Chatuhsasthi (chausanth) Yogini

The 64 Yogni cult was a mystical female cult which started in the 9th and ended in the 13th century A.D. (globally; some secret off shoots of it might exist even later). At that time, it was not a marginal religious group. The purpose of this cult was to develop supernatural powers. Yoginis were servants of Motlher Divine – all devotional in nature. They could develop tremendous supernatural abilities (dematerilization, etc,). Their central focus of worship was Bhairavi, Kali and Shiva (Bhairava). The difference between Kali and Bhairavi is that Shiva is particularly extremely wrathful as the Bhairavi’s consort but his wrathfulness is not seen so tremendous as the Kali’s consort. Some people believe that Bhairavi is thus the fiercest form of Mother Divine.

Amba Maa

The most well known mataji is Amba maa also known as Durga, There are thousands of devotees of Amba maa all around the world. Amba maa was created by Vishnus power, Shivas Power and Brahamas Power and the rest of the gods when maa had to fight Mahisasur, only a women could kill him of his boon from Bhrama ji. Each god gave her a weapon. Shiva gave the trishul and mate, Vishnu gave the conch shell and chakra and Brahamaji gave the flower and the sacred book. The himalayas gave her the beautiful tiger she has. We have so many matajis because when she came to earth she came in different avatars (avatars meaning forms), but theres only one mataji. Mataji only comes to the earth if there is evil taking over. Maa saves us from danger and protects us.

About Amba mataji-Amba is the truly multi-dimentional goddess. Amba has a variety of more or less fearful with different attributes. In her milder fo, she Is known as parvarti (the mountain girl), Uma (the light), Himavati (daughter of the Himalaya), Jagamata (mother of the world) and Bhavani (The Goddess of the universe). In her terrible fo she is known as durga (the inaccessible), Kalika or shyama (the dark complexioned), Chandika or chandi (the fearful one), and Bhairavi (the terrible). All the maataji are broadly included within the name devi or Maha Devi (the great goddess).

So Who are these evildemons like Mahishasur? Who are the Asuras or Rakshasas? The Asuras are powerful beings, who are opposed to the Devas (gods) – Originally, in the vedic times, they were another class of gods, perhaps the indigenous deities. By the end of the Vedic period, however, the Asuras had attained their demonic role.

They are demons capable of assuming the form of animals or humans. They are completely evil, powerful creatures that delight in spreading fear, confusion, chaos, and destruction among the humans. Sometimes they can even be more powerful than the gods.

Kali Maa

Kali is one of the many forms of Shakti. Maha Kaali is the fiercest of all goddesses of Hinduism. The word Kali has its roots in the Sanskrit word “Kaal”, which means time. And nothing escapes from time. Goddess Kali is sometimes referred as the goddess of death. But actually Kali brings the death of the ego. Even in the scriptures, she has hilled demons but not anyone else. Kali is also not associated with Yama (The Hindu God of Death). Kali is considered a form of mother too. Maa Kali is one of the few Goddesses who are celibate and practice renunciation.

Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva, both are regarded to inhabit cremation grounds. Devotees go to these places to meditate with the purpose of overcoming the ego. The cremation grounds emphasize the idea that the body is temporary. Kali and Shiva are known to stay in cremation grounds because it is our attachment to the body that gives rise to the ego. Kali and Shiva give the idea of liberation by dissolving the illusion of the ego. The corporeal frame ultimately vanishes but the soul still remains. This is emphasized by the scene in the cremation grounds.

Maha Kali

Maha Kaali is the most compassionate of all the forms of godesses as she provides salvation or liberation to her children. Kali is equivalent to Shiva because both of them are the destroyers of evil fake and unreal. It is considered that with the glimpse of Maa Kali, ego trembles with terror seeing its own eventual demise in her.

People who are attached to their ego would not be able lo receive the idea of Kail and she will appear in a wrathful form to them. But people, who are engaged in spirituality, removing the illusion of the ego, will find Maha Kaali in a different form, Maa Kali will appear as sweet, affectionate, and overflowing with perplexing love for them.

Khodiyar Maa

Khodiyar Maa is the Hindu goddess who matearilizes in the story of Mamaniya Gadhvi in about 700 AD Mamaniya Gadhvi had an excellent relationship with the then ruler- Maharaj Shilbhadra. The ruler’s minister envied this excellent relationship and arranged a system to get rid of Mamaniya Gaahvi. They were not very successful to influence the ruler, but they succeeded in persuading the ruler’s wife. One day the doorkeepers did not let him go into the palace.

Mamamya asked for the cause. He was told that a childless man is not appeal of the king’s existence Mamaniya returned home and required to invite Lord Shiva for help. While Lord Shiva did not show, he sure to give his life away as a finishing sacrifices. Presently while he was about to make it. Lord Shiva appeared, he resolute to give his life away as a last sacrifice. Now when he was about to make it. Lord Shiva appeared and took him to the Snake Kingdom – Naglok to perceive the king of Snakes – Nagdev, behind inquiry his is legend full of humiliation, the Nagdev’s daughters resolute to help too.

When Mamaniya came home, with his wife he organized, as advised by the Nagdev’s daughters, eight cradles in belief of a huge incident. One day eight snakes crawled into the house and Mamaniya had swiftly seven daughters and one son- One of the daughters was khodiyar Maa.

Nag Devta

Nag Devta is the king of all Nags, Man worships snakes either out of awe or out of reverence. He reveres snakes as they are considered the reincarnation of Lord Shiva. Snakes come out of hibernation after Shivratri, but their worship begins after Nag Panchami. It is only after Nag Panchami that they become ferocious. During these months of worship, festivals are held at various snake temples. Decorated shops sell paper-snakes.

Durga Maa

Maa (Mother) Durga symbolics ihe power oMhe Supreme Baino tliat maintains moral order and righteousness in the universe, Worship of the yonder Shakil Is very popular among the UlndiUS. Durga slands foi Ehe unified symbol of all riivinp foi ces (Shales) Goddess Durga i^ ^he divine mother, who prolecis people fmm evil forces of selfishness jealousy, h^lrpc), angeE and ogo ^o?her’s Fo^ and her kindness covi’airfs hoi rhilQ. i?i the bosi oxnmpio of pure [O^/R En this whole universe.

L-lkeiA’ise, tho lovo of Mna Bhagwail (Durga) Towards her devotee (Child) Is pure and serene- Maa l^oTher) never a&ks foE a favour from her child She pours her kindness and warmth on the child without cesinng anything In ri?iurn The love ofJagdamba is ]ikp a free flowing river. Durga loves her eac^i and evefy oe^/oree 1C hi Id) wiThout any discrimination.

Origin of Goddess

Durga It is believed thai once the existence of the irnrverse was under a threat by Mahishasura (the demon). The Gods pEeaded Shiva to prelect Therr worid from [he evil forces. Lord Shiva asheo the three goddesses. Sarasvi’atl. Maa Kali and Maa Lahshami TO release their poweis ^shahtis). The Pov/er emerged in a female form. The Divine light emerged and a goddess of exceptional power appeared with many arms She was beauUful as well as ferocrous.

Durga was an extremely gorgeous giti with full of rage- The gods named her Durga. ihe invinclbie one and they furnished her with all \heir arms. Ourga rode on a lion 10 ihe top of a mountain In a violent hatlle, she killed Jvlahishasura and thus, saved the woi Id from the demon’s threat.

Durga – The Image

The word Durga has been derived from SansKrit language which means a fort or a place that is difficult ie reach In the Images- Shakti is visiole in the female form, weannc] rod cloihes. Goddess has elghTeen arms, carrying many items in her hands- The red coEor symbolizes fierceness and li. suggests thai goddess destroys evil and protects people from pain and misery caused by evil forces- Durga riding a tiger shows that she hotds infinite power and uses il to save virtue and destroy evil. The eighteen arms holding weapons signify the unattainable energy tnal Maa Durga possesses. Different weapons suggest the idea that sne can face any evil force without consideration.

Ganesh Ji

Lord Ganesh is the son ot Lord Shiva and goddess Parvalhi, The story of creation of ganesh is a very fascinating one.

Long time ago when Lord Shiv Ji was away fighting for the godSi the lady of the house, goddess Parvathi was alone at home- On one occasion she needed someone to guard the house when she was going tor a bath. Unable to think ot an alternative, she used her powers to create a son, Ganesh, She instructed Ganesh to heep strict vigil on the entrance to the house and not to allow anyone into the house. Qanesh agreed and stayed on the strictest of strict vigils.

In the meantime Lord Shiva relumed happy after a glorious victory for the gods, only to be stopped at the entrance by Ganesh. Ganesh, acting on Parvathi’s orders verbatim, did not allow Shiva to enter the house. Lord Shiva was enraged beyond control and in a fit of rage slashed the head of Ganesh, In the meantime Parvathi came out from her bath and was aghast at the scene. She was very angry at her lordship for what had happened and explained him the situation.

Lord Shiva wanted to make it up to Parvathi very badly and agreed to put life back into Ganesha by putting the head of the first sleeping living creature that came in sight which was sleeping with its head to the north. He sent his soldiers lo go in search of the creature. The first creature which came in sight was an elephant. So Lord Shiva re-created his son with the head of the elephant. Hence the trunk of Lord Ganesha.

Parvathi was still not totally happy with the deal and wanted more. Then Shiva granted Ganesha a boon that before beginning of any undertaking or task people would worship Lord Ganesh, Lord Ganesh has to power to remove any obstacles that come in the way of all true devotees. So before starting any new project or work it is good to pray to Lord Ganesh with all shradha and bhakthi for the successful completion of the task undertaken.

Shiva Parvati

Lord Shiva or Siva is considered as the destroyer of the evil. Shiva is one of the most popular gods of the Hindu religion. Lord Siva forms the part of the Trimurti (Trinity), the other being Brahma, the creator and Vishnu, the protector. Shiva is known for the complexity of his nature, representing contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the kind herdsman of souls and a wrathful avenger.

Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva represents the vital goodness in the form of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram ie. Truth, Goodness and Beauty. Lord Shiva performs a celestial role of dissolution and recreation of the universe, that’s why; he is mostly associated with the words, like destroyer and destruction. The role of Shiva is often confused with these terms and the difficulty arises, when the significance of his celestial role is not understood.

The conception is clear itself by a slight balance between Ihe opposing forces of good and evil. When this balance gets disturbed and continuation of life becomes unfeasible, Lord Shiva dissolves the universe. This is known as “ pralay” and it is done in order to create another cycle, so that the unliberated souls will get another opportunity to liberate themselves from the bondage of the material world. To put succinctly, Siva protects the souls from pain and suffering that is generated by the unhealthy universe.

Shiva – The Giver

Lord Shiva is known as the “giver god”, lord of mercy and kindness. He always protects his devotees from evil forces like lust, greed and anger. He is the most kind -hearted God who grants boons and bestows grace to his devotees.

Parvati is a well known goddess in the Hindu mythology. Goddess Parvaii is the divine consort of Lord Shiva, the trinity god. Parvati is also considered as a representation of Shakti or Durga, but the gentle aspect of that goddess not the fierce one, Maa Parvati is beautifully presented in the Hindu Literature as being beautiful, as a mediator in the conflicts of heaven, as a daughter of the Great Himalayan Mountains and as the divine sister of Goddess Ganga.

The divine motherly love of Parvati is visible with her two children Ganpati and Kartikay. According to the Hindu belief, Parvati is the second consort of Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction and rejuvenation. Although, she is not different from Dakshayani (Sati), being the reincarnation of that former consort of Lord Shiva.

Varahimaa

Varahi is one of the saptha mathrukas (seven mothers) who aided the devi in her fight against Shumbha Nishumbha and their armies. She is described to have human body with eight arms, head of a boar and also having three eyes.

In the Sri Vidhya tradition, she is also called the Danda-natha (Lady Commander of the forces of the mother-goddess, symbolizing the might of Sri Vidya). As Varahi (hog-faced or the great consumer) she destroys evir forces That obstructs the devotees progress, paralyses the enemies and lead the devotees ultimately to Sri-Vidyas. She is classed as ihe fifth among the seven mother like divinities (Saptmatrukas) and hence also called Panchami.

With Kurukulla, she is accorded the parental status to Sri-Chakra (Lalitha Tripura-Sundari), while Kurukulla represents the full moon, Varahi (The devoured) represents the new-moon. And while Varahi represents the illumination (prakasa) aspects of the mother-goddess. Kurukulla is the deliberation (vimarsa) aspect.

In another aspect, Varahi is also said in he one of the Yoginis, taking The form of a boar. She is said to lift up the earth with her tusks to confer benefits on all creatures. She Is imagined as an eight-armed and three-eyed lady with a face of a hog, seated under a Palmyra tree, and functioning as a trusted attendant of the Goddess as her chief counselor.

In this form she is known as Chaitanya-bhairavi (the devotee’s association of strength) She is being described as a fierce (Maha-Ghora) and as Commander of the forces, she moves about in a chariot drawn by boars. She is said to reside in the ocean of sugar-cane juice (ikshu), one of the four oceans that surrounds the mother goddess, holding her court in the island of nine-jewels, and facing the mother-goddess.