Bhadrakali worship can transform your life

Bhadrakali worship and its benefits: Having grown up in Kerala, Bhadra Kali worship has always been a part of my childhood. The ringing of temple bells and the scent of jasmine flowers are memories I hold close. As a third generation devotee of Goddess Bhadra Kali, the traditions related to the worship of the Divine Mother are an integral part of my daily sadhana. [READ: Sri Venkateswara Temple in Sydney]

Why is Bhadrakali worshipped?

In Kerala, Bhadrakali is worshipped as the daughter of Lord Shiva, with her origin being traced to the third eye of Lord Mahadev. Bhadrakali worship is mostly prevalent among Hindu famillies that follow the matriarchal system.

My grandfather is known to have been such an ardent devotee of 'Azhakiyakavu Bhagawathy' that his Bhakti is believed to have paved the way for his final merging with his Ishta Devata's form. I grew up hearing so many stories about how Bhakti wins the instant grace of Bhadrakali.

[READ: Gayatri Mantra - Why Chant It]

Is Bhadrakali powerful?

In the grand scheme of life, how vital and powerful is the mother of a home? The goddess, or the Divine Mother Adi Parashakti, is most powerful, in a way that our words and our imagination cannot begin to fathom.

Great Jnanis such as Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa were blessed to have earned the grace of Bhadrakali, which reflects in their sadhana and their compositions.

A wonderful way to connect to their sadhana is by listening and learning the compositions of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, particularly the 'Kanakadhara Stotram' and 'Saundarya Lahari', which are synonmous with abundant wealth and instant grace of the Divine Mother.

What are the benefits of worshipping Bhadrakali?

Rather than thinking about the benefits of worshipping Bhadrakali, consider the peace, the joy and the sense of divine ocean-like protective love. What are the benefits of loving your mother? In the same way, Bhadrakali's all-pervading love is an enthralling experience that can encompass you.

The divine protection of Goddess Bhadrakali is an electrifying experience in itself as she watches over all with the ferocious, protective love of a mother. [READ: Gayatri Mantra as Panchamukhi]

Remember to contemplate on the Divine Mother in her most beautiful, effulgent form with gratitude and humility.

In front of the mother, what matters is your emotion, your love and connection.

Offering red hibiscus flowers or jasmine garlands on Tuesdays and Fridays is believed to please the Divine Mother. You can also make an offering of 'kadumpayasam' on special occasions to keep as prasad before Bhadrakali.

Remember, the divine mother is always awake when her children call upon her. Her grace is instant, just as a mother's response is to her child.

[READ: Can ladies chant Gayatri mantra]

Close your eyes or focus your eyes on the form of the beautiful Goddess and be her child, calling out to her with playful abandon.

Read these posts to strengthen your sadhana:

Comments

Most LOVED Posts

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are auspicious for lighting at home. On Fridays, it is considered auspicious to use ghee in a silver lamp. When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. Is it ok to light diyas at night? Yes, you can light diyas at night. How to light diya in front of house? Clean the area in the front of your home, decorate with a hand drawn rangoli or traditional kolam or swastik using rice powder or any organic materials. This is symbolic of inviting Goddess Mahalakshmi to enter your home. Then, place the diya on the right side of your entrance and make sure the lamp is fille...

Why chant Ramayana during the month of Karkidakam

For Keralites across the world who follow the Malayalam calendar, today marks the beginning of the month of Karkidakam. This month, which, decades ago, was known and slightly feared for its torrential rains and negative impact on the health, wealth and well being of Kerala's rural community. [Read: Power of Hanuman's Bhakti ] Why chant Ramayana during Karkidakam To ward off the negative energy unleashed by Nature and its possible repercussions on one's family's overall well being, the wise elders introduced the timeless tradition of every family reading the Ramayana as an oral, spiritual tradition. Thus, it goes without saying that for Keralites who embrace these traditions, the act of reading the Ramayana is as much a spiritual cleansing as it is a kind of tradition they can pass on to bond with their loved family members, particularly children. [READ: Why Malayalis Light The Nilavilakku] In the Ramayana, there is no 'preaching of principles' but yo...

Does something bad happen if the diya goes off?

Is it bad if a diya goes off? This is a frequently asked question among people who light the evening lamp or diya regularly in their puja room. Cultivating the attitude 'Everything is Divine Prasad', which embodies Prasada Bhakti , is a good way to minimise negative thoughts with regard to one's way of worship. When we light the lamp in our homes, imagine you are sending out divine love to the world. When you burn the incense stick, imagine you are burning away all negative karma within each family member and offering it before your Ishta Devata. [READ: How To Light Deepam at Home and Why Malayalis Light Nilavilaku ] [Image by Sachin Yadav @ Pixabay] What Happens When A Diya Goes Off? Many consider it as a 'bad omen'. For a devotee who worships Ishta Devata, everything represents Divine Gra...

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences. [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste. You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being bor...

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? How to properly light a diya? Should diya face god or us? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. The lamp or the diya always faced the deity or Ishta Devata. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. [ Let's Connect on Facebook ] As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes whi...

Petals!

Search This Blog