Unravelling a Goddess

[Guest guest]

(The Hindu - September 13, 2007)

 

Shambhavi L. Chopra says she wants to quell the misconceptions about

Goddess Kali through " Yogic Secrets of the Dark Goddess "

 

Kali manifested before me. She came in so strong and the thoughts

flowed, " says Shambhavi L. Chopra. Well, she is the author of " Yogic

Secrets of the Dark Goddess " published by Wisdom Tree.

 

Shambhavi is truly on the Kali mode. Her vocabulary revolves around

the concepts of `vision', `shakti', `sadhana', `the chosen

one', `search' and `the soul.'

 

Clad in a flowing white robe, a white shawl carelessly draped around

her, hair let loose, a long rudrakhsa mala dangling down her neck and

a red tikka streaking across her forehead, Shambhavi sails out of the

restaurant and sits on the wooden bench in the garden at Lodhi, The

Garden restaurant.

 

" I did not know there will be a photographer too, " she says for the

second time as we settle down to discuss her book.

 

The book aims to quell the misconceptions about Goddess Kali, she

says. " Kali is often misunderstood. She is associated with fear and

we forget to address the benevolent aspect of the Goddess, " Shambhavi

takes up Kali's defence.

 

If Kali is often pictured with her skeletal garland, Shambhavi says

in her " vision " the Goddess appeared with a garland of flowers. " When

she began to unravel herself before me there was an amazing sweetness

about her, the fire in her was a gentle one, " Shambhavi recounts her

experiences.

 

The text which she calls " sacred " and an " experience of spirituality "

is based on her personal spiritual journey. Shambhavi says " Yogic

Secrets of the Dark Goddess " happened by accident. She was busy with

a sequel to her first book when " Kali " and " the vision "

interfered. " I believe they choose us when we are ready, " says

Shambhavi, obviously referring to a greater power. But quiz her on

the word maze she creates in her book that leaves an uninitiated

reader confused, she defends it, saying the picture gets clearer as

the book progresses.

 

Lectures on " shakti "

 

Shambhavi, a Punjabi by birth and educated mostly in Shimla, now

travels across the world giving lectures on " shakti' and spirituality.

 

" My spiritual journey is one of experiences, " she explains. A journey

that began around 20 years ago, she says it was " other turbulences "

that brought her closer to spirituality. Her " search " often leads her

to the path less trodden, to the Himalayas, the world of silence,

havans and rituals. For now, it is the glory of Kali that preoccupies

her.

 

P. ANIMA