Kali Tantra
Solutions that work in kali yuga
Mahābhairavi
udyadbhānusahasrābhāṁ, nānā laṅkārabhūṣitām|
mukuṭāgralasacchandra rēkhā raktāmbarānvitām।
pāśāṅkuśadharānnityāṁ, vāmahastēkapālinīm|
varadābhayaśōbhāḍhyāmpīnōnnataghanastanīm
Devotees should prostrate themselves in front of the resplendent power of Goddess Mahabhairavi, the fifth deity in the pantheon of the Dasa Maha Vidya. She is a wrathful Goddess, adorned in a red garment, and holding the decapitated head of her enemy in her right hand. The fierce feminine power of Bhairavi radiates an unparalleled brilliance like a thousand suns burning in vivacity. She illuminates the domains of existence, both physical and spiritual, dispersing the shadows of ignorance and doubts.
She is adorned with exquisite ornaments, shimmering in divine light and casting away the spectre of fear in the heart of the devotee. She stands effulgent as a beacon of transformative power, and her crown is adorned with the crescent moon, like her consort Shiva. The association with the moon symbolizes her power to guide the lunar cycles of creation and dissipation.
Her crimson robe represents her boundless power and vitality as if drenched with the blood of the enemies. In some depictions, she is portrayed as wielding the noose and the elephant goad, representing the importance of strict discipline in her worship. The decapitated head of the demon in her right hand represents the unwavering resolve to defeat the forces of evil and the essential transience of worldly attachments.
She may also carry a sword in her right hand. In some forms, she is seen holding a book and a rosary in her right hand. She is seen wearing a garland of skulls and adorned with a crimson Saree, worn at weddings.
Her form is graceful, and to the devotees, she exudes the aura of maternal nurturing and fierce protection. In some depictions, she is seen showing the Abhaya Mudra (gesture of fearlessness) with her right hand. Her left hand displays the Varada Mudra (gesture of granting the prayers of the devotees).
She is the consort of KalaBhairava, a fearsome aspect of Nataraja, or the God of Dances. She is also worshipped as a fearsome dancer, her anklets resounding with the harmony of the cosmic rhythm, initiating a symphony of transformation guided by divine powers.
Her smile is said to vibrate with both joy and terror, at once comforting and warning the devotee about the perils of sinfulness. She should be worshipped with supreme awe and devotion so that her benevolent attribute guides the devotee in the dangerous paths of Tantra. The most auspicious moment of her worship is Poornima tithi, in Shukla Paksha. The worship should be done in Vasantha Ruthu and Magha Masam.
The Mahabhairavi embodies the paradox of fearlessness and fear both, awakening the transformative power of liberation within the heart of the devotee. She encourages the devotees to disentangle from the bondages of Maya (The Great Illusion) and proceed on the path of Moksha (enlightenment).
Her Wisdom is rooted in the Muladhara ChakraThe worship of Goddess Bhairavi initiates the devotee unto the mysteries of the Muladhara Chakra. Since she is regarded as the primordial feminine energy, her worship deepens the connection of the devotee with the deepest sanctum of sexual energy, the Muladhara. She is also associated with the Swadhisthana, Manipura, and Anahata Chakras.
These lower chakras represent the fundamental energy centres of the body, controlling deeper attributes of the psyche, such as sex, passions, and hunger. As these centres are governed by Devi Mahabhairavi, the devotee must surrender to her cosmic energy through the paths of Tantra. The colour red, worn by her, is also associated with sexual desires and passion. In that sense, she should be worshipped to liberate the sexual energy from guilt, greed, and other attributes of sinfulness.
She is regarded as the presiding deity of the Lagna aspects of all chakras in the body, starting from the Muladhara and culminating in the Sahasrara. Lagna is described in Vedic astrology as the first action of a soul during birth. In that sense, she decides the fate of every devotee from the moment he or she is born in this world. She should be worshipped as a compassionate deity rather than a fearsome Goddess to attain her boons during the birth of a child.
The Muladhara is also the foundation point for supreme self-consciousness. By worshipping the Goddess and her consort, the devotee is gradually awakened from the slumber of Moha (attachment) into the realms of self-knowledge. Since such knowledge can have a vivid transformative effect on the mind, her worship should be done with extreme caution and ultimate devotion.
The Other Names of the Goddess Maha BhairaviShe is also known by other names in the Puranas. Sometimes, she is worshipped as the Raktamvari, meaning, ‘the one who wears a blood-drenched robe.’ In the deep sects of Tantric wisdom, it is stated that once she took the form of Goddess Chandi, she vanquished the demons Chanda and Munda after a fierce battle. Chandi means, ‘the Goddess of the Supreme Anger.’
She is also worshipped as Kala Bhairavi or as the consort of Kala Bhairava. Kala means both darkness and time. In that sense, she is also the Goddess of Darkness and Eternity. When she is worshipped as Tripura Bhairavi, it means that she is the most fearsome Goddess in the three realms: Swarga, Martya, and Patala. Swarga means heaven. Martya means the earthly plain, and Patala means the plain of rebirth and retribution (hell).
Another of her names is Rajrajeswari. The meaning is, ‘One who is the Queen of All Realms.’ Worshipping her by this name guides the devotee unto her sphere of benevolence. She is also known as Subhankari, which means, ‘the Goddess of Supreme Holiness.’
The Various Paths of Her WorshipThe Tantrik paths of worshipping the Dasa Maha Vidya vary according to the temperament of the devotee. Some paths are more severe and require intense discipline. Others are more austere and require deep meditation.
The Dakshinacharam, or the Right-Hand path, is very orthodox and conservative. It is based on cultivating the Sattwik qualities. The Sattwa Guna refers to austerity and strict simplicity. Dakshinacharm requires the devotee to lead a strict spiritual life based on penance, non-vegetarianism, and meditation.
Vamacharam, or the Left-Hand Path, is more intense and requires the cultivation of strict discipline in following Tamasic Gunas. Tamasa is represented by alcohol, meat, and fish, such as Madya, Mamsa, and Matsya. The other Tamasic attributes refer to Mudra (wealth) and Maithuna (sexual intercourse). Together, these form the Pancha Ma’Kara, or the Five M’s.
In other words, the devotee must attain complete mastery over wealth management, alcohol, meat consumption, and sexual intercourse in accordance with Tantrik principles. This path can be extremely dangerous, as you need to exert the hardest controls over your mind. The Kaulacharama is similar to Vamacharama but based on Rajasic Gunas.
The Protection of Goddess BhairaviThe worship of Goddess Bhairavi helps the devotee to overcome all problems in life. Let us have a look at the problems and the solutions offered by Tantra. You should follow certain general guidelines before worshipping her.
Firstly, you need to maintain a clean and pure environment at home. Maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness is also very important. Secondly, you should approach the devotion with utmost sincerity and faith. There should not be any trace of impure thoughts in your mind. Thirdly, you must be consistent in worshipping her. The prayers and devotion should be a part of your daily or weekly routine.
Problem: You are constantly attacked by fear and anxiety, making it difficult to live a normal life.
>Solution:
Problem: The devotee faces constant obstacles and negative influences in life, hindering all progress.
Solution:
Problem: The devotee lacks confidence and inner strength and is unable to take decisive actions in life.
Solution:
Problem:The devotee seeks the knowledge of deeper spiritual growth but feels obstructed due to ignorance.
Solution:
Problem:The devotee faces severe health problems and seeks healing from the Goddess.
Solution:
Tantra requires deep discipline and devotion from the worshippers. Also, the path of Tantra is filled with the richness of mysticism and secret rituals. Only a Guru, who is ready to take your responsibility, can guide you on this path of devotion. Without the Guru, it is natural to feel lost and disconnected from reality. Also, wrong practices in Tantra can cause intense psychological, physical, and spiritual harm. By seeking the guidance of a Guru, you can overcome these difficulties and progress on your spiritual journey.