Words: Yogi Raj Muni
An account of how the life force power of Kundalini bestows many Siddhis and Blessings
Continued from the previous issue of YOGA Magazine…
The air was thick, humming with a strange, melodic resonance that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Bushie and I stood in the alien landscape, our breaths shallow, our minds whirling in disbelief.
“Where are we, Muni?” Bushie asked, his usually confident voice edged with fear.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, scanning the vibrant, otherworldly expanse. The sky above stretched endlessly, painted in hues of deep violet and gold, unlike anything I had ever seen. It was not the sky of the Himalayas—this was another realm altogether.
Then I saw them, three moons hung like shimmering jewels in the sky, their light casting an ethereal glow on the ground below. As I stared, I noticed four radiant suns orbiting in a perfect circle around each other, their movement synchronised in a slow, mesmerising dance. I thought I was dreaming.
“Three moons,” Bushie murmured, his gaze fixed upwards. “Four suns! We certainly are far away from home Muni.
Look at the fine mess you have gotten us into!” The realisation struck us both at the same time.
We walked cautiously through the strange forest. Towering trees with cobalt-blue leaves loomed over us, their branches weaving together like the arches of a cathedral. The ground beneath our feet was soft with glowing moss, which pulsed faintly under our steps.
“This place feels alive,” I said, my voice trembling.
Bushie nodded, his tail twitching anxiously. “Alive and… watching.”
Then came the sound. Low, guttural growls echoed from somewhere in the distance, followed by a series of sharp, piercing cries. It was not the cry of any animal I had ever heard.
“Muni,” Bushie said, his voice barely above a whisper, “whatever made that sound we don’t want to meet it.” “Agreed,” I replied, gripping Bushie closely.
We stumbled upon a tree with thick, twisted roots and huddled beneath
its broad canopy of shimmering blue leaves. The air around us seemed to thrum with tension. We clung to each other, too frightened to speak, as the growls grew louder and closer. Eventually, exhaustion overtook our fear. I leaned back against the tree’s sturdy trunk, and Bushie curled up beside me, his warm fur a comfort against the alien chill. The last thing I remembered was the sound of rain like whispers filtering through the leaves above us as sleep claimed me and Bushie.
In the stillness of our slumber, a voice reached out to us. It was not from the outside world, but from somewhere deep within. It was a woman’s voice, gentle yet resonant, like the sound of harps and flutes continued a breeze. I stirred, half-aware, and felt Bushie tense beside me.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice thick with sleep.
“I am Devi Jyotsna,” she said, her tone melodic and commanding. “The plant you consumed—Shivāvaspatra—held my essence. My consciousness is now mingling with yours.”
Bushie opened one eye groggily. “Are you out of your mind madam? That sounds complicated.”
The voice chuckled softly, an almost maternal warmth radiating through her laughter. “Do not fear. My presence will guide you. You have entered my realm, a space between worlds where only the brave or the reckless tread.”
The voice grew clearer, more distinct, and suddenly I felt it, not as sound, but as a presence. Her consciousness was not something I could see, but I could feel it, like the soft touch of sunlight on skin. It filled my mind and heart, washing away fear and fatigue with a comforting lightness.
Bushie blinked awake fully, his ears twitching as if trying to locate the source of the voice. “Why can’t we see you?”
“I have no physical form in this realm,” she replied. “But my energy surrounds you, like the air you breathe. And now, I will awaken you.”
A gentle warmth coursed through me, as if golden light were streaming into my veins. My eyes flew open, and I sat up. Around us, the alien forest shimmered with renewed vibrancy. The growls and cries of distant beasts had faded, leaving only an otherworldly stillness.
Bushie sat up beside me, his fur bristling slightly. “Alright, Devi Jyotsna. You have got our attention. What happens now?”
“First, you must steady your minds,” Devi Jyotsna said. “Your connection to this realm will depend on your clarity and focus. Let me teach you an ancient Mantra, a hymn of light that will centre your energy and open your perception. I will teach you a small part so that you may easily remember and recollect it.”
I clasped my hands together instinctively. Bushie, sat quietly.
“Repeat after me,” the Devi intoned, her voice flowing like a river: – “Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat.”
I repeated the mantra slowly, feeling its vibrations resonate through my entire being. It was as if each syllable carried the essence of the cosmos, drawing my awareness inward and outward at the same time.
Bushie grumbled at first but soon fell into the rhythm of the chant, his deep growls blending harmoniously with my voice.
“What does it mean?” I asked when we had finished.
“It is a prayer to the divine light of the universe,” Devi Jyotsna explained. “It invokes wisdom, clarity, and illumination, connecting you to the source of all creation.”
“Now,” she continued, “let me teach you a mudra to ground your energies and protect you in this realm.”
Devi Jyotsna corrected gently. “When practiced with intention, it channels energy through your body’s nadis, the subtle pathways of prana.”
She guided us step by step even though I was aware of the Dhyana Mudra which is a hand gesture of meditation that I often practised with Yogi Ji at the Yoga Bhavan. “Rest your hands in your lap, with the right hand over the left, palms facing upward. Touch the tips of your thumbs together, forming a triangle. This triangle represents the balance of body, mind, and spirit,” the Devi explained. “Sit in this position and breathe deeply. It will calm your heart and protect your energy.”
I followed her instructions, feeling a wave of peace settle over me as my breath slowed and deepened. I felt solace and peaceful. Bushie glanced at me and then mirrored the gesture.
Devi Jyotsna’s presence grew stronger as we practiced. Though invisible, her consciousness enveloped us like a warm embrace. She seemed to flow through the air, her energy palpable in every breath we took.
“I am with you always,” she said. “You carry my essence now. Through you, I will see this world and beyond.”
Her words filled me with both wonder and apprehension. “Why us?” I asked. “Why did you choose to emerge now?”
“The Shivāvaspatra is a rare plant,” she replied. “It is awakening was destined and now you have arrived. This is no accident, Muni, and Bushie. You are here for a purpose.”
And that purpose is?” Bushie prompted; his tone sceptical.
“To restore balance,” she said simply.
Bushie snorted. “Balance? I can barely balance on one foot during yoga practice.”
“Balance is not about perfection,” Devi Jyotsna replied with infinite patience. “It is about harmony, acceptance, and the courage to walk the path even when it is unclear.” We sat in silence for a time, absorbing her teachings.
The alien landscape around us seemed less frightening now, its mysteries tempered by the comforting presence of the Devi.
“What now?” I asked finally.
“Now,” Devi Jyotsna said, her voice soft yet firm, “you must continue your journey. Seek the source of the sounds you heard earlier. You will find answers there.”
Bushie and I exchanged uneasy glances.
“Must we?” Bushie asked, his tail flicking nervously. “To be honest Devi – we just want to get home quickly!”
“Yes of course you will return home. But not as quick as you want. All this way you have come after drinking my consciousness and so I will let you stay here with me for a while. You are my guest and I want to host you,” she said. “The unknown may frighten you, but it is only by stepping into it that you will grow.”
With that, her presence seemed to recede, leaving us alone once more. Yet I could still feel her essence within me, a faint but steady pulse of light.
Bushie sighed, rising to his feet, and shaking out his fur. “Well, Muni, it seems our herbal chai has brought us more than we bargained for.”
I stood beside him, gazing into the shimmering forest ahead.
“Let’s find out what lies beyond.”
Together, we stepped forward into the unknown, guided by the teachings of the Devi and the courage she had awakened within us.
