My New Name: Katyayani
As of February 5th, 2019, I am now assuming my new name, given to me in the spring of 2016 by my spiritual teacher, Sri Sri 1008 Mahamandaleshwar Maa Adishakti Satigiri Ji Maharaj, whom we lovingly refer to as Guru Maa. I've been practicing Surat Shabd Yoga since 2004, and in 2014 I connected with Guru Maa, enriching my practice tenfold with the practice of Shiv-Shakti Yoga.
Guru Maa has named me:
Katyayanibetha or Katyayani
What a precious gift! Guru Maa has named me after a goddess who represents all of the things I've been working on my entire life, represented by many things you'll find within this website. From the songs in which I've written about the natural laws of creation, to my work with Phamily Foundations to ensure a happy and peaceful married life and so many other things. I don't know if Guru Maa has ever even seen my website, but she really knows me from the inside out! Having her love and guidance is the highest, most treasured blessing I could ever receive. I'm so humbled and grateful to Guru Maa for giving me such a beautiful, powerful name!
There's more about what my new name represents and the goddess that Guru Maa named me after following, and here is an image I created about it. Goddess Katyayani Maa is often depicted riding a lion, with a lotus in one hand, a sword in another, with blessing and protecting gestures made with her other two hands.
Katyayani is that which is born out of the seer aspect of consciousness. Everything that happens and unfolds before us, referred to as Prapancha, is not limited only to what is visible. That which is invisible and cannot be perceived by the senses is far greater than we can even imagine and comprehend. That energy that sees beyond the senses and knows beyond logic is Katyayani. Katyayani is the divine force or principle of the un-manifest Divinity that arises in the subtle layers of creation against negativity and for the purpose of restoring Dharma. It is said that the anger of a wise person only brings about greater good; whereas even the love of an ignorant or foolish person can only cause more trouble. That is why Devi Katyayani represents a beneficial and uplifting force.
Katyayani is all about The Natural Laws of Creation - referred to as Dharma. Dharma is more than just a sense of duty, as the word is usually interpreted to mean. Duty is more like an obligation to do something. Dharma is actually more the wisdom to know cause and effect, action and consequence, along with the understanding and desire to make choices that will cause the effects we want to have happen.
Katyayani is believed to be very compassionate and a giver of boons. She provides immense strength at the physical level, as well. Katyayani is especially venerated by devotees for getting rid of marital issues and making married life more comfortable. The Katyayani Mantra for marriage has originated from the Bhagavata Purana. 'Gopis' worshiped Maa Katyayani in order to get Krishna as a husband. Katyayani Mantra is primarily used to remove obstacles in love and for a fruitful married life.
Katyayani Maa has been revered throughout time as a symbol of unique strength to female devotees. She inspires women to face challenges, to fight for what is right and the recognition of women's inherent strengths.
Katyayani Maa is known to be the fiercest form of Maa Durga, appearing as a warrior goddess who was born to annihilate the forces destroying the world. Whenever the oppression of demons start dominating the earth, whenever sages, saints and celestial beings get victimized with the torture of the demons, then there is a divine incarnation of supreme energy for the betterment of the world and suppression of the evil. In the same manner, goddess Bhagwati incarnated as Maa Katyayani for the sake of the betterment of the world. She is the one who saved the entire universe from the one of the greatest demons, Mahishasura, by curbing his ego and destroying him along with his army. This divine form of goddess Durga is well known among the devotees in the name of Goddess Katyayani. She grants fearlessness to devotees and also blesses them readily by removing diseases, sorrows, obstacles and guilt. Just by remembering her, one attracts her divine blessings. She is the slayer of demons, and she is the manifestation of the divine energies of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creation, sustenance and transformation. The attention of the three gods combined, manifested itself in the form of energy rays. The rays crystallized in the hermitage of Katysyana Rishi, who gave it proper form - therefore, she is called Katyayani.
The Vamana Purana mentions the legend of Katyayani's creation in great detail: "When the gods had sought Vishnu in their distress, he and at his lead, Shiva, Brahma and the other gods, emitted such flames from their eyes and countenances, that a mountain of effulgence was formed, from which became manifest, Katyayani, refulgent as a thousand suns. Shiva gave Katyayani his trident, Vishnu a Sudarshan Chakra or discus, Varuna, a shankha, a conch-shell, Agni, a dart, Vayu, a bow, Surya, a quiver full of arrows, Indra, a thunderbolt, Kuvera, a mace, Brahma, a rosary and water-pot, Kala, a shield and sword and Visvakarma, a battle-axe and other weapons.Thus, armed and adored by the gods, Katyayani proceeded to the Mysore hills. There, the asuras (demons) saw her, and captivated by her beauty, they so described her to Mahishasura, their king, so that he was anxious to obtain her. On asking for her hand, she told him she must be won in a fight.
"Mahishasura came and fought. Katyayani dismounted from her lion and sprang upon the back of Mahishasura, and with her tender feet, so smote him on the head that he fell to the ground senseless. When she cut off his head with her sword, hence she was called Mahishasuramardini, the Slayer of Mahishasura."
Spiritually, it is said that all the four objectives, Dharma (right way of living, duty, virtue), Artha (sense, goal, purpose or essence), Kama (desire, wish, longing) and Moksha (emancipation, liberation or release from the cycle of death and rebirth) are in easy reach of a devotee who places their attention on Katyayani Maa with devotion and faith. Such a devotee becomes immune from all diseases, sorrows and fears. It is said there is no better and easier way than attending to the presence of Mother Katyayani for the destruction of negative karma accumulated in previous lives.
