Articles Tagged with: "meditation experience"

It was Lalita Panchami, the fifth night of Navaratri and a night drenched in the glory of Mother Lalita’s love and bliss. I had walked back to my hotel after the Panchami festivities at Amma’s Devi temple. As I was lying in bed waiting to drift off into the arms of Nidra Devi, the Goddess of Sleep, I began to feel a little strange, and I was totally unprepared for what happened next…

The sacred element of fire has probably always fascinated people, and lightning has certainly always been a source of terror and awe. I’ll never forget one of my earliest experiences with Amma, when a sacred fire ceremony seemed to call forth an incredible response from Mother Nature. My inner and outer worlds seemed to merge as lightning flashed without and subtle energy flashed within.

Last Sunday was Maha Sivaratri, or the Great Night of Lord Siva. This is the most auspicious night of the entire year for worshipping Lord Siva, and for performing austerities. These practices are not for the purpose of glorifying some deity; they are designed for our own spiritual benefit, as they purify us and prepare the way for more and more divine energy to shine through our very being. By doing practices on Sivaratri, we are given a great opportunity to purify any negativity or darkness that is holding us back from embracing our true goals in life.