“Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Kaalratryayi Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha ll”
Ma Kaalratri is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri. She is thought to be the fiercest form of the Goddess, just the mere thought of her invokes fear among mortals and evil doers. ‘Kaalratri’ consists of two words, ‘Kala’ means time and ‘Ratri’ means densest of dark moonless nights. Kaalratri also means the devourer of Kala or time.
She is the most primordial of all forms, she is the primal darkness which pervaded the universe before creation thus providing the tapestry for Light of awareness Devi Lalita to start her playful act of creation. Kaalratri is beyond time, she brings about the final dissolution of creation and our delusions or maya. It is said that on this day she opens her eyes and gives darshan to her devotees, thus there is a ceremony of drawing her eyes or netrapradhan in the Durga pandals on this day.
The word ‘Ratri’ can be traced to the ‘Rartrisukta’ in the oldest of vedas Rig Veda, which states how Maharishi Kushika the immensity that is darkness and thus invoked darkness as a deity, with each portion of the dark night governed by a terrible form of the Goddess. Thus sadhakas who can overcome their terror of the unfathomable darkness will be blessed with a darshan of that particular form of Devi who will grant sadhakas wishes and desires. Darkness also represents the rigidity of our minds and the density of ignorance.
She is endowed with bewitching beauty, lustrous dark complexion, exquisite limbs and cascading tresses of touselled hair billowing as dark clouds behind her.
It is said Goddess Parvati shed her golden hue to reveal the dark terrifying form within known as Kaalratri. She is has a very dark complexion ranging from deep indigo to dense raven, covered with a crimson cloth around her midriff, she is adorned with rippling lightning’s and thunderbolts. She is three eyed and four armed holding the scimitar and noose in two of the hands painting a terrifying picture. She strides breathing fire turning to ashes anything that obstructs her path. She rides the gadarbha or donkey which represents the slow moving/ sluggish / obstinate mind which takes time to evolve and awaken to the immense potential that can be achieved on merging with the universal consciousness.
She appears in the most terrible of battleground as death to collect the ‘disemboweled’ souls. She strikes terror within evildoers, however to her devotees she always bestows maternal blessings and various siddhis and knowledge.
She is one of the most ancient forms of Goddess described in the Hindu texts, worshipped from antiquity. She is thought to be distinct from Ma Kali, though both the names are used interchangeably. Her references are older than Ma Kali with earliest references made around 300BCE while Ma Kali as a distinct Goddess appears around 600CE. in Durga Sapthashti, Markandeya Purana, Vishnu Purana, Lalita Shashranama Stotra (Bramhanda Purana) and several other vedic and puranic texts.
She is known by several names, Shubankari or the auspicious one as she always bestows good results on her devotees. She manifests all the terrifying and ferocious forms of Devi to address the needs of fiercest battles with inimical forces. She manifested as Ma Durga, slayer of Durgasura, As Mahishasuramardini conqueror of Mahishasura, As Chandi (Ambika) slayer of Shumbha and Nishumbha, asMa Chamunda vanquisher of Chanda & Munda, as Devi Kaalratri from Mata Katyayani destroyer of Raktabeeja, As Raudri, slayer of Ruru, As Dhumorna, Bhadrakali, Bhairavi
She governs the Sahasrara or Crown or the thousand petaled infinite chakra and thus controls the ultimate confluence of human and divine consciousness. She is the grantor of various siddhis and knowledge. She destroy negative and evil entities such as ghosts, demons and negative spirits. She brings about the end of constant cycle of life.
She is worshipped by using night blooming Jasmine flowers. This form of Devi accepts offering of Madira. Meditating on this form of Devi will result in removal of obstructions and evil mirage of back magic from the devotees life. While regular sadhaks and devotees worship her through regular puja during the day, special rituals and methods are followed by advanced tantric sadhakas while worshipping her on Saptami nights. Sapthami nights are very auspicious and is considered critical for sadhakas meditating on Shasrara chakra.
She favors the colors blue, red and white. It is said she rules over planet Saturn who is considered as Time, is also known as Yama. Saturn is a disciplinarian, he teaches self-restraint and the great teacher, he represents our karmic responsibilities. Thus those with Saturn afflicted in their horoscope or with maleficent Saturn should worship Devi Kaalratri for beneficial results.
Some of her mantras gathered from various sources:
1) Om Devi Kalratryayi Namahl
2) Moola or Beej Mantra :
Om Ayim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicchaai Om Kaalratriyai Devyaii Namah//
2) Japa Mantra
Ekveni Japakarnapura Nagna Kharastitha |
Lamboshthi Karnikakarni Tailabhyakta Sharirani ||
Vampaadollohsallohalata KantakaBooshanaa l
Vardhanamoordhadwajha Krishnaa KaalratriBhayankarill
3) Danstra-karala-vadane siromala-vibhusane |
Chamunde munda-mathane narayani namo stute ||
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu daya – rupena samsthita |
Namas tasyai, namas tasyai, namas tasyai namo namah ||
Continuing with my sharing of Devi Shloka / hymn from Devi Bhagwatam, the third para is as follows:
“ ..Devamata Saraswatyam Paravara Tatesmatha
Mahalaye Mahabhaga Payoshnam Pingaleshwari
Simhigha Krudashouchedhu Karthike TadhoShankari
Uthpala Vartakalola Subhadhre Shona Sangame
Mata SiddhaVane Laksmi Rannanga Bharadhashrame
Jaalandhare Vishwamukhi Tara Kishkindha Parvate..”
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