Navratri Havan–Divinity in form or in formless

25 March 2018 was the last day of the Navratri celebrations in ShivKali Ashram in Noida. In the last eight days, we had offered puja to the different forms of Ma Durga by following the ShivKaliBodh system. After the Ma Kalratri and MahaGauri puja and havan on Ashtami, we all were experiencing a spiritual high.

On Navami, offerings were to be made to Ma Siddhidatri. After completing the puja, we began to perform the havan. The atmosphere was charged. Mantras were resonating in the room. Maya was rhythmically offering ghee from a small copper spoon to the fire raging in the kund. Nipun was keeping the cow dung cakes in the kund at regular intervals so that the intensity of the fire did not subside. I was reciting the mantras and others were collectively reciting `swaha’ at the end of each mantra and giving the offerings to the fire. With accumulated energy of the previous pujas, everyone was reciting the mantras with gusto.

Before further explaining the events of the momentous day, let me dwell a while on the significance of havan in our spiritual evolvement:

A havan is a sacred ritual in which offerings are made to the fire. The fire element is very significant in our spiritual evolvement since it illuminates us by removing the darkness within us. The fire element is a virtue of our divine mother and is a representation of her in formless. So in a way havan is offering puja to the formless divinity. It is a very forceful and dynamic spiritual process for purifying our surroundings and cleansing our inner being by burning all our negativities. Hence, havan has an immense significance in our spiritual growth.

Apart from this, havan has another magnificent effect. It connects the physical being with the cosmic consciousness, i.e., the form with the formless, and as a consequence we are blessed to witness the manifestation of the formless in form. This basically means that when we take the mantras of the various forms of the divine and give our offerings to them symbolically in the fire, and if the divine power accepts the offerings and is pleased, then at times we get a glimpse of the divine forms in the fire in the photographs taken by us. This experience is more astonishing than all the missions to outer space put together. Few devotees who have seen these momentary manifestations of the formless divinity captured in the camera feel blessed with the experience. Others need to see them to establish and strengthen their faith.

Now I return to the memorable day of 25th March. We were collectively reciting the mantras, Om ShivShakti Nandan Gajananay namah, Om Parmeshwar Mahadev Shivay namah, Om Parmeshwari AdiShakti Ma Kalyai namah, Om Ma Durga Siddhidatri Devyai namah and other mantras. The whole atmosphere was charged with a perceptible energy. I gestured to Amit to take photographs of the fire in the kund and he quickly got up and started clicking photographs with his mobile phone. We all were drenched in the divine vibrations. Soon the havan was completed and we collectively recited, Iti Shree Ma Siddhidatri puja and havan poornam (with this Ma Siddhidatri puja and havan is complete).

Later in the night, we all sat together to see the photographs of the havan. We were overjoyed and ecstatic when we observed that the flames in the havan kund had taken several forms of the divine. I am sharing some of these photographs for the viewing pleasure of all followers of ShivKaliBodh. The divine forms of Omkar, Shri Ganesh, Mahadev Shiv, Ma Durga and Shri Hanuman are clearly visible in these photographs. I will forever remain indebted to Ma Kali and Mahadev Shiv for giving us this opportunity to see their various forms.

Om Kali!.