~~OM~~

Listen to a live recording of Shree Maa, Swamiji, and devotees singing the Sundar Kand on Ram Navami:

Sundar Kand 2

~~OM~~

Listen to a live recording of Shree Maa, Swamiji, and devotees singing the Sundar Kand on Ram Navami:

Sundar Kanda 1

~~OM~~

~~OM~~

~~OM~~

~~OM~~

Shree Maa shows us how to perform Mudras in the Worship of the Divine Mother.

	The Sankalpa Mudra is used for stating the date, time and place, the performer, proposed activity and purpose, prior to the commencement of worship.
	The Matsya Mudra is the mudra of the fish, which symbolizes swimming across the ocean of worldliness without fear. Shree Maa tells us to be like the fish at the bottom of the pond. He is always in the mud, but never dirty.
	The Dhenu Mudra is the mudra of the cow, which indicates the one who pours forth nourishing goodness in abundance.
	The Ankusha Mudra is the mudra of the goad or curved sword, which symbolizes prodding seekers on towards their ultimate goal, or cutting down the iniquities of the ego.
	The Prarthana Mudra is the mudra of prayer, and the worshiper who demonstrates this mudra prays for purity and clarity.
	The Lelihana Mudra literally means "Sticking Out." It is the mudra which indicates, "It is You and only You who is our  salvation."
	The Tarpana Mudra is the mudra of offering. Tarpana usually is performed in ceremonies respecting ancestors who have passed on, in respect of the Guru, the Sun, or any other deity. With the thumb and ring we offer a pinch of whatever offering is being made.In the Pitri Shraddha the offering is sessamee seeds in water. In the Kali Puja it is wine.
	The Tattva Mudra is the mudra of the Principle. It refers to the establishment of divinity within, and most often indicates those places on the body which are different  seats of the various energies.
	The Avahani Mudra is the mudra of invitation. It is used to invoke the deity into the presence of the worshiper.
	The Stapani Mudra is the mudra of establishment. The worshiper actually places the presence of the deity into his or her heart.
	The Samnidapani Mudra is the mudra which indicates apology for any inconvenience it may cause the deity to be summoned in this manner. We understand that many devotees are requesting Her presence. Even still, we request Her to pay attention to Me, and apologize for Her inconvenience.
	The Sambahani Mudra symbolizes that "I am binding You with all my power not to leave me until my worship is not complete. For so long as I pay attention to You, You must stay and receive it."
	The Upasanghara Mudra is a call to all divine beings to assemble. "May all Gods and Goddesses make their presence manifest, right here, right now."
	The Yoni Mudra symbolizes the womb of creation. It shows that She is the origin of all beings, and as Mother She nurtures Her creation.

~~OM~~

Navaratri is preceded by Mahaloya, the Great Dissolution, when we dissolve all our attachments to the creation, and in this way dissolve creation itself. Our last act in the old creation is to express our appreciation to our ancestors for preparing such a wonderful path for us. Now we can worship without obstruction for the Festival of Nine Nights.

The mantras contained in following pdf file demonstrate our respect for our ancestors:

Tarpan Viddhi

~~OM~~

The eating of meat is certainly impure. Vegetarian food is definitely pure. Whose goal is directed only towards Dharma, they will do well with vegetarian food. And those who are working for advancement in this world, it is true that meat can be of benefit to them.

It is also true that pure food gives rise to pure thoughts. If one wants to become a devotee, then meat should be renounced. This is because it makes excitement. And then its nature is impure. It is not proper for us to take another life for our personal enjoyment.

Just as long as warrior energy remains foremost in man, for so long meat will remain a regular food commodity. By eating animals man gets an animalistic nature, and thus brings about the destruction of the race.

When a man acts without selfishness, then lust and greed are completely without energy, and one renounces self-conceit. Without knowledge of ego, Sattwa guna is expressed. These are the signs that an individual has no desire for consuming meat.

~~OM~~

Oh Beautiful Mother !

Oh Beautiful Mother!
You always give refuge
To your children in need,
Oh Glorious Mother!
You provide a shelter,
Universal Haven
To the Children of Faith.
Oh Radiant Mother!
Your Grace is Limitless,
Oh Great Divine Goddess.
To the Hungry and Lost,
To the Homeless and Poor,
To the Unloved and Sad,
All they must really do
Is surrender to You!
Your love -- like the ocean,
Is peaceful, deep and calm.
Your eyes -- like the night sky
Shining with Sacred Light.
We find your Loving Shade
Blissful Serenity.
Universal Mother --
Liberate us for Grace.
Let us Recognize You
With Our Hearts, Minds and Souls.
And Cherish you Always

~~OM~~

Indian swamis also foresee the birth of saints, including Shree Maa, one of the great women saints in contemporary history who has been described as kindness incarnate.

When Kalyani married Sushil, a wealthy man who managed a tea estate, she was only thirteen years old. One year after their marriage, the pious couple climbed Kamakhya Mountain to do worship in the Kamakhya Temple. Much to their surprise, Swami Bhuvananda Saraswati appeared before them when they reached the summit. This great saint and religious teacher who dwelt on the mountain at the Kalipur Ashram had a message for Kalyani: (*14, Saraswati) I have been waiting for you. You are going to give birth to a divine child, and I want to give you mantra initiation with the blessings of God.Kalyani protested, I am not pregnant. You are making a mistake. The Swami insisted, No, no, it is you. Thereupon, he approached the couple, stretched out his arms, and blessed them with sacred prayers. He whispered the Gayatri mantra, a powerful Vedic formula, into Kalyaniís left ear, and anointed her with holy water.

Then he asked the couple to return when Kalyani was two months pregnant. When Kalyani conceived a child within the next month, the couple accepted the prediction that their child was a divinely inspired messenger. (*Saraswati, ibid) Kalyani and her husband followed the Swamiís directive and visited the Swamiís ashram where the Guru was expecting them. After welcoming the couple with the highest respect, the Swami performed a sacred ceremony to the expectant mother and gave the baby in the womb a mantra initiation. Moreover, he instructed the parents on how to maintain a sacred atmosphere conducive for the impending birth and asked them to return when the child was two months old.

As directed by the Swami, the parents made the third visit with their two-month-old daughter Shree Maa (the respected Holy Mother). He took the baby into his arms and danced with her throughout the temple. Afterward, he whispered mantras into the infants ears in the process of initiation. Even before this powerful initiation, however, Shree Maa had been aware of her divine mission at birth. She was fully conscious from birth and recalls how her earthly sojourn began with an inner experience. She heard the voice of the nineteenth-century saint Ramakrishna Paramahansa whom she regards as her spiritual teacher, saying, Oh, you have come again. Much more needs to be done in this Dark Age. You must show people what divine life really means, what is spiritual practice, and what is sacrifice. Subtle experiences continued throughout childhood. Shree Maa was gifted with God Consciousness and the capacity to enter into deep meditative states at will. Her most difficult realization was to understand that everyone was not as blessed.

Shree Maa's spiritual work began in earnest after completing her college education. She left home to reside in the seclusion of the Himalayan forests where she meditated and conducted spiritual practices. She rarely spoke and ate practically nothing except sandal paste mixed with water, basil leaves, and occasionally juice, fed to her by devotees. Yogis who saw her in deep samadhi for days at a time expressed concern for her physical survival. It was inconceivable for a woman to travel throughout the forests and jungles of India alone, especially without money and possessions. Yet Shree Maa was oblivious to any danger. She later joked with disciples saying, What risk, what fear? When I am one with the soul of existence, how will any one or any thing cause me harm?

Shree Maa left the seclusion of the Himalayas after nearly a decade. Since that time, she recites Sanskrit scriptures, worships, and meditates ten to fourteen hours a day. Moreover, she is a poet, a singer, and an artist who enjoys cooking and sewing for her family of devotees. She has inspired and contributed to the authoring of three dozen books in a dozen languages and has written devotional songs which bring tears to people who gather in her presence. Politicians, leaders of industry, businessman, educators, and simple household people of every religious heritage have sought her advice. Her egoless nature and divine simplicity shine through every action inspiring spiritual growth and radiating peace to everyone who meets her.

By Elizabeth Carman