Kalika Devi Miracle

This article is written at the request of Shree Sendhil Kumar, who had commented on the post entitled Kalika Ashtakam in this blog, in response to another comment there.

The year was 2014; the month June. Parayanam of Srimad Devi Bhagavatham was in progress. There developed a keen desire to perform parayanam of Sri Kalika Puranam. However, the book comprising original Sanskrit verses with English translated meanings was not locatable for purchase. After considerable search, Soujanya Books in New Delhi, India was found to carry a new copy in stock. Immediately the order was placed and the process of waiting to receive the book started. After a week or so, there was no book yet; the improper thought then was may be the seller was not going to meet the expectations of delivering the item that was already paid for.

Simultaneously, it was learnt that in order to recite, one must either have a vigraham ( idol ), a yantram or a photo of Kalika Devi. None of these were in the house. They say if one has a vigraham, then proper worship procedures are needed which was not easily performable. Downloading a yantram from the internet did not seem sacred enough at that time. The third option of getting a photo was the most appealing. However, the heart’s desire was to get a sowmya roopam – meaning a photo of Sri Kalika Devi with a benign posture rather than one with an ugra roopam – meaning one with a ferocious posture – did not know where to get such a photo from. The heart was melting with thoughts of Kalika Devi and how desperate the desire to recite the Kalika Purana was.

This situation was explained in a cryptic manner to James, a co-worker. James is a tall, Caucasian male who cares about others and their predicaments, a quality rare to find amongst human beings in the present Kaliyuga. James was born and brought up in America and follows Christianity. James had a week and one day vacation scheduled starting Friday of one week and was to return back to work on Monday of the following (second) week. On Thursday, he was wished a happy time off.

Lo and behold, the very next day on Friday afternoon, he showed up back at work with a bag in his hand that he held with great respect and a divine posture holding the bag with both hands.

He said: “I have a gift for you !”

“Who asked you to spend money? You shouldn’t be buying gifts.”

James replied: “It did not cost me a lot of money. I was at this second-hand consignment store looking for some shaving supplies and something caught my attention. It was a box with some divine looking picture and I felt This does not belong here. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO IT IS; I HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THIS WHATSOEVER. I felt It belongs to you; so I bought It for about five dollars. So I want to present you this gift.”

The bag was opened – IT WAS A PHOTO OF SRI KALIKA DEVI ! She has a beautiful benign sowmya smile and the heart was melting – it is still melting to this very moment of typing. It felt as though Sri Kalika Devi said “You wanted Me; I am here now.” She is the one at the top of this article and was referred to in the Kalika Ashtakam article. The very next day, the Kalika Purana Book arrived in a beautiful package!

The doubt now was can we keep a photo of Kalika Devi in our house; the internet had some sites that were giving all kinds of false information. The only interest in the heart was to offer love and devotion to the Great Goddess. So, a close friend Madi was contacted in Pennsylvania to touch base with the ParaShakthi temple in Michigan and ask the gyanis (knowledgeable ones) there this very same question. It so happened that Dr. Krishna Kumar, Himself, (who is the Founder and Spiritual Director of the Temple) talked with Madi and said to keep the photo happily and with complete confidence! Additionally, Dr. Krishna Kumar gave Madi a mantra to be delivered. Madi is a great enlightened soul! And Dr. Krishna Kumar is an embodiment of Devi ParaShakthi Herself !

And the Kalika Purana Parayanam got completed without any obstacles !

See, we are all connected to the Divine. It does not matter what religion one follows. As Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi has said “Sabka Malik Ek” meaning “Everyone’s Master is One.” The quality and qualification of the messenger is important too – in order to be chosen by the Divine to be a messenger, one needs to have performed penances – in one’s own way – the opinion here is that Sri Kalika Devi chose James to be the messenger carrying Her – James is therefore an enlightened Divine soul – there is no doubt about that – She made sure that day, James went to that particular store and She made sure he looked at Her and took Her with his loving arms and made the trip back to the workplace and delivered Her with appropriate posture – James WAS and still IS the chosen one – it is an honor to be associated with Divine souls such as James.

And ParaShakthi Devi in the form of Dr. Krishna Kumar chose Madi to be the messenger; not anybody off the street. Thank You Sri Kalika Devi! Thank You Dr. Krishna Kumar ! Thank You Madi ! Thank You James! Sri Kalika Devi has filled the heart with blissful feelings.

Om Shree Kalika Devi Namo Namaha !