The Wrath of Madhu Kaithabha & 5000 years long war

Once ‘Tamasi Devi’, withdrew from Vishnu’s consciousness, he stirred on his serpent-bed & in moments his form was again as splendid as a thousand suns. When Narayana opened his eyes and saw Brahma trembling with fear, he inquired what was bothering him & how could he help.

Vishnu: ‘Why have you abandoned your dhyana, Pitama? Why do you tremble?’

Brahma: ‘I am in terror of my life, Padmanabha. The Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha want to kill me.’ Vishnu: ‘Fear them no more; I will kill them for you.’

Lord Narayana saw Madhu – Kaitabha & roared like the thunder of the storm that could end the worlds. He challenged them for war to save Brahma from their wrath. The battle between Vishnu & the demons born from his ear wax was ferocious. Vishnu battled the sinister brothers without rest for five thousand years till he grew tired.  When he finally paused to rest & meditate he learnt of the Devi’s boon to the Asuras.  He learnt that Madhu-Kaithabh can die only when they themselves willed it. The Blue God was perturbed; for who wants to die, even in the direst circumstances? He realised how vain his battle with the wax-demons had been. Narayana folded his hands and called upon the Devi for help. 

Vishnu: ‘Mother! The Asuras have your boon are ready to kill me. I am helpless, Devi, save me.’

Devi: ‘Fight again without fear, Hari. I will appear in the most feminine form in front of the Asuras & distract them, so you can kill them.’ 

Vishnu went back to fight and they began to strike one another again, with blows beyond description. Very soon, the Devi manifested amidst them. She was enticement personified! The enchanted Asuras had eyes only for the Devi now. They stood gazing at her, aroused past endurance and not knowing what to do. Taking advantage of the situation, Vishnu praised them for their bravery and granted them a wish.  

The arrogant Asuras wanted to impress the Devi & s0 replied haughtily, ‘Who are you to grant us a boon? On the other hand, you ask us for a boon, Vishnu, and we shall grant it in our munificence.’

Vishnu: ‘If you are so pleased with me, Asuras, grant me that I kill you both.’

At once, the Devi vanished, and the Demons realised they had been tricked. To save themselves from being killed, they granted the boon to Vishnu with a condition that, Vishnu would kill them, but it must be on solid ground where there isn’t a drop of water! And of course, they believed they could survive since there was no dry place in primordial sea.

Until instantly, Vishnu expanded his own thighs, so they were a bright, dry island floating upon the unfathomable sea &  Madhu and Kaitabha had no choice but to lay their heads on Vishnu’s thighs as on an executioner’s block, and, with his Sudarshana Chakra the Narayan struck their heads off & thus saved Brahma’s life. 

Madhu and Kaitabha represent craving and aversion born out of inertia and Vishnu (Narayana) represents the ever-blissful Consciousness pervading the entire Creation. This story tells us that when consciousness returns to the source & turns inwards for knowledge, then it is able to overcome all distortions and once again merge into Love.

Tamasi Devi – The Devi of Inertia

Once upon a time, when the universe lay dissolved in the single, primordial sea, Lord Vishnu lay asleep on his serpent-bed, upon the interminable coils of ‘Anantasesha’. While the lord was in deep slumber, two Asuras (demons) were born from the wax in his ears, and they were dreadful to behold. Madhu and Kaitabha grew to manhood swiftly, and were soon as immense as they were powerful and hideous.

One day curiosity struck them & they wondered about their existence, the source & the end of the universe & the unfathomable sea, but they could find no answers. Eventually, on inscrutable intuition, the presence & essence of the Devi dawned on Kaitabha and he said to Madhu, ‘Brother, the Devi is the cause of this sea and of us as well.’ And soon they heard the celestial announcement of a ‘mantra’, which the demons began to chant. The Asuras chanted on, and were one in spirit with the Devi for a thousand years, till the mother divine was pleased with them & granted them a wish!

Devi: ‘I am pleased with you, Danavas, ask me for whatever you want.’

Madhu & Kaitabha: ‘Devi, grant that we will only die when we will it ourselves.’

Devi: ‘So be it!’

And thus the Devi granted them their boon!

Till one day, Madhu and Kaitabha saw an immense golden lotus in the sky, and sitting in it, steeped in dhyana, a four-faced and white-bearded, lustrous Brahma, the sire of everything. The excited Demons challenged Brahma to either fight them or relinquish his palace & flee. When Brahma flickered all his eyes open and saw the Asuras, he was taken aback & scared of their massive forms. He decided to rouse Narayana from his sleep and let him kill them. Brahma plunged down the stalk of the golden lotus, and besought Vishnu anxiously, calling him by him many and august names, begging him to quell the arrogant Demons. But nothing stirred Vishnu, who was in deep rest, in ‘Yoga Nidra’, the trance of the Devi. Brahma then prayed to the Adi Shakti, the mother divine & urged her to withdraw her inert form from Narayana and wake him up. Terror gripped his soul & he cried for help till the Devi, in her inert form of sleep, withdrew from Narayana, leaving in turn his eyes, mouth, nose, heart and finally his whole body.  And thus, ‘Tamasi Devi’, the devi of inertia took form. 

The Devi in her inert form was called ‘Tamasi Devi’. Madhu & Kaitabha; the demons where born out of the wax in the ear of Lord Vishnu during his inert state. They hence represent ‘Aversion’ & ‘Cravings’. So the birth of the demons from the ear of Lord Vishnu represents how distortions arise due to craving and aversions; which are mostly a result of what we hear (or see / touch / taste / smell) through our senses during our ‘Tamasic’ (Inert) state.

Shiva - Tat Tvam Asi!

Yadyatkarma Karomi Tattadakhilaṃ Sambho Tavārādhanam

Whatever work I do, all that is your worship, O Shambho!

                         -          Adi Shankaracharya

Shiva pervades the entire Universe. Shiva is the eternal tattva (principle) that is the essence of everything. It is the principle from which everything has come, in which all is sustained and in which everything dissolves. 

IT is said that the entire creation is the ‘Dance of Shiva – The Tandava’; a dance believed to be the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and destruction. Nataraja – the dancing form of Shiva, is a fascinating symbol of the interplay between the material and the spiritual realms of creation. It reminds us that the manifold forms in the world are not fundamental, but illusory and ever-changing. Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter.

Many stories and tales talk about Shiva who took a human form and walked this planet. Limiting Shiva to a form confined to time and space would be undermining the omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience of this Eternal Principle. Shiva was never born, never died, has no beginning and no end. Shiva is Anadi –birthless, and Ananta – deathless. There is no way that you can even step out of Shiva at any time because Shiva is the summum bonum of the whole creation. That is why Shiva’s body is depicted in blue because blue signifies the sky; the all-pervading infinity which has no limits, and no shape

“Shivam shantam, advaitam, chaturtam, mannyante sa aatma sa vigyeya.”

Shiva is, shanta – which is quite, advait – which is non-dual, chaturth – which is the fourth state – “Shiva avastha’ the auspicious state; the atma – the source / soul, and that is what you are!

 Shiva stands for benevolence or that which blesses without any preconditions. Shiva is the most innocent and only believes in the essence of truth, beauty & self! He can easily be pleased with the smallest penance; hence he is also called ‘Bholanath’! 

The consciousness which is bliss and innocence, the consciousness which is the bestower of dispassion - is Shiva. The whole world is moving in an auspicious rhythm of innocence and intelligence - that is Shiva.

#Mahashivaratri is believed to be the day when the Shiva tattva touches the earth! The divinity that is hovering a little above the earth actually comes and touches the earth on the day of Mahashivratri. It is this union of the material with the spiritual that is celebrated on Maha Shivaratri! For us, seekers it is the most conducive time for spiritual practices. Meditating / Resting in the ‘Shiva Tatva’ in you is the best way to celebrate Shivratri!

Only if you'd care to LISTEN!

In these tiring and trying times, there seems to be a run for almost everything. From work & money, to love & relationships, from friends & family, to health & healing, from knowing & learning, to even just being & experiencing. Everything needs to be 'worked on'! Nothing seems to come naturally and easily.. Though there are exceptions...people so warm and loving that 'cuddles' is probably their nickname! But that's a rarity!

In this crazy 'run', we seem to be losing the 'moments' in and around us...and as and when we do realize these 'moments' we have very few people to share them with, cos almost everyone who matters is running their own race. So as an when you get an ear, all you want to do is TALK'! All of us are so full of our stories, our moments and us, that we can explode at the minutest ear that is willing to just LISTEN! 

Whenever i talk to someone 'new' to me, i tend to 'listen' more than talk. Yes, i have observed this. Because one, their stories amaze me & two, i think i am playing counselor! Seriously! I keep getting a feeling that this person has been waiting to just tell his/her story since eons and i really need to help! So i tend to just listen! And once they've emptied their heart out and are ready to gather more tales..they leave..cordially...and i keep waiting for my turn..coz i have my stories too, you know! Brilliant ones for that matter. Better than theirs, well mostly! 

In this entire 'exchange' (hardly and exchange..no?), i either am inspired to share my story with the other person, if he/she are willing to listen, or i am too bored to dwell further.. There's hardly a time when the exchange is mutual, and i tend to make 'Friends!' 

Friendship is a two - way lane.. and 'listening' is the road map! So while you are on the prowl to find a perfect ear, make sure you keep cleaning yours well enough to not just 'hear' but 'LISTEN!" 

Coz only if you'd cared to also listen..there would have been so much more to 'US'..  

The Universe Conspires..

They say when you want something really bad, the entire universe conspires to make it come true..

I am standing at the brink of an overwhelming experience yet again..and this time i want to take the plunge with faith, positivity & unlimited, unconditional love.. No, i am not wanting to do it under pressure, or desperation. I want to do it , because i feel it sinking into me. It's given me a feeling i haven't felt in years..I don't know what this is.. It's a risk, a chance, or just a leap of faith. Whatever it is, i want to take it.

For once in my life, i am not scared of facing something, i am only scared of not facing what it brings in. I am scared of not getting a chance to live this experience. I am scared of not giving it my complete self, before it saturates me. I am not asking my self, 'What happens if i do not grow up to love it?'. I am asking my self, "What if i kill it with my love?". I am scared of losing my sanity.. I am scared of exploding with joy! I am scared that it might not last..

So Dear Universe,

I have been good to you. And have never really bothered you with many desires or wants. On the complete contrary, i have helped you fulfill a few for others. It's payback time. And since you are the bigger being, i expect you to be generous. For once in my life, i want this to happen, and i want this to be joyful and the most pleasurable experience of my life, and i want it to last. If you do not know what i mean by now, i'd like to tell you that this is making me feel like i can be complete & whole; that the fragments in me can be put into place & the rhythm in me can play a song. I need your help. I need your blessings. I need you to make it come true. So conspire all you can. Reach out to every element that can connect us & urge them to do this with care, caution and nothing less that pure love. I deserve this, and who knows this better than you. I want this, and who understands this more than you.

Before this beautiful journey is over, dear universe, make sure you complete me, so i am liberated.

In complete Surrender
Anamika. 

Earth Day! Celebrate it your way!

Robert Swan, a noted polar explorer once said that, the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.  Marked recognition of environmental threats like global warming, climate change, over population, waste disposal, natural resource depletion and more, are proof enough that the world is rising in unison to address these issues in every capacity, large or small.  We are in a state of planetary emergency, with these issues piling up high around us. Unless we pay attention to our planet prudently we are surely doomed for disaster. 

An extremely effective way to draw attention or globalize a concept is to mark a ‘Day’ to commemorate it, and hence the ‘Earth Day’ is much deserved and called for. On Earth Day, cities, businesses, and individuals all roll out the green carpet. Big brands, corporate houses or organisations are often found touting Earth Day initiatives, or selling products more organic than the other options. But that’s what they do. And you? Did you know there are lots of easy and fun ways to celebrate Earth Day that can actually make a difference all year long?

I've listed a few below, and would love to hear your ideas in the comments!

•       Watch Your Water Use! The little things can make a big difference. If you are not watching your running taps or leaky toilet, you might be wasting 200 gallons of water a day! Using the bucket instead of a shower and the RO drain water for the garden can all be small ways of contributing to save the planet!
• ·         Plant Trees & Grow your own food! This Earth Day, plant one thing that can be consumed by your family. Maybe it’s just a few basil plants, or maybe it’s an entire garden. Put it on your windowsill, your fire escape, or your kitchen wall. But no matter what, get something growing. It’s organic, healthy & adds green to the planet!
• ·         Go Solar! You’re probably tempted to skip right over this option because you either don’t own a house or don’t have the finances to install solar panels on it. But Wait! Smaller solar harvesting devices are now the talk of the town, from pocket-sized phone chargers to portable multi-panel kits. Switching just one or two devices to solar power can save you some serious money and take some pressure off the grid.
• ·         Share a Ride! Or simply cycle or walk to work! Carpooling, using public transport, or simply hitch-hiking to save fuel for maybe 2-3 days a week can make a huge difference!
• ·         Explore the Earth! Despite the environmental threats our planet is facing, mother nature is still a wonder to explore. Earth Day is about enjoying and taking care of the planet. Go for nature walks, hike, explore star gazing, or scuba diving! Reconnecting with nature is the best way to remind yourself why we’re fighting so hard to protect it.

Good Planets are hard to find.. don’t blow it.. besides our’s is the only one with chocolates and coffee!