The Power of Invoking Shiva and Kali
Who is Shiva? Why do we call on his name and what does that energy invoke? I naively began my journey into the world of Bhakti yoga calling on this name without really understanding its power. As I embarked deeper on my journey in yoga I dove into a tantric path infused with mantra. In dark rooms infused with heavy incense, dimly lit by candle light, I gathered in circle, calling on names of deities that were unfamiliar and mysterious. Shiva was among this pantheon of gods and goddesses. Like a child I wandered through this realm not aware of where it would lead.
Within this naiveté I bought two puppies and named them Jai and Shiva. Shiva is a wild spirit and likes to take off running as fast as the wind and I am often heard yelling her name repeatedly, “SHIVA! SHIVA!” sometimes calling her and her brother together, “JAI SHIVA!” Jai Shiva means “Victory to Shiva!”
Shiva is one of three gods that make up the Hindu Trinity; Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Sustainer and Shiva often known as the Destroyer. Shiva is depicted as sitting in deep mediation in a cave high in the Himalayas. Although he is known as the Destroyer I have been guided to think of him as the Transformer as everything is energy and energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. He, in his deep meditation and austere practices, has transcended the egoic mind and found the center of Truth, Consciousness and Bliss; Sat-Chit-Ananda. Since he has achieved this state of being, it is believed that calling on his name in devotional mantra will bring about the same consciousness and bliss for the devotee.
I learned the truth as I called out Shiva’s name in private mediation, kirtan and in my backyard calling my dog home. Invoking the Name began to shift the energies in my mind and body, in relationships and the world around me. But was I ready for such shifts? Was I open to surrender to what that might look like? I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
The energies around and in me shifted with my devotional practice. I began to enter into deep states of meditation where I would find truth and bliss. What I didn’t realize then is how my ego would react. As I entered into the higher states of Truth, my ego became threatened and fearful of its demise. It fought to save its life by bringing up fearful and negative thoughts that fed upon each other and spun out of control. I was plagued by negative thoughts that took on a life of their own. As I would try to conquer one, two more would sprout up. I entered into a very dark place. I often refer to it as the “Dark Night of the Soul.” A very lonely and frightening place to be lasting for several years.
It has been said that you teach what you need to learn most. In 2013 I was to present a workshop on Shiva and his Consort, Kali. At the time I didn’t have a deep connection with Kali and dove into research about her and her relationship with Shiva. It was then I was first enlightened.
There is an epic saga about the demon, Raktabija, and his troops of demons who rallied together to gain control of the world. Earlier in the saga, Raktabija was granted a boon (a wish) by Brahma that allowed Raktabija’s power to increase by a thousand every time a drop of his blood was spilled. The gods and goddesses came together to stop this army from taking over the world but each time they tried to slay Raktabija his blood would fall to the ground and a thousand clones would spring up. It was a losing battle and the deities became frustrated and bewildered. Durga, an incarnation of Shiva’s consort Parvati, furrowed her brow in great anger. From this intense energy sprang Kali out of her third eye! Kali, the primal expression of the Divine Mother, saw the blood and became ravenous. She began to lap up all the blood on the ground and then suck out the blood from the demons until there was not a drop left. When the blood was gone, the war ended and peace was restored.
Although this story may sound gruesome it actually began to shift the energies within me and lighten my mood. I saw the story as a metaphor. The demons were the negative thoughts that sprang up, one after the other, spinning out of control, wreaking havoc on my mind, my mood, my relationships, and my life. The ego as Raktabija and it’s end game, to take over my mind and save its own life. Then the heroine steps on stage and even though she seems fierce, frightening and violent, she is born out of the love and protection of the primal mother who wants her children to achieve liberation and peace. Her actions of slaying the demons (negative thoughts) freed my mind of the repetitive spiraling chaos and opened a door to a place of lightness and joy.
I embraced the Divine Mother in the form of Kali and chanted her name. I knew her love and thanked her for my healing. Since then I have introduced many to her loving and healing power, leading them in mantra in kirtans, workshops and retreats. Many have shared with me how she transformed their lives.
Once quiet was restored in my heart, mind and soul, I could see with Eagle Vision my story in its whole. I chanted to Shiva and the energy of this mantra shifted my consciousness and began to lead to a place beyond the ego and into the truth of which I am pure consciousness and bliss. My ego saw this happening and reacted to save its life by plaguing me with dark, heavy and fearful thoughts that multiplied and drove me into a dark confusion.
You see Shiva and Kali are high vibrational energies, aspects of our Divine Self, two parts of a whole. Like Yin and Yang; they are the feminine and passive; masculine and active energies. Shiva is the energy of matter and Kali, the energy that animates the matter. Shiva transcends the ego and Kali digests the negative, low vibrational energies that would oppose the process. I have come to believe that when we chant to Shiva, it is beneficial and advisable to bring the Divine Mother, Kali, to the party.
I offer you my experience so you may explore the vibrational shifts chanting offers and benefit from my journey, reaping the liberation of invoking these sacred names.
So much Love,
Deva Vidya
