7. Kalaratri

Dhyana Mantra

एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता। लम्बोष्ठी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्तशरीरिणी॥ वामपादोल्लसल्लोहलताकण्टकभूषणा। वर्धमानमूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥

Salutations to Kalaratri, the terrible one — dark as night, with a single braid of hair, adorned with hibiscus flowers on her ears, naked, riding a donkey, with large lips, her body anointed with oil, her left foot resting on a thorn-like iron creeper, and the banner on her head rising high.

The seventh power of Mother Durga is known by the name Kalaratri. The colour of her body is completely black, like dense darkness. Her hair is dishevelled. Around her neck is a garland shining like lightning. She has three eyes. All three eyes are round like the universe. From them shining rays like lightning constantly stream out. From the in-breath and out-breath of her nostrils come terrible flames of fire. Her mount is the gardabha — the donkey. With the varada mudra of her raised right hand she grants boons to all. The lower hand on her right side is in the abhaya mudra. In the upper hand on her left side is an iron goad, and in the lower hand a sword (dagger).

The form of Mother Kalaratri is extremely fearsome to look at, but she always gives auspicious fruit. For this reason one of her names is 'Shubhankari'. Therefore devotees need not be frightened or alarmed by her in any way.

On the seventh day of Durga Puja is the ritual of Mother Kalaratri's worship. On this day the seeker's mind remains established in the 'Sahasrara' chakra. For him the door of all the siddhis of the universe begins to open. The mind of the seeker established in this chakra remains wholly absorbed in Mother Kalaratri's form. He becomes a sharer of the merit that comes from her direct vision. All his sins and obstacles are destroyed. He obtains the imperishable worlds of merit.

Mother Kalaratri is the destroyer of the wicked. Danavas, daityas, rakshasas, ghosts and spirits flee in terror at the mere remembrance of her. She also removes the afflictions of the planets. Her worshipper never has fear of fire, fear of water, fear of animals, fear of enemies, fear of the night, and so on. By her grace he becomes completely free of fear.

Establishing Mother Kalaratri's sacred image in his heart, a person should worship her with single-minded devotion. He should fully observe yama, niyama and self-restraint. He should keep mind, speech and body pure. She is Shubhankari Devi. The auspicious results of her worship cannot be counted. We should constantly remember, meditate on and worship her.