Kathmandus Secret Part 3 Guhyeshwari Devi

Kathmandus Secret Part 3 Guhyeshwari Devi SHIVA & SATI This is the story of Shiva & Sati. Shiva is insulted by Satis father Daksh. Sati takes the insult personally. She throws herself into the holy ritual fire. Shiva is informed. He reaches Dakshs palace. Picks up Satis dead burning body in his arms. In uncontrolled anger, He starts the Pralay-Tandav the dance of destruction. Vishnu steps in. He feels Shiva can only be calmed if He is separated from the dead burning body. He unleases His Sudarshan-Chakra (Disc) with instructions to chop the body to pieces. The body is slashed in 108 pieces, each piece falling at a different spot in accordance with Shivas wild dance.108 `seats of `power. 108 Shakti-Peeths. Power points on Earth for protection & salvation of mortals. KAMAKHYA & GUHYESHWARI Of primary importance amongst the 108 seats of power, are 51 seats which lay claim to the Goddesss most important body parts. The lower private organs of Sati, got thrown into 2 different places. Amongst the primary 51 seats, her private parts the ovaries & uterus fell at Kamakhya Devi in Gauhati, Assam, India and the vagina & cervix fell some distance away at Guhyeshwari Devi in Kathmandu, Nepal. Kamakhya Devi in Assam is also referred to as the `bleeding-goddess. In correlation to the body part of Sati that fell here, Kamakhya has her periods in the Hindu month of Ashad for 3 days; it is believed that this blood flows into the Brahmaputra, and the river takes on a pinkish hue (which from a practical standpoint is also attributed to the immense vermillion that flows into the river on those 3 days). SECRETS OF GUHYESHWARI Coming back to Guhyeshwari in Kathmandu: Guhya = hidden / secret / undiscovered / unknown / incognito. Eshwari = the consort of Eshwara / Shiva. In the Devi Tantra it is detailed that, that is exactly how she wishes to remain as the hidden / unknown / undiscovered / secret consort of Pashupatinath. Taking a walk from Vaishali Hotel into Thamels famous shopping lanes, I chanced into a bookstore one evening. A voluminous book titled Tantric Wisdom Goddesses penned by a foreign author (whose name I cannot now remember) caught my attention.

Being a hefty-priced thick book, I had no intention of buying it; but I didnt think it ethical to take notes either. But I did browse through the pages trying to remember as much of the interesting information, I could. In keeping with this Deitys wishes, I would not like to comment too much in depth; but I would like to share a recap from the book & from my travels:1. If you have faintly read somewhere that she appears among the primary 51/108 Shakti Peeths, then you will at least ask for her & try to include her temple into your itinerary, even if her significance is not clear to you. 2. But otherwise, Guhyeshwari is easy to miss. She appears nowhere on the local tourist guides agenda. So if you havent priorly read or heard about her, then chances are that you will miss paying a visit to her temple. 3. When in Kathmandu, insist that your local guide takes you there, because he / she will most likely tell you that her abode has no significance & a visit is not essential. 4. Guhyeswari is a mere 10 minutes drive from Pashupatinath, yet you will find her courtyard almost empty. 5. Guhyeshwari temple is on an elevation from the road; large old temple; ancient architecture. 6. In the midst of the temple compound which houses several other small, micro temples is her sanctum-sanctorum. You have to descend to enter it. Its as if shes hiding in a small cave. 7. Initially you may mistake her for a shiva-lingam it looks just like one & you may keep looking around for a temple thats more symbolic of a Goddess. 8. But there she is in `pind form / a large hump of a stone. Thats Guhyeshwari Devi. 9. She has made a choice to remain secret & undiscovered like the symbolic private part, from which her energies arose. 10. Here, in Kathmandu, she chooses to remain in shadow & solitude, so that her better-half, Lord Pashupatinath can fulfill his worldly responsibilities without her distraction. 11. For those who have figured out her secret & seek her out :12. She is the goddess of soul-mate connections. In `Tantric Wisdom Goddesses, it is said, that those who make a visit here are not too far from their soul-mate connections. A fleeting encounter in this life & a more fulfilling encounter in the next is assured for all who make it to her altar. 13. She is the goddess of marriage. A visit to her temple proves highly beneficial to those seeking / searching for a marriage partner. 14. She is the goddess of marital fidelity. A visit to her temple assures ensures fidelity & commitment in marital ties. 15. She is the goddess of marital longevity. A visit to her temple ensures a long & fruitful marriage partnership. 16. And the most important perhaps It is said you have to collect from Guhyeswaris altar, the

wishes which have been granted to you by Pashupatinath. She is the medium. He passes on the granted wishes to her and she in turn passes them onto you when you reach her altar. 17. So in a way though its easy to miss her you cant afford to miss her else you risk leaving your bag of granted wishes back in Kathmandu itself. 18. Her real secret lies in teaching you to look for the unseen; the hidden; the subtle; the invisible. 19. Her real secret lies in teaching you to look beyond the obvious that meets your eye & ear. 20. Her real secret lies in searching for the soul hidden deep within imperfect bodies. 21. Her real secret lies in connecting you to your own soul. If Lord Pashupatinath is the God of imperfect life-forms & small, helpless beings then Guhyeswari Devi is the perfect soul that is hidden deep within all of them & every one of us. The key is to find her to find yourself. Secrets From The Panditji of Varanasi 2013 The temperature in the waters of the Holy Ganga, on the morning of 25th January 2013, would have roughly been around 5 deg. Celsius. Her waters are cold, really cold. But when you take the dip with Faith, then nothing really matters. Theres a supernatural Force that takes you through the seemingly impossible. Fresh from my Ganga-snaan & seated in front of a Panditji (who had offered us his small room to change our clothes) on the Dashaashwamedh Ghat a conversation ensued. Ganga is ageless, timeless. Ganga, either when flowing or when contained, does not deteriorate. Her waters never become stale. Scientifically also, it has been proven that the molecular structure & microbial count of Ganga does not change when stored or contained. So in effect, her waters do not spoil. Varanasi derives its name from the tributaries of Ganga Varuna & Asi. The old, original Kashi is the city that is wedged between Varuna Ghat on one end & Asi Ghat on the other end. `Banaras is an Islamic derivative of the word `Varanasi. `Kaashi is the Vedic name of this city. `Kaash is a Sanskrit term that denotes unlimited light, radiance, luminosity. Hence `Kaashi is the STHAAN (PLACE) where there is unlimited light, radiance & luminosity. From the Sanskrit word `Kaash comes `Akaash which again means the SPACE where there is unlimited light, radiance & luminosity. Akaash is Sky. Sky represents Eternal Space. Space is the ELEMENT of Shiva. He IS space. Formless. Timeless. Eternal. Unlimited. The Light. The Force. Exactly beneath the original length & breadth of ancient Kaashi, lies another ethereal Kaashi beneath the ground. It is called Pataal-Kaashi (subterranean-Kaashi). Pataal-Kaashi is not visible to the naked eye. Its on a different dimension. It can be accessed only through Yogic Meditation. Or else, if youre lucky enough, an evolved Yogi can take you there with his/her powers. When Kaashi nagri (city) began to be tainted with the vagaries of Kali-Yuga; its ancient residents

of Sadhus & Yogis, pulled the city downward onto a different plane, onto a different dimension to maintain its sanctity & sacredness; and in its place erected a replicate city. Pataal-Kaashi, seemingly, lives up to every description in the Vedas. The Ganga is unbelievably pure, clear, free-flowing & ethereal. The original Kaashi-Vishwanath resides there. And the city is teeming with Yogis & Siddhas & Rishis. What makes present day Varanasi unbelievably Holy is that this supposed city of Pataal-Kaashi radiates so much Spiritual Energy upward that the very earth & soil of Varanasi is energized with electro-magnetic waves of the highest order. Waves that are jutting upward from Energies below. Walk barefoot as much as you can on this soil, the Panditji tells me. Youll absorb the Energy & it is also a mark of respect to the Yogis beneath. Kaashi is known as `Maha Smashaan the Greatest Crematorium. Kaashi nagri mahaa smashaanam Kaashi adhipati Shivam Shankaram. Kaashi is the greatest crematorium & its ruler is Shiv Shankar. In the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh Shiva (Mahesh) is The Destroyer. He is the final destination of all Souls. Hence, He is described as being ever-present in the Crematorium, collecting souls after their last journey on Earth. Also, wherever He resides, by default, becomes a destination where souls wish to arrive. In Hindu religion, Varanasi (Kaashi) is the dream destination where every Hindu wishes to culminate his present incarnation on Earth. In the event they cannot do so, they at least wish for their last mortal cremated remains, to be merged with the waters of Ganga at Kaashi. In this context, the perennial residence of Shiva Varanasi is considered to be the Holy Crematorium. Hence the name tag of Maha-Smashaanam is attached to Kaashi & its ruler is Shiv Shankar. After Shiva consumes Haala-hala the poison before the nectar in Samudra Manthan (the Great Churning), He holds the same in His throat; neither can He consume it, nor can He spit it out. This Poison generates unbelievable, unconceivable heat. On a base level, it is the heat of the Poison; on a symbolic level, it is the heat generated from the poisonous, demonic thoughts & intentions within us; the negativities that burn & destroy us eventually. To cool himself, Shiva heads to the mystical Mount Kailash in the Himalayas & submerges Himself in ice glaciers. The Holy Ganga flowing from His matted locks does her bit to cool him constantly. Parvati, his wife & consort, refuses to lead a secluded life in mountain glaciers. She demands a place for both of them. To appease Her, He creates Kaashi nagri & presents it as a wedding gift. Shiva moves with Parvati to Kaashi & Ganga follows. Submerging Himself once again in the cold, soothing waters of Ganga Shiva asks Parvati to entertain Her guests. Parvati in Her role of the desired hostess assumes the form of Annapoorna. Kashi Annapoorna the Goddess of unlimited material & spiritual sustenance.

It is a fact vouched by residents of Varanasi that no one on this holy soil sleeps hungry. Man or animal, if you are hungry, you will be fed one way or the other. USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN in an interview once said that he belonged to a poor, large family with less income than the numbers of mouths to feed. Young Bismillah was often the one whose number was cut from the meals list. Young Bismillah started his training at the age of 6 from his uncle, Ali Baksh Vilayatu a Shehnai player attached to Varanasis Vishwanath temple. His uncle would urge him to practice on the serene Ghats of Ganga. Starting from home on an empty stomach, Young Bismillah Khan would make a run through the narrow `gallis (lanes) towards the Ghats. Forced to stop at every 3rd house for a bite of food, by indulgent mothers, Bismillah would reach the Ghats on a full-stomach of Puris, Kachoris, Jalebis, Malai & Dahi. The same routine repeated itself on his run back home in the evening. Ustad Bismillah Khan has gone on record to say I never slept on a hungry stomach even for a single day in my entire stay at Banaras. Maa Annapoorna ki aseem kripa rahi hai. (The blessings of Annapoorna). In true Hindu tradition, Ustad Bismillah Khan has always remained an ardent worshipper of Goddess Saraswati & and has credited his musical journey to Her Blessings. In a similar reverence to the Deity of Banaras City, Ustad Allauddin Khan re-christened his daughter Roshanara Khan, as Annapoorna Devi before he wedded her to Pandit Ravi Shankar. To sum it up as my Mom phrased it Shiva & Parvati are the perfect hosts of Kaashi. Everyone is welcome. They house everyone. They entertain everyone. They feed everyone. They indulge everyone. And each one leaves with spiritual gifts. The warm feeling of being well hosted makes you want to go back again. And yet again. My uncanny conversation with the Naga of Allahabad. And my rather unusual personal synchronocity of events. Next. About these ads

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