About this article

When life feels heavy, when pain seems unending or we just need to find hope again, there is a gentle pull guiding us inward. My name is Brahman, and I am a humble devotee of Sri Sakthi Amma, who lives in southern India and is widely known as an incarnation of the Divine Mother, Goddess Narayani. Through Amma’s teachings and grace, my life has changed direction in ways I never imagined possible. What I share here comes from the core of my heart and from a recent live session, “Bhakti for the Modern Soul.”

I am writing this with gratitude to the Divine, as a small offering to anyone searching for a more meaningful way to meet life. What follows is not just about me but about the power of surrender and devotion - a power that comes not from realising we are always held and guided by the Divine. If anything here helps bring even one person closer to their own experience of bhakti and surrender, then this service is worthwhile.

How Pain Turned Me Toward Devotion

At the beginning, my journey was not about seeking something spiritual. Like many, I found this path because I needed to escape pain. Addiction and struggle were weighing me down, and more than 19 years ago, getting clean and sober was my first big step. Still, on this path of recovery, I felt something was missing. My inner world needed more than just absence of pain - it needed purpose, peace, and connection.

Meeting Amma about six years into this journey was life-changing. Amma teaches that embracing our deepest challenges is not punishment but a doorway to something much greater. Before Amma, I spent time learning from Shakti Durga in Sydney - her lessons on spirituality, the soul, and devotion quietly planted the first seeds of change. If it were not for the hard times, I may never have found my Guru or understood the meaning of a truly divine life.

Opening the Heart with Gratitude

For a long time, words like devotion and bhakti seemed out of reach. My heart was closed, locked from years of hurt and fear. It was easier to stay numb or avoid feelings entirely. But what began to shift everything for me was the simple practice of gratitude. I would write down small things I appreciated every day. It might have seemed basic, but bit by bit, this small act started to melt the ice around my heart.

Meditation with my first teacher, and later daily puja (devotional offering) with Amma, made me aware of the love that everyone spoke about - the love of the Divine. At first it only came in small glimpses, but with time, surrender and gratitude began to open my heart further. When my heart slowly opened, I started to truly feel bhakti: the love for God.

This was not just an idea but an experience that changed me from the inside out. I want to make it clear - none of this was “my doing.” All came by grace and practice. Any good that has come from my life is Amma’s blessing, not my own effort.

Why Surrender Is Both Difficult and Transformational

Surrender is not comfortable. The mind wants to hold on to what is familiar, even if it hurts. The ego does not like change and is afraid of losing control. But the spiritual path always brings us to turning points - moments when we know, deeply, we cannot go on doing things the old way.

At these crossroads, surrender is asked of us. With surrender, there is always some fear, because part of us knows that the ego will dissolve a little. The mind wants to plan and understand. But surrender means giving everything - including our ideas about what’s best - back to the Divine and being open to follow new guidance, even without knowing where it leads.

It is not easy, but it is powerful. Amma teaches, “When we surrender to the Divine, we become God’s responsibility.” Any fear I had about losing what I loved or not getting what I longed for was met again and again with reassurance. I started to trust that surrender is safe, because the Divine is not somewhere outside, but alive within us.

At times, especially during karmic struggles, I have felt alone. But looking back, those were the moments when Divine presence was closest, guiding and holding me even when I could not sense it. Grace is always near, whether or not we can see it.

Simple Tools and Practices for Everyday Devotion

Surrender opens the way, and devotion allows us to walk it. All these practices are offered by Amma or my teachers, and can be done by anyone.

Here are the key practices that continue to shape my life:

Mantra Chanting (Japa):

• The mantra “Om Namoh Narayani” means “I surrender to Divine Mother; I bow to the supreme energy.”
• You do not need any qualification, spiritual title, or background. The only requirement is a heart that wishes to connect.
• Amma teaches that especially now, in the age called Kali Yuga, bhakti - practiced through mantra - is the fastest way to connect with the Divine.
• Chanting this mantra 108 times a day quickly plugs you into that source of divine energy. Each time you repeat it, you awaken qualities inside: Lakshmi (abundance and love), Saraswati (wisdom and learning), and Durga (strength and protection).

Puja (Devotional Offering):

• Puja is a way of offering your heart to the Divine. It can be done with flowers, turmeric water, rose water, or even just your intention.
• Puja is not about big ceremonies, but about genuine, open-hearted giving.
• Missing my daily puja even for just a week once made me realize how much it supports my mood and shields me from negativity. It’s a “divine force field”.

Abhishekam (Sacred Bathing):

• Bathing a statue or image of the Divine is a quiet but powerful act of oneness and humility.

Gratitude Practice:

• Especially if you feel resistant to devotion, begin with gratitude.
• Remember times when things somehow worked out, or someone or something helped you, even if you could not see the “grace” at the time.
• Give your gratitude to whatever name feels close: God, Guru, Spirit, Jesus, Allah, Krishna - or even just “the universe.”

Daily Surrender Prayer:

• Here’s a simple prayer I use:
• “I now surrender everything I think I know and all of the old ideas I have about every single aspect of my life. I ask for an open mind and a new experience through divine grace. So be it.”
• Visualize offering your worries, emotions, fears, and old thoughts to the Divine, seeing yourself placing your head at the feet of whatever form of God speaks to you.

Cutting Cords of Attachment:

• Whenever you feel drained or stuck, ask inwardly, “I now cut all cords of attachment that are connecting me and binding me to any person, place, thing, time, or event that’s draining my energy and keeping me stuck. I lovingly cut these cords and surrender and set myself free. Jai Ma.”
• You can imagine Goddess Durga’s sword gently cutting these ties along your energy centers, returning you to wholeness.

Meditation and Chanting “Om”:

• Chanting “Om” is simple but powerful. It brings stability, helps purify the mind, and soothes the nervous system from daily stress.
• Even a few slow, conscious repetitions create balance.

Nurturing the Inner Flame of Devotion

Amma teaches that even the desire for devotion is itself a blessing from the Divine. When I feel blocked or closed off, I ask, “Please bless me with more devotion. Open my heart and help me surrender all that keeps me separate.” This is not something I make happen. It is grace.

Practicing devotion is not about never making mistakes or always feeling spiritual. It is about coming back, again and again, to that longing to serve, to surrender, and to love. After chanting, praying or meditating, I often pause and simply say:

“May the power of devotion bless all parts of my life. May my heart be alive with the power of devotion so that I can feel bliss, joy, happiness, peace, and prosperity - in body, mind, and spirit. May I realize myself through my devotion and surrender. So be it.”

Your heart does not have to be perfect to begin. Just sincerely ask, and the Divine will guide your steps.

Calling Back Your Energy

Part of this journey is learning to call your energy and spirit back from places where you may have lost it. Regularly, I affirm:

“I reclaim my spirit and call back my energy from anywhere I have given it away. So be it.”

This is an act of kindness to the self and opens space for more grace and wholeness.

What Changes When You Walk This Path

When you regularly practice surrender and devotion, the changes might not always be dramatic, but with time they run deep. Experiences of sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness become lighter. Facing daily challenges feels less overwhelming. What grows is not pride or ego, but a quiet reassurance that you are guided and upheld, no matter what is happening.

You may notice that others around you also feel uplifted by your steadiness and calm. It’s not something you do - it’s what happens when the Divine works through you.

Conclusion: An Invitation to the Path

If you are reading this, trust that you have been drawn here for a reason. You are not alone on this journey. You do not need to be extraordinary. Bhakti and surrender are open to anyone who sincerely wishes to understand the heart’s longing for the Divine.

Try chanting “Om Namoh Narayani” with sincerity. Begin a daily gratitude list. Offer a flower or some water in puja, even quietly in your own room. Say the surrender prayer the next time you feel anxious or uncertain. Each small step is a prayer heard and welcomed by the Divine.

If you feel called to go deeper, Sri Sakthi Amma’s 11-volume book series is a wonderful source of Amma’s wisdom and guidance - available at her ashram or online.

Her website, srinarayanipetam.org, has beautiful explanations and the meanings of mantras. 

My own first teacher, Shakti Durga, also shares helpful teachings on devotion, surrender, and spiritual strength at ShaktiDurga.com.

Experience Bhakti and Devotion First-Hand: An Invitation to Retreat

If your heart feels called to discover what devotion, bhakti, and surrender can offer, I warmly invite you to join us for "The Power of Devotion Retreat" in October 2025 at Sri Sakthi Amma’s Ashram in Tamil Nadu, India.

This retreat is a living immersion in the energy of bhakti, surrounded by Amma’s presence, in a place designed for spiritual expansion and healing. You will have the opportunity to experience daily wisdom talks, learn and perform puja, and participate in sacred ceremonies and seva (selfless service), all within the heart of Amma’s ashram. Each day is dedicated to practical tools that help awaken devotion and deepen your connection to the Divine.

This is an offering for anyone seeking to experience the joy, peace, and transformation of true devotion in a heartfelt and genuine community.

Retreat Details: The Power of Devotion Retreat

To know more about the retreat feel free to reach out to me

• Retreat details: The Power of Devotion Retreat
• Website: The Brahman Project
• E-mail: Brahmankyrie@thebrahmanproject.com

More than anything, may devotion and surrender bring you peace, courage, and the living realisation that you are never separate from the Divine.

Jai Ma.