Ravindran Kesavan

Dear Ravi kishore. You can learn Durga Saptasati yourself. You can use a casset. If you have any doubt on this procedure think of Lord Siva as your guru. Do it along with Chandi mantra - i.e. after doing japa of Chandi, then read Durga saptasati. Dont miss sadana on Navaratri days especially. Continue this sadana for three years. I dont know the answers for your other questions. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Justin, Let me use Bart's anology of chaos theory to explain your problem of free will and knowledge, though I personally dont like to justify religion with science. In chaotic system the problem of predictibility comes about by our ignorance or error of the initial condition of the system. Even a slight error in our assessment of the initial parameter grows exponentially with time and in due course predictibility goes for a complete toss. But why there is an initial error? Why cannot we measure the initial value accurately? It is simply not possoble as there is always an error in any mreasument. All measuring systems have their limitations. No phenominon can be measured with infinitesimal accuracy. Take for example our natural spacial-position measurement system - eye. Its magnifying power is limited right? Beyond certain degree of small distance we can not makeout the difference. ( this argument is true for all precision instruments of science too) Hence , there is always an error and this error gets magnified nonlinearly with time (or itteration) . This is the essence of chaotic system. Now let us come to Jeevatma and Paramatma and speculate. Jeevatma has become jeevatma because of it's entanglement in the material realm. It can know only through its sense organs. And hence it is subject to error as all sense organs are errorionious at the first place and limited on the second place. Hence a jeevatma's knowlege can never be complete and error-free. With this condition if a jeevatma trys to predict a regular process in the emprical world it soon end up in a total unpredictyibility as demonstrated by Chaos theory. Let us assume this is what is ment by the Ignorance of Jeevatma. Now comming to god, due to gods limitless mode of knowing ( God does not know the world through his material sense organs) god does not suffer from any error of any sort. God can know the innitial position of a particle with infiniticimal accuracy - (Perhaps because he himselfe decides its initial position at the first place) Hence god has no limitation of knowlegge. Your second question: If jeevatma and paramatma are the same who is ignorant? When it is maintained that Jeevatma and paramatma are same or equal we should obviously not take to mean a complete identy claim. In that case we will have no need for two terms - jeevatma and paramatma - at the first place. When we say they are same or equal ( perhaps equal is a better word), we mean that they are of same nature essentially. They both have same qualities they are both concsious and have free will (which , in contrast, the material world does not possess) .It is also ment that Jeevatma is a part of paramatma as my finger - or a single cell - is a part of my body. All jeevatmas are part of a single paramatma as all cells of my body is part of my whole body. My body is a living organism and so is my every cell of my body. They have the same biological property. Each of my cell is a living organism as my whole body is. However my cell does not know all the information as my brain . Nor my cell cells have the power to change any external condition like my hand has. Whole is certainly more than the parts. and so God is certainly more than the individual souls. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Shaholinsurfer, The official position of Visnavite - atleast some schools of Visnavism - would be that only chanting hare krishna mantra is valid and your other experimentations of Cristian and Islamic and number mantras are not mantras at all as they are not discovered by Seers. Hence Hare krishna mantra is a valied mantra - and only this is a valied mantra - and others are not. Having said that - to clarify the Visnavite position on this issue - now let me reassure you that you are not going mad, but you are having a spiritual experiance. Tantric doctrine is the best to understand your experience. According tantric doctrine, "If you imagine god to be of the form of a donky then god will assume the form of a donky to grace you". God has no specic form and take any form according to the conception of the deciple. You need a form for his worship and you can use any form. There is only one god and hense, Whatever name ( mantra) and form are used to worship - whatever religion you follow - all goes to the one god only. You are not crazy. You are having a spiritual experience. God is comming to you in the form you conceive him(or her or it or whatever) to answer your prayer. Now all that you need is to understand this and perhaps stick to one mantra and one form, whichever appeals to you. My suggestion is to follow your own original religion ( with out the parochialism attached with it), though you can follow any other religion, or even invent your own religion too. However there is no need for conversion. All religions have seeds of divinity in them and all are ways of approching god. Talk to mistics- not to people who are religious. People who are mearly religious cannot understand your experience and will only make you wrong. This advise is not from Visnavite's perspective. It is Tantric Perspective. ( Here I am employing the Word tantra in tits technically correct sense : methods of awakening kundalini, technique of worshipping god) Most Visnavite - for that matter most religiousity minded people - will only disaggree with this and dismiss your experience. You need a mystic guru to guide you further. Ask god for it. God will show you the path. God himself can be your guru if you dont find one in flesh and blood. The most important thing now is not to get confused about your strange experiences and not to get discouraged by the advises of people who do not know - who do not have first hand spiritual experiences. Regards, K.Ravindran.

Srikant is making a point in suspecting Vyasa's authership of purana texts. In fact there is a thesis, based on historical evidences, that Puranas are not written by a single person and written by a variety of authors all over the place – some even supposed to have arrived from Yavanas ( Greeks), and attributed to Vyasya as it is the custom those days to write books and attribute them to some past respectable personalities. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p> </o:p> This is not an unlikely thesis, given the stark difference of the contents of Vedas and Puranas. The quality of sublimeness of Veda is almost entirly missing in Puranas and a low level ‘Cock and Bull’ stories fill the pages of Puranas exclusively. Though it is assumed to be written for low intellects (of and children’ IQ) who cannot grasp the philosophic and mystical truths of Veda, by Vyasa himself (as a strategy to communicate the high truth to dull minds), it is not a likely thesis as it reduces the intelligence of Vyasa himself. A man who have understood Veda and organized them (if he has done that) to have written cock and bull stories – what a contradiction! <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> K.Ravindran

Dear Afun, Mandukyopanisad is the sourse. It introduces the four states Jakratavasta (Wake full state ) , Swapnavasta (Dreeming state) Susupti ( Deep sleep )and Turia ( fourth ), as the states of the soul's four parts or conditions. I am reproducing the Mandukyopanisad below ( cut past) for your convenience. 1. All this is the letter <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comOm.</st1:place> A vivid explanation of this (is begun). All that is past, present, and future is but <st1:place w:st="on">Om.</st1:place> Whatever transcends the three periods of time, too, is <st1:place w:st="on">Om.</st1:place> 2. All this is certainly Brahman. This Self is Brahman. This Self, as such, is possessed of four quarters. 3. (The Self) seated in the waking state and called Vaisvanara who, possessed of the consciousness of the exterior, and seven limbs and nineteen mouths, enjoys the gross objects, is the first quarter. 4. (The Self) seated in the state of dream and called Taijasa who, possessed of the consciousness of the interior, and seven limbs and nineteen mouths, enjoys the subtle objects, is the second quarter. 5. Where the sleeper desires not a thing of enjoyment and sees not any dream, that state is deep sleep. (The Self) seated in the state of deep sleep and called Prajna, in whom everything is unified, who is dense with consciousness, who is full of bliss, who is certainly the enjoyer of bliss, and who is the door to the knowledge (of the preceding two states), is the third quarter. 6. This is the Lord of all; this is omniscient; this is the in-dwelling controller (of all); this is the source and indeed the origin and dissolution of all beings. 7. The Fourth is thought of as that which is not conscious of the internal world, nor conscious of the external world, nor conscious of both the worlds, nor dense with consciousness, nor simple consciousness, nor unconsciousness, which is unseen, actionless, incomprehensible, uninferable, unthinkable, indescribable, whose proof consists in the identity of the Self (in all states), in which all phenomena come to a cessation, and which is unchanging, auspicious, and non-dual. That is the Self; that is to be known. 8. That same Self, from the point of view of the syllable, is <st1:place w:st="on">Om</st1:place>, and viewed from the stand point of the letters, the quarters are the letters, and the letters are the quarters. The letters are a, u and m. 9. Vaisvanara seated in the waking state is the first letter a, owing to its all-pervasiveness or being the first. He who knows thus verily accomplishes all longings and becomes the first. 10. Taijasa seated in the dream is u, the second letter (of <st1:place w:st="on">Om</st1:place>), owing to the similarity of excellence or intermediate position. He who knows thus verily advances the bounds of his knowledge and becomes equal (to all) and none who is not a knower of Brahman is born in his family. 11. Prajna seated in the state of deep sleep is m, the third letter (of <st1:place w:st="on">Om</st1:place>), because of his being the measure or the entity wherein all become absorbed. He who knows thus measures all this and absorbs all. 12. That which is without letters (parts) is the Fourth, beyond apprehension through ordinary means, the cessation of the phenomenal world, the auspicious and the non-dual. Thus <st1:place w:st="on">Om</st1:place> is certainly the Self. He who knows thus enters the Self by the Self. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Ravikishore, I am not aware of any other version of tantra raja tantra which is completely english. Only arthor Avlon's work which is in sanscrit (not even Hindi) except the introduction, is available. Vamakeswari tantra is completely transalated in to english by Michael Magee, and is published by Prachaya Prakashan , Varanasi, 1986, by the name Vamakeswarimatam. I am giving the complete address of the publisher. The phone number might have changed. Book: Vamakeswarimatam, Auther: Michael Magee, Year of publication: 1986 Puplisher: Prachaya Prakashan Varanasi - 221002 Phone 53252 Post Box No: 2037 You might have gone to a sankaramutt branch where there are only priests appointed for regular worship. They will not initiate. Initiation is given in any one of the main Sankara mutts. In Shringery Sri Vidya initiation is given. If you cannot go to any main mutt just ask the priest in the branch in your place for shedules of visiting of some one who is authorised to initiate in to Sri Vidya . During Navaratri festivel for instances some of the gurus of Srividya might visit the branches for performing Homa. (You should ask for details of Srividya initiation specifically as that is the name of the 65th tantra vidya). Apart from the Tantric texts Tantra raja and Vamakeswari , there are a lots of books on Srividya from which you can learn the mantra yantra and worshiping methods. If you go to any big religious book store you will find them, though that is only for knowledge sake. You need an initiation for this Vidya from an authentic guru. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Ravi kishore, Internet search will give you the publishers of these books. For initiation Sankara mutt is a fine place. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Luciana, Perfect. Do enjoy your exploration. Experimenting is the very spirit of tantra. But in due course do find some one system and stebilise in that. If you are in touch with Karma Kagyu sect that is very good. In Hindu traditions it is very difficult to find authentic tantric masters, as at one period of cultural -religious revolution Hindu society, like cristianity, turned against tantra and the practice disappered mostly leaving aside a very few secret practicionars. ( like whica in the west). Where as in Tibet, tantric practice survivred and cherished officially. And hence you will get authentic stuff as well as authentic masters coming in the unbroken lineage. Tibetan tranticism is a fine and authrentic system. You can count on it. Good luck. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear M.R. Moorti, Whlle God is suprime and beyond the planets, Human made temples are not. Temple rictuals are based on agamas. And the rictuals are certainly determined by space and time. If it were not so why we go to temples at the first place to seek god? (God is everywhere). And why we resort specific rictuals and mantras? (God if free of all causation, and procedures cannot influense him.) Temples as well as temple gods(powers ) are very much man made ( much like technology) The god of a temple is not the god that is beyond space, time and causation. The god in a temple is generated out of a technological procedures based on cettain laws ( like avahana, prana pradista and the like). Hence these powers of the man made temples are very much subject to determined by the cosmic laws. I have heard two alternate interpretations as to why the temples are closed during eclipse: During Eclipse, the gods ( man made powers of temples) are supposed to be very week and are supposed to desert the temples and go to water spots. Hence there are supposed to be no gods in the temples. Hence temples are closed. ( this is interpretation 1). During Eclipse Gods beecome so week that any body could control them using their appropriate mantras and rictuals. (That is why those initiated into mantras are advised to chant the mantras during eclipse time to gain siddhi easily. The power of Japa is supposed to increase hugely) Hence any one wanting to take away the power of a temple could walk in to a temple during eclipse day and perform avahana rictual and carry the god away in a watter pot. That is why the temples are closed during eclipse so as to avoid this theft of gods. ( interpretation 2). Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Bart, There is a consunses now amoung physists that the theory of relativity is a flawed theory - just like classical physics - and not a complete theory. Quantum mechanics is supposed to be more correct version, though it is not a complete theory yet. (Cf: Roger Penrose :The Road to Reality. ) Regards, KL.Ravindran

Dear Bart and Srikant, The duality of god and world creats another paradox. From where does the world come from? If god created it - as it is believed in all theologies - then god created it from where? If it din't bexist before then God created it out of himself - by or from his will . Hence world is essentially part of him - a form of consciousness. - though must be having its own laws, which themselves came from gods will. If World exists independany of god from the begining then god has nothing to do with it except being a neutral witness - a mear knower and not a doer. This will remove god's Omnipotence. Thus to preserve God's omnipotence we need to assume god created the material universe out of himself , hence everything is god - a form of Consciousness. If this was not the case- If mater is independ of god - then god is not omnipotent. In anycase his suprime sovernity is in question if world or matter is essentially different from god. True Burt, we cannot know the question related to Origin. But we speculate logically. That is all we can do and we have been doing all along. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Luciana, You cannot get all sixty four, as many of them are not puplished. Some of them are supposed to be lost and not available at all. Some are in Sanscrit manuscript form yet to be published, found only in manusctipt libriary or in individual possession. But fortunately you dont need all - if you are thinking of practice. There is a sixty fifth tantra that Lord siva revealed after all the sixty four , that gives all the benifits of all the sixty four. This the best of all and gives the siddhis of all . From practice point of you this one is enough and best that I could recommend. This is the Srividya - the Tripura sundari vidya. This you will get it in Tantra raja tantra, and Vamakeswari tantra, both are published. Tanrttra raja by Arthor Avlon and vamakeswri by Maichel Magie. You will also find enough number of books on Srividya. Internet search will give enough material to start with though the secrets of it can only be learned by an initiated adept in this vidya. There are sixty four secret keys in side this vidya to gain the sixty four tantric siddhis which no published work will give or no one other than the initiate will know. However if you start on this path when you are ready, those secrets will come to you. I dont know where you live. If there is a Sankaracharya mutt in your place you can go there and enquire about a teacher who can initiate you on this. Sankarachary mutt is one authentic lineage of this vidya, though they will not know of the secret keys of siddhis. However you need an initiation to enter in to this sadana. If you are in India then there are a few places that this Vidya is preserved in lineage traditions. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Srikant, Laya might be interpreted as a highly spiritual state, Everything material and plurolity -which is a result of maya - get destroyrd when the thire eye of siva - a spiritual eye opens. Only Bhraman remains. Maya is destroyed. It is highly satvic as it is a high quality of wisdom. ( satva is meditative wisedom and intelligence) Siva is destructive in this sense Not in a tamasic sense but in ispiritually intelligent (satvic) sense. By the by I shall give more codes of the trinity to reinforce what I said. Look at Bhrama, he doesnot meditate he broods, His brooding mind creats the world. that is rajasic ( actiove mind) Vishnu doesnot meditate either. He sleeps. ( lying down is not a meditative posture). Sleeping is tamasic. Sive meditates. He is in In samadi. Spiritual meditative state is not tamasic but highly satvic. That Siva is a tanmasic god might be a misinterpretation invented by nonsivite bhaktas. Of course it is my hypothesis, going by many evidences that I provided from mythologies. Still you could be write, that tamas is laya principle. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Srikant, Obviously krishna will defend his position by interpreting that what he ment was nothing to do with physical body Not of eternal youth and immortality of the physical body. He ment the immortality and eternal youth of the soul. (Perhaps) . But then of course as a matter of fact souls are immortal and eternally same anyway - chanting or no chanting the mantra he prescribes - unless of course he thinks otherwise. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Burt, There is no disaggremant on any one of what you said. I mean to clarify the distinction between predictability and determinism. While chaotic system is genunely chaotic in the sence there is no predictability, it is nontheless determined- no free will. Usually people who are not well versed with science tend to equate unpredictability with free will. I was only commenting on that. There is no disaggrement with you on any point. I am in complete aggrement that the spirit is completely detached with matter and nothing to do with it except of course knowing it. Though I have an unsolved new issue in that formulation. Such a dualism will create another problem of how did god then create material universe if matter and spirit are so qualitatively differernt. How did god, who is pure consciousness, interact with matter? Again one solution is to assume that matter is only an appearance in consciousness, just like a wave is not different in substance from the watter - the medium. Everything is consciousness - Monism again. What do you think on this issue? Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Bart and Shvu, It is true that there is no free will in the realm of mater Even the controversies of quantum mechanics - consciousness and free will of particles - are just apparent not real. By this I mean the probablistic nature of particle exists only at the messured observerd level. To observe a fundamental particle we need to shine it with light ( or some other equivalent wave) When we do that the particle obsorbes that energy of the photon of the irradiating light and its path gets disturbed. A fundamantal partical being so small this disturbance of being bumbarded by a photon is quite significant and its natural course gets disturbed. As a result what we observe and mesure, is never the same of its original position and course when it is not disturbed thus. . If we dont disturbe the particle this way - if we dont observe and measure- then its natural course of development is quite deterministic obeying strict laws governed by the Schrödinger’s equation. There is no indeterminism at this ontological level. The probability enters only at the epistemological level.(cf:: Roger Penrose) Even the chaos theory that Bart talks about is deterministic. The chaos of the chaos theorist is a determinined chaos. A precise deterministic algorithem is behind the chaos. It is a determined chaos - not a free chaos. There is no free will anywhere in the material universe. The quality of free will and consciousness is attributed to soul or spirit and not to matter. Thus we have two kinds of things Material and spiritual.. Determinism applies to matter Free will applies to spirit. Now to shvu's paradox. If Krisna can predict events tomarrow - say what colour shirt Shvu will wear , then Shvu has no free will. If he cannot then Krishna has no omnicience. Here if determinism is attributed to the emprical material world then there is no paradox as there is no free will in the entire material universe and its functioning. and Krisna could easily predict , with the laws of the universe known just like when the next eclipse would occur. The paradox arises only if we take Shvu not as a material entitity but a spirit. If we declare Shvu has no free will , to resolve the paradox then it reduces Shvu in to mere matter. Because what is a consciousness with out free will? it is just a piece of matter - may be more complicated gadged but non the less matter. It cannot be considered as spirit or jeeva. If we want to avoid this connotation of Shvu, then we need to asume he is a soul a spirit a consciousness not matter. In that case we will have to attribute free will to him. In that case the paradox will arise. There is only one way to resolve this paradox if we do not want to reduce jeevatma to material thing. That is taking up the advidic position that essentially there is no difference between jeevatma and paramatma. Both have free will and are in fact one. Hovever Jeevatma is that part of paramatma vailed by maya- ignorance - and hence has limited 'cience' (knowledge) but no 'omnicience' Paramatma being uncovered by the vail of ignorance has omnicience. Jeevatma, though has free will still cannot know full working and unfolding of the evolution of events. Paramatma having complete information including the free will decisions made by the jeevatma, due to paramatma's oneness with jeevatma can predict everything. . Because jeevatma's free will is paramatma's freewill. Dualism will creat the paradox. This is not to say Monism has no problems of its own. Regards, K.Ravindran

Yes it is an exercise of concentration only- using eves. But it is not a complete exercise to develop mental concentration. It is just one aspect of concentration. Ravindran

Dear Luciana, Kundalini is the only force that developes all sidhies. Where ever you find any supernatural powers of whatever kind, it is all due to kundalini awakening only. However people who donot know the science of kundalini attribute their powers to verious other sourses. There are many many siddhis. Yoga sastras describe Sixtyfour siddhis, out of which eight are called Grand Siddhis ( Asta Maha Siddhis). Four of them are physical powers and four are psychic powers. They are : (1) Anima : ability to reduce ones body size to that of an atom(Anu- meaning very small). (2) Mahima : ability to became as big as the universe. ( growing to any size). (3) Gharima : Becominmg as heavy as an iron mountain. (4) Lahima; Becoming as light as wind, there by able to levitate and fly in the sky.This four are physical powers. Now psychic ones: (5) Vasitvam : Ability to biwich all being and control and dominate their mind and behaviour. (6) Isitvam:Ability to rule over the universrs as god (to become an Iswara - god). (7) Pragamyam : ability to enter and be present in all creatures simultaniously and exprerience all their experiences. and ( 8) Prapti: Ability to attain anything one wants ( complete desire fulfillment). Appart from these Grand Eight there are a verieties of minor siddhis. Miraculas healing power, Seeing present past and future, Seeing through wall or penitrating through the earth and such opaque objects ( x- ray eyes). Ability to live with out eating and drinking, Ability to live as long as one desires, with perpectual youth, having ten thousand elephents strengths, and with the beauty of god or goddess of love ( These group of siddhis is called kaya siddhi- siddhis related to physique) , Emitting Light from the body, Becoming a genious, and so on and so forth. All powers are our own only. They are our own potentials. Kundalini releases them as She (kundalini) passes through and developes our chakras presently inactive. There are no external powers. The worship of deits release kundalini and develop specific spiritual centres and nerves , as deities are not external entities as it is commomly believed. All deities are inside us. They refer to our own unrealised potentials residing in our inactive nadis(nerves). Have you not heard that God is not to be found in temples of stones and top of mountains but with in one's own heart. Saints and seeras declare that the body is the temple and soul is the God. . (Deho Devaliayam Jeevo siva lingam ). Yoga is a means to realise this and actualise this. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear kanu priya, Chinna masta is Godess parvati only all ten Mahavidysas are her various forms only. Kali is also Parvati. Hence if you are fond of Kali and getting result immediately, there is no need to worship any other form of the same goddess. Maha vidya initiates worship only one of them through out their life. That is the way to attain siddhi. And one is enough. Of course if your astrologer suggested to do Chinnamasta upasana there must be a special reason . Because each planet indicate a Mahavidya. However technically Mahavidyas are supposed to be free from any plannetory considerations. Hence if you are a Kali bakth I dont see any reason to do anything else. Kali can do all that is there to be done. A good upasana is sticking to one singkle upasana murti. However dont get confused and do what you think must be done. My post is just a way of knowledge sharring. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Ravi kishore, Bel and Vilva are one and the same and refers to the common holy leaves offered to Siva, in his worship. This is a leafe with three leaves attached to the same stem. You can find it in any flower seller near a siva Temple. If you ask for it the seller will give you. Peeple tree is a very common tree in India Its leaf is heart shapped with a tail like extention at the bottom of the heart. It is a holy tree hindus worship. Some times you will see a ganesa (Idol) sitting under this tree. You can see it in many temples (along with banian tree). These two peeple and bale are very common. Ask a religious hindu to show you. K.Ravindran

Dear Traveller, You are absolutely right. Gayatry and Veda can be chanted and studied by by any one as it is universal. It does not belongs to any one perticular. In fact veda teaches non -parochialism and equality of all beings. However in in India, at one time a priestly class arose and monopolised the knowledge and institutionalised rules to their own advantage. Cast system came in to being and lower cast and women were banned from studying Veda. It is restricted to only Bhramin male. Sinse then any one who is not a bhramin male is not initiated with veda or gayatri. Ignoioring the fact that many rishis who wrote the vedis verses were the socalled 'lower' cast and women. This is all a professional con and nothing else. Though it is very irritating, you need not bother about this ignorance of Hindus. Gayatri is a universal and holy mantra. It belongs to every one. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Harekrishnaharsha, If you have an ista devata the choice is simple and clear. You take up your ista devata worship. If you dont have one, then one way to find out what is good for you is to seek vedic astrology. If you send your birth details, -year, month, date and time of your birth along with your place of birth, - to the vedic astrology forum some one would advise you which devata is most favourable for you. You can also consult Nadi astrology if you can find one . It is pretty accurate and with amazing degree of specificity. Nowadays even in internet such services are available. It specifies your exact Istadevada along with other life details. Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Agama, Astroseeker's advise is the right advise. The planet situated the twelth from admakaraka amsa indicates the god that liberates the soul. (twelth house is the house of liberation) . If you are getting problem by worshipping Durga, who is in fact the goddess destined to give mukti, it means the asuric tentencies with in you are fighting with the devine in you and not letting you win mukti. Both god and asuras are in us and when we take up the right sadana which is effective, we will be troubled by the evil tendences with in us. It is only natural beause the lower nature cannot survive if the higher narture takes over and they fight it out touth and nail. The deva -asura warefare described in puranas are not of any war in the real outside world with actual asuras living outside us. It is all symbolic of the battle within us. The godess warring with asura is not to be interpreted as any real hystoric events which took place once. It describes the soul's battle with the material lower nature, towers its liberation. What I am saying is no strange interpration of mine. It is explicitly stated in the practical worship manuals of Goddess. Asuras and enemies are interpreted as our own lower nature. Kama, kroda, loba, moha, mada and macharya are the true enemies. Anava mala, Karma mala, Maya mala are the true asuras. The war is between these and our pure wise staintless eternal free soul which is the Goddess. I am an initiate to goddess worship and I know this from my personal experience too. If you want to remain bound at the material level then it is allright not to worship the goddess. But if you are seeking spiritual progress then you need to worship goddess who is your liberater . There is no other way. If it is tough - and it will be tough as it is a war, bewtween your lower nature and higher nature - then you need to fight it out with determination. You cannot give up and surrender to the asuras. You have to just stay put no matter what. If you are determined like that Goddess will soon destroy all that evil forces that trouble and prevent you. Of course the choice and decision is yours. I just wanted to share my experience with you . Regards, K.Ravindran

Dear Kavya, Worshipping Siva with Vilva leaves will burn all sins. After killing asuras in war, which is a nessary evil the victorious devine warriors removed the sin of killing by siva linga worship. Lord Karthikeya for example, after his successful battel with sura patma worshipped Siva linga with bel patra (Vilva leafs) to clear the sin. This is for any body and everybody. Pravticing kundalini yoga, and attaining nirvikalpa samadi is the sure way of distroying all karma good or bad. It gives mukti. Regards, K.Ravindran

Qwerty, It is true that Bagalamuki stunns the brain and tongue of dhusta ( evil person). Are you evil? If you are not you dont have to worry. Bagalamuki is basically a high goioddess .She is a Mahavidya. She is ment for fighting with evil - asuras. If you have any dought that some one has used bagalamuki prayoga on you - which I dought very much - do the same worship. Do bagalamuki worship. Ask hrer to stun the evil doers mind and speach by the very same mantra. Remember she is a godess not a dewvil. She is bad only to evel beings. When you surrender to her she will only do good to you - if you are basically good. People with whichcraft power are extreemly rare and my conviction is that they dont exist in your place inspite of the wide spread belief in witchcraft. It is not likely that you are a victim of witchcraft. Before jumping in to witshcraft theory, exclude the normal explanation first. Nothing to worry as I see it. Check wether you have some anxiety. Dont depend on only psychatrist. Most of the time they dont know much. Psychatry as a science is in a bad state. Do consult some good homeopathy doctor. Check for Bach flower remedy too. Bach Flower remedy is a homeopaty like medicinal system where flower essencs are used as remedies for emotional amd mental disturbances. It is generally very effective. Generally any big homeopaty shop will have these medicines too. Check at internet for more information on this if you cannot find a local practiciner there. Bach flower remedy should be sufficient to give immediate relief. Regards, K.Ravindran