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So I'm Interested in Shaktism

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
I'm not sure Athena was originally a Proto-Indo-European Goddess. Hellenic religion is heavily syncreticized with other cultures and has a lot in common with Near Eastern religion.

That's entirely possible (that she's not originally PIE) and is Near Eastern. Of course, how many permutations of a god or goddess can one have before there's an overlap? Saraswati is unquestionably Indic/Vedic because she is the personification of the Saraswati River. It was thought to be mythical until satellite images showed a dried river bed where the river was said to once flow. Tangentially, this may also go to the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization. A drying climate may have forced the inhabitants of the IVC further east to the Gangetic Plains area, which was still quite wet and fertile. Sorry, Mr. Tsoukolos... no alien nuclear holocaust at the IVC.
 

Vinidra

Jai Mata Di!
A lot of the philosophy of Shaktism is outlined in the Devi Gita, which is one of the sacred texts of Shaktas. It's also a shorter and quicker read than the Chandi.
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
I try to respect each religious tradition as it is but would you say that Shaktism is universal in the search for the Divine Feminine? So, I work with Roman Goddess Diana, who as you know is not a Hindu Deity, but she is still the Divine Feminine, a Goddess and therefore part of Mahadevi or the Great Goddess?
God comes to us in masculine and feminine forms. These are Divine. Deities of the consciousness are not Divine but take the attribute of the gunas that they represent: sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. Which of these accurately describes Roman Goddess Diana?
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
These are Divine. Deities of the consciousness are not Divine but take the attribute of the gunas that they represent: sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. Which of these accurately describes Roman Goddess Diana?
Perhaps the closest is "Prithivi" or "Bhudevi" - Rajasic. Hera or Juno in Greek and Roman mythology along with her male counterpart Dyava, Zeus or Jupiter.

"Bhūmi or Bhūmī-Devī is the Hindu goddess representing Mother Earth. She is the consort of the boar god Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu. Bhumi is the daughter of Kashyap Prajapati. She is known by various names such as Bhuma-Devi, Bhuvati, Bhuvaani, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhuvanendri, Bhuvisha, Avaani, Avni, Avanendri, Prithvi, Dharti, Dhaatri, Dharani, Vasudha, Vasundhara, Vaishnavi, Kashyapi, Urvi, Urvisha, Urvishi/Urvishwari, Urvivati, Ira, Iravati, Iravaani, Ela, Elavati, Elavaani,Varahi, Vasumati, Dhanshika, Hema, Hemavati, Hemaalaya, Hemamaalini, and Hiranmaya.She is worshipped in patala and is depicted as seated on a platform which rests on the back of four elephants, representing the four directions of the world. She is usually depicted with four arms, holding a pomegranate, a water vessel, a bowl containing healing herbs and another containing vegetables. She is also sometimes depicted with two hands, one holding a blue lotus known as Kumuda or Utpala, the night lotus, and in the right hand and the left hand may be in the Abhaya Mudra, fearlessness or the Lolahasta Mudra which is an aesthetic pose meant to mimic the tail of a horse."
Bhūmi - Wikipedia
 

Sharmaji

Member
Hello, glad you’re interested in shaktism. It’s true there are merely few scriptures available, one of the most important one being the Devi Gita. In the West it has unfortunately been distorted to tantric sex practices only which is really sad. There’s also a book called Devi Mahatmyan. Shaktism is very dominant in Nepal, parts of Bengal and Kerala.
 

von bek

Well-Known Member
Hello, glad you’re interested in shaktism. It’s true there are merely few scriptures available, one of the most important one being the Devi Gita. In the West it has unfortunately been distorted to tantric sex practices only which is really sad. There’s also a book called Devi Mahatmyan. Shaktism is very dominant in Nepal, parts of Bengal and Kerala.

Are there any English translations of these texts that you particularly recommend?
 

von bek

Well-Known Member
There are several ones available, the most famous being the translation by Swami Jagadiswaranda.

Thank you. I have read part of Devi Mahatmya online, but I really did not care for the translation. Hoping to pick up or read a translation done by an actual Shakta who knows Sanskrit.
 

Sharmaji

Member
Thank you. I have read part of Devi Mahatmya online, but I really did not care for the translation. Hoping to pick up or read a translation done by an actual Shakta who knows Sanskrit.
I hope you find it insightful on your path to shaktism.
 

von bek

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the translation suggestions, everyone. I picked up a copy of the Devi Mahatmya at a used bookstore near me. Beautiful beyond my imagining!
 

von bek

Well-Known Member
Mahakali overwhelmed me! I am excited about deepening my understanding of Devi. My heart bursts with love for Her! May I always be pleasing to Durga's Heart and may I find safety and protection at Her Feet!

It is funny that this thread was started by another, yet it ended up being right where I was, mentally and emotionally. May Kali bless all those who have participated in this thread!
 

Frater Sisyphus

Contradiction, irrationality and disorder
I am also incredibly interested in Shaktism. It seems like the religion in Hinduism that I connect with (in my current knowledge) the most - and may end up converting to, even.
Still, I feel a strong resonance with Krishna and Vishnu as life-guiding deities.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
That is OK. It is not required in Hinduism that you worship only one God or Goddess (or follow just one way). We are quite liberal about it. :)

For sure. One can say oṁ sarvebhyoḥ devebhyoḥ namaḥ ("reverence/obeisance to all deities") as a general namaskar. I suppose one could also do a puja for all deities using the offering format

oṁ sarvebhyoḥ devebhyoḥ namaḥ avahanam samarpayaami;
oṁ sarvebhyoḥ devebhyoḥ namaḥ deepam darshayaami;
oṁ sarvebhyoḥ devebhyoḥ namaḥ dhoopam aghrapayaami;
oṁ sarvebhyoḥ devebhyoḥ namaḥ pushpam samarpayaami;
oṁ sarvebhyoḥ devebhyoḥ namaḥ
[item] samarpayaami;
etc.


One could also recite a litany of namaskars to the deities. I have one such list I occasionally recite.
 
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