Is Black Magic for real?

Is it possible for a person to cast an evil spell on another using rituals and spirts? Or is Black Magic just a myth?

A dark room with a black-robed man adorned in bones and with a smear of vermillion on his head…a fire burns in front of him, and he flings a handful of powder in it, chanting something all the while…all of a sudden, he smiles. He has just invoked an evil spirit and he instructs the spirit on what to do. The spirit vanishes and later, shows up at the house of its target and starts wreaking havoc there…

This seems like a scene out of a film or TV show, but these scenes are all too common in India. It is representative of black magic, which is practiced using animal and human sacrifices to gain material wealth, or persuade a desired person into marriage, or even to wreck another human being’s happiness. But though the entire premise of black magic seems unreal, it does leave one with a question: it is possible to unleash evil spirits to destroy another human being?

Black magic is usually performed so that one may get what one desires, but at the cost of another. It involves rituals, prayer and casting of spells on another human being, usually by gaining access to something that belongs to that person. Those who believe in it say that it works, and that it can bring about the downfall of another human being in every possible way. 

But what is it really? At a simple level, it is possible to dismiss it as just a myth. Any action in the world is caused by energy. It requires energy to cast a spell or unleash an evil spirit. At the same time, it requires energy to work hard and stay on the path of honesty all your life. So at a metaphysical level, this means that every act in the world – either good or bad – is guided by energy. It is what we choose to do with the energy at our disposal that separates good people from bad ones.

Every human being has some negative energy inside them, but this energy is largely supressed all their life. This suppression keeps one from acting on every bad impulse – it keeps them from being dishonest, stealing and killing. However, when one gives vent to one’s bad energies is when one commits evil acts.

The basic premise of black magic rests on this bad energy. However, it is can manifest itself in ritualistic worship of objects and animals associated with the netherworld, or direct action using objects such as skulls and crossbones planted at the home of the opponent as a warning. Another way black magic works is by instilling fear in the mind of the object. It begins with planting a seed of doubt in the object’s mind, and then reinforcing this doubt steadily. Soon, the person becomes obsessed with the idea that somebody is out to ruin them and their psyche is completely destroyed. This causes them to lose everything in life – which is again, attributed to black magic.

The story behind the birth of Lord Krishna

Lord Krishna was born under mysterious circumstances to triumph over evil. He was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Our ancient epics have us believe that every time evil forces supersede everything else in the world, the Gods descend to restore order to the chaos. It was at a crucial point in the world’s history when Lord Brahma appealed to Lord Vishnu to do something about the ever-increasing reach of evil across the Earth. Lord Vishnu then replied that he would soon be born on Earth as Krishna, who would vanquish the dark powers and restore goodness.

Meanwhile, the evil King Kamsa, ruler of Mathura, was making things difficult for his people. Oblivious to the growing discontent around him, he had organised a lavish wedding for his younger sister, princess Devaki, to the venerated Vasudev. However, a voice from the heavens proclaimed during the wedding ceremony that Devaki’s eighth child would kill Kamsa. Enraged and frightened, Kamsa tried to kill Devaki, but Vasudev promised him that he would hand over all his children to Kamsa if he spared Devaki’s life.

The evil king then imprisoned the couple. In due course of time, they had seven children while in prison – and Kamsa killed all the new-born infants. However, when the time for Devaki’s eighth delivery was near, Vasudev dreamed that Lord Vishnu told him to sneak the child out of the prison and head to Gokul, where the village’s chief Nanda would take the child in exchange for his own baby girl. Accordingly, the night Devaki had her eighth child – a boy, Lord Krishna – Vasudev started out of the prison. The guards had all fallen asleep, and Vasudev’s shackles opened on their own as he hurried out. Braving heavy rainfall and crossing a deep river, he made it to Gokul, where Nanda was waiting for him with his own baby daughter in his arms.

Vasudev brought the baby girl back to the prison just as Kamsa arrived. When he picked up the baby to kill it, the child darted out of his hands heavenwards. The child assumed the form of Goddess Yogmaya, who taunted the king and informed him that his vanquisher was already born and he would return in a few years to fulfil his destiny.

Thus, Lord Krishna was born on a dark and stormy night and sent to his foster mother Yashoda. He was raised with infinite love and care, and he destroyed each of the assasins Lord Kamsa sent his way. In his teens, he finally encountered King Kamsa and killed him, thus finishing the job he was born for.

Later, Krishna was instrumental in helping the Pandavas win the great Mahabharata war.

Why is Dussehra significant to us?

Understanding the significance of Dussehra helps in unlocking several truths about the festival.

All our folklore is centred around one dominant theme: the victory of good over evil. Even all the fairy tales and children’s stories that we have grown up hearing have this concept at their core. We are conditioned to believe that goodness eventually triumphs over evil, no matter how hard the journey or how difficult the circumstances. Hence, our festivals also reflect this same philosophy as they bind entire communities together in celebration.

Dussehra is one such festival. It is celebrated all over India in different ways. It represents the triumph of Lord Rama over the 10-headed rakshasa king Ravana. The day is also known as Vijayadashama (The day of victory) and is believed to be the culmination of Lord Rama’s successful battle with Ravana over 10 days of war. It is hence, an auspicious day that is waited for with bated breath by those who wish to launch new ventures.

There is fasting for nine days leading up to Dussehra, with the 10^th day being one of celebration. Since the day is considered an auspicious one, it is time to take stock of the year gone by and venerate the tools of our trade – hence, parents encourage children to lay flowers and vermillion on their study books, businessmen ‘bless’ their accounts, workmen worship their tools and new houses or offices are opened on this day.

The festival of Dussehra has many literal manifestations – take a cue from the Ravana Dahana festivities and Ram Leela celebrations all over the country – but it is also a time for the deepest introspection. Though the exploits of Rama make for a great story, they also urge the listener to imbibe the qualities of goodness, truth, humility and loyalty. They teach the importance of staying on the right path of justice and truth, and of staying away from evil at all times.

It also explains the philosophy of brotherhood, never coveting what belongs to another, and to always be respectful of all living things. At a more spiritual level, people believe that Dussehra also indicates that whenever society falls into chaos and evil spreads its tentacles far and wide, a time comes when God descends on Earth to restore order to things. He appears in front of His ardent devotees to offer salvation and a new direction to weed out corruption in both thoughts and actions.

Thus, Dussehra is not just an occasion for buying new clothes and eating sweets – it is a day to count one’s blessings and cleanse one’s heart and mind of all evil.

5 Bollywood Devotional Songs for Lord Ganesha

Did you know that Lord Ganesha is the most recognized Indian God around the world? This elephant headed God is a symbol of good fortune, rewarding devotees with success and prosperity. When we start prayers, he is the first one to be honoured. His images have been created in almost every innovative way possible. Lord Ganesha is also known to destroy pride, vanity and selfishness.

At times when we feel depressed and can't seem to overcome our problems, praying to Lord Ganesha is believed to give hope and relax the puzzled mind. Starting the day by remembering Him is also said to give peace and boost one’s energy. Bollywood offers numerous Hindi songs in honour of our loving 'Maruti', as He is also known.

Songs for the God of Hope and Peace

1. Sindoor Lal Chadayo: This truly devotional song is from the film Vaastav starring Sanjay Dutt and Namrata Shirodkar. Sung by Ravindra Sathe, this aarti holds the true essence of Lord Ganesha. An adrenaline rush runs through the body listening to this high energy song. The constant beats, in the form of clapping hands, complements the lyrics.  

2. Deva Shree Ganesha: Standing in front of a huge Ganpati idol, Hrithik Roshan sings in His honour. This fast paced number will certainly give you goosebumps. The song overshadowed all other songs from the film Agneepath. Sung by Ajay Gogavale (or Ajay-Atul), the lyrics are written by Amitabh Bhattacharya. 

3. Morya Re: This high energy song is from the movie Don starring Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra. The dhol beats infuse a desi touch to the song. It is sung by the very talented Shankar Mahadevan and the lyrics are written by Javed Akhtar. Mahadevan's forceful voice adds to the beauty of this song. 

4. Deva Ho Deva Ganpati: With dholak beats and manjeera twangs, this song has energetic dance moves by Mithun Chakravorty and Amjad Khan. This is a classic from the 1981 film, Hum se Badhkar Kaun. The song gained huge popularity in the 90s, since there were no other songs in matching its energy. This wonderful number was sung by Shailender Singh, Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi and Bhupinder. 

5. Shree Ganeshay Dhimahi: Again rendered in the reverberating voice of Shankar Mahadevan, this song is from Viruddh, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Sharmila Tagore. The song has a positive energy that will make you forget your worries and make you feel hopeful. It is not just a song but a divine experience. 

Enlighten your soul and find mental peace with these Bollywood devotional songs

Bhakti Yoga – The path to divinity

Experience what it means to get close to God with the daily practice of Bhakti Yoga.

Indian traditions and cultural mores are replete with one important premise: devotion to God. Each of our spiritual and religious practices imbibe the spirit of a higher being above our level of understanding. This concept can be further refined within the realms of Bhakti Yoga, which stresses the undying devotion and love for one’s creator or a supreme being that a person has complete faith in.

Bhakti Yoga is viewed as the one true path to spiritual enlightenment. It finds place among the four ‘temperaments’ ascribed to the practice of yoga, such as Jnana Yoga (Intellectual temperament), Raya Yoga (Scientific temperament), Karma Yoga (Active temperament) and Bhakti Yoga (Emotional temperament).

The core philosophy of Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga believes that there may be many ways to attain deification and spiritual happiness, but there is only one way to reach God. This way is the path of truth, grace and unselfish devotion to God. Any act that results in reaching closer to God is underlined by Bhakti.

However, Bhakti Yoga realises that each person may have their own interpretation of God, or who their creator is, or indeed, whom they should place their faith in. It also recognises that each person may have their own way to practice their bhakti for God. Hence, there are no rigid rules about practicing yoga or meditation techniques. The only requirement is that one focuses their concentration on God.

It also emphasises a deeper appreciation of the world by loving all of God’s creatures equally and opening your heart to love and beauty in the world wherever you may find it. Seeing the beauty in the world despite all its problems and tragedies is the first step towards reaching a perfected, elevated state of mind that is the way to reach God.

With regular practice of Bhakti Yoga, you can combine the pure force of love and devotion to achieve the highest pinnacle of divinity. You become more gracious, tolerant, quieter and more accepting of the world. Also, Bhakti Yoga infuses enough love in one’s heart to overpower all negative emotions and insecurities. In short, it is a divine power that can move a person from their current state to a blissful, exalted one.

3 Reasons You Need to Use Lubricants While Having Sex

About 66% of India's population falls in the age group of 14 to 65 years, making it the youngest country in the world, and yet, the people can't stop pretending that sex doesn't exist in the society. It is still a taboo and sex toys aren’t really something we shop for! However, the reality is that the market for sexual wellness in India stands firmly at US$227.8 million, while the global market is over US$22 billion.

The market was expected to grow at an average rate of 34.8% between 2014 and 2019. This means that although people shy away from accepting it, they do use sexual products and are satisfied with the results too! And one product that has seen a huge market all over the world, as well as in India, is the lubricant.

Benefits of Using Sex Lube

1.      It Helps in Smooth Sex

During sex, the rush of blood to the genitals prompts various vaginal glands and mucous cells to secrete fluids, making intercourse easier for the couple. However, there are times when the body might not produce enough lubrication, leading to painful penetration. This very normal and does not always indicate a problem. This is also where using a lubricant can be very useful. It helps in getting rid of vaginal dryness and also provides a new sensation during sex. The foreplay also gives time for the body to warm up for the act.

2.      It Helps You Concentrate

Most people have so many things running through their mind even during sexual activity. Thoughts like whether you are doing enough, if you partner is experiencing pleasure or whether your vagina is too dry can often backfire and spoil your overall experience. Using a sex lube helps by taking care of what the anxiety would have robbed your body of – the needed moisture for penetration. You can use Durex Play Massage Gel or Durex Play Lube that are specifically designed to enhance pleasure.

3.      It Makes Sex More Pleasurable Than Painful

First of all, when your partner knows that you are using a sex lube, they’ll be less nervous about hurting you, which is always a good thing. Secondly, since it makes the act smoother, it takes away a lot of the anxiety that one might otherwise experience.

When it comes to anal sex, lubrication is highly recommended for safety and pleasure, since this area of the human body does not have any natural lubricant. While choosing the lube, keep in mind the condom that you are using too, to ensure that it does not lead to the condom rupturing or slipping off.