Kali Puja

Jai Ma

Mother Kali is a loving goddess of transformation. She is a the Protectress of Her devotees, cutting away delusion and fear. She takes away that which we do not need; only what keeps us away from Her loving embrace.
She is clad in cosmic space. She has mukta keshi; long disheveled hair; She is free. With Her sword she cuts away delusion. She wears a garland of severed heads symbolizing the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet through which manifestion comes (sound vibration). She wears a garland of severed arms around Her waist, showing all action originates from Her. She gives fearless and boons to Her devotees.

I have been a devotee of the Goddess since I was a teenager.  I worship Her in many forms, but have worshipped Ma Kali for the past 18 years.  I was initiated by Sri Amarananda Bhairavan of Kerala, and have studied puja with and assisted him for the past 18 years.  I was initiated by Sri Swami Aparanandaji of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley in 1995, and have formally studied with, assisted him in puja, as well as performing the daily worship in the shrine when needed, since 1996.  I also assisted pujari, Sri Haradhan Chakraborti, of the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple Kolkatta since 1995.  I have taught puja since 2002, as well as performing home pujas since 2001.

Jai Ma

Here are pictures from a recent Lakshmi Puja. I perform other pujas as well, including homams  (fire ceremonies). If you live in the Southern California area, and would like a home puja, please contact Tarini at: jaisrisaradadevi@yahoo.com

Adivasi Struggle for Survival in Rural India

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M5aeMpzOLU
Adivasi Protest Song

When the State Declares War on the People Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rygJzzutBOg

When the State Declares War on the People Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Kvl3e1MlM

Interview with Arundati Roy about Adivasi Struggle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYW_-xAKD5s

Martin Prechtel: Saving the Indigenous Soul

Jai Ma.....Here is a link to a recent interview of Tzujutzil Shaman Martin Prechtel: Saving the Indigenous Soul.

http://www.derrickjensen.org/prechtel.html

Yemaya, Ocean Mother Goddess

Mother Yemaya

Yemaya is the goddess who gave birth to the fourteen Yoruba Orishas (gods and goddesses), and the breaking of Her uterine waters caused a flood which created the world's oceans. The African diaspora spread Her worship throughout the Caribbean, and into Brazil. She was blended with Mary as Our Lady of Regla, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In Cuba She is Yemaya, in Trinidad; Emanjah, in Brazil Yemanja, in Haiti; Agwe, in New Orleans; La Balianne.

Yemaya means, "She Who's Children are the Fish". The cowrie shell is Her symbol, and Her colors are blue, white, and silver. She is often depicted as wearing a dress with 7 layers representing the seven seas. She is also depicted as a mermaid. She has several feast days: December 31, February 2, Summer Solstice, September 7, and it is said there are others.
Devotees also make offerings to Her with flowers and sending votive boats out to sea (this is also a common offering for the Egyptian Goddess Isis, and Mother Ganga in India as well). In Brazil on December 31 offerings of candles (candelaria) are lit on the beach at midnight. It is a good omen for the coming year, if She accepts your boat and carries it out to sea.

This is Her traditional song:

Yemaya Assesu, Assesu Yemaya
Yemaya Assesu, Assesu Yemaya
Yemaya Olodo, Olodo Yemaya
Yemaya Olodo, Olodo Yemaya

The song celebrates the river meeting the sea.........

Celia Cruz sings to Yemaya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4pyJ9Df27E

View my art: http://ambaarts.etsy.com

Women Shaman

Jai Ma

Women Shaman have been largely overlooked and or purposefully eclipsed in the world of anthropology, which has led to the misconception that they don't exist.

More awareness of women shamans has occured in recent years with the formation of the 13 Grandmothers; 13 indigenous shaman women who travel the world performing rituals of peace and healing.

Hope you enjoy.
Jai Jagad Ambae,
Tarini

Women Shaman: Books

13 Indigenous Grandmothers

Here are a few books:

Kali's Odiyya: A Shaman's True Story of Initiation, and Medicine of Light, by Amarananda Bhairavan (Shaman from the matriarchal tradition of Kerala, South India, taught by his aunt, my guru; I have known and studied with him for the past 18 years.)

Grandmother's Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our Planet, by Carol Schaefer http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com

The Woman in the Shaman's Body by Barbara Tedlock (anthropologist, and shaman trained by her Ojibwe grandmother, and K'iche' Mayan Shaman, Talin Peruch) http://www.barbaratedlock.com

When the Drummers Were Women: A Spiritual History of Rhythm by Layne Redmond......more on women and frame drumming in another entry.... http://www.layneredmond.com/

Jai Jagadambae,
Tarini