Some Added/ Kali Puja

[Guest guest]

I bow to the Divine within you too.

Would like to share an excerpt from:

http://www.maabatakali.org/Kali_Puja.htm

Ritual for the Goddess as Kali: Kali Puja (Worship)

Poignant and powerful, I believe that the fierce Hindu goddesses, and the Dark

Mother more generally, are appearing to westerners in particular so that we may

learn from her and in turn honor her for teaching, healing and working with us.

As Rita Gross has suggested regarding devi, She can be a powerful resource to

westerners reconceptualizing and reclaiming Goddess. Her transformative power

and draw in the west is keenly felt, even though the debate still ensues over

who honors her, how she is honored outside of her native context, why feminists

(and others) in the west are drawn to her, what she means to those of "foreign"

origin, where she serves best and most, and when her call may be answered.

With the ancient presence of the Goddess, of Devi, as found today throughout the

world and acknowledging of her roots within indigenous traditions of India as

well as what is usually regarded as the more rigidly patriarchal Sanskritic

brahmanical ones, I honor Kali from my place as a western feminist dedicated to

the goddess because she liberates me, inspires me and has in my own life been a

vehicle for transformation. I offer this worship to continue debate and open an

opportunity to pray for continued transformation of goddesses, women, peoples,

and the planet. I bring traditions of East and West together here with the hope

of diffusing boundaries so that consciousness can be attuned to current

actualities of goddess worship as transformational, the presence of the Divine

felt within a concept of universal humanness, and hearts surrounded by the

grace of the divine as most acceptable to the individual in a way that reflects

and suggests ramifications for the collective. Most broadly, I attempt to bring

together elements of western, earth-based practice and Eastern, Sakta Tantrick

worship methodologies and verses in order to honor the goddess in whatever

guise she appears to those participating in this worship. For me, however, this

usually means Kali.

Further, this ritual is presented in order to facilitate the reader’s personal

exploration because ritual, in my opinion, can often be a powerful means for

opening to another level of human potential that includes what comes through

recognition of the Divine Feminine. Worship is an intensely private affair even

when done among others, and I recommend not only reading this, but trying it.

Such an endeavor, I believe, can promote overall clarity and help to develop a

greater sense of relationship to the community of the divine, both during the

ritual itself and in general day-to-day realities. When I create space for the

public to join me in this ritual, I consider myself merely a guide for the

journey.

The following then is an outline for your honoring of Kali, including Sanskrit

mantras. Please understand that whenever/wherever you are uncomfortable with

the Sanskrit language, you may use the English translation as given, and/or

come up with your own words based on the meanings I have suggested. These words

of worship, however, need to be revered and respected, since they are millennia

old and have multiple layers of meaning that will only be revealed as a part of

your own unfolding process and/or through work with a guru/teacher. Again, this

is all and only presented in order to facilitate your personal exploration. To

read the comments of some individuals who have worked the ritual publicly,

 

Additionally, any worship such as this should be predicated on a foundation

inclusive of meditation, study, and intense contemplation of the deity to be

honored – both in historical and cultural context as well as by undertaking to

reveal what the deity means to you as an individual in communion with the

spiritual essence of her. Worship, after all, is an intensely private affair,

even when done among others. The worship as presented here is based on both

western and eastern styles.

In beginning any ritual, my practice teaches that one must prepare a space

appropriate to the work to be done, and setting up the worship area in

personally meaningful ways may be the very most important piece. To this I

would suggest that one bring all the love, joy, and creativity one has to

offer, focusing that sentiment on the altar and worship area as a temporary

home for the divine. The process of calling the deity from one's heart into the

image or statue you provide for worship takes one to the very essence of

devotion.

In order for this specific ritual to be practiced, basic items to have within

the worship space include: pure spring water, salt, uncooked rice, red flowers

(flowers only, no stems) placed on a platter/tray or in a basket, flowers of

one’s choice in a vase, sweets (Ma Kali, for example, loves chocolate and

anything delightful as long as the offerings do not contain cow-derived

products such as gelatin, because the cow is symbolic of her very body), red

wine (or substitute), chemical-free tobacco, a small round fruit (size based

upon the number of individuals doing the worship; i.e., for one or two persons,

a grapefruit; for up to five or so, a cantaloupe; for up to ten, a honeydew

melon; for more, a watermelon), one votive candle (green or white), honey,

colored paper and markers for writing a prayer, food to share, and favorite

ritual objects arranged as pleasing to the senses.

As initiation of the process, take a few minutes to meditate on the divine as

Kali, or as any other Dark Goddess of choice, focusing heart and mind on her

presence and the overall intention of this ritual, which is to accept the Dark

Goddess’ blessings and have her illuminate obstacles to spiritual growth by

confronting fear and cutting through that which is unnecessary. Then, as ready,

begin to intone or chant "Jai Maa!" which means Victory to the Divine Mother.

Drums, rattles, clapping of hands, and other instruments are often used to call

upon and bring spirited fun to this simple way of honoring the goddess. The

ritual ensues...

Casting the Circle and Creating Sacred Space: One may follow any desired format

or one already in use from one’s own spiritual path to do this, making sure to

purify the objects and the surrounding space with salt water that you have

blessed. Then, taking handfuls of rice, draw on the seat in front of you (or in

the center of the circle), a triangle whose point faces the image or

representation of the goddess that has been installed or temporarily set up.

While doing so, read (or have someone else read) the following invocation:

Om adhara saktaye namah (Primordial Energy of the Goddess, we bow to you);Om

kurmmaya namah (That which holds up all Existence, we bow to you);Om anantaya

namah (That which is She Infinite, we bow to you);Om prthivyai namah (The

glory of Mother as Earth, we bow to you)

Then invoke the ten directions, specifically adding the following mantra after

the directions are called:

Om aim hrim klim camundayai vicce (Infinite awareness knows the One, the Many

and She who unites them, transforms them, and makes them whole)

Next, a devotional invocation to the Eight Mothers (Asta Matrikas) as given in

the Agni Purana is made. Call upon these guides as Brahmani, Mahesvari,

Kaumari, Vaisnavi, Varahi, Aindri, Chamunda and Mahalaksmi. (Other versions of

these deities are found in other texts.) You may use my invocation, if you'd

like.

With the naming of each goddess, place a red flower around the rice triangle you

have just made, beginning at the point and going clockwise. Then, invoke the

four elements, making sure to include their representations as Avani (Earth),

Jalam (Water), Agni (Fire), and Vayu (Air). One may also include Akasa

(Spirit/Ether) to complete the mahabhutas, or gross elements.

********** Snipped, please read the rest at:

http://www.maabatakali.org/Kali_Puja.htm

Om hrim srim krim paramesvari kalike svaha (Great Goddess Kali, by the power of

your all-pervading nature and supreme perfection, She who is the mystery of

life, death, and regeneration, we are One with you)

Bountiniful blessings,

Sy

Melinda Maes <melindamaes (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

NAMASTE SY!JAI MA!MelindaFor Ganesh Bhaktas:/Do you ?

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