| Chidagni: the Goddess as the Fire of Consciousness |
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| Monday, 08 October 2007 12:50 | |||||||
Page 1 of 2 Ma Kali gently tended the coals of my inner fires, stirring the flames of Agni to manifest every magical colour, permeating the very spanda or creative pulsation resonating throughout my being. At an innermost level, Agni is the fire of consciousness, Chidagni, the awareness of the supreme Brahman, the ultimate Existence in itself. Chidjyoti, the ‘light of consciousness’, is the power behind the mind that illumines both sensory objects and our thought patterns, bathing them in the beauty of its eternal radiance. The universe weaves a divine tapestry of light and energy, which has been tapped by our ancient Rishis and by Native Guides all over the world resonating with nature’s beatitude. The Seers perceived the subtle vibrations, the ‘aliveness’ of light, pervading the Tanmatras or root essences of sight, sound, taste, touch or smell, as well as the inner intuitive perception of one’s sixth sense of Being. Our mergence into the all pervasive light allows us to experience a pure state of illumination inside and outside, ushering us through the gateway of higher consciousness. Shakti prevails on all levels, from supreme Brahman to the minutest living organism. Every light form has its own shakti, from the rays of the Sun to the luminescence of Moonlight. Brahma Shakti is chit shakti, the power of consciousness existing as one with the Shiva principle. Ishvara as the cosmic world is the power or will of God to transform and nourish every living being. All the forces of nature represent Shakti, unfolding the goddesses lila or play. Durga’s light protects and encircles us with her divine power. Kali is the pulsating, stimulating relentless energy. As the spirit of fire, Agni personifies Jyoti or light as perception. The gift of sight is the power of fire, as seeing is our way of cognizing light. The clarity of seeing discloses the essence of everything that we observe. Kali is Charunetra, the ‘Devi with beautiful eyes’, viewing the entire cosmic play through her fire of consciousness. She destroys all illusion in her role as Bhrama-nasini, ‘the one who destroys all confusion’, embodying the three states of Creation- Preservation -Destruction as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. At the altar of sacrifice Kali is Agni, echoing its brilliance, hissing its fiery magic yet tending the warmth of its dying embers. Fire is a sacrifice unto itself, a sense of mysticism shrouding its powers. At the fire altar is placed our own sacrifice of both inner and outer natures, holding a deep reverence in its sacrificial act. Cultivating the fire of awareness on every level enables one to experience sheer Ananda or bliss. In the inner Yoga, Agni reflects the fiery Kundalini force dwelling in the Muladhara holding all deeper earth-like qualities. This ‘root fire’ expresses the power of our aspirations, rising from below and ascending heavenwards. Our inner fires must be tended to with great care and a gentle fanning, to keep their forces moving throughout our being. One must prepare the ground for the fire’s magnificent ascent through the body, mind and soul. There are no shortcuts to higher revelations. The search for the illumining light must begin within oneself. These inner stirrings manifest when we quieten all exterior noise, silencing all worldly distraction. When guidance flows from the heart, its purity vanquishes the perturbed questionings of a doubting mind. The loving flow of trust in the heart’s capacity to manifest higher thoughts will create the space for sattvic or pure aspiration. The gentle calming of the soul will awaken an inner intelligence, guiding the mind to read the subtle nuances of the soul. Kali opens the doors to the spiritual heart with her blessings. She represents the highest flame of the fire which takes us from the depths of our being to the most secret chambers of the heart. Hers is the kindling power which ignites the fire to traverse its fiery path, seeking out the blue flame within the spiritual heart.
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| Last Updated on Friday, 23 April 2010 10:51 |