Dhumavati

The Dhumavati Shloka is a Reminder in Desolation

vivarṇācan̄calāduṣṭādīrghā ca malināmbarā vimuktā kuntalā rūkṣā vidhavā viraḷadvijākākadhvajarathārūḍhāvilambitapayōdharāśūrpahastātirūkṣākṣādhūmahastāvarānvitā

Goddess Dhumavati represents the inauspicious and undesired in Tantra. She has the terrifying appearance of an old and ugly widow, carrying a winnowing basket and heralded by crows in a crematorium. Dhumavati means one who resides in smoke, implying the perpetual fire of the crematorium surrounding her presence. She is said to reside in everything inauspicious, such as quarrels, cries of children, leftovers of food, and filth. She bestows curses, is forever dissatisfied with herself, and should be avoided. Dhumavati is the seventh deity in the Tantrik pantheon of the Dasa MahaVidya.

She is a monstrous entity, once having consumed her husband Shiva in fierce hunger. She wears filthy clothes, her hair is dishevelled, and her appearance is grotesque. Her body shows signs of loss and old age, with her sagging breasts and unkempt fingernails on her gnarled hands. She is often depicted as a demonic deity, a creature of darkness and despair. Her presence evokes the primal fears of terror and disillusion, which are hard to please and worship. The old woman has three eyes, indicating the divine knowledge of the past, present, and future.

According to some legends, she arose from the ashes of Sati when she self-immolated in the fire, bereaved at the insult of her husband, Shiva. She is heard crushing the bones of the evil in her mouth, and her presence lingers in the wailings of the widow at the cemetery. In the most primal sense, she is the Goddess of lost causes in Tantra. She is loss and hopelessness personified, forever awaiting the sinful in Tantra to meet their end. She represents impermanence in life and all the good qualities, and she carries the forever curse of not achieving the Siddhis in Tantra.

Dhumavati has an immense significance in the Dasa MahaVidya. She represents the loss of wealth, youthfulness, family, and all hope. Her presence in the pantheon indicates the perils of Tantra, of all the unbecoming, that should never befall the hearth. The only way to please her is to treat her presence with sympathy, sharing her cries of mourning, and by redirecting her energy to the destruction of sinfulness in the heart of the Sadhaka.

In the deep and dangerous path of Tantra, even the unfruitful has a place. Goddess Dhumavati represents the eternal hunger of dissatisfaction. Therefore, her worship is related to the Swadhisthana chakra, located in the stomach region. More specifically, she controls the lower part of the Swadhisthana chakra, like the eternal darkness beneath an earthen lamp.

Her presence emphasizes on the meaning of Maya in a deeper sense. She insists that everything is impermanent, from youth to wealth. Nothing lasts, and even in that desolation, the three-eyed Goddess Dhumavati wanders. She is the destroyer of the illusions, and prepares the heart of the Sadhaka to indifference.

Her presence is an important reminder that even when you engage in Tantrik rituals, your mind should be freed from the desire to attain Siddhis. Even that desire to achieve the ultimate perfection in Tantra is nothing but an illusion. Dhumavati has the heart of an ascetic, but she is not at peace.

She is dissatisfied because she cannot retain love, prosperity, joy, and youth. Even then, in that emptiness where the Sadhaka has lost everything, he can still find traces of empathy and compassion in the form of Goddess Dhumavati.

She is very rarely depicted as youthful and wearing jewels. When she does, her presence reminds the Sadhaka that the grace of Goddess Dhumavati can be found even when the yogi has lost everything in the path of Tantra.

Goddess Dhumavati is called upon by devotees by other names. She is sometimes called Alakshmi, meaning “The Opposite of Lakshmi.” Lakshmi is depicted as beautiful, prosperous, and as the consort of Vishnu. As her opposite, Dhumavati is a widow, grotesque, and desolate.

She is also associated with the Vedic Goddess Nirriti. In this form, she is even quarrelsome, desolate, and miserable. Another name for Goddess Dhumavati is Jyestha, which means she is an old woman.

Tantra has many different paths, and the devotee should follow the one that suits his temperament and objectives. Primarily, the devotee needs to decide on the Gunas that govern the paths. The three Gunas, Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas represent the predominant attributes of man’s nature. While Sattwik focuses on hard meditation, vegetarianism, and sexual abstinence, Tamas is the exact opposite. The Tamasic person is engaged in the consumption of meat and alcohol, enjoys sexual intercourse, and does not focus on meditation.

The Sattwik Sadhaka follows the Dakshinacharam or the Right-Hand path of worship. The Tamasic Sadhaka follows the Vamacharam or the Left-Hand path of worship. The Tamasic Sadhaka must obtain absolute mastery over the five M’s or the Pancha Ma’Karas. These are Madya, Mamsa, Matsya, Mudra, and Maithuna. These, respectively, mean alcohol, animal flesh, fish, money, and sexual intercourse. Between these two extremes, Rajasic Sadhaka pursues Kaulacharam or the middle path. It is similar to Vamacharam but also incorporates elements of Dakshinacharam.

Dhumavati is a fearsome Goddess who is extremely hard to please. Even then, her compassion comes through when the Sadhaka feels that all is lost and there is no hope left in the world. In that sense, she is benign and benevolent, offering comfort even when there is nothing left in life. Before worshipping Goddess Dhumavati, certain guidelines should be followed.

Firstly, you should cleanse and purify the place of worship. Ignite a mustard oil lamp and burn incense to please the Goddess. Secondly, you should invoke her presence by chanting the mantra and by offering dried flowers, mustard oil, and black sesame seeds. You should meditate on her form as a fierce old woman who has a compassionate presence. Thirdly, offer your gratitude to her when you pray to Dhumavati. Seek her blessings to gain the wisdom she guards. Finally, you should conclude the ritual by distributing the Prasad (blessed offerings).

Mentioned here are certain problems and how to find the solutions by worshipping Goddess Dhumavati.

Problem: Facing obstacles and hurdles in life.

Solution:

• Mantra chanting: The devotee must recite the Dhumavati Mantra 108 times daily, keeping count in a Rudraksha garland. The Mantra is, “Dhum Dhum Dhumavato Svaha.”
• Make offerings: The devotee should make offerings of mustard oil, black sesame seeds, and a black cloth to her idol or image. Such offerings appease the fearsome Goddess and make her remove the hurdles in your path.
• Meditation: You need to meditate on her form and visualize the dissipation of the obstacles in smoke.

Problem: Facing negative influences in life.

Solution:

• Yantra worship: The devotee should worship the Dhumavati Yantra at home. You should perform regular Puja (ritual worship) with a mustard oil lamp, incense, and black sesame seeds.
• Mantra chanting: Chant the Mantra, “Dhumavati Namaha”, daily, and focus on invoking her protective energies in life.
• Conduct a fire ritual: Arrange a havan (fire ritual) using black sesame seeds, black mustard seeds, and other sacred objects. Such a ritual purifies the environment and protects the Sadhaka from negativity.

Problem: FacingInconsolable loss and sorrow.

Solution:

• Mantra chanting: Recite her Mantra, “Om Dhumavati Namahato,” daily to invoke her presence and seek solace in times of grief.
• Make offerings: You should offer dried flowers and incense to her idol or image. The offerings reflect the transitory nature of life and evoke her blessings to overcome sorrow.
• Meditate on emptiness: You need to meditate on the void that Goddess Dhumavati embodies. Such a meditation helps the devotee to accept the nature of impermanence in life.

Problem: Obstacles in the path of spiritual growth.

Solution:

• Study sacred texts: You should read the scriptures related to the Goddess and the Dasa MahaVidya. Such reading helps you gain deep wisdom and knowledge.
• Mantra chanting: Chant the Mantra, “Dhumavati Mahavidya Namaha,” to invoke her wisdom in the path of spiritual learning.
• Meditate silently: You should spend time in silent meditation, reflecting on the deeper truths of life and the universe. Focus on attaining enlightenment as the purpose of existence.