Shakti
October 30, 2018

Shaktiman and Shakti

It must not be thought that, although Prakriti becomes conscious Shakti in manifestation, it is in any of its forms the ultimate object of worship. Worship, however, implies a duality. And although essentially the worshipper and the worshipped are the same - and it is the realization of this Unity which is the end and aim of worship - yet Shakti in manifestation cannot but be the object of worship so long as the Ego has its individuality, which is made of the stuff of Prakriti. It is, therefore, that in spiritual culture the Tantra postulates two Shaktis - Vachaka…
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MantraSadhana
October 28, 2018

MANTRA SĀDHANĀ

The Mantra itself is Devatā, that is, the Supreme Consciousness (Cit-śakti) manifesting in that form. śṛṇu devi pravakṣāmi bījānām deva-rūpatām | mantroccārṇ amatrena deva-rūpam prajāyatte || Bṛhad-gandharva-Tantra (Ch. V) The Mantra is awakened from its sleep (Mantra-caitanya) through the Sādhana Śakti of the mantrin. It is at base one and the same Śakti which appears as Sādhana-Śakti and Mantra-śakti, the latter however being the more powerful manifestation.  The consciousness of the Sādhaka becomes en rapport and in union with the Consciousness in the form of the Mantra; and the Devatā who is the Artha of the Mantra appears to the…
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KaliShakti
October 24, 2018

Prayer At The Feet Of Srī Srī Kālīkā

  PRAYER AT THE FEET OF SRI SRI KĀLIKĀ May the Maha-Devi who is called Kalika, Because She is without beginning or end, Whose Body is imagined to be blue of colour, Because like the blue sky She pervades the World, And because She is Cidghana Sattvagunamayi. Who is imagined to be black Because She is colourless and above the coloured Gunas, Whose hair is dishevelled (Muktakesi) Because though Herself changeless She binds infinite numbers of Jivas by bonds of Maya, symbolized by Her dishevelled hair and because She makes liberated (Mukta) Braha, Visnu and Mahesvara who are Kesa. Who is…
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SadhanaShakti
October 17, 2018

APARAJITASTUTI – Hymn to the Invincible Devi

The Chandipath is divided into three sections - charitras - each being equivalent to one of the three Veda-s: Rig, Sama, Yajur. The 3rd Charitra is the domain of Maharasraswati, and has given rise to some of the greatest theological and metaphorical interpretations of Shakta doctrine. The Bija of this section is Klim, which is representative of the Ananda aspect of Saccidananda. That of course takes nothing away from the battle stories, where we find some of the most terrifying forms of Devi appearing. Because maybe, constant Ananda is the toughest of all things to attain and needs the intervention…
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SadhanaShakti
October 13, 2018

THE SLAYING OF MAHISASURA (a liberal translation from the original text)

As he saw the army being slaughtered, Ciksura, the great asura general went ahead in tremendous fury to battle Ambika. He rained showers of arrow on the Devi just as clouds shower the summit of Mount Meru. But easily shattering those volley of arrows, the Devi, in turn, killed Ciksura's horses and charioteer. Like lightning She slashed through his flag and bow, cutting them in half, and wounded the asura general using swiftly dispatched arrows. With his bow broken, chariot wrecked, horses and charioteer slain the asura now picked up his sword and shield and rushing at the Devi, struck…
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Shakti
October 12, 2018

Devi Stuti: Symbolism of Madhu and Kaitabh

One of the most beautiful sections of the #Caṇḍī Pāṭha is the stuti to the Devi done by Brahma, so that Vishnu can fight with the Asura-pair named Madhu and Kaitabha.  The names Madhu and Kaitabh most easily remind us of madhu - honey, and a play on the word kITa - insect, a honey-bee.  These insects of the genus Apis are known in commonly for their remarkable single-pointedness in gathering honey and work as a perfect symbol of all such people who are satisfied in their trapping of daily life, going over the mundane routine day in and day…
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Sadhana
October 2, 2018

Importance of Pitr Karma

Every year during the second fortnight of the lunar month of Bhardrapada, right after the Ganesha puja, a period of 14 days is set aside for offering reverence to ancestors, known as pitrpaksha. During this time, many traditional Hindus perform pitr tarpana, pitr shraddha, and pinda danaeither at home, or preferably near river banks, wherein one pays homage to ones departed ancestors. The word shraaddha (श्राद्ध) indicates that the act is to be performed with sincere faith shraddhā (श्रद्धा). There is of course another lesser known pitrpaksha in the first half of the year, but it is the one during Bhadrapada, which is considered more significant. Pitr Yajna…
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