Worship of Devi ( from Devi Bhakta )

[Guest guest]

Namaskar Yeshe O!

 

I'm really glad to hear you liked that passage. "Vaikritika Rahasya"

is Sanskrit for "The Secret of Subsequent Modifications" -- which

refers to the unfolding of the primordial Divine Feminine (Shakti) as

She multiplies into various recognizable Goddess forms.

 

This composition is the second of three "Rahasyas" traditionally

recited after one has finished chanting the Devi Mahatmyam (DM).

 

In English translation, it can be found in Thomas Coburn's

"Encountering the Goddess" (1991, State University of New York

Press),

a very literal English translation of DM and discussion of its

context. Coburn is a first-rate scholar, but a bum poet -- so that

passage I posted is actually my own work, more or less -- based on

Coburn, some low-level knowledge of Sanskrit, and a sense of when

English sounds good and when it doesn't.

 

Unfortunately, there's no one place where you can find these texts.

There are several versions of DM in English of varying quality and

reliability. We've archived some worthwhile texts in the Book List

file in the Club Briefcase. I'll eventually be transferring that

information into a database in our Group, so that it will be

easily accessible by all members and constantly updated with new

recommendations. Just one of many big improvements on the

horizon!

 

You ask, "Is there a specific 'one' from where one starts a study?" I

would say DM is the most elemental, significant and beautiful Devi

scripture. In past posts I've referred to it as the "Bible" of

Shaktism, and I stand by that. Fortunately, it is much shorter than

the Bible, and can be read in an hour, or (preferably) chanted in

maybe two. Chanting twice a week -- on Tuesday and Friday nights, for

reasons of tradition and textual recommendations -- is not at all a

bad way to "start a study."

 

Please drop me a note if you need help locating any particular text

you're seeking.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe