Many spiritual seekers often ask me how they can develop their magical and psychic abilities, how they can experience the "other" worlds and dimensions that some mystics and magicians have access to. I can only speak based on my own experiences. For many years I have been practicing a method of one-pointed focus concentration called "Tratak". It is an old technique that has been recorded in many Yogic meditation manuals. The word "Tratak" means fixed gazing at an object. It can be done with any object such as a candle flame, a dot on the wall, a
statue, a yantra, or even the picture of a mentor. Tibetans like to do it with the Tibetan letter
"AH" in their "Zhine" meditation method.
Tibetan "AH"
As I said any object can be used. But there is one object that I have found very useful in my own practice, and it is doing Tratak on a flame, which is called "Jyoti Tratak". A flame is a living form of energy and I find it very useful in this practice. You can use either a clarified butter (ghee) lamp, an oil lamp, or a candle flame to focus on.
Instructions:
1. Place a lit candle (or other flame object) about 3 feet away on a stool or small table in a dark or dimly-lit room.
2. Sit on the floor or on a chair with your back straight. Breathe very slowly, holding your breath still for a few seconds between breaths.
3. Gaze at the flame continuously trying not to blink.
4. Keep gazing at the center of the flame. When thoughts come into your head, brush them aside and put your attention back on the flame.
5. When your eyes tear up (which they most likely will), keep on focusing on the flame. When you can no longer keep your eyes open, close them for a minute or two and focus on the
after-glow of the flame, keeping the image still on your forehead.
6. Open your eyes and continue focusing again for a couple of minutes. Close your eyes for a couple of minutes when necessary.
7. Repeat this procedure for 10 minutes total a day for the first month. Gradually increase it to 20-30 minutes a day.
What will happen as you practice this technique? You may start seeing a halo around the candle, or flickering lights, or even tiny colored balls of light. As you gradually develop in concentration you will come to a point where you will feel yourself withdrawing from all your senses, and where only you and the flame remain. Your mind will enter into a state of inner silence. There may come a point where you merge your consciousness completely with the flame where you feel you are one with it. When you can do that at will, you would have mastered this technique. You can then move on to other objects and even advance to doing it with Yantras, which geometrically represent the bodies of different deities.
As you continue practicing this exercise your powers of concentration will increase exponentially.
You would come to a point where you can think one thought or hold one image continuously in your mind. Successful magic(k) and even meditation requires one-pointed focus. This exercise will assist you in getting there. It may also allow you to open up your Third Eye (clairvoyance), and some studies show that it is helpful in healing minor eye ailments as well as improving one's vision.
Kamala - The "Lotus"
The last Mahavidya we will be focusing upon is the goddess Kamala, whose name means "lotus"
and who is also known as Kamalatmika. She is the Tantrik version of the goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, beauty, prosperity and delight. She brings material and spiritual happiness to her devotees and is seen as a beautiful goddess of golden complexion sitting on a lotus.
Elephants are around her showering her with divine nectar. She is called either the spouse of Vishnu or that of Sadashiv. The lotus flower is a symbol of purity and her worship leads to purity of mind and heart and to real devotion.
The story of her origin is as follows:
[One day Indra, the ruler of the heavens, saw Rambha and was lost watching her beauty. At that time, the fierce Rishi Durvasa appeared and gave a garland to Indra. But Indra, still mesmerized by Rambha, did not realize what he was doing and gave the garland to his elephant Airavat. Durvasa was angry with the
disrespect shown to him and immediately cursed Indra thus, "You are the king of the Gods, but yet you are playing with women. You will lose Lakshmi. She will leave your kingdom." Goddess Lakshmi, true to the curse, left the heavenly regions.
All the Gods were saddened, and led by Indra went to Vishnu to get his counsel.
Vishnu suggested that she would appear if they churned the ocean of milk. Both the Devas and asuras got together at the ocean of milk (Ksheera samudra), they used Mount Mandara as the central axle, Vishnu took the form of a giant tortoise to support the churning base, and the serpent Anant Nag was used to move the mountain. The asuras and the devas each took the opposite ends of the snake and churned the ocean. Out of the churning came a lot of beautiful people and
objects – Ucchaishrava (the divine horse), Dhanvantri (the God of Medicine), the Sudharshana Chakra, the Parijata flower and then came Lakshmi.
When they saw Lakshmi, the Gods offered her an asan with the greatest of respect. They did an abishek to her, offered her a lotus garland and entreated
her to stay with them, to which she agreed. This form of Lakshmi is known as Kamala.]
[Source: http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/shakti-sadhana/66010-day-9-final-three-mahavidyas.html ]
Kamala Yantra
Although Laxmi and Kamala are the same deity, Kamala is Laxmi as a full and complete deity on her own terms. In Laxmi's myths she is seen as inseparable from her husband Vishnu and at times even subservient to him. Kamala is just the opposite. She can stand on her own without reference to her spouse, and when he is mentioned it is made clear that she is the Supreme power in that relationship.
So what else makes Kamala different from Laxmi? Kamala is the more active form of Laxmi.
While Laxmi may passively shower one with wealth and blessings, Kamala will actively ensure it.
She will move heaven and earth to make sure her devotee gets what they want. Gold, treasures, love, peace, beauty, health, she gives it all. Laxmi may get you a job when you pray to her for one;
Kamala will get you a job and then make sure you get promoted quickly in that job as well as move up the ladder. She is active grace manifested on the material level.
So how does one get the attention of Kamala? By having a philanthropic and prosperity consciousness. She expects you to be generous with your wealth, to share what she gives you.
Since she is also beauty expressed in the material level, she desires you to keep the material world beautiful, to honor and preserve the natural resources and fellow creatures we have on earth. By taking care of others and helping the less fortunate you align yourself with her. She is after-all, the Great Mother of all things. You please her by selfless service, which develops more devotion in your heart. And what will she not give to her children when she is happy with them?
She is the fullness of Divine Grace who gives everything.
Tantrik Mantra for Kamala: AUM AING HRING SHRING KLING HASSAU JAGATPRASUTAYEI NAMAH.
Another Mantra for Kamala: Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalayei Praseed Praseed Shreem Hreem Shreem Om Mahalakshmiyei Namah.
Gayatri Mantra for Kamala:OM KAMALAYAI CHA VIDMAHE VISHNU PATNI CHA DHI-MAHI TANNO KAMALA PRACHODAYAT.
Shabar Mantra for Kamala:
Om ayoni shankar omkar roop, kamla devi sati parvati ka savroop. Haath mein sone ka kalash mukh se abhay mudra. Shwet varn seva pooja kare, narad indra. Devi devatya ne kiya jai onkaar. Kamla devi poojo keshar paan supari, chakmak cheeni phatri til guggal sahstr kamlon ka kiya hawan. Kahe gorakh, mantar japo jaap japo riddhi siddhi ki pahchaan ganga gaurja parvati jaan. Jiski teen lok mein bhaya maan. Kamla devi ke charan kamal ko aadesh.
Om hareem kaleem kamla devi fat swaha.
Kamala Mahavidya Sadhana: http://www.siddhashram.org/s19981155f.shtml
Tripura Bhairavi - "The Terror of the Three Planes of Existence"
The next Mahavidya in our series is known as "Tripura Bhairavi" or simply "Bhairavi". When she gets pissed off she becomes the fearsome "Kalratri" a very destructive form of the goddess Kali.
The word "Bhairavi" means "terrifying" or "fearsome" and "Tripura" means the "three planes of existence."
She is the spouse of Kal-Bhairava, a dark and fearsome aspect of Shiva. The Bhairavi Stotra (Hymn of Bhairavi) says the following about her: "You are the origin of the world and yet you yourself have no origin, though there are hundred hymns honoring you. Even Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesvara do not know you, who is the Mother of all Sastras." She is said to live in cremation grounds, cemeteries and Himalayan forests and is the caretaker of these places. She also is said to reside in the Muladhara (Root Chakra) of every human being, and to be the Kriya Shakti (energy of action) that propels the Kundalini to rise up quickly so you can achieve a state of Union with Divinity. She is the remover of any obstacles to your quick spiritual growth,
whether the obstacle be your own sloth or delusion or something else. She will forcibly take away or remove those things that keep us from growing spiritually. Her reputation is so great that Tantrik female adepts, especially of sexual yogas, are often called "bhairavis". But a true Bhairavi is no submissive lady. She is fearsome and wrathful even in her love-making. An image of a dominatrix comes to mind as a perfect anology. Tripura Bhairavi is Divine wrath, but a controlled wrath that is channeled properly as fuel for sadhana (spiritual practice).
Bhairavi as Kalratri
She is the energy of Tapas (austerity) itself, giving us the fuel necessary to maintain fasting, celibacy, or any spiritual practice that takes great willpower. She will help you persevere against all obstacles that are blocking you. She also will stimulate in a spiritual aspirant the desire to leave all things behind (all one's attachments) and seek a place of solitude to practice austerities.
Tripura Bhairavi Yantra
Tantrik Mantra for Tripura Bhairavi: HASAIN HASKARING HASAIN
Tripura Bhairavi Gayatri: Om Tripurayai cha vidmahe Bhairaviyai dhi-mahi Tanno Devi prachodayat.
Tripura Bhairavi Shabar Mantra:
Om sati Bhairavi Bhairo kaal yam jaane yam bhoopal teen netar tara trikuti, gale mein mala mundan ki. Abhay mudra peeye rudhir nashwanti. Kala khappar haath khanjar, kalapeer dharm dhoop khewante waasna gai satwe patal, satew patal madhye paramtatv mein jot, jot mein param jot, Param jot mein bhai utpann kaal bhairvi, tripur bhairavi, sampat prada bhairavi, kaulesh bhairvi, siddha bhairvi, vindhvansini bhairavi, chaitany bhairavi, kameshwari bhairavi, shatkuta bhairavi, nitya bhairavi. Jpa ajpa goraksh japnti yahi mantar matsyendranaath jee ko Sada Shiv ne kahayi. Riddh phooro shiddh phooro sat shri shambhujati guru gorakshnaath jee annat koti siddha le utregi kaal ke paar, bhairavi bhairavi khadi jin sheesh par, door haate kaal janjaal bhairavi mantar baikunt waasa. Amar lok mein hua niwasa.
Om hastro hasklro hastro.