(101524,2,'2016-11-21 23:17:57','2016-11-22 06:17:57','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-3','','','2017-03-15 08:24:13','2017-03-15 15:24:13','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101524',0,'th_events','',0),(101525,2,'2016-11-21 23:18:29','2016-11-22 06:18:29','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-4','','','2017-03-15 08:24:31','2017-03-15 15:24:31','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101525',0,'th_events','',0),(101526,2,'2016-11-21 23:19:00','2016-11-22 06:19:00','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-5','','','2017-03-15 08:25:00','2017-03-15 15:25:00','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101526',0,'th_events','',0),(101527,2,'2016-11-21 23:19:22','2016-11-22 06:19:22','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-6','','','2017-03-15 08:22:30','2017-03-15 15:22:30','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101527',0,'th_events','',0),(101528,2,'2016-11-21 23:19:38','2016-11-22 06:19:38','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-7','','','2017-03-15 08:25:18','2017-03-15 15:25:18','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101528',0,'th_events','',0),(101529,2,'2016-11-21 23:19:55','2016-11-22 06:19:55','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-8','','','2017-03-15 08:27:06','2017-03-15 15:27:06','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101529',0,'th_events','',0),(101530,2,'2016-11-21 23:20:17','2016-11-22 06:20:17','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-9','','','2017-03-15 08:26:47','2017-03-15 15:26:47','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101530',0,'th_events','',0),(101531,2,'2016-11-21 23:20:49','2016-11-22 06:20:49','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-10','','','2017-03-15 08:21:58','2017-03-15 15:21:58','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101531',0,'th_events','',0),(101532,2,'2016-11-21 23:23:49','2016-11-22 06:23:49','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-11','','','2017-03-15 08:21:34','2017-03-15 15:21:34','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101532',0,'th_events','',0),(101533,2,'2016-11-21 23:24:12','2016-11-22 06:24:12','Each month before puja, community and initiates gather for teachings on the Tantras and the lineage tradition of Sha\'can. Particulars of ritual, personal practice, philosophy, and spiritual development are explored. Seekers are invited to join each month and are required to RSVP.\r\n\r\nLearn more <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/daughters-of-kali/\">here</a>.','Daughters of Kali','','publish','closed','closed','','daughters-of-kali-12','','','2017-03-15 08:20:57','2017-03-15 15:20:57','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101533',0,'th_events','',0),(101534,2,'2016-11-21 23:28:32','2016-11-22 06:28:32','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-14','','','2017-03-15 08:30:54','2017-03-15 15:30:54','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101534',0,'th_events','',0),(101535,2,'2016-11-21 23:30:49','2016-11-22 06:30:49','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries. This month, we honor Maa and welcome Her in special ritual marking the half-way point to Rededication.','Matrika Chakra: Mid-Year Darshan','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-mid-year-darshan','','','2017-03-15 08:30:31','2017-03-15 15:30:31','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101535',0,'th_events','',0),(101536,2,'2016-11-21 23:31:27','2016-11-22 06:31:27','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-15','','','2017-03-15 08:30:08','2017-03-15 15:30:08','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101536',0,'th_events','',0),(101537,2,'2016-11-21 23:31:44','2016-11-22 06:31:44','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-16','','','2017-03-15 08:18:06','2017-03-15 15:18:06','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101537',0,'th_events','',0),(101538,2,'2016-11-21 23:32:01','2016-11-22 06:32:01','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-17','','','2017-03-15 08:17:41','2017-03-15 15:17:41','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101538',0,'th_events','',0),(101539,2,'2016-11-21 23:32:15','2016-11-22 06:32:15','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-18','','','2017-03-15 08:17:15','2017-03-15 15:17:15','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101539',0,'th_events','',0),(101540,2,'2016-11-21 23:32:42','2016-11-22 06:32:42','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-19','','','2017-03-15 08:16:51','2017-03-15 15:16:51','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101540',0,'th_events','',0),(101541,2,'2016-11-21 23:33:08','2016-11-22 06:33:08','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-20','','','2017-03-15 08:16:25','2017-03-15 15:16:25','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101541',0,'th_events','',0),(101542,2,'2016-11-21 23:33:53','2016-11-22 06:33:53','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-21','','','2017-03-15 08:14:30','2017-03-15 15:14:30','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101542',0,'th_events','',0),(101543,2,'2016-11-21 23:34:31','2016-11-22 06:34:31','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-22','','','2017-03-15 08:14:03','2017-03-15 15:14:03','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101543',0,'th_events','',0),(101544,2,'2016-11-21 23:34:47','2016-11-22 06:34:47','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-23','','','2017-03-15 08:13:42','2017-03-15 15:13:42','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101544',0,'th_events','',0),(101545,2,'2016-11-21 23:36:26','2016-11-22 06:36:26','Community celebration of Solstice and the magic of the shortest day of the year. Friends and family of community members are welcome to attend. ','Yule Party','','publish','closed','closed','','yule-party-4','','','2017-03-15 08:13:04','2017-03-15 15:13:04','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101545',0,'th_events','',0),(101546,2,'2016-11-21 23:42:30','2016-11-22 06:42:30','The Sha\'can tradition offers many opportunities for the neophyte as well as the initiate on the path to practice, worship, learn, deepen, and cultivate spiritual leadership. At SHARANYA, those seeking an understanding of and way into Sha\'can begin with sitting in circle, joining us regularly for puja, service and teaching circles. Those who receive initiation are welcomed into the Kaula, or family of initiates.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"The Kaula\" active=\"\"]\r\nThe Kaula, our spiritual family, is bonded by faith, commitment and devotion to Goddess Kali. Each year we welcome Sha\'can initiates new and old to ceremonies that solidify their practice and another year\'s work on the path.\r\n<ul>\r\n        <li><strong>Rededication</strong> of Initiates (there was no 13th Chakra initiation) took place on Saturday, August 20th (2016) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Balipriya, Bhaktashankari, Satya, Jayada, Purnamanaha, Gitapriya, Pavini, Shuddha and Chinnamasta for their presence, devotion and open-hearted embrace of the Divine Mother.</li>\r\n        <li><strong>Rededication</strong> of Initiates (there was no 12th Chakra initiation) took place on Saturday, August 15th (2015) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Balipriya, Bhaktashankari, Satya, Jayada, Purnamanaha, Gitapriya, Vibhutihi, Shuddha and Chinnamasta for their presence, devotion and open-hearted embrace of the Divine Mother.</li>\r\n        <li><strong>Rededication</strong> of Initiates (there was no 11th Chakra initiation) took place on Saturday, August 16th (2014) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Balipriya, Bhaktashankari, Satya, Jayada, Purnamanaha, Maya,  Gitapriya, Vibhutihi, Shuddha, Citra and Chinnamasta for their presence, devotion and open-hearted embrace of the Divine Mother.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Rededication</strong> of Initiates (there was no 10th Chakra initiation) took place on Saturday, August 10th (2013) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Balipriya, Bhaktashankari, Satya, Jayada, Haravallabha, Purnamanaha, Maya, Punyadeha, Gitapriya, Tivra, Vibhutihi, Shuddha, and Chinnamasta for their presence, devotion and open-hearted embrace of the Divine Mother.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Rededication</strong> of Initiates took place on Saturday, August 11th (2012) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Bhaktashankari, Pavini, Haravallabha, Satya, Jayada, Purnamanaha, Jaratura, Balipriya, Citra and Maya for their presence, devotion and open-hearted embrace of the Divine Mother.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2011-12 circle (9th Chakra) took place on Friday, August 24th (2012) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Gitapriya, Tivra, Vibhutihi, Shuddha, and Chinnamasta for their presence, devotion and open-hearted embrace of the Divine Mother.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Rededication</strong> of Initiates (there was no 8th Chakra initiation) took place on Friday, September 9th (2011) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Purnamanaha, Bhaktashankari, Jayada, Balipriya, Jaratura, Satya, Mahesha and Haravallabha for their presence, devotion and open-hearted embrace of the Divine Mother.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2009-2010 circle (7th Chakra) took place on Friday, September 10th (2010) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Raktapa, Purnamanaha, Bhaktashankari, and Nitya, with thanks to community and all who have loved them and supported their work during the past year and a day!</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2008-2009 circle took place on Friday, September 11th (2009) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Mahesha, Haravallabha, Duti, Satya, and Citra, with thanks to community and all who have supported their work during the past year and a day!</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2007-2008 circle took place on Friday, September 5th (2008) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Jaratura, Jayada, Sanatani, Sarasvati, Anangarekha, and Balipriya, with thanks to community and all who have supported their work during the past year and a day!</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2006-2007 circle took place on Friday, September 7th (2007) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Asha and Kumarirupadharini, with thanks to community and all who have supported their work during the past year and a day!</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2005-2006 circle took place on Friday, September 1st (2006) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Shunyanivasini, Svadha, Kalabhairavi, Pavini, Durgatarini, Shreyasi, Ranapandita, and Maya, with thanks to community and all who have supported their work during the past year and a day!</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2004-2005 circle took place on Friday, September 2nd (2005) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Punyadeha, Shashini, Svayambhupuspapuspini, and Bhaktisukhini, with thanks to community and all who have supported their work during the past year and a day!</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Initiation</strong> of our 2003-2004 circle took place on Friday, August 26th (2004) at 8:00pm. Jai Maa! to Bhagavati, Karuna, Sundari, and Kumari, with thanks to our ancestors, guides and the lineage for the support and love during the past year and a day!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n<br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"111\" perpage=\"1\" pagination=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-path\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n[upcoming category=\"daughters-of-kali\" count=\"2\" place=\"1\" time=\"1\" phone=\"1\" ]\r\n\r\n<h5>Teaching Circle</h5>\r\nYou can also join us for our next Teaching Circle as we continue the tradition of of engaging with teachings and practice after puja. Learn more about Tantra, our path, and the road to personal fulfillment through spiritual discipline in these informal gatherings. We offer you direct access to practices for deepened sadhana and worship within the embrace of community.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[upcoming category=\"teaching-circle\" count=\"2\" place=\"1\" time=\"1\" phone=\"1\" ]\r\n\r\n<h5>Farther Along The Path: Initiation & Beyond</h5>\r\nInitiation is a decision come to only after deep personal reflection, commitment, and dedicated work on the path. After initiation, many choose to further deepen study and practice in our ongoing circle of initiates, the Yogini Chakra. Many in our community stay in this circle, becoming mentors and elders in community. Others may choose to do the work necessary to take on a leadership role through Matrika Chakra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom this place, it is also possible to continue the journey to ordination, working toward recognition as full clergy: the Rashani of Sha\'can. This path is available to any committed seeker.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[one_third] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/commitment/\" title=\"Initiation\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/SF-Oct-08-123-e1377932688317.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_third]\r\n[one_third last=last] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/ordination/\" title=\"Ordination\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/IMG_2076-e1377932258801.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_third]','The Path','','inherit','closed','closed','','99140-revision-v1','','','2016-11-21 23:42:30','2016-11-22 06:42:30','',99140,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99140-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101547,2,'2016-11-21 23:44:03','2016-11-22 06:44:03','This is a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devi, Goddess, bleeds. \r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood. \r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship. \r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. ','11th Annual Yoni Puja Festival','','publish','closed','closed','','11th-annual-yoni-puja-festival','','','2017-03-15 08:07:41','2017-03-15 15:07:41','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101547',0,'th_events','',0),(101548,2,'2016-11-21 23:45:34','2016-11-22 06:45:34','<p>A celebration honoring the cycle of life, the Great Mystery and all things on the margins. Join us as we come together in community to welcome in the new year at this time of Kali Puja and Divali, the Festival of Lights, and honor Goddess manifest in the whole of creation. </p>\r\n<p>As the darkness closes in, we offer our prayers to Maa Kali, Mother of the Universe. Together we will honor Her in Her many forms through the Sha\'can tradition of Shakta Tantra. With your help, we are planning to fill the temple with chant, song, dance, devotion, and celebration.</p>\r\n<p>What to bring... Offerings for the main altar are welcome. It is customary to bring flowers, fruit, wine, vegetarian offerings, or sweets and to refrain from wearing black to our public rituals. If you wish to wear a special color for Kali, we invite you to don red, a color associated with Her power in the phenomenal world as shakti, the activating force and the energy of creation. You are also invited to bring an object you would like to have blessed.</p>\r\n<p>A sliding scale donation of $21-11 is also suggested to cover the cost of the space, puja supplies and prasad (blessed food); however, no one is ever turned away for lack of funds, and any donation is graciously accepted; we appreciate so much the offerings you make to support our work and the community.</p>\r\n<p>All lovers of the Divine are welcome! Doors open at 5:30PM, ritual begins promptly at 6:00PM.</p>\r\n<p><b>Location:</b> 2650 Fulton Street (at 3rd Avenue), San Francisco, CA 94118</p>\r\n<p><b>R.S.V.P.</b>: <a href=\"https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2= 94-3334334\">Make a donation to attend</a> (note Kali Puja Festival).</p>\r\n<p><b>Questions?</b> Email us at <a href=mailto:info@sharanya.org>info@sharanya.org</a></p>\r\n<p><iframe src=\"http://mapsengine.google.com/map/embed?mid=z31HImSkDDrM.kHtJeWlN3KjQ\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe></p>\r\n','14th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','publish','closed','closed','','14th-annual-kali-puja-festival','','','2017-03-20 17:44:25','2017-03-21 00:44:25','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101548',0,'th_events','',0),(101549,2,'2016-11-21 23:47:05','2016-11-22 06:47:05','Initiates welcomed through the Ceremony of Elders serve in Matrika Chakra and deepen engagement of Her mysteries.','Matrika Chakra','','publish','closed','closed','','matrika-chakra-24','','','2017-03-15 08:12:43','2017-03-15 15:12:43','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101549',0,'th_events','',0),(101550,2,'2016-11-21 23:48:12','2016-11-22 06:48:12','Initiates in the tradition are invited to sit before Maa, rededicate to Sha\'can, and affirm their commitment to community for another year. ','Rededication Ceremony','','publish','closed','closed','','rededication-ceremony-4','','','2017-03-15 08:12:22','2017-03-15 15:12:22','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101550',0,'th_events','',0),(101551,2,'2016-11-21 23:49:32','2016-11-22 06:49:32','This ceremony is for those who have sat in circle with Daughters of Kali (at least one year is required) and have chosen to accept the commitment of initiation. The Kaula is present to support the transition from neophyte to initiate. ','Initiation Ceremony','','publish','closed','closed','','initiation-ceremony-3','','','2017-03-15 08:12:06','2017-03-15 15:12:06','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101551',0,'th_events','',0),(101552,2,'2016-11-22 00:03:09','2016-11-22 07:03:09','Those newly initiated come before the sacred fire to proclaim themselves, make offerings, and consecrate their commitment. ','Initiation Yajna','','publish','closed','closed','','initiation-yajna','','','2017-03-15 08:11:48','2017-03-15 15:11:48','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101552',0,'th_events','',0),(101553,2,'2016-11-22 00:04:20','2016-11-22 07:04:20','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-39','','','2017-03-15 08:11:29','2017-03-15 15:11:29','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101553',0,'th_events','',0),(101554,2,'2016-11-22 00:05:21','2016-11-22 07:05:21','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-40','','','2017-03-15 08:07:05','2017-03-15 15:07:05','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101554',0,'th_events','',0),(101555,2,'2016-03-18 00:05:50','2016-03-18 07:05:50','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-41','','','2017-03-14 23:35:52','2017-03-15 06:35:52','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101555',0,'th_events','',0),(101556,2,'2016-11-22 00:06:07','2016-11-22 07:06:07','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-42','','','2017-03-15 08:11:09','2017-03-15 15:11:09','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101556',0,'th_events','',0),(101557,2,'2016-11-22 00:06:26','2016-11-22 07:06:26','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-43','','','2017-03-15 08:10:40','2017-03-15 15:10:40','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101557',0,'th_events','',0),(101558,2,'2016-11-22 00:06:44','2016-11-22 07:06:44','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-44','','','2017-03-15 08:10:23','2017-03-15 15:10:23','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101558',0,'th_events','',0),(101559,2,'2016-11-22 00:07:00','2016-11-22 07:07:00','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-45','','','2017-03-15 08:10:06','2017-03-15 15:10:06','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101559',0,'th_events','',0),(101560,2,'2016-11-22 00:07:21','2016-11-22 07:07:21','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-46','','','2017-03-15 08:09:43','2017-03-15 15:09:43','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101560',0,'th_events','',0),(101561,2,'2016-11-22 00:07:39','2016-11-22 07:07:39','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-47','','','2017-03-15 08:09:25','2017-03-15 15:09:25','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101561',0,'th_events','',0),(101562,2,'2016-11-22 00:07:54','2016-11-22 07:07:54','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-48','','','2017-03-15 08:09:02','2017-03-15 15:09:02','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101562',0,'th_events','',0),(101563,2,'2016-11-22 00:08:13','2016-11-22 07:08:13','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-49','','','2017-03-15 08:08:38','2017-03-15 15:08:38','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101563',0,'th_events','',0),(101564,2,'2016-11-22 00:08:31','2016-11-22 07:08:31','Initiates of the tradition deepen into the mysteries each month practicing and engaging the divine energies known as Mahavidya. ','Yogini Ritual Circle','','publish','closed','closed','','yogini-ritual-circle-50','','','2017-03-15 08:08:10','2017-03-15 15:08:10','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101564',0,'th_events','',0),(101571,2,'2017-03-10 16:14:00','2017-03-10 23:14:00','<img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/DSC_0466-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-101318 imgborder\" />Let’s talk about our egos.\r\n\r\nWe can start by stating the obvious—our egos are now on high alert. But by holding the premise that a beautiful way in which the Divine is brought to awareness in this world is through a foundation of relationality, we’re going to start disrupting our usual response to ego engagement. This is important because so many of us still harbor the notion that egos are bad. Even the quest for enlightenment is often spoken about as moving on a path toward obliteration of the ego. And this puts the very mechanisms that have been gracefully designed to protect us into their most protective mode. That process, which is often completely unconscious, makes things a bit difficult on the spiritual journey. \r\n\r\nWhile it’s true that the ego may seem to disappear as one commits more deeply to the work of a spiritual life, it’s not the case that it’s disappearing into oblivion, never to be heard from again. And actually, for those committed to a tantric path, this should come as a relief—for how else is one to continue to do the work of an engaged spirituality without an egoic grounding in the joys, sorrow, pains, and pleasures of living? \r\n\r\nBut if not disappearing into oblivion, then what? \r\n\r\nI’d like to offer a reframe to help move us away from our tendencies in the modern world toward dualistic thinking. So let’s start by simply stating where we are in the dualistic frame: there is the “I-ness” of egoic awareness and there is the “not I,” its negation.  The latter, the obliteration of ego, is ego terrifying and again, very much destructive to spiritual progress for most people—we can self-sabotage, for example. On the other hand, it is also not exactly conducive to making the world a better place, because “not I” can mean a transcendence that doesn\'t allow us to fully develop an empathy born of our relationship and others’ relationship to suffering in the here and now. \r\n\r\nShould we not master the ego then, as some put it? Work it to our will and devices? Well, yes, but not in the way you might think. Attempting to make the ego subordinate creates some very real psychological problems. \r\n\r\nLet’s try something else—the non-dualistic frame. Instead of creating a trajectory for the ego to head into nothingness (i.e., a negation of self), I’d prefer to say that through our spiritual work we make our egos more flexible and elastic. Doing so, we create a trajectory toward connection to all that is and design in the process a more diffused, non-attached awareness. \r\n\r\nWhat does this mean, exactly? \r\n\r\nIt means that we gain the ability to shift the locus of self to multiple centers and still have access to centeredness. There is not one focal point; rather there is an increasing ability as we progress to move between the worlds, either: i) distributing conscious self-perception; or, ii) focusing conscious self-perception. \r\n\r\nAs the “I” becomes more connected in the world, the ability to stay detached from dualistic egoic self-preservation grows. In other words, by distributing our I-ness, we move toward deeper and deeper communion, generating relationship with the essence of reality and becoming a part of all that is. Doing this, we both expand our ability to be with suffering (i.e., to have compassion), and also to let go of our own ego-invested personal experiences of suffering. This is exactly the nature of vairagya, or non-attachment, and it is worth pondering.\r\n\r\nAn ego invested in self-preservation is unyielding and lacking in resiliency. In this characterization, it’s easy to see how such a way of being perpetuates suffering while it limits one’s experience of reality and creates misguided perceptions and half-truths. But spiritual discipline helps us surpass ego-entanglement or estrangement within the world. It rectifies any need to be at war with self or others and moves us toward freedom. Once this realization of the possible occurs, we gain access to the source of many a Tantric siddhi, and “I” in service to “All” gains incredible momentum.  \r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre </em>','Perceptions of Egoic Reality','','publish','open','open','','perceptions-of-egoic-reality','','','2017-03-18 11:03:53','2017-03-18 18:03:53','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?p=101571',0,'post','',0),(101572,2,'2017-03-10 16:14:00','2017-03-10 23:14:00','Let’s talk about our egos.\r\n\r\nWe can start by stating the obvious—our egos are now on high alert. But by holding the premise that a beautiful way in which the Divine is brought to awareness in this world is through a foundation of relationality, we’re going to start disrupting our usual response to ego engagement. This is important because so many of us still harbor the notion that egos are bad. Even the quest for enlightenment is often spoken about as moving on a path toward obliteration of the ego. And this puts the very mechanisms that have been gracefully designed to protect us into their most protective mode. That process, which is often completely unconscious, makes things a bit difficult on the spiritual journey. \r\n\r\nWhile it’s true that the ego may seem to disappear as one commits more deeply to the work of a spiritual life, it’s not the case that it’s disappearing into oblivion, never to be heard from again. And actually, for those committed to a tantric path, this should come as a relief—for how else is one to continue to do the work of an engaged spirituality without an egoic grounding in the joys, sorrow, pains, and pleasures of living? \r\n\r\nBut if not disappearing into oblivion, then what? \r\n\r\nI’d like to offer a reframe to help move us away from our tendencies in the modern world toward dualistic thinking. So let’s start by simply stating where we are in the dualistic frame: there is the “I-ness” of egoic awareness and there is the “not I,” its negation.  The latter, the obliteration of ego, is ego terrifying and again, very much destructive to spiritual progress for most people—we can self-sabotage, for example. On the other hand, it is also not exactly conducive to making the world a better place, because “not I” can mean a transcendence that doesn\'t allow us to fully develop an empathy born of our relationship and others’ relationship to suffering in the here and now. \r\n\r\nShould we not master the ego then, as some put it? Work it to our will and devices? Well, yes, but not in the way you might think. Attempting to make the ego subordinate creates some very real psychological problems. \r\n\r\nLet’s try something else—the non-dualistic frame. Instead of creating a trajectory for the ego to head into nothingness (i.e., a negation of self), I’d prefer to say that through our spiritual work we make our egos more flexible and elastic. Doing so, we create a trajectory toward connection to all that is and design in the process a more diffused, non-attached awareness. \r\n\r\nWhat does this mean, exactly? \r\n\r\nIt means that we gain the ability to shift the locus of self to multiple centers and still have access to centeredness. There is not one focal point; rather there is an increasing ability as we progress to move between the worlds, either: i) distributing conscious self-perception; or, ii) focusing conscious self-perception. \r\n\r\nAs the “I” becomes more connected in the world, the ability to stay detached from dualistic egoic self-preservation grows. In other words, by distributing our I-ness, we move toward deeper and deeper communion, generating relationship with the essence of reality and becoming a part of all that is. Doing this, we both expand our ability to be with suffering (i.e., to have compassion), and also to let go of our own ego-invested personal experiences of suffering. This is exactly the nature of vairagya, or non-attachment, and it is worth pondering.\r\n\r\nAn ego invested in self-preservation is unyielding and lacking in resiliency. In this characterization, it’s easy to see how such a way of being perpetuates suffering while it limits one’s experience of reality and creates misguided perceptions and half-truths. But spiritual discipline helps us surpass ego-entanglement or estrangement within the world. It rectifies any need to be at war with self or others and moves us toward freedom. Once this realization of the possible occurs, we gain access to the source of many a Tantric siddhi, and “I” in service to “All” gains incredible momentum.  \r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre </em>','Perceptions of Egoic Reality','','inherit','closed','closed','','101571-revision-v1','','','2017-03-10 16:14:00','2017-03-10 23:14:00','',101571,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101571-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101573,2,'2017-03-10 16:15:24','2017-03-10 23:15:24','<img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/DSC_0466-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-101318 imgborder\" />Let’s talk about our egos.\r\n\r\nWe can start by stating the obvious—our egos are now on high alert. But by holding the premise that a beautiful way in which the Divine is brought to awareness in this world is through a foundation of relationality, we’re going to start disrupting our usual response to ego engagement. This is important because so many of us still harbor the notion that egos are bad. Even the quest for enlightenment is often spoken about as moving on a path toward obliteration of the ego. And this puts the very mechanisms that have been gracefully designed to protect us into their most protective mode. That process, which is often completely unconscious, makes things a bit difficult on the spiritual journey. \r\n\r\nWhile it’s true that the ego may seem to disappear as one commits more deeply to the work of a spiritual life, it’s not the case that it’s disappearing into oblivion, never to be heard from again. And actually, for those committed to a tantric path, this should come as a relief—for how else is one to continue to do the work of an engaged spirituality without an egoic grounding in the joys, sorrow, pains, and pleasures of living? \r\n\r\nBut if not disappearing into oblivion, then what? \r\n\r\nI’d like to offer a reframe to help move us away from our tendencies in the modern world toward dualistic thinking. So let’s start by simply stating where we are in the dualistic frame: there is the “I-ness” of egoic awareness and there is the “not I,” its negation.  The latter, the obliteration of ego, is ego terrifying and again, very much destructive to spiritual progress for most people—we can self-sabotage, for example. On the other hand, it is also not exactly conducive to making the world a better place, because “not I” can mean a transcendence that doesn\'t allow us to fully develop an empathy born of our relationship and others’ relationship to suffering in the here and now. \r\n\r\nShould we not master the ego then, as some put it? Work it to our will and devices? Well, yes, but not in the way you might think. Attempting to make the ego subordinate creates some very real psychological problems. \r\n\r\nLet’s try something else—the non-dualistic frame. Instead of creating a trajectory for the ego to head into nothingness (i.e., a negation of self), I’d prefer to say that through our spiritual work we make our egos more flexible and elastic. Doing so, we create a trajectory toward connection to all that is and design in the process a more diffused, non-attached awareness. \r\n\r\nWhat does this mean, exactly? \r\n\r\nIt means that we gain the ability to shift the locus of self to multiple centers and still have access to centeredness. There is not one focal point; rather there is an increasing ability as we progress to move between the worlds, either: i) distributing conscious self-perception; or, ii) focusing conscious self-perception. \r\n\r\nAs the “I” becomes more connected in the world, the ability to stay detached from dualistic egoic self-preservation grows. In other words, by distributing our I-ness, we move toward deeper and deeper communion, generating relationship with the essence of reality and becoming a part of all that is. Doing this, we both expand our ability to be with suffering (i.e., to have compassion), and also to let go of our own ego-invested personal experiences of suffering. This is exactly the nature of vairagya, or non-attachment, and it is worth pondering.\r\n\r\nAn ego invested in self-preservation is unyielding and lacking in resiliency. In this characterization, it’s easy to see how such a way of being perpetuates suffering while it limits one’s experience of reality and creates misguided perceptions and half-truths. But spiritual discipline helps us surpass ego-entanglement or estrangement within the world. It rectifies any need to be at war with self or others and moves us toward freedom. Once this realization of the possible occurs, we gain access to the source of many a Tantric siddhi, and “I” in service to “All” gains incredible momentum.  \r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre </em>','Perceptions of Egoic Reality','','inherit','closed','closed','','101571-revision-v1','','','2017-03-10 16:15:24','2017-03-10 23:15:24','',101571,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101571-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101574,2,'2017-03-14 23:17:12','2017-03-15 06:17:12','\r\nSHARANYA hosts a variety of events, public worship and community gatherings in a dedicated temple space, our Sanctuary. Review our calendar to see regular offerings of worship to the Divine Mother, <i>amavasya</i> (new moon) and <i>purnima</i> (full moon) satsangs, earth-based ceremonies, special services, and monthly public pujas. <a title=\"Contact Us\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/contact-us/\" target=\"_blank\">Contact us </a>to learn more. We look forward to welcoming you in circle soon!<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[event layout=\"full\"]\r\n\r\n<div style=\"clear:both\"></div>\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"events\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]','Events','','inherit','closed','closed','','99131-revision-v1','','','2017-03-14 23:17:12','2017-03-15 06:17:12','',99131,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99131-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101575,2,'2017-03-15 21:17:58','2017-03-16 04:17:58','Join us monthly as we come together to honor Kali Maa, Divine Mother and Great Goddess, offering reverence as we create ritualized as well as lived spaces in which the fundamental and activating energy of shakti can be realized today.\r\n\r\nWe begin with an initiate-led ritual to enliven our murti through a process called prana pratishta. Community joins at 1pm for the full puja. Learn more about our ceremony <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/pujas/\">here</a>. \r\n\r\nRSVP required to attend: <a href=\"mailto:info@sharanya.org\">info@sharanya.org</a> or make a <a href=\"https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2= 94-3334334\">donation online</a>.\r\n\r\nAll pujas are followed by our teaching circle, open to everyone, and community time. Learn more about <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\">The Path</a>. \r\n','Kali Puja','','publish','closed','closed','','kali-puja-32','','','2017-03-15 21:17:58','2017-03-16 04:17:58','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101575',0,'th_events','',0),(101576,2,'2017-03-15 21:18:30','2017-03-16 04:18:30','Join us monthly as we come together to honor Kali Maa, Divine Mother and Great Goddess, offering reverence as we create ritualized as well as lived spaces in which the fundamental and activating energy of shakti can be realized today.\r\n\r\nWe begin with an initiate-led ritual to enliven our murti through a process called prana pratishta. Community joins at 1pm for the full puja. Learn more about our ceremony <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/pujas/\">here</a>. \r\n\r\nRSVP required to attend: <a href=\"mailto:info@sharanya.org\">info@sharanya.org</a> or make a <a href=\"https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2= 94-3334334\">donation online</a>.\r\n\r\nAll pujas are followed by our teaching circle, open to everyone, and community time. Learn more about <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\">The Path</a>. \r\n','Kali Puja','','publish','closed','closed','','kali-puja-33','','','2017-03-15 21:23:25','2017-03-16 04:23:25','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101576',0,'th_events','',0),(101577,2,'2017-03-15 21:18:50','2017-03-16 04:18:50','Join us monthly as we come together to honor Kali Maa, Divine Mother and Great Goddess, offering reverence as we create ritualized as well as lived spaces in which the fundamental and activating energy of shakti can be realized today.\r\n\r\nWe begin with an initiate-led ritual to enliven our murti through a process called prana pratishta. Community joins at 1pm for the full puja. Learn more about our ceremony <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/pujas/\">here</a>. \r\n\r\nRSVP required to attend: <a href=\"mailto:info@sharanya.org\">info@sharanya.org</a> or make a <a href=\"https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2= 94-3334334\">donation online</a>.\r\n\r\nAll pujas are followed by our teaching circle, open to everyone, and community time. Learn more about <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\">The Path</a>. \r\n','Kali Puja','','publish','closed','closed','','kali-puja-34','','','2017-03-15 21:18:50','2017-03-16 04:18:50','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101577',0,'th_events','',0),(101578,2,'2017-03-15 21:19:11','2017-03-16 04:19:11','Join us monthly as we come together to honor Kali Maa, Divine Mother and Great Goddess, offering reverence as we create ritualized as well as lived spaces in which the fundamental and activating energy of shakti can be realized today.\r\n\r\nWe begin with an initiate-led ritual to enliven our murti through a process called prana pratishta. Community joins at 1pm for the full puja. Learn more about our ceremony <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/pujas/\">here</a>. \r\n\r\nRSVP required to attend: <a href=\"mailto:info@sharanya.org\">info@sharanya.org</a> or make a <a href=\"https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2= 94-3334334\">donation online</a>.\r\n\r\nAll pujas are followed by our teaching circle, open to everyone, and community time. Learn more about <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\">The Path</a>. \r\n','Kali Puja','','publish','closed','closed','','kali-puja-35','','','2017-03-15 21:19:11','2017-03-16 04:19:11','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101578',0,'th_events','',0),(101579,2,'2017-03-15 21:20:51','2017-03-16 04:20:51','Join us monthly as we come together to honor Kali Maa, Divine Mother and Great Goddess, offering reverence as we create ritualized as well as lived spaces in which the fundamental and activating energy of shakti can be realized today.\r\n\r\nWe begin with an initiate-led ritual to enliven our murti through a process called prana pratishta. Community joins at 1pm for the full puja. Learn more about our ceremony <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/pujas/\">here</a>. \r\n\r\nRSVP required to attend: <a href=\"mailto:info@sharanya.org\">info@sharanya.org</a> or make a <a href=\"https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2= 94-3334334\">donation online</a>.\r\n\r\nAll pujas are followed by our teaching circle, open to everyone, and community time. Learn more about <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\">The Path</a>. \r\n','Kali Puja','','publish','closed','closed','','kali-puja-36','','','2017-03-15 21:20:51','2017-03-16 04:20:51','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101579',0,'th_events','',0),(101580,2,'2017-03-15 21:21:17','2017-03-16 04:21:17','Join us monthly as we come together to honor Kali Maa, Divine Mother and Great Goddess, offering reverence as we create ritualized as well as lived spaces in which the fundamental and activating energy of shakti can be realized today.\r\n\r\nWe begin with an initiate-led ritual to enliven our murti through a process called prana pratishta. Community joins at 1pm for the full puja. Learn more about our ceremony <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/pujas/\">here</a>. \r\n\r\nRSVP required to attend: <a href=\"mailto:info@sharanya.org\">info@sharanya.org</a> or make a <a href=\"https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2= 94-3334334\">donation online</a>.\r\n\r\nAll pujas are followed by our teaching circle, open to everyone, and community time. Learn more about <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\">The Path</a>. \r\n','Kali Puja','','publish','closed','closed','','kali-puja-37','','','2017-03-15 21:21:17','2017-03-16 04:21:17','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_events&#038;p=101580',0,'th_events','',0),(101581,2,'2017-03-16 16:24:06','2017-03-16 23:24:06','Join us as we come together to explore Goddess through writings, poetry, reflection, discussion, meditation, devotion, spiritual technologies, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), and the creation of community through Shakta Tantra in the Sha\'can tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur courses are designed to help all spiritual seekers contextualize the ancient and living goddess traditions within the socio-cultural and psycho-spiritual framework of today\'s world, creating lived spaces for the Divine in all Her forms—including those of the Sacred Masculine—in personal practice and devotion.<br>\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"kali-vidya\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\nIf you seek community and want to learn more about SHARANYA\'s spiritual path as an authentic, Tantric lineage tradition of goddess worship, then we welcome you to delve into <em>Devoted to Devi: Embracing  Tradition - Walking the Path</em>.  Join this introductory class in our open source, interactive online forum!<br><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration is now OPEN for our next offerings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"SHA101: <em>Devoted to Devi</em>\" active=\"\"]Ongoing enrollment.<br><br>\r\n\r\nClasses run for sixteen weeks to allow an integration of the rich lessons with your ongoing practice and explorations in the Sha\'can tradition. We begin this introductory course at SHARANYA\'s Kali Vidya with creation of a Western framework that helps us build a respectful and appropriate bridge to the Eastern mysteries and understanding of Devi, Goddess, our Divine Mother, She Who Embraces All.<br><br>\r\n\r\nGiven our roots in the earth-based spiritualities of East and West, we start with a very basic introduction to the Craft. Even if you are already familiar with this tradition, please consider yourself a beginner on our path as we create perspective for Western elements of devotion in Sha\'can. The first section of our course will give you an important introduction to and perspective on how we practice. The exercises given are also important foundational keys for the rest of the spiritual homework provided. In addition to on-line sharing, this includes daily practice, readings, research, participation in development of an on-line glossary, and other requirements designed to facilitate your spiritual exploration and unfolding.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWe then provide a brief background on what Tantra is (and what it is not) and how it fits within Sha\'can. Next, we offer an introduction and overview of the Dark Goddess and why She is important, followed by a beginner\'s look at Kali as the Great Mother and Four-Fold Feminine Force.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThis course, when all of the components are put together, creates a ritual through which you may approach Kali Maa, our Divine Mother, and gain understanding that will complement your sincere devotion.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"SHA201: <i>Unveiling Goddess: Practices at the Heart of Tantra</i>\" active=\"\"]This is an intermediate course for those who have completed SHA101. Join us for the next series of classes beginning in August 2017.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOnce you have journeyed through our introductory course, having learned tools and absorbed the ethics and basics of the tradition, the next step in your studies lies here, in <i>Unveiling Goddess</i>. In this in-depth course, we will continue to explore the nuances of spiritual discipline and practice in the Sha\'can tradition, learning additional methods of worship and delving more deeply into the Tantric frameworks of the Shakta lineage carried from India to new shores. Participants in this collaborative forum will share experiences and receive feedback each week as they develop the techniques during <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice) and utilize them within their own devotional work, inclusive of ritual, prayer, meditation, ecstatic dance and other forms of worship. Emphasis will be on establishment of an invigorated daily practice through the pathways of the <i>Yoga Sutras</i>.[/toggle]\r\n\r\nTo enroll, simply pay online. Once we have received your registration, we will email you with login information and additional course details. Questions? Email us at <a title=\"Email Kali Vidya\" href=\"mailto:info@kalividya.org\" target=\"_blank\">info@kalividya.org</a>.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<form action=\"https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"_top\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"cmd\" value=\"_s-xclick\" />\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"hosted_button_id\" value=\"SLWA52RAF42GG\" />\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"on0\" value=\"Courses offered\" />Courses offered</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><select name=\"os0\"><option value=\"SHA101\">SHA101 $81.00 USD</option><option value=\"SHA201\">SHA201 $81.00 USD</option></select></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"currency_code\" value=\"USD\" />\r\n<div class=\"widget_feedburner\" style=\"padding: 15px;\"><button type=\"submit\">Enroll Now</button></div>\r\n</form>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[teaser url=\"http://www.kalividya.org\" title=\"Kali Vidya\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/India-2007-050-e1379737365818.jpg\" ]Login[/teaser]','Kali Vidya','','inherit','closed','closed','','99152-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 16:24:06','2017-03-16 23:24:06','',99152,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99152-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101582,2,'2017-03-16 21:57:30','2017-03-17 04:57:30','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> \r\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\r\n\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 21:57:30','2017-03-17 04:57:30','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101583,2,'2017-03-16 21:58:44','2017-03-17 04:58:44','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> \r\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\r\n\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 21:58:44','2017-03-17 04:58:44','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101584,2,'2017-03-16 21:59:19','2017-03-17 04:59:19','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> \r\n\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 21:59:19','2017-03-17 04:59:19','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101585,2,'2017-03-16 22:00:28','2017-03-17 05:00:28','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:00:28','2017-03-17 05:00:28','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101586,2,'2017-03-16 22:00:55','2017-03-17 05:00:55','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> \r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:00:55','2017-03-17 05:00:55','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101587,2,'2017-03-16 22:01:42','2017-03-17 05:01:42','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:01:42','2017-03-17 05:01:42','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101588,2,'2017-03-16 22:02:50','2017-03-17 05:02:50','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:02:50','2017-03-17 05:02:50','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101589,2,'2017-03-16 22:04:58','2017-03-17 05:04:58','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation, and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:04:58','2017-03-17 05:04:58','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101590,2,'2017-03-16 22:05:33','2017-03-17 05:05:33','Birthed in India over 15 years ago, SHARANYA exists to empower seeds of change on individual, collective, and planetary levels towards healing, respect, responsibility, and the fullest awareness of an interconnected, interrelated cosmic reality. Our origins are rooted in a commitment to social justice and to the (r)evolution of consciousness across space-time realities that we might transform increasingly toward peace.<br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Temple in India\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-99537 imgborder\" alt=\"Maa Batakali Mandir (Puri)\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MBCMTemple.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Constitution of Maa Batakali Sanskrutika Parisada</span></h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission\r\n</span><br>\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Balisahi, Puri Town, Puri  752 001 Orissa</span><br>\r\n\r\nRegistration Number: 2802/211/91-92<br>\r\nFiled and Certified by the Audit Superintendent District Panchayat Office, Puri<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Mission Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>To create and nurture a community of life-affirming individuals devoted to Mother Worship and to developing an understanding of how such devotion can positively transform our global community.</ul>\r\n<b>Vision Statement:</b>\r\n<ul>The Maa Batakali Cultural Mission is dedicated to promoting the vision of the world as a global community in Her divine name.</ul>\r\n<b>Aims and Objectives:</b>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>To maintain this Mission as a nonprofit public-benefit organization, not organized for the private gain of any person.</li>\r\n	<li>To foster awareness of Goddess worship as a life-affirming path among the global community; and to eradicate erroneous and superstitious beliefs in this regard.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, develop and execute recreational, cultural and spiritual activities for the community.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake programs for the establishment of community housing, social forestry and environmental sanitation; et alia.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize, fund and promote Mission Centers for community gatherings, social welfare programs and adult education, including the establishment of a library with emphasis on educational activities for community youth; and to develop various pilot projects to meet the needs of community members.</li>\r\n	<li>To organize outreach programs for those not in or around Mission Centers.</li>\r\n	<li>To undertake projects expressly designed to promote the welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other economically \"backward\" classes of people, and to promote the development of cooperative ideas and enterprise among them and the community at large.</li>\r\n	<li>To draw up schemes for the rehabilitation of antisocial persons; i.e., those with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, and to assist their families as required.</li>\r\n	<li>To educate about and mobilize peacefully against sati, dowry, beggary, caste crime and similar social ills.</li>\r\n	<li>To publish a monthly newsletter, community bulletin and other educational materials for the promotion of the spiritual and cultural philosophy of the Mission.</li>\r\n	<li>To help provide relief, through community efforts, for those effected by natural calamities and other emergencies.</li>\r\n	<li>To promote cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs throughout India and the world.</li>\r\n	<li>To assist in providing legal aid to the needy and the poor.</li>\r\n	<li>To establish sister organizations, in the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote the vision of the Mission worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>To develop fundraising schemes for the future growth and maintenance of the Mission and its associations.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part I\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99541 imgborder\" alt=\"Shyam Sundar Dash at Maabatakali Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamPuriWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>August 2, 1998</em><br><br>\r\nIt\'s summer in India, the time when the air is thick, sweat plentiful, and the monsoon\'s rains swell the skies and the streets. I have come here, to this land of spice, spirit and the sacred, to further my work in ecofeminism by looking at women\'s spiritual connections to social justice and activism on behalf of the environment. I am not here long, however, before Maa, the Divine Mother, shows me that there\'s more to my quest than I originally thought.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSpeaking to a guide at my hotel, I tell him, \"I need to find a temple to the Goddess.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Which one,\" he asks. \"Which goddess?\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Well, Kali,\" I state hesitatingly, unsure of how my request will be received.  The man looks me up and down, trying to determine where I fit within the spectrum of visitors from whom he makes his livelihood.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Wouldn\'t you rather visit Lord Jaganath?\" he inquires. Lord of the Universe, Jaganath is honored at this time in Puri (the eastern <i>dham</i>, one of the sacred compass points in India) in a huge festival to which hundreds of thousands flock each year. Together with his brother and sister, this is the only time the Lord leaves the <I>mandir</I> (temple). He\'s on a family outing to his summer home across the town, and everyone comes out to get a glimpse of the royal family.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I respond quickly. I\'m restless and on a mission. It is Kali I need to see and no one else. That She is responsible for my getting through a political uprising in Digha at the southern end of West Bengal unscathed is apparent to me. I have come here therefore to give thanks and need to be at her feet in a temple soon. Sensing my urgency, the gentleman kindly calls to an auto-rickshaw driver with a shrug, not wanting to engage me further about goddesses. The driver arrives.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Kali mandir,\" I say to him as he pulls up alongside us. At this point, I have no idea how many homes Maa has here in Puri. After receiving no further instructions, the driver takes off towards the center of town. I later find out (after several unsuccessful attempts to again visit the place to which I am now heading) that there are at least four Kali temples accessible to visitors. Reaching our destination, I buy a hibiscus mala, a garland of her sacred flower, and add that to my <I>puja</I> (worship) basket. Into it too go coconut, juicy betel nut and other sweets to delight Her. My offering is noteworthy at this temple for its size; but I am generous as I feel a strong need to show my appreciation to Goddess for getting me out of Digha alive. <br><br>\r\n\r\nThe pujari at Maa Batakali Mandir, Shyam Sundar Dash, is a Brahmin priest with two sons. In his devotion and gratitude for the goddess having given him these sons, Shyam has built this temple. A small roadside mandir, passersby usually drop rupees on the temple steps on their daily rounds. It is nothing too fancy, but Maa here is absolutely resplendent.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn his time, Shyam has doubled as a government worker, making regular trips back and forth from his office to tend to Maa and her devotees. Now retired, he tends to the temple and its congregation of worshipers every day for morning prayers and evening <i>aarati</i> (a beautiful celebration with lights and offerings). As Shyam sees me approach for the first time, he stares. He asks me directly why I am there, and although he is not angry, his disposition and directness can easily be mistaken for exactly that at first. Truly, he\'s just curious, but I am startled by his question.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Are you ISKON?\" he demands.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSuspense broken, I let out a nervous laugh. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (a.k.a. Hare Krishnas) has never drawn me, but Puri is full of Western devotees. Lord Jaganath, I learn is, like Krishna whom those in ISKON worship, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God of Preservation, and one of the main Hindu deities.<br><br>\r\n\r\n\"No,\" I reply, \"I came to thank Maa.\"  After a few more words, Shyam accepts my offering basket, performing puja on my behalf. He asks my name in order to conduct the rites. When we\'re through, he asks why I\'m there. But my eyes are transfixed on Maa\'s image as it transforms before me, and I can only point to my heart by way of explanation. \"She\'s here,\" I manage to say. Then, everything that has been kept inside until now in this challenging land of contrasts streams out through my eyes in hot tears.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFrom June through the end of August 1998, I live in Puri. My friends up north forgive me for not coming back. My field work on is put on hold. It was my pause when Shyam asked after the ritual, \"Will you come visit my house?\" that changed not only the course of my research, but also my life. Aware of India\'s potential for surprises, I held a moment of silence before responding and internally questioned his invitation and motivations.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFeeling inside, I sensed that this was an offering, and a door was opening to me that might never open again. In the pause, I could see Her face dimly, and I wondered in my rational mind about my work and Shyam\'s intentions. It took me three days to surrender to the feeling and my vision of Her beckoning. After careful thought and some time meditating with the ocean\'s wisdom, I said yes. I returned to meet my new teacher and his family.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe more time I spent in Puri, the more I realized that Goddess was working in quite mysterious ways and that Shyam was no typical Brahmin priest.  As time passed, I learned the extent to which She was working through him, and I absorbed many levels of Her teachings. Some were straightforward and harsh; others were more obtuse and delightful.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAfter much work on my temple manners, Sanskrit, and a conversion to Hinduism, <I>diksha</I>, or initiation into Kali\'s mysteries is the next profound unfolding of my spiritual journey. The day comes on the August new moon, and I am thrilled when I realize it will be August 2nd, the festival of the harvest often called Lughnasad (or Lammas) in the earth-based Western calendar. It is as though Maa has answered my burning question: Can I do this, honor you, Mother, as a priestess in both worlds? The synchronicity of timing does not escape me, and I feel She is telling me that I can have it both ways, walking as a Goddess worshiper wherever I may be in the world. To Her, I learn, there is no distinction.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe initiation is radical by most Hindu standards. Shyam is a Brahmin priest, and I am not only a Westerner but also a woman; and women in India are not initiated by Brahmins. Following the Vedas in his public work, Shyam also practices Tantra. This is the in-road to Maa that is clearly appropriate for my circumstances and his. Tantrics care not of my birth, only my longing. But perhaps there would be less to explain and fewer staring eyes as we sit working together at the temple were Shyam to be more public about the various faces of his devotion.<br><br> \r\n\r\nAs Shyam manages to satisfy people\'s natural curiosity with his answers to their queries and suspicious looks, I pretend not to notice the robust number of visitors to the temple in the evenings after the gates have closed and we have begun our private work and evening prayers together.<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99707 imgborder alignright\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre and Shyam Sundar Dash at Puri Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ShyamSundarDashChandraAlexandrePuriMBCM1-e1377156643651.jpg\" width=\"228\" height=\"246\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy practice deepens after initiation, and on Her sacred day of Kali Puja some months later in October, I sit at the feet of the goddess in the temple, a spot that locals cannot come near. It is nearing midnight and the heat of the day lifting off the earth combined with the hot lamps that light Her image makes the sweat drip down my arms, makes my sari blouse feel even tighter than it already is, and makes me wish I couldn\'t see the large number of bugs and ants crawling on my feet and ankles in search of food. I honor Her by pouring <i>ghee</i> (clarified butter) for the <i>homa</i> (fire offering) ceremony, and I honor the fact that I am Shyam\'s first <i>chela</i> (student), a position of honor in this lineage tradition.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI tend to my responsibilities dutifully as the <I>Chandi Path</I> verses resonate off the temple walls and expand into the night air. In moments of quiet, I think about the day Shyam said he\'d been waiting for me, how he said his own guru had told him that one day, he would be bringing someone other than his sons to the path. I remember how Shyam said he had found the signs in my face the very first day we had met at the temple; signs telling him that I was the student to which his guru had referred. We finish our time together and he tells me the most important thing: \"Go! Go back to your home land, America, and spread Mother Worship!\"<br><br>\r\n\r\nUpon my return to the States, SHARANYA is born and my dedication to Kali Maa takes root with the formation of community on Western shores. The wisdom of the ocean is remembered and I am home.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Chandra Alexandre</strong> is the founding director of SHARANYA. She received <i>namakarana samskara</i> and her first <em>diksha </em>from Shyam Sundar Dash (founder of the Maa Batakali Mandir in Puri; Bharadvaja gotra) in 1998. \r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Origin Story: Part II\" active=\"\"]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Kamakhya Mandir\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/KamakhyaMandirWeb.jpg\" /></a><em>June 26, 2003</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n\"Babaji wants to see you.\"<br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> I’m walking barefoot down the muddy side of Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya in northeastern India after witnessing one of the most beautiful Sanskrit recitations I have ever heard. The white kurtas of the Brahmin men gathered in a circle around a sacred fire stand in marked contrast though to the throngs of red-clad women waiting in long lines to see their Mother. Both, I imagine, receive Her blessings. I am in northeastern India, in Assam, participating in an annual Tantrick pilgrimage to the seat of the goddess’ power, the place where her <i>yoni</i>, or sexual organ, resides on Earth.  It’s a powerful place, a place of contrasts where all come together, whether Vaishnava, Shaivite or Shakta, to honor Maa. It\'s a place, one might say, where all unites in Her name.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Babji, I learn, is a 400-year old Aghori. A believer in the preeminence of the divine as Shiva, pure consciousness, he is a practitioner of the non-dualistic or \"left-hand\" Tantric rites. In short, this means that he adheres to a rather literal interpretation of what other Tantrics might do symbolically in ritual and devotion on the path to enlightenment. He meditates, for example, not only on <i>yantras</i> (sacred diagrams), but on yantras in cremation grounds on top of corpses; he drinks wine and liquor; he smokes hash and takes in other natural mind-altering substances. He believes that the pathway to the divine is through the body, through this world, through all of creation. His accepts it all, the pure and impure, the wicked and sane, as sacred. He is a radical non-dualist—one who believes in the One as well as in the reality of the phenomenal world. His path is fast and furious, sweet and sublime, potentially off-putting at the same time that it attracts wonder, excitement, and awe.  He loves Maa. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> The three black-clad initiates standing outside his cave-like shelter on the hillside welcome me in. I meet Babji. He’s old but looks young, his face the only give-away that he’s been around the block a few times. His body, otherwise, is baby-like. He looks pregnant, a little round belly on a very thin frame. I sit cross-legged in front of him. To his left, the fire pit. To his right, a <i>kapala</i>, or human skull cup from which wine and other mind-altering substances are drunk, sits upturned. He calls me \"Beti,\" or daughter. Two followers of his are there; his initiates have left us alone. The woman wipes the snot dripping from Babaji\'s nose with a handkerchief and then moves to mop sweat from his forehead. No one, it appears, is immune to this sweltering summer heat. The Indian devotee next to her, perhaps her husband, has had far too much <i>bhang</i> (Cannabis) or something; his eyes have trouble steadying on me. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Sanskrit is better than my Hindi at this point. Fortunately, I can make out meaning from of the ritual language Babaji is using. The man helps a little, but his English is as poor as my Hindi. We quiet. Suddenly, Babaji grabs me. He pulls me to him with unsuspected strength. Face against face, I feel the bristles of his long beard against my cheek, and I feel coolness where the snot has been touching. I am startled, but now I’m held. I am held firmly, with apparent intention. The touch is not violent or inappropriate. The strength is deep and calming. I stay quiet and listen inside to my belly and instincts. Presence prevails, and I allow myself to trust the moment. Just then, Babaji begins. His mouth now pressed to my ear, he sounds an ancient mantra. My heart trembles, my eyes close, and I go inward. I surrender to these sounds, soaking in the ancient reverberations, feeling in them the voices of the lineage, the guttural utterances of vibrations across time and space. All enter my ear. All penetrate my soul.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Moments pass and I eventually sit back upright in silence. One moment, then two. From deep inside, the sobbing begins. There’s no rational thought, no rhyme or reason, just the moment and my feeling of tremendous love and connection to all that is…I recognize a touch of <i>sat chit ananada</i>: being, consciousness, bliss. My forehead now on Babji\'s knee, he pats my head and strokes my hair. I sit back upright. Silence. One moment, then two. Babaji reaches to his left where a rusty knife about four inches long sits waiting. I follow his motion with my eyes. Instantly, I am terrified. I have visions of blood. Stop! One moment, then two. Stop! This time, it’s an admonition to remember. Allow yourself to be taken, it says. You’ve been here before; you know what\'s happening. It\'s safe. Breathe. </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Babaji lowers my head with his hand and takes a fist-full of hair from my crown. He pulls hard enough to undo strands from my braid. Close to the scalp he cuts with the knife. Old and well-used, it doesn’t cut very well.  He pulls harder to get through the thickness of my mane and it hurts for an instant. I deepen my surrender. He cuts. He finishes, and I sit back up. Dazed, with my awareness in another place, I still must know.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"What,\" I ask, “are you going to do with it?\"  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"A sacrifice,” he says, \"will be offered in the fire tonight.\" He holds up my hair.  </span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \"It’s an equal exchange,\" he says. \"The price you pay for being welcomed into the family.”</span><br><br>\r\n\r\n<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>\r\n\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Founder\'s Biography\" active=\"\"]<img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99540 imgborder\" alt=\"Chandra Alexandre\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0731-e1378968031852.jpg\" /> Chandra Alexandre is a Tantric Bhairavi, an initiator in the tradition of Kali, serving SHARANYA as clergy. She is a householder and a regular pilgrim to the birthplace of Tantra in northeastern India, where she studies and practices with her teachers. Chandra was first initiated into the mysteries of the dark goddess in 1998 in Puri, Orissa on the dakshinacara path, and then, five years later, she accepted the non-dualistic path of vamacara Tantra at Kamakhya outside of Guwahati in Assam. Her maternal grandmother was her first guide into the ways of spirit in the world.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOn her initial return from India, Chandra founded SHARANYA to serve those committed to embodied and engaged spirituality for social justice and transformation. This was the birth of Sha’can, an authentic lineage tradition of Shakta Tantra contextualized and made relevant for people and lands distant from the source. Chandra and community complement San Francisco Bay Area worship, events and services with an online mystery school, Kali Vidya, to serve an international community of spiritual seekers and lovers of Maa.<br><br>\r\n\r\nChandra is known for her passionate engagement of theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Asian & Comparative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University (formerly the University of Creation Spirituality), and an MBA in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. In addition to SHARANYA, she engages her commitment through several community-based nonprofit organizations working for educational equity, poverty alleviation, and the empowerment of women and girls.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOriginally from New York, Chandra has, since 1995, called San Francisco home. She is a devoted wife and mother and also conjurer of <i>The Aghori Bakery: Everyday Spiritual Conversations</i> (forthcoming).[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali: Goddess of Social Justice</h5>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kali-Maa-Iconography.mp3\']Interview excerpt: <i>Chandra Alexandre</I> (Interviewed by Karen Tate) December 31, 2008[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"origins\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Origins','','inherit','closed','closed','','99123-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:05:33','2017-03-17 05:05:33','',99123,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99123-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101591,2,'2017-03-16 22:07:00','2017-03-17 05:07:00','SHARANYA is a unique 501(c)(3) religious organization and <em>Devi Mandir</em> (goddess temple) evolving Śākta Tantra from ancient roots to serve those who seek to know the Divine beyond the boundaries of geography and religious dogma. With an authentic lineage in embodied, goddess-centered tradition as birthed in northeastern India and contextualized for today, ours is path of strengthening oneself to employ spiritual technologies in service to personal transformation and social justice. Our tradition is called <a title=\"The Tradition\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/about-us/the-tradition-2/\">Sha\'can</a>.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Covenant\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<ol><b>I. Sa\'ham (She I am). </b> <i>I am the Goddess manifest; I recognize Her in all of Creation.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>II. I remember all that is, was and ever will be.</b> <i>Live the present moment, honor the ancestors, respect the future generations;  time is not linear, but travels in a sacred spiral that spans all of existence.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>III. I provoke, invoke and live the Divine Will.</b> <i>Commit to transforming yourself, your community and the planet by doing the work of spirituality; make your practice that of the awakened mystic in our time.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<center>\r\n<b>Evam Astu!</b><br>\r\n\r\n<i>So mote it be!</i><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: xx-large;\">\\</span></center>[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Mission\" active=\"\"]To promote healing, truth, and personal transformation through integration of embodied worship, spiritual discipline and devotion, creating an engaged spirituality in service to social justice.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Vision\" active=\"\"]Our vision is of a harmonious global community where our inherent divinity—the essence of female, male, and that which lies between and around—is welcomed, balanced, sustained, honored, and celebrated as quintessential to creation. Through open hearts, surrendered egos, willingness, and a deep commitment, we create a compassionate and strong, safe space to engage spirituality that brings Devi, Goddess, home to each one of us.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n<br>\r\nThe word SHARANYA is from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and means \"refuge\" or \"sanctuary.\" Founded on August 2, 1998 by a scholar and activist, this public charity (EIN: 94-3334334) received federal tax-exempt status in February 2002 in order to support a local and international community through a variety of programs and services.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<h5>Priorities</h5>\r\nOur community is open to all seeking to better understand the ways of Goddess—particularly in her antinomian, chthonic, relational, cyclical, and embodied forms. In our community:<br><br>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span> We seek to know Her throughout the spaces of Self and World.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We dedicate ourselves to Her devotion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We make a commitment to action and service for the betterment of all beings.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We embrace the work of conscious relationship and own a strong commitment to compassion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We strive to resacralize the Feminine/Female and unpathologize the Masculine/Male.</ul></ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"general\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]','About Us','','inherit','closed','closed','','20-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:07:00','2017-03-17 05:07:00','',20,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/20-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101592,2,'2017-03-16 22:07:41','2017-03-17 05:07:41','SHARANYA is a unique 501(c)(3) religious organization and <em>Devi Mandir</em> (goddess temple) evolving Śākta Tantra from ancient roots to serve those who seek to know the Divine beyond the boundaries of geography and religious dogma. With an authentic lineage in embodied, goddess-centered tradition as birthed in northeastern India and contextualized for today, ours is path of strengthening oneself to employ spiritual technologies in service to personal transformation and social justice. Our tradition is called <a title=\"The Tradition\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/about-us/the-tradition-2/\">Sha\'can</a>.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Covenant\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<ol><b>I. Sa\'ham (She I am). </b> <i>I am the Goddess manifest; I recognize Her in all of Creation.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>II. I remember all that is, was and ever will be.</b> <i>Live the present moment, honor the ancestors, respect the future generations;  time is not linear, but travels in a sacred spiral that spans all of existence.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>III. I provoke, invoke and live the Divine Will.</b> <i>Commit to transforming yourself, your community and the planet by doing the work of spirituality; make your practice that of the awakened mystic in our time.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<center>\r\n<b>Evam Astu!</b><br>\r\n\r\n<i>So mote it be!</i><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: xx-large;\">\\</span></center>[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Mission\" active=\"\"]To promote healing, truth, and personal transformation through integration of embodied worship, spiritual discipline and devotion, creating an engaged spirituality in service to social justice.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Vision\" active=\"\"]Our vision is of a harmonious global community where our inherent divinity—the essence of female, male, and that which lies between and around—is welcomed, balanced, sustained, honored, and celebrated as quintessential to creation. Through open hearts, surrendered egos, willingness, and a deep commitment, we create a compassionate and strong, safe space to engage spirituality that brings Devi, Goddess, home to each one of us.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n<br>\r\nThe word SHARANYA is from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and means \"refuge\" or \"sanctuary.\" Founded on August 2, 1998 by a scholar and activist, this public charity (EIN: 94-3334334) received federal tax-exempt status in February 2002 in order to support a local and international community through a variety of programs and services.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a>\r\n<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Priorities</h5>\r\nOur community is open to all seeking to better understand the ways of Goddess—particularly in her antinomian, chthonic, relational, cyclical, and embodied forms. In our community:<br><br>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span> We seek to know Her throughout the spaces of Self and World.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We dedicate ourselves to Her devotion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We make a commitment to action and service for the betterment of all beings.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We embrace the work of conscious relationship and own a strong commitment to compassion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We strive to resacralize the Feminine/Female and unpathologize the Masculine/Male.</ul></ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"general\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]','About Us','','inherit','closed','closed','','20-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:07:41','2017-03-17 05:07:41','',20,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/20-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101593,2,'2017-03-16 22:08:48','2017-03-17 05:08:48','SHARANYA is a unique 501(c)(3) religious organization and <em>Devi Mandir</em> (goddess temple) evolving Śākta Tantra from ancient roots to serve those who seek to know the Divine beyond the boundaries of geography and religious dogma. With an authentic lineage in embodied, goddess-centered tradition as birthed in northeastern India and contextualized for today, ours is path of strengthening oneself to employ spiritual technologies in service to personal transformation and social justice. Our tradition is called <a title=\"The Tradition\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/about-us/the-tradition-2/\">Sha\'can</a>.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Covenant\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<ol><b>I. Sa\'ham (She I am). </b> <i>I am the Goddess manifest; I recognize Her in all of Creation.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>II. I remember all that is, was and ever will be.</b> <i>Live the present moment, honor the ancestors, respect the future generations;  time is not linear, but travels in a sacred spiral that spans all of existence.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>III. I provoke, invoke and live the Divine Will.</b> <i>Commit to transforming yourself, your community and the planet by doing the work of spirituality; make your practice that of the awakened mystic in our time.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<center>\r\n<b>Evam Astu!</b><br>\r\n\r\n<i>So mote it be!</i><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: xx-large;\">\\</span></center>[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Mission\" active=\"\"]To promote healing, truth, and personal transformation through integration of embodied worship, spiritual discipline and devotion, creating an engaged spirituality in service to social justice.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Vision\" active=\"\"]Our vision is of a harmonious global community where our inherent divinity—the essence of female, male, and that which lies between and around—is welcomed, balanced, sustained, honored, and celebrated as quintessential to creation. Through open hearts, surrendered egos, willingness, and a deep commitment, we create a compassionate and strong, safe space to engage spirituality that brings Devi, Goddess, home to each one of us.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n<br>\r\nThe word SHARANYA is from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and means \"refuge\" or \"sanctuary.\" Founded on August 2, 1998 by a scholar and activist, this public charity (EIN: 94-3334334) received federal tax-exempt status in February 2002 in order to support a local and international community through a variety of programs and services.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> [/one_half] \r\n\r\n\r\n<h5>Priorities</h5>\r\nOur community is open to all seeking to better understand the ways of Goddess—particularly in her antinomian, chthonic, relational, cyclical, and embodied forms. In our community:<br><br>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span> We seek to know Her throughout the spaces of Self and World.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We dedicate ourselves to Her devotion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We make a commitment to action and service for the betterment of all beings.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We embrace the work of conscious relationship and own a strong commitment to compassion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We strive to resacralize the Feminine/Female and unpathologize the Masculine/Male.</ul></ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"general\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]','About Us','','inherit','closed','closed','','20-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:08:48','2017-03-17 05:08:48','',20,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/20-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101594,2,'2017-03-16 22:09:47','2017-03-17 05:09:47','SHARANYA is a unique 501(c)(3) religious organization and <em>Devi Mandir</em> (goddess temple) evolving Śākta Tantra from ancient roots to serve those who seek to know the Divine beyond the boundaries of geography and religious dogma. With an authentic lineage in embodied, goddess-centered tradition as birthed in northeastern India and contextualized for today, ours is path of strengthening oneself to employ spiritual technologies in service to personal transformation and social justice. Our tradition is called <a title=\"The Tradition\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/about-us/the-tradition-2/\">Sha\'can</a>.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Covenant\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<ol><b>I. Sa\'ham (She I am). </b> <i>I am the Goddess manifest; I recognize Her in all of Creation.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>II. I remember all that is, was and ever will be.</b> <i>Live the present moment, honor the ancestors, respect the future generations;  time is not linear, but travels in a sacred spiral that spans all of existence.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>III. I provoke, invoke and live the Divine Will.</b> <i>Commit to transforming yourself, your community and the planet by doing the work of spirituality; make your practice that of the awakened mystic in our time.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<center>\r\n<b>Evam Astu!</b><br>\r\n\r\n<i>So mote it be!</i><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: xx-large;\">\\</span></center>[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Mission\" active=\"\"]To promote healing, truth, and personal transformation through integration of embodied worship, spiritual discipline and devotion, creating an engaged spirituality in service to social justice.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Vision\" active=\"\"]Our vision is of a harmonious global community where our inherent divinity—the essence of female, male, and that which lies between and around—is welcomed, balanced, sustained, honored, and celebrated as quintessential to creation. Through open hearts, surrendered egos, willingness, and a deep commitment, we create a compassionate and strong, safe space to engage spirituality that brings Devi, Goddess, home to each one of us.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> [/one_half] \r\n\r\nThe word SHARANYA is from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and means \"refuge\" or \"sanctuary.\" Founded on August 2, 1998 by a scholar and activist, this public charity (EIN: 94-3334334) received federal tax-exempt status in February 2002 in order to support a local and international community through a variety of programs and services.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<br>\r\n<h5>Priorities</h5>\r\nOur community is open to all seeking to better understand the ways of Goddess—particularly in her antinomian, chthonic, relational, cyclical, and embodied forms. In our community:<br><br>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span> We seek to know Her throughout the spaces of Self and World.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We dedicate ourselves to Her devotion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We make a commitment to action and service for the betterment of all beings.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We embrace the work of conscious relationship and own a strong commitment to compassion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We strive to resacralize the Feminine/Female and unpathologize the Masculine/Male.</ul></ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"general\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]','About Us','','inherit','closed','closed','','20-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:09:47','2017-03-17 05:09:47','',20,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/20-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101595,2,'2017-03-16 22:10:33','2017-03-17 05:10:33','SHARANYA is a unique 501(c)(3) religious organization and <em>Devi Mandir</em> (goddess temple) evolving Śākta Tantra from ancient roots to serve those who seek to know the Divine beyond the boundaries of geography and religious dogma. With an authentic lineage in embodied, goddess-centered tradition as birthed in northeastern India and contextualized for today, ours is path of strengthening oneself to employ spiritual technologies in service to personal transformation and social justice. Our tradition is called <a title=\"The Tradition\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/about-us/the-tradition-2/\">Sha\'can</a>.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Covenant\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<ol><b>I. Sa\'ham (She I am). </b> <i>I am the Goddess manifest; I recognize Her in all of Creation.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>II. I remember all that is, was and ever will be.</b> <i>Live the present moment, honor the ancestors, respect the future generations;  time is not linear, but travels in a sacred spiral that spans all of existence.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>III. I provoke, invoke and live the Divine Will.</b> <i>Commit to transforming yourself, your community and the planet by doing the work of spirituality; make your practice that of the awakened mystic in our time.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<center>\r\n<b>Evam Astu!</b><br>\r\n\r\n<i>So mote it be!</i><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: xx-large;\">\\</span></center>[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Mission\" active=\"\"]To promote healing, truth, and personal transformation through integration of embodied worship, spiritual discipline and devotion, creating an engaged spirituality in service to social justice.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Vision\" active=\"\"]Our vision is of a harmonious global community where our inherent divinity—the essence of female, male, and that which lies between and around—is welcomed, balanced, sustained, honored, and celebrated as quintessential to creation. Through open hearts, surrendered egos, willingness, and a deep commitment, we create a compassionate and strong, safe space to engage spirituality that brings Devi, Goddess, home to each one of us.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n<br>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> [/one_half] \r\n\r\nThe word SHARANYA is from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and means \"refuge\" or \"sanctuary.\" Founded on August 2, 1998 by a scholar and activist, this public charity (EIN: 94-3334334) received federal tax-exempt status in February 2002 in order to support a local and international community through a variety of programs and services.<br><br><br><br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Priorities</h5>\r\nOur community is open to all seeking to better understand the ways of Goddess—particularly in her antinomian, chthonic, relational, cyclical, and embodied forms. In our community:<br><br>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span> We seek to know Her throughout the spaces of Self and World.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We dedicate ourselves to Her devotion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We make a commitment to action and service for the betterment of all beings.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We embrace the work of conscious relationship and own a strong commitment to compassion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We strive to resacralize the Feminine/Female and unpathologize the Masculine/Male.</ul></ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"general\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]','About Us','','inherit','closed','closed','','20-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:10:33','2017-03-17 05:10:33','',20,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/20-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101596,2,'2017-03-16 22:11:04','2017-03-17 05:11:04','SHARANYA is a unique 501(c)(3) religious organization and <em>Devi Mandir</em> (goddess temple) evolving Śākta Tantra from ancient roots to serve those who seek to know the Divine beyond the boundaries of geography and religious dogma. With an authentic lineage in embodied, goddess-centered tradition as birthed in northeastern India and contextualized for today, ours is path of strengthening oneself to employ spiritual technologies in service to personal transformation and social justice. Our tradition is called <a title=\"The Tradition\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/about-us/the-tradition-2/\">Sha\'can</a>.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Covenant\" active=\"\"]\r\n\r\n<ol><b>I. Sa\'ham (She I am). </b> <i>I am the Goddess manifest; I recognize Her in all of Creation.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>II. I remember all that is, was and ever will be.</b> <i>Live the present moment, honor the ancestors, respect the future generations;  time is not linear, but travels in a sacred spiral that spans all of existence.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<ol><b>III. I provoke, invoke and live the Divine Will.</b> <i>Commit to transforming yourself, your community and the planet by doing the work of spirituality; make your practice that of the awakened mystic in our time.</i></ol>\r\n\r\n<center>\r\n<b>Evam Astu!</b><br>\r\n\r\n<i>So mote it be!</i><br><br>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: xx-large;\">\\</span></center>[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Mission\" active=\"\"]To promote healing, truth, and personal transformation through integration of embodied worship, spiritual discipline and devotion, creating an engaged spirituality in service to social justice.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Our Vision\" active=\"\"]Our vision is of a harmonious global community where our inherent divinity—the essence of female, male, and that which lies between and around—is welcomed, balanced, sustained, honored, and celebrated as quintessential to creation. Through open hearts, surrendered egos, willingness, and a deep commitment, we create a compassionate and strong, safe space to engage spirituality that brings Devi, Goddess, home to each one of us.[/toggle]\r\n\r\n<br>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\"><img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSCN1214-e1381995966484.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Murti\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-100719 imgborder\" /></a> [/one_half] \r\n\r\nThe word SHARANYA is from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, and means \"refuge\" or \"sanctuary.\" Founded on August 2, 1998 by a scholar and activist, this public charity (EIN: 94-3334334) received federal tax-exempt status in February 2002 in order to support a local and international community through a variety of programs and services.<br><br><br><br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>Priorities</h5>\r\nOur community is open to all seeking to better understand the ways of Goddess—particularly in her antinomian, chthonic, relational, cyclical, and embodied forms. In our community:<br><br>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span> We seek to know Her throughout the spaces of Self and World.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We dedicate ourselves to Her devotion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We make a commitment to action and service for the betterment of all beings.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We embrace the work of conscious relationship and own a strong commitment to compassion.</ul></ul>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><ul><span style=\"color: #9c1601; font-family: wingdings; font-size: x-large;\">{</span>  We strive to resacralize the Feminine/Female and unpathologize the Masculine/Male.</ul></ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"general\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]','About Us','','inherit','closed','closed','','20-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:11:04','2017-03-17 05:11:04','',20,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/20-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101597,2,'2017-03-16 22:29:34','2017-03-17 05:29:34','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 14, 2015 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Learn more</a> about all of our Festivals and join us!<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"101\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','publish','closed','closed','','12th-annual-kali-puja-festival','','','2017-03-17 16:39:17','2017-03-17 23:39:17','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/?page_id=101597',0,'page','',0),(101598,2,'2017-03-16 22:13:10','2017-03-17 05:13:10','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 25, 2014 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br>\r\n\r\nFifty-one of us were present for the puja, a heterodox ceremony that incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"102\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101597-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:13:10','2017-03-17 05:13:10','',101597,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101599,2,'2017-03-16 22:13:41','2017-03-17 05:13:41','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 25, 2014 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony that incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"102\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101597-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:13:41','2017-03-17 05:13:41','',101597,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101600,2,'2017-03-16 22:15:43','2017-03-17 05:15:43','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 14, 2015 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony that incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"102\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101597-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:15:43','2017-03-17 05:15:43','',101597,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101601,2,'2017-03-16 22:24:38','2017-03-17 05:24:38','Lord of Beasts, Renunciant, He Who Shines Beyond the Infinite, we invite your blessings!','Shiva Altar','','publish','closed','closed','','shiva-altar','','','2017-03-16 23:06:59','2017-03-17 06:06:59','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101601',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101602,2,'2017-03-16 22:24:09','2017-03-17 05:24:09','','Shiva Altar','','inherit','open','closed','','2015-11-15-12-14-31','','','2017-03-16 22:54:01','2017-03-17 05:54:01','',101601,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2015-11-15-12.14.31.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101603,2,'2017-03-16 22:34:38','2017-03-17 05:34:38','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[one_half]<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>[/one_half]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n[one_half last=last]<h3><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h3><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last]<h3><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h3><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>[/one_half]\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:<br><br>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:34:38','2017-03-17 05:34:38','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101604,2,'2017-03-16 22:38:10','2017-03-17 05:38:10','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n[one_half last=last]<h3><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h3><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last]<h3><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h3><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>[/one_half]\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:<br><br>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:38:10','2017-03-17 05:38:10','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101605,2,'2017-03-16 22:41:31','2017-03-17 05:41:31','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:<br><br>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h3><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n<h3><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h3><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:41:31','2017-03-17 05:41:31','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101606,2,'2017-03-16 22:43:15','2017-03-17 05:43:15','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:<br><br>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:43:15','2017-03-17 05:43:15','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101607,2,'2017-03-16 22:45:41','2017-03-17 05:45:41','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:<br><br>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:45:41','2017-03-17 05:45:41','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101608,2,'2017-03-16 22:46:09','2017-03-17 05:46:09','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:<br><br>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:46:09','2017-03-17 05:46:09','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101609,2,'2017-03-16 22:46:36','2017-03-17 05:46:36','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:<br><br><br>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:46:36','2017-03-17 05:46:36','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101610,2,'2017-03-16 22:47:00','2017-03-17 05:47:00','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:47:00','2017-03-17 05:47:00','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101612,2,'2017-03-16 22:50:46','2017-03-17 05:50:46','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 14, 2015 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony that incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"101\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101597-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:50:46','2017-03-17 05:50:46','',101597,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101613,2,'2017-03-16 22:56:11','2017-03-17 05:56:11','Lord of Beasts, Renunciant, He Who Shines Beyond the Infinite, we invite your blessings!','Shiva Altar','','inherit','closed','closed','','101601-autosave-v1','','','2017-03-16 22:56:11','2017-03-17 05:56:11','',101601,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101601-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101614,2,'2017-03-16 23:03:52','2017-03-17 06:03:52','GAM GAM GAM Ganapatayai Namah!','Ganesha Altar','','publish','closed','closed','','ganesha-altar','','','2017-03-16 23:07:57','2017-03-17 06:07:57','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101614',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101615,2,'2017-03-16 23:01:28','2017-03-17 06:01:28','','Ganesha Altar','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_0012','','','2017-03-16 23:02:44','2017-03-17 06:02:44','',101614,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC_0012.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101617,2,'2017-03-16 23:10:44','2017-03-17 06:10:44','','KPF Altar 2015','','inherit','open','closed','','2015-11-14-20-34-21','','','2017-03-16 23:19:01','2017-03-17 06:19:01','',101233,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-11-14-20.34.21.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101618,2,'2017-03-16 23:19:22','2017-03-17 06:19:22','<p>12th Annual Kali Puja Festival</p>\r\n<p>November 14th, 2015</p>\r\n','Kali Puja','','inherit','closed','closed','','101233-autosave-v1','','','2017-03-16 23:19:22','2017-03-17 06:19:22','',101233,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101233-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101619,2,'2017-03-16 23:26:20','2017-03-17 06:26:20','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"12th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/12th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">12th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year on November 14, 2015, we celebrated the 12th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we joined together in song, movement, prayer, and devotion to honor Kali Maa. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. We came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 23:26:20','2017-03-17 06:26:20','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101620,2,'2017-03-16 23:27:27','2017-03-17 06:27:27','[one_third] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/12th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\" title=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Blessed-Altar-Web-e1380257091912.jpg\" ]Receive darshan[/teaser] [/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\" title=\"Curious?\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0313-e1381818563636.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third last=last] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/events/\" title=\"Puja Dates\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/0311-e1381818979184.jpg\" ]Visit the calendar[/teaser] [/one_third]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<hr />\r\n<h3>Reflections &amp; News</h3>\r\n<center><i>\"Sing Kali\'s glory, make a happy racket, paddle this old boat of a body as fast as you can.<br>What\'s the trouble of this world anyhow?\" - Ramprasad Sen</i></center><br>\r\n[blog category=\"7\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"matrikas\" time=\"10\" randomize=\"on\" effect=\"fade\" ]','Homepage','','inherit','closed','closed','','99117-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 23:27:27','2017-03-17 06:27:27','',99117,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99117-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101621,2,'2017-03-16 23:31:10','2017-03-17 06:31:10','Om Krim Kalyai Namah!','Kali Maa','','publish','closed','closed','','kali-maa','','','2017-03-16 23:31:10','2017-03-17 06:31:10','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101621',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101622,2,'2017-03-16 23:30:18','2017-03-17 06:30:18','','Kali Altar 2015','','inherit','open','closed','','2015-11-14-20-34-28','','','2017-03-16 23:31:03','2017-03-17 06:31:03','',101621,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2015-11-14-20.34.28.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101623,2,'2017-03-16 23:33:37','2017-03-17 06:33:37','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 14, 2015 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"101\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101597-revision-v1','','','2017-03-16 23:33:37','2017-03-17 06:33:37','',101597,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101624,2,'2017-03-16 23:38:06','2017-03-17 06:38:06','','Kali Puja Festival 2014','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_0464','','','2017-03-16 23:41:20','2017-03-17 06:41:20','',101122,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DSC_0464.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101625,2,'2017-03-17 15:07:47','2017-03-17 22:07:47','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a> page and below through image and song:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"12th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/12th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">12th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year on November 14, 2015, we celebrated the 12th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we joined together in song, movement, prayer, and devotion to honor Kali Maa. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Diwali, held on October 25, 2014. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. We came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\nJoyous song in praises to the Divine Mother, \"Jai Maa!\" and \"OM Maa!\" Listen, watch, enjoy, and join us for our next <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Festival.</a>\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 15:07:47','2017-03-17 22:07:47','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101626,2,'2017-03-17 15:09:53','2017-03-17 22:09:53','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.<br><br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <b><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a></b> page and below through image and song:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"12th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/12th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">12th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year on November 14, 2015, we celebrated the 12th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we joined together in song, movement, prayer, and devotion to honor Kali Maa. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Diwali, held on October 25, 2014. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. We came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\nJoyous song in praises to the Divine Mother, \"Jai Maa!\" and \"OM Maa!\" Listen, watch, enjoy, and join us for our next <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events\">puja or special event</a>. Everyone is welcome in Maa\'s house!\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 15:09:53','2017-03-17 22:09:53','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101627,2,'2017-03-17 15:15:20','2017-03-17 22:15:20','Each year, we come together to celebrate a number of regular festivals and high holy days within our tradition. Public <i>melas</i> (festivals) are a chance to celebrate the Divine with others, be witnessed in community, and share of Her blessings.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Annual Public Celebrations</h5>\r\n[tabgroup] [tab title=\"Mahakali Mela\"]\r\n\r\n<h3>Kali Puja Festival</h3>\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Kali Maa and the Quest for Light in the Dark Time of the Year</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-80 imgborder\" alt=\"SHARANYA\'s 2013 Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/P1020015-e1384896557532.jpeg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual Kali Puja Festival is a time to delight in the mysteries of Maa in concurrence with what is known as the puja season in India. First comes Navaratri, the nine nights of Goddess, and then the festival of lights, Diwali. During the amavasya (new moon) of Diwali, Goddess Kali is worshiped throughout West Bengal, Orissa, and Assam.<br><br><br>\r\n\r\n<h5>Kali Puja Videos & Gallery Archives</h5>\r\nEnjoy some of our previous pujas on our <b><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/galleries/\">Galleries</a></b> page and below through image and song:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h4><a title=\"12th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/12th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">12th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year on November 14, 2015, we celebrated the 12th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Divali. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we joined together in song, movement, prayer, and devotion to honor Kali Maa. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"11th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">11th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>Begun in 2004, this year was the 11th anniversary of our Kali Puja Festival at the time of Diwali, held on October 25, 2014. <br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/11th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><a title=\"10th Annual Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\">10th Annual Kali Puja Festival</a></h4><br>This year marked the 10th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. We came together on the night of November 2, 2013 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/10th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\"><b>Visit the gallery ></b></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h5>6th Annual Kali Puja Festival (2009)</h5>\r\nJoyous song in praises to the Divine Mother, \"Jai Maa!\" and \"OM Maa!\" Listen, watch, enjoy, and join us for our next <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events\">puja or special event</a>. Everyone is welcome in Maa\'s house!\r\n\r\n[one_half] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival - October 17, 2009\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwBCN4ORak\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99955 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival 2009\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-1.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half last=last] <a title=\"SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UGskSqluI\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-99956 imgborder\" alt=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/video-2.jpg\" /></a>\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"Ambubachi Mela\"]\r\n<h3>Yoni Puja Festival</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Celebration of Goddess, Women, Earth and The Feminine in All Things</b></span></i></h4>\r\n<img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/images/YoniPuja2009/Yoni%20Altar.jpg\" align=\"right\" />\r\n\r\nJoin us each year around Summer Solstice for a devotional and celebratory festival dedicated to Mahadevi, Great Goddess, and Her most powerful manifestations through the Ten Great Insights, the Most Transparent Revelations of Consciousness, during the auspicious time of abundance in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth...the time when Devī, Goddess, bleeds.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, the connection between the power of women\'s blood and the paradoxical mystery of the Goddess is most fully recognized in the Crone or Dark Goddess aspect of the Divine because She is the doorway between the worlds of life and death. It is the raudra devīs (fierce goddesses) who, in India, are said to menstruate. In temples dedicated to these intense emanations of śākti (the feminine force), one finds the rites and rituals of the goddess\' ritu, or menstrual blood.<br><br>\r\n\r\nAt SHARANYA, we hold this space for Her and for all beings seeking peace, healing, truth and wholeness. During this time, we recognize the power of Her most holy festival of Ambuvāci--the three days the goddess menstruates (beginning on the new moon usually following Summer Solstice)--when the forces of life and death co-join at the temple of Kāmākhyā in northeastern India, birthplace of Tantra and a heartland today of goddess worship.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our Yoni Puja, we recognize that Her potency is so wild and intense, so sweet and sublime, that whether seen as fierce or mild She is a force offering both comfort and strength...even in our moments of silence and despair. We invite you to be with us. Open in the safe space of our temple to the paradox held in the quiet and the song in order to receive her lessons, as well as Her blessings, during this most auspicious time. If you can\'t be with us in person, join us in spirit!\r\n<br><br>\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kamakhya-Mantram.mp3\']Kamakhya Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"89\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[tab title=\"PantheaCon\"]\r\n<h3>Kali Puja: The Dark Goddess Awakens</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><i><span style=\"color: #8d1a1c;\"><b>A Powerful Ceremony Where East Meets West</b></span></i></h4>\r\nSHARANYA\'s annual participation in PantheaCon is a tradition going back to 2004, one that fosters community for many devotees of the Divine Mother, especially those who are a long way from our home temple in San Francisco. Many line up long before the ritual begins to ensure participation. The ceremony has evolved over the years, and we open our doors to about 100 celebrants with chant and a moving meditation that guides us into Her mysteries.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"91\" perpage=\"5\" pagination=\"on\" ]\r\n\r\n[/tab]\r\n\r\n[/tabgroup]','Festivals','','inherit','closed','closed','','99912-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 15:15:20','2017-03-17 22:15:20','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99912-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101628,2,'2017-03-17 15:21:05','2017-03-17 22:21:05','Deepen your focus on Her and let your breath give rise to your sacred intention. We tonight priestess our soul\'s yearning to be heard and witnessed!','Priestesses','','publish','closed','closed','','priestesses','','','2017-03-17 15:21:05','2017-03-17 22:21:05','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101628',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101629,2,'2017-03-17 15:18:41','2017-03-17 22:18:41','','Priestesses 2015','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_0081-2','','','2017-03-17 15:19:38','2017-03-17 22:19:38','',101628,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC_0081.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101630,2,'2017-03-17 15:24:10','2017-03-17 22:24:10','Come forward. Open your heart. Feel Her embrace and feel peace.','Bring Yourself to Her','','publish','closed','closed','','bring-yourself-to-her','','','2017-03-17 15:24:10','2017-03-17 22:24:10','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101630',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101631,2,'2017-03-17 15:22:27','2017-03-17 22:22:27','','Bring Yourself to Her','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_0110','','','2017-03-17 15:23:02','2017-03-17 22:23:02','',101630,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC_0110.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101632,2,'2017-03-17 15:27:38','2017-03-17 22:27:38','I call to you: Kali of the cremation grounds, auspicious Kali, she who bears the skull cup (remover of the ego), secret one and she who is above all else; Ultimate goddess, black night, eternal mother, she who is the one beyond the fear of time and who illuminates the entire clan wave of my ancestors; She who gives desire, is desire and desired, the one who is the nature of desire, whose thighs are anointed with the juice of musk and who moves softly like the elephants… <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/th_gallery/kalis-names/\">Listen!</a>','She is Waiting','','publish','closed','closed','','she-is-waiting','','','2017-03-17 15:27:38','2017-03-17 22:27:38','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101632',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101633,2,'2017-03-17 15:25:16','2017-03-17 22:25:16','','She is Waiting','','inherit','open','closed','','2015-11-14-17-53-47','','','2017-03-17 15:25:45','2017-03-17 22:25:45','',101632,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2015-11-14-17.53.47.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101634,2,'2017-03-17 15:44:03','2017-03-17 22:44:03','','Kali Puja Festival 2016','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_2697-copy','','','2017-03-17 15:45:41','2017-03-17 22:45:41','',101505,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/DSC_2697-copy.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101635,2,'2017-03-17 15:49:25','2017-03-17 22:49:25','This year marked the 13th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 29, 2016 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Learn more</a> about all of our Festivals and join us!<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assemble annually with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together come through ritual and surrender to understand ourselves, one another, and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. Visit our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/\">calendar</a> to learn about our next public ceremony. Jai Maa! <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"116\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','13th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','publish','closed','closed','','13th-annual-kali-puja-festival','','','2017-03-18 11:08:38','2017-03-18 18:08:38','',99912,'http://sharanya.org/?page_id=101635',0,'page','',0),(101636,2,'2017-03-17 15:49:25','2017-03-17 22:49:25','This year marked the 13th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 29, 2016 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"101\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','13th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101635-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 15:49:25','2017-03-17 22:49:25','',101635,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101635-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101637,2,'2017-03-17 16:00:33','2017-03-17 23:00:33','We give thanks to the waters that sustain us, the energy that flows within us, the forces of momentum, and the powers of stillness. We invoke you, dear ones of the west, to be with us now. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/th_gallery/water-purification/\">Bless us and purify</a>. Ca Hum Phat Svaha!','Water in the West','','publish','closed','closed','','water-in-the-west','','','2017-03-17 16:00:33','2017-03-17 23:00:33','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101637',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101638,2,'2017-03-17 15:57:13','2017-03-17 22:57:13','','West Altar_Water','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_2682-copy','','','2017-03-17 15:57:59','2017-03-17 22:57:59','',101637,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC_2682-copy.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101639,2,'2017-03-17 16:02:39','2017-03-17 23:02:39','This year marked the 13th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 29, 2016 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time.<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"116\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','13th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101635-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 16:02:39','2017-03-17 23:02:39','',101635,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101635-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101640,2,'2017-03-17 16:09:36','2017-03-17 23:09:36','Oh, Three-Eyed One, we adore you.\r\nYour sweet fragrance permeates all and brings abundance.\r\nLike the cucumber separated from the vine,\r\nFree us from attachment,\r\nBut do not withhold immortality!\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/th_gallery/mantra-of-the-three-eyed-shiva/\">Listen...</a>','Honoring Shiva','','publish','closed','closed','','honoring-shiva-2','','','2017-03-17 16:09:36','2017-03-17 23:09:36','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101640',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101641,2,'2017-03-17 16:07:54','2017-03-17 23:07:54','','Honoring Shiva','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_2738-copy','','','2017-03-17 16:08:05','2017-03-17 23:08:05','',101640,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC_2738-copy.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101642,2,'2017-03-17 16:29:03','2017-03-17 23:29:03','Through <i>puja</i> (worship) offered to Maa Kali, we allow the Goddess to heal us and renew our souls. When we set time aside, as a community or alone, to perform puja to the Divine Mother, we connect to the original whim of God to know Herself. As we attune to the elemental powers and offer devotion to the gods, we transform ourselves and give birth to new worlds of being. Puja becomes part of the cosmic creation, allowing us to journey beyond time space reality and aid in the continuation of life on this planet. It grants us the ability to move from individual heart space into places of unlimited possibility. We awaken to the Goddess in every facet of our being and transform our reality, coming to see Maa Kali as the Holy Mother in whom we live, move, and have our selves made whole.','We Sing Her Praises','','publish','closed','closed','','we-sing-her-praises','','','2017-03-17 16:29:03','2017-03-17 23:29:03','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_galleries&#038;p=101642',0,'th_galleries','',0),(101643,2,'2017-03-17 16:26:21','2017-03-17 23:26:21','','Music to Her Ears','','inherit','open','closed','','dsc_2687-copy','','','2017-03-17 16:26:33','2017-03-17 23:26:33','',101642,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC_2687-copy.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101644,2,'2017-03-17 16:37:05','2017-03-17 23:37:05','[one_third] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/13th-annual-kali-puja-festival/\" title=\"Kali Puja Festival\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Blessed-Altar-Web-e1380257091912.jpg\" ]Receive darshan[/teaser] [/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path/\" title=\"Curious?\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DSC_0313-e1381818563636.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third last=last] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/events/\" title=\"Puja Dates\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/0311-e1381818979184.jpg\" ]Visit the calendar[/teaser] [/one_third]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<hr />\r\n<h3>Reflections &amp; News</h3>\r\n<center><i>\"Sing Kali\'s glory, make a happy racket, paddle this old boat of a body as fast as you can.<br>What\'s the trouble of this world anyhow?\" - Ramprasad Sen</i></center><br>\r\n[blog category=\"7\" perpage=\"4\" pagination=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"matrikas\" time=\"10\" randomize=\"on\" effect=\"fade\" ]','Homepage','','inherit','closed','closed','','99117-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 16:37:05','2017-03-17 23:37:05','',99117,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99117-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101645,2,'2017-03-17 16:39:08','2017-03-17 23:39:08','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 14, 2015 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Learn more</a> about all of our Festivals and join us when you .<br><br>\n\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\n\n[terms_gallery terms=\"101\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\n\n','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101597-autosave-v1','','','2017-03-17 16:39:08','2017-03-17 23:39:08','',101597,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101597-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101646,2,'2017-03-17 16:39:17','2017-03-17 23:39:17','Begun in 2004, this year marked the 12th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of November 14, 2015 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Learn more</a> about all of our Festivals and join us!<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"101\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','12th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101597-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 16:39:17','2017-03-17 23:39:17','',101597,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101597-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101647,2,'2017-03-17 16:39:53','2017-03-17 23:39:53','This year marked the 13th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 29, 2016 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Learn more</a> about all of our Festivals and join us!<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assembled with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together came to understand ourselves, one another and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"116\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','13th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101635-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 16:39:53','2017-03-17 23:39:53','',101635,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101635-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101648,2,'2017-03-17 16:54:48','2017-03-17 23:54:48','[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagalamukhi-Mantram.mp3\']Bagalamukhi Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<i>Om hlreem bagalamukhi sarvadustanaam vacham mukham stambhaya jihvaam keelaya keelaya budheem vinashaya hlreem om swaha!</i>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagala-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-101653 imgborder\" /> For those who wish to aid in their resistance to hate and make possible the furtherance of love, here\'s the mantram for Bagalamukhi and some images from her temple at Nilachal Hill in Assam where we visited on pilgrimage in early January 2017. Loosely translated, the mantram invokes Bagalamukhi, She Who Has the Power to Cease Mindless Prattling of the Tongue and Whose Visage Hypnotizes Enemies. It activates Her through us that we may confront deceit, end gossip, inspire confidence in our own ability to take ideas into action, and continue to transform our thoughts into right speech motivated by the wisdom of our heart.','Bagalamukhi Mantram','','publish','open','open','','bagalamukhi-mantram','','','2017-03-18 11:12:24','2017-03-18 18:12:24','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?p=101648',0,'post','',0),(101649,2,'2017-03-17 16:43:12','2017-03-17 23:43:12','\"Bagalamukhi Mantram\" by Chandra Alexandre / SHARANYA. Released: 2017. Genre: Instrumental.','Bagalamukhi Mantram','','inherit','open','closed','','bagalamukhi-mantram','','','2017-03-17 16:43:25','2017-03-17 23:43:25','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagalamukhi-Mantram.mp3',0,'attachment','audio/mpeg',0),(101650,2,'2017-03-17 16:53:22','2017-03-17 23:53:22','','Bagala Devi','','inherit','open','closed','','img_1188','','','2017-03-17 16:54:15','2017-03-17 23:54:15','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_1188.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101651,2,'2017-03-17 16:54:48','2017-03-17 23:54:48','[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagalamukhi-Mantram.mp3\']Bagalamukhi Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<i>Om hlreem bagalamukhi sarvadustanaam vacham mukham stambhaya jihvaam keelaya keelaya budheem vinashaya hlreem om swaha!</i>\r\n\r\nFor those who wish to aid in their resistance to hate and make possible the furtherance of love, here\'s the mantram for Bagalamukhi and some images from her temple at Nilachal Hill in Assam where we visited on pilgrimage in early January. Loosely translated, the mantram invokes Bagalamukhi, She Who Has the Power to Cease Mindless Prattling of the Tongue and Whose Visage Hypnotizes Enemies. It activates Her through us that we may confront deceit, end gossip, inspire confidence in our own ability to take ideas into action, and continue to transform our thoughts into right speech motivated by the wisdom of our heart.','Bagalamukhi Mantram','','inherit','closed','closed','','101648-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 16:54:48','2017-03-17 23:54:48','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101648-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101652,2,'2017-03-17 17:02:59','2017-03-18 00:02:59','[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagalamukhi-Mantram.mp3\']Bagalamukhi Mantram[/thaudio]\n\n<i>Om hlreem bagalamukhi sarvadustanaam vacham mukham stambhaya jihvaam keelaya keelaya budheem vinashaya hlreem om swaha!</i>\n\n&nbsp;\n<img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagala-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-101653 imgborder\" />\nFor those who wish to aid in their resistance to hate and make possible the furtherance of love, here\'s the mantram for Bagalamukhi and some images from her temple at Nilachal Hill in Assam where we visited on pilgrimage in early January. Loosely translated, the mantram invokes Bagalamukhi, She Who Has the Power to Cease Mindless Prattling of the Tongue and Whose Visage Hypnotizes Enemies. It activates Her through us that we may confront deceit, end gossip, inspire confidence in our own ability to take ideas into action, and continue to transform our thoughts into right speech motivated by the wisdom of our heart.','Bagalamukhi Mantram','','inherit','closed','closed','','101648-autosave-v1','','','2017-03-17 17:02:59','2017-03-18 00:02:59','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101648-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101653,2,'2017-03-17 17:02:45','2017-03-18 00:02:45','','Bagala Offerings','','inherit','open','closed','','bagala','','','2017-03-17 17:02:55','2017-03-18 00:02:55','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagala.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101654,2,'2017-03-17 17:03:07','2017-03-18 00:03:07','[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagalamukhi-Mantram.mp3\']Bagalamukhi Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<i>Om hlreem bagalamukhi sarvadustanaam vacham mukham stambhaya jihvaam keelaya keelaya budheem vinashaya hlreem om swaha!</i>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagala-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-101653 imgborder\" />\r\nFor those who wish to aid in their resistance to hate and make possible the furtherance of love, here\'s the mantram for Bagalamukhi and some images from her temple at Nilachal Hill in Assam where we visited on pilgrimage in early January. Loosely translated, the mantram invokes Bagalamukhi, She Who Has the Power to Cease Mindless Prattling of the Tongue and Whose Visage Hypnotizes Enemies. It activates Her through us that we may confront deceit, end gossip, inspire confidence in our own ability to take ideas into action, and continue to transform our thoughts into right speech motivated by the wisdom of our heart.','Bagalamukhi Mantram','','inherit','closed','closed','','101648-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 17:03:07','2017-03-18 00:03:07','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101648-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101655,2,'2017-03-17 17:03:46','2017-03-18 00:03:46','[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagalamukhi-Mantram.mp3\']Bagalamukhi Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<i>Om hlreem bagalamukhi sarvadustanaam vacham mukham stambhaya jihvaam keelaya keelaya budheem vinashaya hlreem om swaha!</i>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagala-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-101653 imgborder\" /> For those who wish to aid in their resistance to hate and make possible the furtherance of love, here\'s the mantram for Bagalamukhi and some images from her temple at Nilachal Hill in Assam where we visited on pilgrimage in early January. Loosely translated, the mantram invokes Bagalamukhi, She Who Has the Power to Cease Mindless Prattling of the Tongue and Whose Visage Hypnotizes Enemies. It activates Her through us that we may confront deceit, end gossip, inspire confidence in our own ability to take ideas into action, and continue to transform our thoughts into right speech motivated by the wisdom of our heart.','Bagalamukhi Mantram','','inherit','closed','closed','','101648-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 17:03:46','2017-03-18 00:03:46','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101648-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101656,2,'2017-03-17 17:22:13','2017-03-18 00:22:13','','Bagalamukhi','','publish','closed','closed','','bagalamukhi','','','2017-03-17 17:35:53','2017-03-18 00:35:53','',0,'http://sharanya.org/?post_type=th_slideshows&#038;p=101656',0,'th_slideshows','',0),(101658,2,'2017-03-17 17:33:55','2017-03-18 00:33:55','','Malas','','inherit','open','closed','','malas','','','2017-03-17 17:33:55','2017-03-18 00:33:55','',101656,'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Malas.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(101659,2,'2017-03-17 17:40:06','2017-03-18 00:40:06','<!-- BEGIN Mantra of the Month -->\r\n<!-- Audio thumbnail and title link -->\r\n<h2><img alt=\"\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/themes/churchope/lib/metabox/images/i_audio.png\" />\r\n<a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/th_gallery/honoring-the-ancestors/\">Featured Mantram: Honoring Ancestors</a></h2>\r\n<!-- Header image -->\r\n<a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/th_gallery/honoring-the-ancestors/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-99337 imgborder aligncenter alt=\"Ancestors\' Invocation\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Ancestors-Mantram2.jpg\" width=\"350\" height=\"331\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<!-- Audio player -->\r\n[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/05-Track-05.m4a\'][/thaudio]\r\n<h2><b style=\"font-size: 13px;\">Translation:</b></h2>\r\n<em>From the highest realm to the lowest, as far as the universe extends, let all divine sages and forebearers, all deceased ancestors, on both the father\'s and mother\'s side be worshiped. Let this humble offering of sesame and water benefit the whole world, from the heavens down to this earth; may it benefit the inhabitants of the seven continents belonging to unlimited families in the past.</em><br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong><em><a href=\"http://sharanya.org/mandala/th_gallery/honoring-the-ancestors/\">Learn more about this mantram...</a></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<!-- END Mantra of the Month -->\r\n\r\n<hr style=\"border-top: 2px solid #aaa; margin: 30px 0;\" />\r\n\r\n[blog category=\"92\" perpage=\"2\" pagination=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n<hr style=\"border-top: 2px solid #aaa; margin: 30px 0;\" />\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"84\" perpage=\"10\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"on\" ]','Mantra','','inherit','closed','closed','','99154-revision-v1','','','2017-03-17 17:40:06','2017-03-18 00:40:06','',99154,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/99154-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101660,2,'2017-03-18 11:08:01','2017-03-18 18:08:01','This year marked the 13th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 29, 2016 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Learn more</a> about all of our Festivals and join us!<br><br>\n\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assemble annually with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together come through ritual and surrender to understand ourselves, one another, and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. Visit our calendar to learn about our next public ceremony. Jai Maa! <br><br>\n\n[terms_gallery terms=\"116\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\n\n','13th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101635-autosave-v1','','','2017-03-18 11:08:01','2017-03-18 18:08:01','',101635,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101635-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101661,2,'2017-03-18 11:08:38','2017-03-18 18:08:38','This year marked the 13th anniversary of SHARANYA\'s Kali Puja Festival. Designed to welcome newcomers and provide spiritual seekers of all backgrounds an introduction to the Divine Mother, we came together on the night of October 29, 2016 to sing Her praises, offer our devotions, and worship Maa Kali as The Ageless One, Goddess of Crossroads, Black Mother, She Who is Beyond Time. <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/festivals/\">Learn more</a> about all of our Festivals and join us!<br><br>\r\n\r\nOur heterodox ceremony incorporates traditional elements from both Vedic and Tantric rites. Hindus, Pagans, Sufis, and a collection of multi-religious and spiritual people assemble annually with reverence and respect to honor Her. Chanting Her names and opening through the gateways provided by age-old spiritual techniques, we together come through ritual and surrender to understand ourselves, one another, and the Divine more deeply through our communion and worship. Visit our <a href=\"http://sharanya.org/events/\">calendar</a> to learn about our next public ceremony. Jai Maa! <br><br>\r\n\r\n[terms_gallery terms=\"116\" perpage=\"3\" pagination=\"on\" layout=\"medium\" isotope=\"\" ]\r\n\r\n','13th Annual Kali Puja Festival','','inherit','closed','closed','','101635-revision-v1','','','2017-03-18 11:08:38','2017-03-18 18:08:38','',101635,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101635-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101662,2,'2017-03-18 11:12:06','2017-03-18 18:12:06','[thaudio href=\'http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagalamukhi-Mantram.mp3\']Bagalamukhi Mantram[/thaudio]\r\n\r\n<i>Om hlreem bagalamukhi sarvadustanaam vacham mukham stambhaya jihvaam keelaya keelaya budheem vinashaya hlreem om swaha!</i>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<img src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bagala-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-101653 imgborder\" /> For those who wish to aid in their resistance to hate and make possible the furtherance of love, here\'s the mantram for Bagalamukhi and some images from her temple at Nilachal Hill in Assam where we visited on pilgrimage in early January 2017. Loosely translated, the mantram invokes Bagalamukhi, She Who Has the Power to Cease Mindless Prattling of the Tongue and Whose Visage Hypnotizes Enemies. It activates Her through us that we may confront deceit, end gossip, inspire confidence in our own ability to take ideas into action, and continue to transform our thoughts into right speech motivated by the wisdom of our heart.','Bagalamukhi Mantram','','inherit','closed','closed','','101648-revision-v1','','','2017-03-18 11:12:06','2017-03-18 18:12:06','',101648,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101648-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101663,2,'2017-03-19 15:56:59','2017-03-19 22:56:59','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition honoring Goddess, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n [one_third] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser]  [/one_third] \r\n \r\n [one_third last=last]  [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser]   [/one_third] ','The Tradition','','publish','closed','closed','','the-tradition','','','2017-03-19 16:10:26','2017-03-19 23:10:26','',20,'http://sharanya.org/?page_id=101663',0,'page','',0),(101664,2,'2017-03-19 15:56:59','2017-03-19 22:56:59','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] \r\n\r\n[teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser] ','The Tradition','','inherit','closed','closed','','101663-revision-v1','','','2017-03-19 15:56:59','2017-03-19 22:56:59','',101663,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101663-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101665,2,'2017-03-19 15:58:39','2017-03-19 22:58:39',' ','','','publish','closed','closed','','101665','','','2017-03-19 15:58:39','2017-03-19 22:58:39','',20,'http://sharanya.org/?p=101665',5,'nav_menu_item','',0),(101666,2,'2017-03-19 16:00:06','2017-03-19 23:00:06','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition honoring Goddess, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] \r\n\r\n[teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser] ','The Tradition','','inherit','closed','closed','','101663-revision-v1','','','2017-03-19 16:00:06','2017-03-19 23:00:06','',101663,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101663-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101667,2,'2017-03-19 16:00:44','2017-03-19 23:00:44','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition honoring Goddess, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n [one_half] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [one_half last=last]  \r\n\r\n [two_third] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser]  [two_third last=last] ','The Tradition','','inherit','closed','closed','','101663-revision-v1','','','2017-03-19 16:00:44','2017-03-19 23:00:44','',101663,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101663-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101668,2,'2017-03-19 16:01:32','2017-03-19 23:01:32','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition honoring Goddess, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n [one_half] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_half]  \r\n\r\n [one_half last=last]  [two_third] [/one_half]  [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser]  [/one_half last=last] ','The Tradition','','inherit','closed','closed','','101663-revision-v1','','','2017-03-19 16:01:32','2017-03-19 23:01:32','',101663,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101663-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101669,2,'2017-03-19 16:01:58','2017-03-19 23:01:58','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition honoring Goddess, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n [one_half] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_half]  \r\n\r\n [one_half last=last] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser]  [/one_half last=last] ','The Tradition','','inherit','closed','closed','','101663-revision-v1','','','2017-03-19 16:01:58','2017-03-19 23:01:58','',101663,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101663-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101670,2,'2017-03-19 16:02:33','2017-03-19 23:02:33','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition honoring Goddess, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n [one_half] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_half]  \r\n\r\n[teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser]  ','The Tradition','','inherit','closed','closed','','101663-revision-v1','','','2017-03-19 16:02:33','2017-03-19 23:02:33','',101663,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101663-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(101671,2,'2017-03-19 16:03:11','2017-03-19 23:03:11','Sha\'can is a <i>marga</i> (way or path) within Tantra. It is a Śākta <I>sampradaya</I>, an authentic lineage tradition honoring Goddess, born from and honoring of the teachers of old, relevant to the circumstances of today, and grounded in the potentials of tomorrow. It is passed on in continuation of the lineage through <I>diksha</I>, or initiatory blessing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nSha\'can is at once groundbreaking and what has always happened with Goddess worshipers in and beyond India; for we yearn, revitalize and transform as community requires. Today, ours is an engaged spirituality that activates a rooted category of challenge to the dominant culture in which we live. As such, we seek liberation as <i>bhaktas</i> (devotees) who treasure the temple of the world through this incarnation, and we are committed to expanding Tantric worship in ways that sanctify earth-based, embodied spirituality and (r)evolutionize potentials for social justice and peace on our planet.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIn our tradition, we teach tools for the affirmation of <em>shakti</em> (the female principle) in self and world. We celebrate the commonalities of thought and practice that bring the marginal to center, helping the voiceless and dominated find spaces for blossoming, healing and bliss. Our roots are deep in ancient consciousness and practices of worship that have lived for millennia in the hearts of humanity.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe work of our devotion is to follow the principles of Śākta Tantra. We honor the Divine as She, the Divine energy that facilitates our spiritual journey by taking us beyond our fears, beyond our egos, beyond our attachments, and into liberation.<br><br>\r\n\r\n[toggle type=\"gray\" title=\"Sha\'can\" active=\"\"]\r\n<a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"Sha\'can Kali Maa &amp; Tara Kali Web\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Shacan-Kali-Maa-Tara-Kali-Web1.jpg\" width=\"181\" height=\"266\" /></a>\r\n\r\nToday, a robust and dynamic complexity of religious thought and engagement is being achieved through new traditions in which symbols, deities, and rituals (some only recently constructed) inform by connecting to passions, devotion and a desire for engaged spirituality not contained by country of origin—practitioner’s or deity’s. Add to this a confluence of feminism, goddess-focused spiritualities, and access to various forms of Hinduism, as well as a growing Indian-American population with Hindu diasporic roots and bi-cultural sensibilities, and we find a Western Śākta Hindu perspective and related forms of worship and practice emerging that assert both authenticity and independence from the Hindu source. One such emergence is the countercultural religious tradition known as Sha’can, what I fondly call a (R)evolutionary Shakta Tantra.<br><br>\r\n\r\nRecognizing deep roots in India, Sha’can arose with a finger on the pulse of something larger—the critical work being done around the world to reclaim the power of womanhood and a Feminine/Female Divine. Whether in Kolkata or California, academic or activist circles, the past twenty years have seen subordinated communities and individuals finding ways to take back marginalized ideological and literal spaces, often using powerful and sometimes fierce goddesses as allies, inspirations, and provocateurs. Philosophies such as ecofeminism, through alignment of goddess spirituality with Earth justice<strong> </strong>and the fight for women’s equality, have helped further the cause. So too has the work of Indian and Hindu feminists (for example, Rita Gross, Vandana Shiva, and Rani Jethmalani) who have utilized the goddess, often particularized as Kali, and the principles of Śākta Tantra, the goddess-honoring path of embodied Hindu spirituality, to fight patriarchal religious and cultural norms, dictates, and oppressions. Finally, the field of women’s spirituality and the rubrics of Pagan thought and practice have offered an embrace toward dynamic discourse and life-affirming ceremony that many have described as a distinct home coming for a fully integrated sense of self and purpose within the realm of living spirituality.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe Sha’can tradition arose in 1998 from this admixture, with an emphasis on connection between the truths offered by Śākta Tantra and the realities of today’s world—realities that are recognized as both freeing and limiting. Seeking “the bridging of East and West through (r)evolutionary, embodied spirituality, <i>sadhana</i> (spiritual practice), wisdom teachings, and worship of the Goddess in Her myriad forms,” especially as Kali Maa, “our beloved Dark Mother…a change agent for our times…helping to transform, empower, and heal individuals, communities, and the planet,” Sha’can originally evolved within the crucible of the San Francisco-based SHARANYA community in a hotbed of cross-cultural and diverse spiritual influences. It has, since its formation, expanded to include a Southern California presence and larger global community through online courses and the work of practitioners and initiates, notably in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThe tradition, I believe, is potentially an exciting case study for the development of Hinduism in America with ramifications for the new religious movement. Sitting poised in a synchretism of faith honoring Shaktism and contemporary Paganism, Sha’can, much like American Buddhism, is co-created from ancient roots in a new land. Additionally, while Sha’can in my mind is not part of the Indo-Pagan movement (because it is an innovation of Shakta Hindu philosophy and the(a)ology rather than a tradition that offers space for Hindu deities and ritual within established or newly established Pagan pathways), others within the tradition do consider it a manifestation of the rise in popularity and awareness of Hindu deities increasingly incorporated into different varieties of Paganism. Either way, the tradition stands ready to welcome those seeking an expression for their devotion to and yearning for Goddess in and through the forms, symbols, tools and practices that She offers via-a-vis Hindu Śākta Tantra and its contemporary expressions. Sha’can seeks to make the experience of worship and devotion relevant to these times at the same time that it drives for an honoring of those teachers and practitioners, past, present and future, who have grown and continue to grow Shakta Tantra in India and beyond.<br><br>\r\n\r\nIt may be helpful if I explain that as the tradition’s initial conjurer, I affirm a Śākta lineage with initiation in India (into both dualistic and non-dualistic forms of Tantra) at the same time that I recognize my situatedness as a woman born and raised in the developed West. My cultural and initial spiritual influences therefore have been largely Abrahamic or Abrahamic-infused. This, when combined with a radical feminist stance and ecofeminist spirituality, have created in me a recognition of the importance of the Witch and various manifestations of antinomian spirituality that honor Earth as well as the female and feminine (on both micro-and macro-cosmic scales) toward overcoming patriarchal religions and religious influences. Thus, I priestess our <em>puja </em>(worship) ceremonies by chanting mantras in Sanskrit, casting a circle in a Pagan-recognizable way, and invoking directions saying, “Hail and welcome! CA HUM PHAT, SVAHA!” at the end to concretize the energy. In this light, Sha’can rituals have been described by Pagans as immediately accessible despite some of the language barriers (we do our best to explain unfamiliar meanings and ask for a deepening into personal experience), and by Indian Hindus as, “feeling like I was in my home village temple.” We are humbled on both accounts and excited by what this portends.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<strong>The Role of Goddess Kali in Sha’can</strong><br><br>\r\n\r\nOften, those who seek the Mysteries touch on the fringes of what Goddess Kali offers, yet stay away because they are afraid. Some are afraid, with due cause, of cultural appropriation. ”I am not from India or Hindu,” some might say, “and therefore, worshiping a goddess such as Kali, with roots in a living goddess tradition, is out of bounds for me.” Others might just be afraid, period.<br><br>\r\n\r\nCertainly, it should be acknowledged that how this goddess is typically represented inspires reaction. No account of Kali could possibly leave out Her image and iconography, for even in India—let alone the Goddess-fearing West—She is something to behold. Many are already familiar with Her black-skinned, skull-adorned appearance; yet there is more than meets the eye to Her manifest presence and its significance. Not only do Her symbols convey spiritual revelations, but the fact of Her existence today in the minds and hearts of devotees around the world (some of Hindu birth, others not) is inspiring of something even greater, not the least of which is moves beyond the confines of religion with a call for social justice—sometimes born of spiritual longing.<br><br>\r\n\r\nWithin Sha’can, we recognize the esoteric wisdom of opening to the presence of energy—Shakti—and consciousness—Shiva—within ourselves in order to harmonize and understand Self with regard for and in relationship to the life-force as present both in nature and the unseen world. We recognize that Goddess today is becoming a “transaction between contexts, encouraging us to discover how the two contexts [of human and divine] can illuminate each other in new and sometimes unexpected ways.” For us, Kali is that light, presenting us with a radical role model and helping those seeking expanded cosmogonies, cosmologies and consciousness to break through limiting fears so that the biases of the Western milieu, wherever it is found and particularized through agents of patriarchy (such as religious, educational, social and cultural institutions), may be overcome.<br><br>\r\n\r\nThrough the ancient traditions of Goddess worship still practiced today in Hindu South Asia and especially as made relevant for those without otherwise religious or cultural access to the Divine Female<strong> </strong>and Divine Feminine in ways that are empowering for actual women, the Sha’can tradition offers a glimpse through Kali worship and the practices of Shakta Tantra at possibilities for the Feminine and female that lie outside of limiting constructs. Certainly, patriarchy plays a role in religions everywhere, and religions of Goddess are no exception. Yet, within Hindu Shakta Tantra conjured in conjunction with ecofeminist spirituality, we are finding expanded notions of divinity and (r)evolutionary potentials for engagement in the world that promote healing and peace in response to patriarchy and its agendas.<br><br>\r\n\r\nI should note that as I type, an image of Kali greets my gaze. I focus on Her black feet sporting golden anklets, with the residue of <em>alta</em>, a red plant-based, semi-permanent dye, decorating the outline of the soles and spaces in-between the toes. Join me in this gaze for a moment. From this perspective, we are internally bowed low. We are spiritually naked before Adya Maa, the Primordial Dark Goddess, and here, we may come just a bit closer to an understanding of who She is and what She offers. I argue that here, the Witch and the Tantrick meet to create, enliven and empower us all!<br><br>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nChandra Alexandre<br>\r\nAs originally published in <i><a href=\"http://religionnerd.com/2011/04/17/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-introduction-to-a-goddess-honoring-tradition-where-the-witch-and-the-tantrick-meet/\">Religion Nerd</a></i>\r\n[/toggle]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[testimonials category=\"the-tradition\" time=\"10\" effect=\"fade\" ]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n [one_half] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/the-path\" title=\"The Path\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC00002-e1380858470187.jpg\" ]Learn more...[/teaser] [/one_half]  \r\n\r\n [one_half] [teaser url=\"http://sharanya.org/resources/\" title=\"Resources\" src=\"http://sharanya.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_0102-e1380859091826.jpg\" ]Explore...[/teaser]   [one_half last=last] ','The Tradition','','inherit','closed','closed','','101663-revision-v1','','','2017-03-19 16:03:11','2017-03-19 23:03:11','',101663,'http://sharanya.org/mandala/101663-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),