thoughts about Her/experiences with Her.

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

Hardcore

kalkin — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:25:34 GMT

Nepali man cuts off hand and offers it to Kali:

http://www.newkerala.com/july.php?action=fullnews&id=50760

I wish I could be so hardcore! Maybe I'll start with a toe ;)

posted in Kali Ma - 9 replies

calcutta

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:56:32 GMT

hallo sweetnessssees
next week i go to calcutta.. before passing through the centre of india, to settle in goa a while.. but i'm so happy to be going to Kali's city.. and i hoped you would know where her most sacred places are.. which temples.. the Ganges?
ave you any advice or suggestions of any kind for my visit there?
if you like i will take some photos for you of her [..symbolically real] home and children

love caitlin

posted in Kali Ma - 13 replies

Purity?

Narayan — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:04:09 GMT

Is there a place in Kali worship for Purity? Allow me to clarify: by "purity" I mean purity of mind and heart - freedom from conditioning.

I know Kali is associated with Tamas, which is also associated with deep ignorance and Karma, while Purity is more a Sattvic quality.

I also know purity and purification are very closely associated with Lakshmi.

Is it just a matter of emphasis? I.e., Kali worshipers emphasize the tamasic aspects more, while souls who have wallowed in them for a long time turn to Lakshmi for succor, yet in reality Kali and Lakshmi (and Saraswati) are one and the same, taking different forms only for the sake of devotees?

What is the usefulness, from a sadhana point of view, of glorifying Tamas?

Or by Kali do you mean a greater Entity that incorporates and simultaneously transcends all three Gunas? If so, then I pose my question again - what is the place of Purity in Kali worship?

posted in Kali Ma - 29 replies

To Kali Ma

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 06:31:29 GMT

ohm Kreem Kali

you are the most beautifull mother in the universe
you take away the darkness form every individual who strives in the path of perfection
by performing the spiritual disciplines of purifying austerities
you are prakriti, the nature of the universe
you are the cause of time, yet you are also beyond it
you are the mother of pure bliss and love
your love is so powerfull, no evil can sustain itself in it

if I can ask for anything in this world, grant me that i may never be separate from you Kali MA
may I always remain your child

at your lotus feet I bow

ohm kreem kali ma

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

jai kali ma

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 06:17:43 GMT

check this out Kali worshipers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe8lvhIMUKU

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

Navratri expierence

indiabazaar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:26:13 GMT

I have interesting story to share with you...

In this days as Godess Kali.. Navratri days going and we do prayers of godess kali...at my home in this days i do 9 days fast and prayers for godess.. I settel temprory temple with decoration.. on my dinning table... so we have decorate and made temple with sari and dupatta.. and the keep the godess idol.. so my every day prayers we do there.. as i do prayers every day on my little home temple...so i moved all statue pictures...of gods on the temprory decorated godess area....

so yesterday when i were ready to come to shop.. i took all stuff wich i were going to ship orders.. and came to shop.. in between way i only stop one place for two minute.. as i remeber with all stuff i also bring my expensive digital camera.. but when i get to shop and check my stuff my digital camera were lost... I did found all over home and shop and couldnt find it.. it were hard to belive in the way where i stop only for two min.. did some one stolen my camera in only two min... or i forgot some where... i spend all day but couldnt find the camera.. i could still not belive that in this navratri days..when i m on very hard fast and prayers how i got big loss for expensive camera.. did i done something wrong in between prayer. is godess kali get angry on me...as i remeber i were not done any thing wrong...

as later of the day.. my wife call to his father for some reason and told her that we lost our expensive digital camera yesterday and some one stolen it only in two min.. on the way.. my father in law told him....dont worry just belive on (guru ji) (my father in law guru ji )...and camera will find ... then my wife went to godess temple where we do prayers in this days.. and couldnt find the picture of (father in law's guru ji) actually when i moved all statue and picture from my home temple to .. decorated navratri temple at dinning table.. i forgot to move little picture of father in law's guru ji... so my wife took the picture of guru ji and put near to where all are..and pray we should find the camera... and as she check.. exactly where the guru jip picture were left.. there were one plastic bag...she curiously check whats in this and found my camera....
we wonder all days we search all home and couldnt find it.. but as we got the camera where the guru ji picture were left by mistake to move temple....was it way of guru ji to show importance of himself as we forgot to move his picture.. or its just co accidence...
actually i put the camera with jewerly to bring shop... but as i thought today i had lot of things to carry.. so the jewelry bag i should take tomarrow and keep it on empty space of home temple and forgot lately.. only wonder why its happen and why we cant find in all day as we search every single place of home.. and how come when we move guru ji picture with godess.. and remeber to check that area...
but things happen..
Ajay

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

Ma Tara

The_Motion_in_the_Ocean — Thu, 31 May 2007 14:49:46 GMT

I’m wondering if anyone has any insight and advice on worshipping and honoring Tara. This really is the vidya that appeals to my heart and inclinations. But I really don’t have any access to any tradition of her worship. I thought of trying to pursue the Buddhist empowerments, but it’s not really my thing. It’s Tara the Mahavidya that interests me. I have read most of what’s available in English on her, and am thinking of just buckling down and learning some Sanskrit. I’ve tried the mantras for her but always get the intense feeling that they really do indeed require initiation. Any thoughts or advice on ways of honoring her that would not require initiation?

posted in Kali Ma - 7 replies

Kali & Bees

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:41:30 GMT

I recall having heard that Kali is often depicted with bees in Her hair, though I have yet to come across an artistic interpretation of this. Can someone elaborate on the significance of this, and also offer any other anecdotes relating to Kali and bees?

~*~*Jai Kali~*~*~*

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

Happy Navratri

sunil — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:07:36 GMT

Om Shanti

May the Mighty Mother bestow the very best on one and all throughout the Universe

Jai Maa

posted in Kali Ma - 9 replies

well

Sedusa — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:39:08 GMT

that fellow was unsubbed, but I feel like I should write a form letter for all my tribes and save it as a text file to repost...

NO PROSELYTIZING.

NO SPAM.

NO DISRESPECTING THE TOPIC OF THE TRIBE.

If you have an event you want to promote, email me FIRST before posting. I am not gonna discriminate even if it is from a tradition I don't belong to (or even personally like!), as long as it's totally topical and not recruitment. otherwise I nuke the thread. anyway, I'm sure we can all agree that trying to convert the heathens in a tribe dedicated to Ma is not gonna fly, which is why the "turn to christ!" thread is now dust.

and while healthy disagreements and even a little bit of argument are okay (god, how many times am I gonna have to type this?), try to keep it civil.

k?

-the mod

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

TARAPITH

Sedusa — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 05:21:19 GMT

our own Karuna has done a documentary on Tarapith, a very important and powerful Shakta spot... I had the pleasure of watching it this evening...

DVDs are available, Karuna, can you link to the site to purchase them?

every lefthanded Tantrika or Shakta should see this.

posted in Kali Ma - 6 replies

Kali and Bhairavi

kalkin — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 08:36:58 GMT

Kali Ma and Bhairavi (Tripura-Bhairavi), both fierce aspects of Ma in desructo-mode. What else do they have in common? What are the major differences?

posted in Kali Ma - 24 replies

Kali Mandir (Laguna Beach, CA) Puja

Sedusa — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 05:22:57 GMT

Okay, so who's going? The Pujaris from Dakshineswar are gonna be in full effect again.

this year I'm planning on being in attendance, since last year I hadda save up for my India pilgrimage and didn't go on account of that.

http://www.kalimandir.org/eventReg/eventRegistration.asp?page=default

(I know I discourage events, etc. - I'm not associated with Kali Mandir in any way other than through a few friends, there is no presiding Guru, and this seems on topic as there's gonna be a bunch of different Shaktas from across the country in attendance. if you think I'm wrong or being unfair, just let me know. I always welcome and appreciate feedback on my moderation!)

Jai Ma Kali!

posted in Kali Ma - 14 replies

Mother

adyashakti — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:19:01 GMT

Mother,
You're always finding ways to amuse Yourself.

Syama, You stream of nectar,
through Your deluding power
You forge a horrible face
and adorn Yourself with a necklace of skulls.
The earth quakes under Your leaps and bounds.
You are frightful
with that sword in Your hand.
At other times
You take a flirtatious pose,
and then, Mother,
even the God of Love is undone!

Your form is inconceivable and undecaying.
Narayani, Tripura, Tara --
You are beyond the three qualities
yet composed of them.
You are terrifying,
You are black,
You are beautiful.

Thus assuming various forms,
You fulfill wishes of Your worshipers.
Sometimes You even dance
Brahman, Eternal One
in the lotus heart of Kamalakanta.

~~ Kamalakanta

*** "It is said that when Kamalakanta was near death, he asked to be taken to the banks of the Ganges River. Just as he was brought there, an unexpected flood rose up and carried his body away. The Ganges, an expression of the Divine Mother whom he had worshipped all his life, had claimed him as Her own.

There is something wonderfully terrible about the devotion of the great Kali poets, particularly Kamalakanta and Ramprasad. In their poetry and their worship, they are saying, in effect, "Do whatever it takes, Mother, to bring me to you. Shatter me, if you must. Destroy me. I don't care. So long as you do not withhold yourself!" Such spiritual courage is both frightening and exhilirating to participate in."

http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/K/Kamalakanta/index.htm

posted in Kali Ma - 5 replies

Shakambari?

Arun-once-was-ZyGoat — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:18:08 GMT

does anyone know of Sri Shakambari or have any art or information regarding Her that they would like to pass along?
She is a some-what neglected Bharati Earth Goddess...
images of Murti's particularly requested
danyavad!

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

bija for kali

kalikat — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:46:25 GMT

i know krim is a seed mantra for kali - are there any others?

posted in Kali Ma - 3 replies

How do you pronounce 'Kali' ?

J J — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:41:56 GMT

My friends and I have differing opinions about how to pronounce Kali. Some say it is with a short 'a' and some like 'kahlee'. Does the way you pronounce it mean that it is male or female , terrible or benevolent???

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

On meeting Kali

Brian — Sat, 19 May 2007 19:06:21 GMT

Though I generally keep my stories to myself, I just read the topic "Kali and me" and feel inspired to share a connection I had several years ago at an ashram in Colorado.

I'd arrived a few weeks early to help prepare for a summer celebration - mostly groundskeeping work but also pujari trainning. The days were long - up at 3:30 to wake Mother and prepare the temple and then physical labor all afternoon.

I was landscaping walkways through the scrub which involved wheelbarrowing wood chips and moving stones, mostly creekside. It was exhausting at 9,ooo feet, especially since I had come from sea level. I spent much time leaning on my shovel and catching my breath.

During those brief rests I was getting swarmed by mosquitoes who absolutely adored the sweet taste of my fruit-fed body. Though it was disconcerting at first, I very soon realized that the 'squitoes weren't landing on me while shoveling, but only when I stopped. Kinda like the universe insisting that I keep trudging forward... and so I'd do my karma yoga until hitting the edge of passing-out. Other folks at the ashram wore head-nets or spent the day slapping at themselves, but I couldn't do that. If one landed on me, I'd quickly blow it off before it began to bite (not very efficient, but I'd didn't want to be killing anything).

After the second or third day of this, I retired at sunset to the yurt and thought that I should have a talk with those pests. I put a shamanic drum cassette in my walkman with the intention of meeting the "Queen Mosquito". The journey took all of a minute and then bang! there she was, resplendantly large on her throne and looking at me curiously.

I explained that I was seeking to make a deal with her, at which point she glared at my incredulousness - but that look revealed a deeper reality, and I suddenly recognized Her as a manifestation of Kali. I prostated and averted my eyes. "Kali, we are being eaten alive and it is making it difficult to complete our work. I'd like to make a trade with you - no more biting on ashram grounds in exchange for unlimited biting creekside behind the temple." That area had to be walked through from the overflow parking lot, so I was confident that the mosquitoes wouldn't go hungry.

"Okay. But tell them, 'no more killing'."

In a flash I was back on my futon, suddenly re-aware of the drumming. I shut the walkman down and fell asleep with a glow of satisfaction of being with Mother.

After morning puja I got back to work and completely forgot about the pests. I ran into another karma yogi on my way to the earthship for lunch, and he was smacking mosquitoes. "Wait, wait. Don't do that!" I told him about the deal I'd made, and that he wouldn't be bothered if he agreed to be biten creekside and stopped killing them.

"No way" was his answer, and so I pointed out to him that they were no longer biting me. He stopped, looked at me and said "No way" and slapped another off his arm. I rolled my eyes, "suit yourself" and we went into lunch. While we ate I relayed details of the deal I'd struck, but that only got laughs from most of the dozen folks. One woman seemed to get it, but I wasn't sure - she was averting her eyes and looking within. I went back to eating lunch believing that Mother would certainly cancel the deal.

But She didn't, not for me anyway. I never got bit again while on the campus, not even buzzed, and I was there for a month. But every other day I would walk down to the creek and give them five minutes to feed. At the end of the first week I ran into the woman from lunch who hadn't laughed. She was walking towards the creek and said "You were feeding the mosquitoes!"

I smiled back and said "Yep." She quieted her voice and said, "Just want to let you know that it's working."

Om. Funny thing is, I never got any mosquito bumps from those creekside bites. When I returned several months later for Navratri, the deal was still in effect. I got swarmed after I parked my car but then didn't see another one until I returned to the lot a week later.

Brian

posted in Kali Ma - 4 replies

The sword of non dual wisdom

Mon, 28 May 2007 17:56:58 GMT

Aren't the categories "right" and "wrong" obviously dualistic?

Is maya to be released or severed?

Are the sword of Kali and the flute of Krishna one?

Jack

posted in Kali Ma - 50 replies

kali ma

m moon — Sun, 20 May 2007 20:59:28 GMT

in the "yogi times" there is a full page ad for this woman "kali ma"

it caught my curiosity. I believe her path is more Buddhist then hindi.

here is the websight www.mahasiddhas.org

does anyone have any experinces with her?

she is westner and looks fairly young (30's maybe)

posted in Kali Ma - 77 replies

The Commodification of Yoga/Tantra/Hinduism

Sedusa — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 19:18:25 GMT

so I decided to repost frend's topic but in neutral terms.

what do you think the way that the Eastern mystic traditions are being treated in the west? Where I live, there are many "workshops" to teach you various things, some of which claim to teach Tantra but in the traditional sense are more like Kama Shastra teachings. Of course, most people in the west treat or view Yoga as simply an exercise program and not as sadhana. A lot of people seem to be attracted the the figure of Kali and other Hindu deities but take them out of their cultural context.

how do you feel about it?

posted in Kali Ma - 33 replies

Mother's Day

TheHappyNun — Sun, 13 May 2007 20:13:21 GMT

I thought it would be nice to have a topic for Mother's Day. For your mother and also the ultimate mother, Kali Ma!

What has everyone done for their mothers today?

posted in Kali Ma - 4 replies

Pushed into the Fold

fire_tressed — Fri, 11 May 2007 16:02:27 GMT

I have had a connection to the Dark Mother for many years in the form of a Greek Deity. However, in the past 4 months, there have been many signs, dreams, visits in meditations and flat out oracle declarations by strangers that another aspect of the Dark Mother is demanding my attention: Kali Ma. She is pounding at my door, not knocking, because subtlety is not Her style. ;)

Books on Her have been purchased and websites have been researched. I am still trying to wrap my brain around the Hindu pantheon as it is new to me (more familiar with Greek and Egyptian). So forgive me if my questions regarding further knowledge I wish to acquire is elementary.

I'm begining to understand very well what Kali Ma represents. Yet I wish to experience Her properly with respect. Are there any particular rituals (or pujas? is that the correct term?) I can conduct? Prayers I can entone? Would anyone know if there is a Kali Ma temple in Portland, Oregon? I've been focusing so much on the research, I wish to start learning about Her through my heart because I intuitively feel She is the one who shall assist me in a major cathartic breakthrough.

Any suggestions you can provide for someone new to this Primeaval Creatrix would be warmly appreciated.

Embrace the Flame,
Ember

posted in Kali Ma - 16 replies

Screening of "Signs Out of Time" -- Gaia Festival, Pacific Palisades, CA

Kris — Mon, 14 May 2007 15:41:45 GMT

Date & Time: 5/26/07, 9:15 pm
Location: Woodland Hall, Temescal Gateway Park, Pacific Palisades, CA
Film duration is 58:40 and will be followed by a short discussion.
Entrance Fee: $5

****Please RSVP to kris@gaiafestival.com to reserve a seat.****

Greetings,

At Gaia Festival this year, we are offering a screening of the documentary film, "Signs Out of Time," about the life and work of visionary archaeologist Marija Gimbutas on May 26, 2007 starting at 9:15pm.

Marija Gimbutas changed the way the world saw Neolithic cultures of Old Europe and helped us gain a new vision of how life can be - peaceful, cooperative and Earth-centered.

Marija’s controversial interpretations of the thousands of Goddess figurines she unearthed during her archaeological excavations gained her both staunch supporters and adversaries.

“Signs Out of Time” was produced by Donna Read and Starhawk, without any grants, funded by individuals who believed in the importance of Marija’s work.

More than ever before, Marija’s work needs to be brought to the public’s attention. Now, with the Earth in an ecological crisis of dire proportions, humankind must step up to care for Her, for Gaia, to ensure sustainable life on this planet for future generations. Order your own copy of this inspiring documentary on the Belili Productions website (http://www.belili.org/order.html).

For more information about Gaia Festival, please email Kris Oster (kris@gaiafestival.com) and check out our website with the full schedule and descriptions of workshops and events: www.gaiafestival.com.

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

ISO A Kali Anti-Fluff Bunny Spell

MacMorrighan — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:49:27 GMT

Hey guys, thos week I'm going to be recording my FIRST podcast, if all goes well (probably on Monday when I won't be disturned). Anyway...it will deal with the Kali Ma; so, as part of that cast I'd like to relay a lovely sarcastic spell I remember floating throughout cyberspace a long while ago. Now, I'm not sure of the exact name-- perhaps "The Kali Mush-'Em-Up Spell"?-- but it basically involves decorating a chocolate cipcake with a fluff bunny in white frosting, and devouring it. Does it ring any bells? I'll be sure to thank you! Also, if you could locate the original author's name, I'd appreciate that as well. This will not be intended for any sort of irreverence... Just as a bit of local Pagan "pop-culture", if you will. Innfact, the brunt oif it will be my own thoughts, research,as well as what other worshippers of the goddess (loal Hindus from India) have reported to me-- that she adores incense that is pungient, sweet, floral, such as jasmine, rose, vanilla, and even lily!

Take Care,
Wade

posted in Kali Ma - 2 replies

Goddess Kali Ma - Liberator of Souls - Destroyer of Negativity

Naveen108 — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:17:22 GMT

NAMASTE

After a reading that was done in the last few weeks and finding out that Mother Kali is my ishta devita i have not stoped studing the many aspects of the mother. I cam accross this today from a friend and that i would post it here.

The Goddess Kali Ma is the supreme feminine manifestation of compassion as she frees us from the prison of our own ego.

The name Kali derives from the Sanskrit root word Kal meaning time. Nothing escapes from time. Her Tibetan Buddhism counterpart is named Kala, a male figure. Of the Hindu goddesses, Goddess Kali Ma is the most misunderstood. The Encyclopedia Britannica is very mistaken in this quote, "Major Hindu goddess whose iconography, cult, and mythology commonly associate her with death, sexuality, violence, and, paradoxically in some of her later historical appearances, motherly love."

It is partially accurate to say the Goddess Kali Ma is a goddess of death. However, She brings the death of the ego as the delusional self-centered view of reality. Nowhere in the sriptures is She seen killing anything but demons nor is She associated exclusively with the process of human dying like Yama the Hindu god of death. Both Goddess Kali Ma and Shiva are said to inhabit cremation grounds and devotees often go to these places to meditate. The purpose is not to glorify death but to overcome the I-am-the-body idea. The cremation grounds reinforce the idea that the body is a temporary. Kali and Shiva are said to dwell in these places because it is our attachment to the body that gives rise to the ego. Kali and Shiva give liberation by dissolving the illusion of the ego. Thus we are the ever-existing I AM and not the impermanent body. This is emphasized by the scene in the cremation grounds.

Out of all the Devi forms, Kali is the most compassionate because She provides moksha or liberation to Her children. She is the counterpart of Shiva. They are the destroyers of unreality. When the ego sees Mother Kali it trembles with fear because the ego sees in Her its own eventual demise. An individual who is attached to his/her ego will not be able to receive the vision of Mother Kali and She will appear in a fear invoking or "wrathful" form. A mature soul who engages in spiritual practice to remove the illusion of the ego sees Mother Kali as very sweet, affectionate, and overflowing with incomprehensible love for Her children.

Ma Kali wears a garland made of 52 skulls and a skirt made of dismembered arms because the ego comes out of identification with the body. In fact, we are beings of spirit and not flesh. So liberation can only prevail when our attachment to the body comes to an end. Therefore, the skirt and garland are trophies worn by Her to represent the liberation of Her children from attachment to the finite body. In two of Her hands, She holds a sword and a freshly severed head that is dripping blood. This represents a great battle in which she defeated the demon Raktabija. Her black (or sometimes dark blue) skin represents the womb of the unmanifest from which all of creation is born and into which all of creation will eventually return. Goddess Kali Ma is depicted as standing on a white skinned Shiva who is lying beneath Her. His white skin is in contrast to Her black or sometimes dark blue skin. He is showing a blissful detached look on His face. Shiva is pure formless awareness sat-chit-ananda (being-consciousness-bliss) while She represents "form" eternally sustained by the underpinning of pure awareness.

Through ignorance of the story behind Goddess Kali Ma it is easy to misinterpret Her symbolism. In the same way one could say that Christianity is a religion of destruction, death, and cannibalism in which the followers drink the eat the flesh of Jesus and drink his blood. Of course, we know this is not the correct way to understand the communion sacrament.

Associating sexuality to Mother Kali is not founded in the traditional understanding of Her. In the Hindu stories, there is nothing that associates Her with sexuality. It is just the opposite. Kali is one of the few Goddesses who is celibate and practicing renunciation!

The idea that She is the goddess of death, sex and violence is simply not true. When we study the life of the great saint Ramakrishna or the great poet saint Ramprasad (both famous Kali worshippers), or listen to traditional Hindu devotional songs to Goddess Kali Ma, there is no suggestion of this death-sex-violence idea.

It is said that to step into the heart of the Goddess - the all-pervading Divine Mother of the Universe. The Goddess is ready to shower Her love and affection on any who care to turn their gaze toward Her luminous heart.

Om Shri Kali Om

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Kali Ma - 20 replies

Kali Ma tandav on YouTube

Sedusa — Wed, 09 May 2007 07:30:00 GMT

thanks for finding this, Austin!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EbSBK5GH2U

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

Does godess kali come in ur body..

indiabazaar — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:00:38 GMT

May be many of you know.. in india lot of mens and womens claim.. the time.. godess kali come in there body.. and they start to dance and help to other peoples....and when ever they hear song of godess kali.. godess kali come in them.. and they shake the body..

so my question is this do you think they are fake or just fooling peoples.. as many of godess kali divine.. here.. do u have those kind of experence...

as i m also strong devotee of godess Kali... I pray for godess every day.. and in Navratri.. i do strong.. straight fast .. without eating for nine days at all.. this i m doing from many years.. why not godess is happy with me.. and why not ever godess come in my soul....godess always blessing me.. i m always thankful to godess.. one day i were talking with my wife in navratri..

that those mens and womens who even dont do Navratri fast and dont even pray every day for godess.. how come godess come in them.. and why not to me...i doubt if they are fooling to peoples...i feel very strange.. in navratri..in my home temple when i m praying hard.. and some time womens come to our house and start to act like godess came in there body...and every one start to pray for them.. well my wife told me.. actually she think.. many holi souls...arround who are godess divine.. when we pray for godess.. those kind of good soules come in ur body and take advantage of our prayers.. and pray with our body...to godess...

but i think.. if its true.. i will never allow any of soul come in my body and share of my prayer.....my wife think godess kali is that powerful if she even come for a one movment.. the place will blast.. all arround.. even earth cant control very easy power of godess..so how can one human can control of power of godess kail....
I think i m agree with her...
I could not ask those kind of question who act like this.....but i know here you are many godess devotees... so i know i will get honest answer here and what do you think about it..

by the way when this year when i have done navratri straight fast.. on the last day 8th night.. i feel very strange.. i could not sleep all the night.. i didnt feel godess arround me.. and i were not even exited to eat next day..... all the night i walk here to there.. and try to sleep and control my feelings...i dont know why it were happen to me...

one more question.. I think why every person. pray to gods and ask so many things and wishes from god... i think when we pray for gods.. gods get power from our prayers.. as any sports person or film stars cant be popular unless peoples like that.. we make them famous...
as we pray for gods.. .. gods collect power .. and gods want to use that power for poor and needy persons.. but how many peoples pray for god and dont wish any thing... why not we pray for god and surrender our prayers to god.. without asking any wish..... if every one.. pray and ask wish where the godess will get power to help you...

last year one muslim friend told me joke..
that one muslim guy ask to other muslim guys.. why godess kali.. have toungh out of mouth...the other muslim guy reply " Becuase hindu peoples just bring 2 rs. to godess and ask 2 00 000 rs back..
i know its joke.. but some time i feel shame if it was so mean...

lot of questions in mind.. i can ask u.. and learn from you..
Ajay

posted in Kali Ma - 52 replies

WEST BECOMING EAST (AND VICE VERSA)

Maharaja Tajeshwar — Fri, 04 May 2007 15:56:50 GMT

Do you think we are experiencing a shift from the west becoming east and east becoming west. It seems the east has had spirituality and now is experiecing western thinking and ways. On the other side the west has experienced materialism and is now moving towards spirituality etc. Think about it, more and more corporations, western businesses, clubs, bars are setting up in china and india and in the west I am seeing more ashrams, mandirs, healing centres, new age shops etc etc. The more I think about it the more I feel a great transition is happening!

posted in Kali Ma - 3 replies

will she defeat my enemies?

Maharaja Tajeshwar — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:48:56 GMT

will she?

posted in Kali Ma - 71 replies

A word or two about fear and Ma

atman — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:00:48 GMT

Everyone is afraid of fear. We hate it and blame it for everything that is wrong in the world, despite the fact that it evolved as the primary tool in our survival kit as animals.

Sure, it's bad, but it's also a wide avenue for the shakta to establish true surrender to her/his chosen Ideal. The way it works is simple. Everything you fear is Ma. Ma is everything at all times all at once. The only legitimate avenue for the shakta is to surrender to it all.

Thus, your fear leads you to trust and surrender. You don't ever know how it's going to work out, because you just never know what Ma is going to do next. And anyone who tells you otherwise is deluding themselves.

As your surrender grows, your trust grows, and what goes is any desire to have your life any other way. It may not always be peaches and creme, but it's what Ma is giving you at the moment.

For a shakta, you can never do any better than that.

posted in Kali Ma - 17 replies

book on inner esoteric meanings of Kali and Dasamahavidyas ( repost )

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:31:20 GMT

Hi and Namaste.

Today I will introduce a Most Useful book on Hindu goddesses and their esoteric meanings by a Legitimate guru of the Sanatana Dharma ( i.e. "Hinduism" ). The teacher is Dr. David Frawley ( Vedacarya Vamadeva Shastri ) and the book is "Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses" ( ISBN: 0910261393 ).

Someone on the tribe "practical tantra" asked about Goddess Kali practice, so I offered this letter in direct response. The information is broadly and deeply useful, so I am sharing it further. May this benefit and inspire you.

First, something about my relevant background. I myself have recited 1 million recitations of the Buddhist form of Kali ( Troma Nagmo ), which is a most important practice ( principal tantra ) in the Nyingma ( Early Transmission ) school of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Yoga ( Vajrayana ). I have many texts and instructions on this practice, and have received the transmissions of Troma repeatedly and in complete form.

Some of "my" initiating gurus for Troma are Khenpo Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, HH Orgyan Kusum Lingpa, and Very Venerable Yangthang Tulku ( Red Troma and indeed the full Nyingtik Yabshi ), and H.E. Phakchok Rinpoche ( Chogyur Lingpa Treasure transmission ). I have an inner connection with this practice. I have given a Troma / Chod blessing once.

The empowerments and teachings of Troma are given fairly regularly on the West Coast of the United States ( I have quite a few ), and this has been given in New York state and no doubt in Western Europe as well. In general my personal experience and received information strongly support the statement that
"The most direct and effective way to take up and engage tantric deities is through Buddhist empowerments, teachings, and practice texts."

The Hindu and Buddhist practices and deities strongly overlap. This is a huge subject with strong ambivalences and many different interpretations, but there is no doubt that the Hindu goddess Tara is the Buddhist goddess Tara, that both systems use closely related ritual forms, share teachings such as Ayurveda and employ advanced yogic practices such as pranayama and kundalini yoga. My inner teaching lineage / authorization is that of Tara, and it would be reasonable ( or at least not completely wrong ) to view me as a guru of Sanatana Dharma as well as Vajrayana. I have many many advanced and highly restricted Hindu practices.

My basic statement of dharma to newcomers would be would be that
"If you want to do goddess practices or Hindu type practices, take a Buddhist empowerment of Tara, and buy the associated texts, and then recite the mantras."
The Buddhist Tara empowerments, texts, and mantras are the most accessible. And of course, Tara and Kali are virtually synonymous in all traditions.

Having introduced this material as a kind of bridge, here is some information on Dr. Frawley and his book. I thank him for his efforts, and in particular for sending me ( in 1994 ) a copy of the following book.

I strongly recommend Dr. Frawley's book to all Buddhists and to all westerners seeking the classical goddess teachings. As well as a number of key Buddhist texts, of course.

[ Main text follows this letter. ]

Sarva mangalam. Siddhi rastu.

In partial fulfillment of my tantric teaching requirements.

Acarya K T

David Frawley
"Dr. David Frawley is one of the most important scholars of Ayurveda and Vedic Science today. I have great respect and admiration for his knowledge and the way he has expounded the ancient wisdom of the Vedas." Deepak Chopra
Dr. David Frawley is one of the few Westerners ever recognized in India as a Vedacharya or teacher of the ancient wisdom. In 1991 under the auspices of the great Indian teacher, Avadhuta Shastri, he was named Vamadeva Shastri, after the great Vedic Rishi Vamadeva. In 1995 he was given the title of Pandit along with the Brahmachari Vishwanathji award in Mumbai for his knowledge of the Vedic teaching. Over the years Vamadeva has received many awards and honors for his work from throughout India.
Vamadeva (Dr. Frawley) is a unusual western born knowledge-holder in the Vedic tradition. He carries many special Vedic ways of knowledge (vidyas), which he passes on to students in India and in the West. His vast knowledge is rooted in intuitive and past life influences, as it is more than could be gained in a single life experience, though he has studied many traditional texts and with many teachers.
In India, Vamadeva is recognized not only as a Vedacharya (Vedic teacher), but also as a Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor), Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer), Puranic (Vedic historian) and Yogi, a rare feat for an American born in Wisconsin. He is now a visiting professor for the Vivekananda Yoga Kendra in Bangalore, India, a government approved deemed university for yogic and Vedic studies and also a teacher with the Sringeri Shankaracharya Math, the most central of the traditional Vedantic centers in India.
In India, his translations and interpretations of the ancient Vedic teachings have been given the highest acclaim in both spiritual and scholarly circles. In America he is well known as a teacher and practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine and of Vedic astrology (Jyotish) and has done pioneering work on both these subjects in the West. In Sept. 2000, he was regarded as one of the 25 most influential Yoga teachers in America by the magazine Yoga Journal."

Tantric Yoga & The Wisdom Goddess (Book)
David Frawley
260 pp Paper Back ISBN: 0910261393
"Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses is an excellent introduction to the essence of Hindu Tantrism. The author discusses all the major concepts and offers valuable corrections for many existing misconceptions. He also introduces the reader to the core Tantric practices of meditation and mantra recitation, focusing on the ten Wisdom Goddesses" states Georg Feuerstein.
Tantra - perhaps the most popular and yet most misunderstood of the yogic teachings today - is a vast ocean of wisdom for enlightening the mind. It is not merely sex, with which most Westerners identify it, but an entire science of meditation.Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses describes the deeper system of Tantra in its psychological and spiritual sophistication - unfolding the mysteries of life and death, being and non-being. It reveals Tantra as a profound methodology for reaching the highest states of consciousness. Tantric Yoga delineates one of the most important Tantric teachings - the Ten Wisdom Forms of the Goddess (Dasa Mahavidya) - on all levels from image worship to formless meditation practices, including mantras for each Goddess. It explains these great Goddesses in beautiful poetic and deep philosophical language, making them accessible archetypes to the modern mind. These ten forms are Kali, Tara, Sundari, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Bagalamukhi, Dhumavati, Matangi, and Kamala. In a special section on the practice of Yoga, the book explains the subtle body, the chakras and their energy flows, and how these can be properly developed. For the first time in print in the West, it reveals the Ayurvedic system of inner transformation using the three principles of Prana, Tejas and Ojas, the spiritual energies of air, fire and water (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). It shows how we can develop these energies through outer and inner methods, including diet, herbs, gems, mantra and meditation. Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses is based on unpublished teachings of the great yogi Vasishta Ganapati Muni, the foremost disciple of the great guru Ramana Maharshi. It follows the Tantric approach of Advaita Vedanta and South Indian Tantric traditions. "

posted in Kali Ma - 2 replies

kali and me

cornel — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:29:31 GMT

I have two pictures of Kali on the wall in my meditation room. One day I decided that I no longer liked one of the pictures so I took it down (it was a big pic of Dakshineswar Kali). After I was done meditating I went to leave the room - but I couldn't open the door! It's an old house and some of the doors "stick" sometimes - and this one had been pretty bad lately. But eventually I had always been able to get it open by jiggling the door knob. Well, I jiggled and jiggled - and jiggled and jiggled! Then I pounded and banged and pulled and pushed and swore and looked around for something heavy to beat on the door knob with. Then I looked down at the picture of Kali sitting where I had put it rather haphazardly. I put it back up where it had been before - but I was pretty sure that Kali, if it really was Her behind this, wouldn't be so easily propitiated. To make a long story short about an hour and a half later my wife and I had completely destroyed the door - it was the only way I could get out without jumping out the (second story) window! I still have the door in the garage - it kind of looks like someone fired a cannonball through it at close range. I was going to get rid of it, but I just recently realized that it would make an excellent symbol of Her teaching.

Jai Ma Kali!

posted in Kali Ma - 3 replies

Darshan

Sedusa — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 08:40:23 GMT

Anybody else watched this?

I thought it was beautifully shot, and made me miss India, especially as a lot of things I saw (and one person) in India were in it... it made me really homesick for India, a funny reversal, but natural I guess. I'd suggest seeing it even if you're not into Amma (I'm not, personally)

posted in Kali Ma - 21 replies

The Last Mimzy

Tandavam — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 07:30:16 GMT

Yes, it's a kids movie. So what. This movie is as close as a movie can get to exposing Mother to the masses. Most adults just won't get it. The core symbol is Shri Yantra. The star is a little girl whose lack of guile and open heart allow Mother to move through her and reinvigorate the next Yuga. Mainstream Hollywood--sort of. Shut up with all your erudition and just love your Teddy Bear and love Ma effortlessly with all your heart and no mind.

The Last mimzy is chock full of subtle details of Ma's Realness revealed through the heart of those whose bodies are innocent or those who have been deeply cracked open by Her. It is a movie about the nature of Ma and her Love for us . Go see it. Take a kid or two with you and shut up your mouth and mind and open what remains to Her amazing grace.

posted in Kali Ma - 14 replies

Kali's Odiyya

Chitta Vritti Nirodhah — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 20:57:45 GMT

I just picked this book up today, i swear there was a topic on this before, or maybe i was imagining one,. has anyone read it? what were your impressions?

http://www.amazon.com/Kalis-Odiyya-Shamans-Story-Initiation/dp/0892540486

Jai Shri Shakti

posted in Kali Ma - 23 replies

The 700 Club

Sedusa — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 01:51:31 GMT

well, we passed 700 members!

thank you all for making this such a wonderful place. I am always happy to see activity on this tribe and I feel honored to be the moderator of the tribe.

Jai Ma Kali!

posted in Kali Ma - 4 replies

Sakti Iconography in Tantric Mahavidyas

Sedusa — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 21:28:37 GMT

so I am nearing the end of this book - I suggest that anyone with more than a passing interest in the Mahavidyas and without fear of a dense read hunt this one out and read it. It certainly is not the same stuff that seems to be in most books about the Mahavidyas (I have read quite a lot of the same material repackaged). it also contrasts the Shakta Tantric perspective against the systems of Samkhya and Shankaracharya, highlighting the differences and similarities. I definitely feel like I know a lot less than I thought I did and further explorations on my part into the Mahavidyas are going to be deeply affected by my reading it.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&y=16&tn=sakti+iconography+in+tantric+mahavidyas&x=37

Sakti Iconography in Tantric Mahavidyas by Satpathy, Sarbeswar (ISBN: 8185094446)

posted in Kali Ma - 0 replies

Endless Blessings of Navaratri

Bala — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:47:39 GMT

I offer this to all my brothers and sisters who are the purest embodiment of divine love and light...

It is said that the Divine Mother in the form of Durga (She Who Protects Her Children and Vanquishes Enemies) fought the formidable demons of ignorance and egoism for nine days, and triumphed over them on the tenth day. Navaratri is a celebration of the victory of enlightenment over ignorance and culminates on the Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day known as Victory Day.

There are dozens of traditions from different faiths celebrating Navaratri. All of these traditions center on overcoming weakness, annihilating fear and negativity and receiving divine wisdom and liberation. A great Vedic teacher, Shri Swami Sivananda, describes the following:

"A young child is more familiar with the mother than the father because the mother is very kind, loving, tender and affectionate and looks after the needs of the child … the spiritual child also has an intimate relationship with the Divine Mother… Therefore, it behooves the aspirant to approach the Mother first, who then introduces her spiritual child to the father for the child's illumination. The Mother's Grace is boundless, Her mercy is unlimited; Her knowledge infinite. Her power is immeasurable; Her glory ineffable and Her splendor indescribable. She gives you material prosperity as well as spiritual freedom.

"Approach Her with an open heart, lay bare your heart to Her with frankness and humility, be as simple as a child. Kill ruthlessly the enemies that are egoism, cunningness, selfishness and crookedness. Make a total unreserved and ungrudging self-surrender to Her. Sing Her praise. Repeat Her name. Worship Her with faith and unflinching devotion. Perform special worship on Navaratri days. Navaratri is the most suitable occasion for doing intense spiritual practice."

This is an ideal time to purify our bodies, clean our homes and workplaces, and realign our spiritual goals. It is the tradition to honor the Divine Mother in some special daily worship during Navaratri.

Jai Ma....

Bala

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

Kali Puja

Mary samantha — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:36:55 GMT

would anyone be interested in sharing their ritual of Kali Puja? do you keep an altar within your home or do you do puja only in temples?

I am curious to learn more about the various ways in which Kali is worshipped expecially by her devotees and those who have done Puja in India.

namaste
samantha

posted in Kali Ma - 3 replies

Shree Ma and Songs of Ramaprasad

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 19:46:33 GMT

I've recently discovered this cd of songs written by Ramaprasad sung Shree Ma. Very deep, sweet and mournful. she is still alive and living in California. supposedly she is in seclusion but you can write and ask for permisiion to meet her. Has any one out there met her. She channels Kali energy(I'm told). what is she like?

posted in Kali Ma - 19 replies

Kali Ma Shrine in California

Mike — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:52:33 GMT

I'm really glad someone created this tribe. Kali is one of the few dark goddesses that has a truly strong following. I am a little sad that she has a weaker following here in the USA, and that she is much maligned by fundamentalist christians. In spite of that, I found a link to one of her shrines in Cali. I hope you all enjoy.

http://www.kalimandir.org/homepage.asp

posted in Kali Ma - 15 replies

hello its been a long time

richard escamilla — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:44:46 GMT

greetings

posted in Kali Ma - 1 reply

Sri Ramakrishna's Birthday

Sedusa — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:56:05 GMT

is this monday.

happy birthday, Paramahamsa!

posted in Kali Ma - 2 replies

looking for kali lineage

missyb — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 05:25:30 GMT

in ceremony my visions are always very similar...

my shaman said there is a kali lineage of dakinis called something like the gories .. he did not know how to pronounce.

does anyone have a hint about this, it is quite compelling for me to know of this right now..

so their nature would be akin to those that would evolve or attain enlightenment from the unspeakable.

posted in Kali Ma - 2 replies