December 2021 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami--Raktabija

[Srivatsa Ramaswami]

December 2021 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami--Raktabija

In November 2021 I taught a four hour workshop on Vinyasakrama yoga and Internal organs, hosted by our friends "Krama" yoga in Italy. Many thanks to the host and the participants for the opportunity, support and interest shown

In December 2021 on 18th and 19th I will be teaching a workshop on the meaning of the mantra OM based on Manduka Maharishi's exposition about this foremost vedic mantra in his Mandukya Upanishad. Here is the link for the program hosted by Anantayoga studio in Ireland 

https://www.anantayogastudio.com/the-meaning-of-om-with-srivatsa-ramaswami-the-mandukya-upanishad-saturday-18th-sunday-19th-december-online/?fbclid=IwAR2_6Y2v0_HeaSzm6LepYusBXMJF0BapcmY2gcksTngLoppnbwAAFiX4Kek

Raktabija

Sakta or worship of Sakti, the Divine Mother, is a very popular form of worship. It is one of the six forms or worship (shanmata). Saktas are very passionate about the supreme Mother, Goddess. Children first rush to the mother for protection and solace when in pain. Likewise, many who are all children of God when under pain or duhkha through threefold causes of pain regularly rush to the supreme Goddess for relief. Worship of the divine mother is very popular and She is worshipped intensely especially during the festive seasons of Navaratri. 

There are many stories about the greatness of parashakti or the one who is supremely powerful. One of them is Devi Mahtmaya ( Glory of the Goddess) . It consists of several stories about how the divine mother due to the compassion towards the innocent beings come to their succor.  She destroys the offending asuras or demons in different forms and potency.  Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Divine Mother) also known as Durga Saptasati (700 verses of Goddess Durga). It contains vivid descriptions of the exploits of the divine mother in destroying evil asuras as Mahishasura, sumbha nisumbha raktabija and others. The story of Raktabija which is given briefly below narrates the widespread or a pandemic spread of evil. In fact, in olden days divine mother used to be worshipped for the eradication of infectious diseases like smallpox and other diseases. Here is the story of Raktabija. I have taken this well-known story from Google search. For the more detailed version please read the chapter on Rakta bija vada or the destruction of raktabija in Devi Mahatmyam. I had chanted the whole 700 slokas in 3 hrsof chant and got it recorded in the mid 1980s and was marketed then by Sangeetha.

Goddess Kali is the embodiment of Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva. The intention of this incarnation was to destroy the fierce demon Raktabija. He came to be known by this name after he was blessed with a unique boon by Lord Brahma. As per this boon, if a drop of blood from his body would fall on the ground, one thousand times more powerful  Raktabijas could take rebirth from that. Thus, within a short span of time there would be millions of similar demons on the battle field. This exceptional advantage persuaded him to torture gods and goddess, sages, saints and men. His unbearable disturbances forced other gods and sages to seek help from Goddess Parvati who is considered as the divine manifestation of eternal energy. Thus, she decided to rescue the Universe by her appearance as Goddess Kali Ma.
 

The complexion of Goddess Kali was extreme dark whereas her eyes reddish. She had worn a garland of human skulls around her neck and a waist belt from which hanged numerous dismantled human limbs. The third eye on Kali’s forehead and the highly tangled luxurious hair increased her terrifying character. Her long teeth were sharp and looked like fangs. The extra-long tongue that slings down from her mouth exhibited her blood thirsty nature. In all her pictures she is seen with eight arms. She is depicted as holding a blood smeared sword in her upper left hand and a severed head of a demon in her lower left hand. With the upper right hand, she offers refuge to her devotees. Thus, Kali was with unique capacity to overcome the powers of Raktabija. The fierce form of Kali is threatening to the demons and the demonic and not to the pious and good natured.

 In the battle field Goddess Kali appeared in gigantic and fierce form which made the demon to get frightened. She fought against him vigorously with the support of her carrier lion. As per legend, Goddess Kali stabbed Raktabija with her spear and then with her enormous tongue drank all the blood from the wounds created. Thus, she prevented the rebirth of Raktabija from his own blood drops. This process continued till he died at last.  

The power of raktabija may be similar to the powers of viruses. The covid virus could be compared to the powers of raktabija which ​(the virus) for the last two years has affected and continues to affect humanity enormously with further growth and mutations. There is no one in this world now who has not been affected directly or indirectly by this viral spread. Efforts are being made to contain and finally eliminate it by several means like vaccines, social distancing, lockdowns, travel bans, isolation, masks, personal hygiene and more. While all these are very helpful in the control of the virus, still it has not been eliminated. Like the millions of raktabija come out from a drop of his blood the pandemic grew rapidly from a small quantity of virus that came from a market or a lab or wherever. While all these measures mentioned are necessary and beneficial, maybe prayer will also be helpful. Earnest devotees of Sakti may during their daily prayer to the divine mother Durga/Kali, may also pray for the quick destruction of the virus and stop its mutations and exponential spread like She destroyed raktabija. All for the general good.

And more things are wrought by prayer....