The only devotion I experienced in my life was as a school girl when I unfailingly visited the temple before an examination to beg for easy questions and lots of luck. As I started doing the Isha Yoga practices, I chose the path of practices and volunteering and assumed this was the only way to get somewhere in life. Devotion to a deity was ruled out of my life because I interpreted it as silly at its best and foolish at its worst.
But during the 3 days of consecration, I was overwhelmed by this sense of some power above me, to which I prostrate, love, adore and offer myself. I witnessed a miracle happening and what was born of the miracle, turned out to be something far bigger than me. Since I started the Isha practices, I am seeing myself becoming more unpredictable and not fitting into a particular mold. But She.. is the epitome unpredictability. Her exuberance, her protectiveness, her fury, her wild nature, yet the nurturer of life and wellbeing made the feminine powers of the Devi so evident.
When Sadhguru revealed the Devi’s form, I wax exploding! An overwhelming frantic desperate longing to merge and dissolve in her.. nothing else mattered. I had it all at that moment and I wanted nothing more. The tears of gratitude, the screams of ecstasy, the wild joy, the fulfillment of it all.. made it such a unique experience.
I did have questions in my mind about the intelligence of bringing rituals and worship into the otherwise straightforward path of awareness and volunteering. But I had the trust in my Guru to know that his perception goes far beyond mine. So I gave myself completely to what was happening. My mind was as usual stirring up a lot of nonsense, but I was able to put my mind and body aside to a good extent to involve myself in the process. The process itself was so intense that I was sweating profusely and when I felt like I wanted to give up, I was reminded of the significance of what was being created and felt a big push forward. Sadhguru had said “Do not miss this opportunity to make the divine your living companion” and I decided that I will not leave without getting that.
How do I even begin to describe the commitment and the offering made by the monks, the teachers and other residents? They offered themselves so completely to ensure everything happened smoothly for us. I bow down to every one of them. Such wonderful beings…
I still feel awed that Sadhguru let us witness such a miracle. He could have chosen not to offer any explanations but he clearly explained in scientific as well as simple terms about what was being done. His sense of humor even when he was engaged in something so tremendous, astounded me. As a confession, I did feel a small longing to actually be inside the temple when the process was going on. But regardless of whether I was sitting inside or outside, I felt involved with what was happening.
After the consecration, when I prostrated at the Devi temple, my entire upper body was on the floor and I could feel the intense vibrations in the floor. It was throbbing, like there was a current running through it. I felt like I was being rocked in a boat and not just lying down on a flat ground. In the days after the consecration, the first thing in my awareness when I woke up was the Devi’s eyes.
The tiniest taste of devotion has left me craving for more.. wonder how it would be like to be on this path 24 hours. I wonder how to get there.. Blessed are those who are in that state every moment of their life!
I want to carry the Devi with me always, wherever I am. I feel deeply grateful to Sadhguru for whatever has been given to me so far and seek his blessing to put this lifetime of mine to good use for those around me and for my own growth.
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