I wish the readers a very happy Diwali and a prosperous year ahead. On this solemn occasion, people in most parts of India offer prayers to Mother Goddess Lakshmi, the one personified of wealth and prosperity. The purpose is to be well geared up to rekindle the creative spirit to not simply meet one’s existential needs but also for fulfilment of aspirational urges. Bear in mind, nothing comes without intelligently and spiritedly putting in efforts, nor would it happen without meeting challenges in the way. Accordingly, one needs to be alert enough to grab opportunities coming our way well in time. Also, visualise and negotiate challenges faced and with ease and comfort.

As the legend runs, Lord Shri Ram defeated Ravana and his demonic forces on Vijaya Dashami day. Following which, he reached Ayodhya on Diwali day after completion of his 14 years of exile. To greet Shri Rama and his entourage, the citizens of Ayodhya lighted the darkest night of the year with earthen lamps. Apart from commemorating that event, this solemn occasion has a symbolic significance. We need to transgress the ignorance of mind and get enlightened through conscious endeavour.

In Bengal, and the adjoining parts of Eastern India, however, people worship Goddess Kali on this occasion. She is perceived in a cremation ground in a running mode, having one leg set on Lord Shiva’s body lying in a corpse pose, and the other behind. She is shown naked and dark like a threatening rain cloud, which means she is beyond our comprehension, with the space as Her apparel. She is presented sporting a garland made of 50 chopped human heads, with lower parts covered by human hands stringed together. Lord Shiva here symbolises the primordial source carrying the seeds of creation, originally in a state of rest. It is as if Kali gets going picking up the essence of life from Lord Siva, to manifest into the phenomenal world with all its enormity and diversity.

In Fact, Shiva and Kali are nothing but the twin aspects of one and the same (a Singularity) — He as the Radical Potential and She as His projection, the kinetic side. She, as the carrier of the transcendental consciousness (yet not in active play) — the seed, the cause and source of all creation — is the “Immanent” aspect of Consciousness, who transforms the seeds into fruits.

It is something like the Sea, which by itself is still and changeless, out of which emerge self-caused tidal waves with all its fury. Once the tidal waves revert back to the primary source, the sea surface once again becomes calm and clearly visible. The waves though seemingly looking separated from the sea, have actually no identity of their own, differentiated from the ocean. Similarly, Kali’s identity is not to be seen differentiated from Shiva. Nor do the manifest live existences have identity, independent of the two modes of consciousness either.

The whole scene set in a cremation ground means closure of all Karmic duties and obligations, as would the chopped hands symbolise. There then remains no scope for the sense of desires and ego to exist, as is symbolised by the chopped heads forming Her garland. Similarly, the Universe in motion is supposed to close up one day bringing to end the world play of names and forms, when Kali withdraws the life forces unto Herself. With that obviously Kala (the run of time) too comes to the end of its cycle. The fact that She the Creatress, also the Devourest, withdraws Kala unto Herself, is thus named Kali. Again, out of the seeds of creation left behind, a new universe emerges. Life cycle, thus, keeps running in succession.

It is interesting to note here that when the primordial source, originally in an equilibrated state gets stirred up because of the causal stress, the corresponding sound arising thereto is O? That is followed by secondary waves of energy trinity — Sata, Rajasa and Tamasa. Further as a sequel to random mutation of the three, multiple energy-streams emerge. Out of them, supposedly 50 sound notes corresponding to the varied energy streams, are audible to human ears, that are symbolised by the garland made of 50 chopped heads that Kali sports. These sound notes which in spoken and written terms, are symbolised by 50 alphabets of Sanskrit language. So, even the language in use, in terms of Indian philosophic perception, owes its genesis to that very Singularity, which remains the source and effective cause of the manifest plural world.

The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant

and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at

Tel: 91-11-9818037273/9871037272

Email: bharatbhushanpadmadeo@gmail.com