As with every year, Aadi is a festival that takes place for a whole month in the Tamil Hindu calendar where Shakti temples are mostly involved in heightening the Divine powers of the Devi.
It is a month where temples rituals revolve around giving back to the Devi, as opposed to when we take, ask and beg for the other parts of the year. It is a time where temples refrain from engaging in home rituals, marriages,births etc., as they busy themselves wholly for heightening, cleansing and reinstating the original powers of the deities in the temple.
Aamavasya is the period or phase of the moon where it is in its hidden state or known as the new moon state. This phase of the moon requires practices/disciplines/sadhanas to be not made public or open for others to speculate or talk about as it is considered a solo journey of the disciple to the abyss of the Goddess.This is usually the time when tantric and tantrikas go into deep meditation, alone, away from the goungs-on of daily living. In our modern times, this can still be achieved with you doing less so that you become less in speech and in deed.
Although this festival is usually practised by the Tamils, those who are in Devi-worship cannot ignore this sacred time of contemplation – a whole month of surrendering the ego like Chinnamasta; a period of reflection and letting go maya (illusion) like Mayakali and a time where we come to our own silent power of understanding the subtleties of the Universe like Matangi.
This is also the time where our sadhana (spiritual practice), is tested – the process of alchemy is highlighted and showcased on what values we place in our lives. Understanding that humility is the power of the Being within whilst undertaking the stamina of Shakti to remain dynamic, powerful, every changing and daring yet, silent and indomitable.
Offer red flowers and pomegranate as well as 9 ghee lamps to the Devi as part of your daily sadhana and make your sankalpa (intention) to cure, heighten, repair or redeem you in all aspects of your life. Go within and trust all that is coming to you.
Perform japa mantra sadhana (chanting with beads) with a rudra mala (chain) for a minimum of 3 malas in one sitting: 108 x 3. The mantra to recite is Om Sri Matrè Namaha.
Fast and practice a vegetarianism diet (prepared by you as part of your sadhana), as it is a gesture of you going fully inwards – without making food the main criteria of your existence during this period.
Practice silence and walking away from having the last say during this month as it teaches you to not only rise above the situation in hand, but to reclaim the value of where you send your energy to.
Allow Devi to be your only central focus- all else fades away, including, the trivialities of life. Give yourself permission to see Her as She is – in Her raw form, unimagined by the mind.
Allow. Allow. Allow.
May Devi awaken the pranashakti with you! Happy Aadi.
Jai Maa!
Om Sri Matrè Namaha.
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SUJATHA NANDY WORLD GURUKUL
