The Hindu goddess Durga is one of the most powerful goddesses in the Indian pantheon. She has ten arms, rides a lion with her consort Shiva on her back, and is an incarnation of Shakti or divine feminine energy.
Try this short Druga-inspired guided meditation to find strength in tough times.
You can visualize her seated on her lion (sometimes she rides a tiger—see which feels right to you!). Her dark hair streams over her shoulders.
She wears a golden crown, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and a scarlet silk sari. See her magnificent arms, strong and bristling with weapons:
- Bow, sword, trident, mace, discus.
- See also the lotus she carries.
- Offer your salutations to her.
Ask her: “What is the major inner obstacle I have to face now? What do I need to let go of? What should I be paying more attention to?”
Or, ask her for guidance in a decision or the strength to stand up for something you know is right. Close your eyes and ask the question in your heart.
Begin to write. Let the writing come naturally, without thought. Keep writing until you feel there is no more to say. Then, look over what you have written. Offer the obstacles to Durga, saying, “I offer all this to the Durga shakti, asking that your grace dissolve all obstacles, inner and outer.”
Now, with an inhalation, feel that you breathe in the goddess’s energy.
Exhaling, feel that you breathe it through your body and into the world.
When you come out of meditation, see if you can move with the feeling that you are walking or moving with the power of the Durga energy.
Walk with the sense that Druga is walking. Speak with the sense that Druga’s power comes through your words. Notice how you feel when you let yourself be filled by the energy of Druga.
Meditation Improves Leadership Skills
Mindfulness research suggests that meditation increases emotional intelligence, attention, memory, creativity, and resilience.
Wildly successful business leaders such as Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, and Arianna Huffington credit meditation for their ability to lead with compassion and competitive advantage.
About the Author
Sally Kempton is an internationally recognized teacher of meditation and yoga philosophy and the author of Meditation for the Love of It. Find her at sallykempton.com.
Conclusion:
The Hindu goddess Druga is one of the most powerful goddesses in the Indian pantheon. Try this short guided meditation to find strength in tough times and let her help you with obstacles or decisions that are difficult. Try it today!
