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Shakta Discussion
- Thread starter JaiMaaDurga
- Start date
Fireside_Hindu
Jai Lakshmi Maa
I have a question for my fellow Shaktas about Durga's Umbrella. Often she is depicted with an umbrella or other canopy over her head in temples. Why is it that she is depicted this way but other Goddesses are not? I know all murtis get an umbrella when they paraded for special celebrations, but Durga Maa seems to be the only one who has one all the time. What is it's significance to her? Perhaps it's meaningless and just an affect of tradition but if there is a reason behind it I'm curious to know.
Vinidra
Jai Mata Di!
I swear, I read something about this just the other day, but I can't remember for the life of me what (or where) it was. I'm sure someone does, though, and will come along and tell us soon.
Also, let it be known that I
this thread, and it makes me smile every time I see that it's been bumped up again. 
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
I think the canopy (chhatra) is there is case of all the deities. It is gifted by the devotees to honor them. So, a temple may have many 'chhatras' - small ones made of gold and larger many made of silver. Even in private shrines, people will buy 'chhatras' for their 'ishata' if they strike their fancy. Our family shrine had a small gold 'chhatra', in addition to the regular silver 'chhatra', which has gone to the person who bought our ancestral home - for free (his parents worshiped our shrine for 40 years and were loath to part with it. We accepted their request. Now we have only a photograph of that shrine to remember. All things change and one should not rue changes). Gold and silver prices have gone up recently, so will not buy any in near future.
If there is any other reason, I do not know it.
There's no real reason, an umbrella is a common offering among some circles. Maybe it is to symbolise her protection of her children and Durga just happens to be a popular "supreme."
Interestingly I did Google this out of curiosity and instead found a story about Jwali (sp?) Ji. Who is a Devi worshipped in a temple as the flames that come through the rocks of the mountain where the Temple is located. The Emperor Akbar (who I've apparently seen a Bollywood movie about without realising it) tried to douse the sacred flames and failed. So out of respect and apology offered a gold umbrella which turned into an unknown metal. Leading to suggestions that the offering was rejected.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Jwala (flame). Nine Mother Goddess temples in our Himalayan states. So many stories.
http://www.walkthroughindia.com/fes...ous-temples-of-goddess-shakti-in-north-india/
Akbar's Chhatra for Jwala
Kashmiris brahmins are divided into three groups who worship the three Mother Goddesses (no segregation between the groups): Jwala, Sharika and Ragnya. Jwala does not mind non-vegetarian fare during her worship, but the other two Goddesses are strictly vegetarian.
http://www.walkthroughindia.com/fes...ous-temples-of-goddess-shakti-in-north-india/
Kashmiris brahmins are divided into three groups who worship the three Mother Goddesses (no segregation between the groups): Jwala, Sharika and Ragnya. Jwala does not mind non-vegetarian fare during her worship, but the other two Goddesses are strictly vegetarian.
We must not forget that if Kali Maa is our mother, she is mother to others too (does not matter if they do not know or accept it).
This is the view we get about Allah, Christ, many of the mass market gurus, etc. from the faithful in other faiths. Do you accept it? Seems like a double standard here, Aup. Maybe you can explain your thinking.
Why is it so hard to find Shakta (Sri Vidya) teachers or organizations where gaining boons isn't the primary goal?
I mean, I guess I understand that is a part of Shaktism (and is where the stereotype comes from), but I'm pretty sure there a plenty of Shaktas where devotion and self-realization are the goals of this life.
I mean, I guess I understand that is a part of Shaktism (and is where the stereotype comes from), but I'm pretty sure there a plenty of Shaktas where devotion and self-realization are the goals of this life.
Fireside_Hindu
Jai Lakshmi Maa
From what I've been able to learn, one issue is that there aren't a lot of Shakta texts printed in English. I purchased one recommended to me by the Sri Vidya Temple in Rush, NY, and am waiting for it. It may also be that it's simply not as "popular" a spiritual path in the US yet. The Goddess traditions here tend to focus on Sexual energy a little too much. (I mean, it's certainly a part of it, but it's not the goal for me as a Shakta personally) People think of Vishnu and Shiva when they think of spiritual gains still, not realizing that the Goddess can offer both - appreciation of the mundane and the divine as we progress toward spiritual enlightenment. I think Shaktas need to be more vocal. It' hard though, because in the US, people associate Goddess worship with radicalized feminism, which makes it hard for people to take it seriously. Also, female = Less Than in a lot of minds still, even here. Religions are still very male-centric regardless of claims that god is genderless.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
What boons a Shakta will like to have? He has all that he requires in the mother. Worship of the Mother is the primary goal of a Shata (more like worship of Krishna among Hare-Krishnas).
IMHO, there are more Shaktas than Vaishnavas and Shaivas. Take for example the women. So, half the population is Shakta that way. Those who equally worship all deities, the Smartas, add them to the Shaktas, and then there are male Shaktas. Take for example Bengal, Tamilnadu, Gujarat. Yes, they may not be vocal, but do they need to be?
Fireside_Hindu
Jai Lakshmi Maa
What boons a Shakta will like to have? He has all that he requires in the mother. Worship of the Mother is the primary goal of a Shata (more like worship of Krishna among Hare-Krishnas).
IMHO, there are more Shaktas than Vaishnavas and Shaivas. Take for example the women. So, half the population is Shakta that way. Those who equally worship all deities, the Smartas, add them to the Shaktas, and then there are male Shaktas. Take for example Bengal, Tamilnadu, Gujarat. Yes, they may not be vocal, but do they need to be?
I mean those outside India being more vocal. When I visited India last year the Mother was everywhere I looked! =) She is an integral part there and people know her significance. (Though of course society does not always reflect that reverence) But in the US, people don't consider Goddess worship "Real". So it ends up being practiced in isolation, out of the public eye and often times it's easy for people to take erroneous information about the Goddess to heart and then there's confusion about Shakta worship, vs. let's say, Wiccan or Neo-Goddess worship.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
I agree to that and the Mother / Kali / sexis so easily associated with the presentation of Tantra as has been done by Hindu gurus in West. As you know, a Hindu does not think of Mother in that way. And that I suppose will be my last post today in the Forum. Jai Mata Ki.
Vinidra
Jai Mata Di!
I keep asking myself the same question.
I mean, yes, I do ask for Mother's help for things in my mundane life, but I don't care anything about siddhis, making someone fall in love with me (ugh), or many of the other things that you often see being peddled, at least online.
It was always my understanding that Shaktism is a path where it's believed that one can live a happy, comfortable life and *also* make plenty of spiritual progress/achieve moksha at the same time. I wish you could see more of that in the West.
Of the 13 temples we visited in Vancouver, 3 were Shakta, a Thurga (South Indian spelling) a Durga, and a Mahalakshmi. Most were Sanatan I think, although its hard to tell some days. Two were Saiva, and one pure Vaishnava.
JaiMaaDurga
Member
Namaste Starry,
I first wish to express happiness that your steps toward Devi are not faltering- though I do understand and empathize with your frustration..
it must be remembered that it will be the frauds and would-be gurus that will shout the loudest and longest online for your attention.
There is no shortage of people who post their rates for pujas/homas/online diksha etc.
There are also those like FSH mentioned who, while sincere and meaning well, cannot seem to help but attempt a fusion of Shakta and Western systems.
The other issue is that many mandirs in the US needs must cater to a wide spectrum, the number of local Hindus being small and across the board regarding Smarta, Vaisnava, Saiva, etc.
A good place to start might be the aforementioned Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam in Rush, NY http://srividya.org/contact/. They are certainly not about selling you siddhis, and are quite used to sincere Westerners with questions.
Another perhaps worth investigating would be Sri Siddha Lalitha Peetham in Burlington, MA http://siddhalalitha.org/web/online/.
Though you might not be able to physically go to either of these, an email explaining what you're seeking may prove helpful.
If there's other more specific discussion about your needs, please feel free to PM me!
On another note, one place I would love to visit in person: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinglaj_Mata
JAI MATA DI
I first wish to express happiness that your steps toward Devi are not faltering- though I do understand and empathize with your frustration..
it must be remembered that it will be the frauds and would-be gurus that will shout the loudest and longest online for your attention.
There is no shortage of people who post their rates for pujas/homas/online diksha etc.
There are also those like FSH mentioned who, while sincere and meaning well, cannot seem to help but attempt a fusion of Shakta and Western systems.
The other issue is that many mandirs in the US needs must cater to a wide spectrum, the number of local Hindus being small and across the board regarding Smarta, Vaisnava, Saiva, etc.
A good place to start might be the aforementioned Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam in Rush, NY http://srividya.org/contact/. They are certainly not about selling you siddhis, and are quite used to sincere Westerners with questions.
Another perhaps worth investigating would be Sri Siddha Lalitha Peetham in Burlington, MA http://siddhalalitha.org/web/online/.
Though you might not be able to physically go to either of these, an email explaining what you're seeking may prove helpful.
If there's other more specific discussion about your needs, please feel free to PM me!
On another note, one place I would love to visit in person: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinglaj_Mata
JAI MATA DI
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
JMD, It also has to do with Hindu psyche. If their 'ishta' is honored, they do not mind the presence of other deities. It is not that they do not respect them. This happens only in some sects. Yes, I would also have liked to go to the Hinglaj Mata shrine being from Rajasthan (which borders Sindh), but my travelling days are over, and then the Pakistan-India relations.
Fireside_Hindu
Jai Lakshmi Maa
Yes absolutely. I don't mind the presence of other deities at all. Sometimes though, Mata ji's presence in a temple feels like an afterthought. It's hard to feel her energy ina place where she is rarely celebrated specifically.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Most Hindu Native kings (Rajputs, warrior clans) were Shaktas. Most City Goddesses in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are various forms of the Mother Goddess. Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur had Mother Goddesses (Chamunda, Karni and Shila Devi). People in that city have a reverence for the royal deity..
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
It may not look like that the temple has given importance to the Mother Goddess, but no one will try to miss her. The temple in our neighborhood is one such. But everyone makes it a point to go to her shrine. And then, her presence is everywhere - as Parvati with Shiva, as Lakshmi with Vishnu, as Sita with Rama and as Radha with Krishna. She is an inseparable part of them. Can you imagine them without Shakti?