Today, let us begin meditating by chanting the mantra ‘Om Namah Chandikayei’ because Devi Chandika is the Anugraha Swaroopini or Epitome of Grace. When we chant her moola mantra [the mantra that connects us to her very source] today, she will be consecrated in our hearts as Navadurga.
Her chaitanya or consciousness will merge with the shakti or energy of Lord Shiva and activate our awareness and concentration. Till now we had her grace, but we were not aware of it. Today, Lord Shiva has filled us with his awareness so that we are able to experience the bliss of our inner core. Now we have both the anugraha or grace of Devi and the amrita or nectar of Lord Shiva.
As we chant this mantra, women should visualise Devi in the lotus of the heart and men should visualise her in the energy vortice between their brows. Let us establish Devi Chandika within us by chanting this mantra together. Chant and meditate for a few minutes…
Bring your mind to a state of complete equilibrium…Slowly open your eyes…If we want to offer our weapons to Devi, we must first understand how we were created and what our innate strengths are. When Devi created human beings, she made two basic forms - male and female. If we have a female body, we are endowed with 85 per cent Gouri Amsha or Devi’s energy and only 15 per cent Purusha Amsha or Shiva’s energy. What is Gouri Amsha? It is the ability to fill the lives of others with supreme auspiciousness and good fortune or Soubhagya. If you are a woman, you have the power of Goddess Navachandika in you.
The strongest point in your body is your womb which is a reflection of the Cosmic Womb or Hiranyagarbha. You are specially privileged because you were born enlightened, but over many lifetimes, you have allowed impurities to cloud your mind.
If you have any resentment or bitterness against anybody, discard it. Then the Gouri Amsha in you will blossom completely.
Your womb also empowers your speech to such an extent that if you chant a mantra 27 times, it is equivalent to a man chanting it 108 times. Devotion and dedication come naturally to you, but you have to make an effort to cultivate faith and belief.
Waves of Beauty series - Saundarya Lahiri by Nimishananda. Visit www.shrinimishamba.org