Embracing Grief & the Power of Goddess Akilandeswari
The Hindu deity, Goddess Akilandeswari, is often referred to as the "Goddess Never Not Broken," symbolising broken hearts, shattered souls and transitions. She is believed to help us during our darkest times—when we experience heartbreak, failure or feel utterly shattered. Her guidance helps us heal and reach new levels of enlightenment.
Akhilandeswari's name seems paradoxical. "Akhila" means "whole" or "entire," and "Ishvari" means "goddess." Yet, she is known as the goddess who is always broken. This contradiction holds a profound truth: it is through our brokenness that we find our wholeness.
Akhilandeswari is often seen riding a crocodile through a churning sea. Water, in its fluid and ever-changing nature, is her element. Like water, she teaches us that life is not about achieving a fixed state of perfection, but about navigating change with fluidity.
In our culture, we often view breaking as a failure or a sign of weakness. Akhilandeswari invites us to see it differently. Each time we shatter—through loss, heartbreak, or life's inevitable transitions—we have the opportunity to reassemble ourselves. The magic lies in the fact that we don't have to put ourselves back together exactly as we were before.
With each breaking, we can choose which pieces to pick up, which to let go, and how to rearrange them. This process is not just about healing; it's about evolution. Our brokenness allows us to shed old patterns, beliefs and identities that no longer serve us. By putting ourselves back together, we can align more closely with our truest, most authentic selves.
Akhilandeswari teaches us that vulnerability is not a weakness but our greatest strength. When we allow ourselves to be seen in our brokenness, we create space for deeper connections, greater compassion and true intimacy—with ourselves and others.
Just as a seed must break its shell to grow into a tree, or a caterpillar must dissolve in its chrysalis to become a butterfly, we too must go through periods of breaking down to grow. Akhilandeswari reminds us that this is not a singular event but a cyclical process of continuous unfolding.
In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, where the only constant seems to be change itself, Akhilandeswari's wisdom is more relevant than ever. She teaches us not to fear change or brokenness, but to embrace them as portals to our evolution.
