What Attracts Men to Shaktism?

[Guest guest]

This is a repost message from shakti sadhnaa club

 

By Devi Bhakta

 

 

Thanks, argonauty6, for the introduction -- and welcome to Mother's

club!

 

In your intro, you beautifully state your feeling of a certain "lack

of balance" in Western religion that drew you to the Goddess: "I want

to ... know something more of this vital and divine energy, so here

am I going towards the lap of the goddess indeed!"

 

Which brings an interesting question to mind -- one that women in

this club have addressed to me: What attracts men to worship Shakti,

the Divine Principle in Feminine Form?

 

The attraction of women to Shaktism is another good question, though

it seems easier: There is great empowerment in the deification of

the Female. But, as Madhu Kishwar points out: "As far as the diverse

goddesses are concerned, it's not just women who relate to them, I

think men do so even more strongly."

 

Do you think this is true? Why or why not? I'd love to hear from both

women and men in the club on this one! Share your stories with us!

[Guest guest]

Reply by PenKatali

 

Devi Bhakta, the question you asked is very significant. As a Man

attracted to Shakti, I may be qualified to suggest an answer.

 

Polarity is a universal reality found in all levels of creation and

manifestation. In Hinduism and Buddhist Vajrayana, the male god is

paired with his female Shakti. In Islam, the divine qualities of

Beauty (jamal) complement those of Majesty (jalal). In Jewish

Kabbalah, the Tree of Life balances the pillars of Mercy and

Severity.

In Taoism is the simplest, most essential expression of all: Yin and

Yang in perfect complementarity.

 

The simple explanation is: Opposites attract. It works in magnetism

as

in the human heart. Rumi said: Man and Woman were made for each

other;

she was made for Adam, so how could he not love her? The Sufi way of

expressing divine love is to present it on the human plane and then

lift it to the transcendent level. Thus when Rumi tells about Man's

love for Woman he also means Man's love for God.

 

For me, personally, I find such incredible mindblowing beauty and

grace manifested in Woman, it can only be divine. The undeniable

reality of the Feminine is so powerful, my soul is flooded with

direct

experience of this sacred divine presence. Thus I cannot help but

adore the Divine Feminine. Devi Goddess. (I use the phrase "Divine

Feminine" a lot. It is really a way to say "Goddess" without using

the

word "Goddess" for the Jews, Christians, and Muslims who experience

God as Feminine. Here I feel free to call Her by Her name Shakti

Devi.)

 

This is why as a Man I find it natural to love God as Feminine even

though intellectually I know that the total Divine Reality transcends

the polarity of male and female. (And yet, the ultimate divine

Essence

beyond all forms still appeals to the mystic's heart as Feminine, in

Sufism as also in Taoism. I don't know how to explain that, except to

say Jaya Ma!)

 

You suggested that women naturally want to worship Devi because She

empowers the female. I would have to share in that adoration because

Shakti has shown me how She is the real power of all reality. I adore

Her power in all women I meet. Just last night I was in a planning

meeting of the Peace Movement. I'm in the working group on

anti-racism. I sat in as the Spiritual working group was formed. I

sat

at the feet of three ladies, one a gentle, sensitive Black Muslim,

one

a strong, imposing Pagan Wiccan priestess, and the third I think is

Christian. They asked me if I had anything to contribute but I said I

just wanted to sit at their feet and listen to them in awe of the

sacred power they were bringing together.

 

I have no problem with Shakti empowering Woman because that is the

way

it's meant to be and it's long overdue. This goes with the feeling of

Devi as Mother, feeling safe in Her powerful embrace protecting Her

children from everything evil. The power to protect, the power to

bring into being.

 

Another major aspect of Her is as lover in the Tantric embrace

(thanks

to Mrs. Penkatali). Here is Her power to transform consciousness to

the highest level.

 

And in general, I find Her in all the grace and beauty as I go

through

life, in the smile of a woman passing in the street, in a garden of

bright flowers, in the awe-inspiring mystery of the evening sky at

sundown as the stars begin to appear. This intense yearning for Her

is

sometimes even a physical sensation tugging at my chest until I cry

out with longing for Her. This journey to Her is at times painful but

it's always ecstatic.

 

I used to have an intellectual approach to mysticism, thinking I

would

follow abstract Vedanta. But She taught me bhakti for the first time

in my life as I found out what it means to be so overwhelmed with

tidal waves of love flooding my whole existence that my individual

self was obliterated and I surrendered to Her tremendous reality. Now

I understand bhakti. Jaya Ma!

[Guest guest]

Keystonepa

 

At the tender age of 5 I was having some difficulty in my young life

and what appeared to me was the Goddess. She showed me where I was and

where I was going in the wheel of life. She vowed to always protect me

and to be with me. She asked that I always remember who I am and what

had happen to me. Sometimes I forget and she gently reminds me. She

chose me, I accepted.

Namaste, Richard

[Guest guest]

megalith6

 

The majority of men are - in the modern era - insecure. This is why

they strive to dominate the female, to dominate Nature. So become a

Shakta - follow the way of the Power of the Goddess. There is none

more powerful, nor more compassionate than She.

[Guest guest]

Devi_bhakta

 

Thank you for your thoughtful reply to my post asking what attracts

men to Shaktism. As usual, you hit your mark most eloquently.

 

When I considered this question myself, I arrived at a similar

conclusion -- the idea of polarities: A negative charge drawing a

positive charge; any and all qualities attracting of and attractive

to its opposite. Thus a male devotee is drawn naturally to the

Feminine pole of the Divine Principle.

 

And yet, the Book of Genesis -- held in reverence by Jews,

Christians,

byeeeeeMuslims and others -- speaks of a very different kind of

attraction: The patriarchal, "like-attracts-like" dynamic that is

expressed in the idea: "God created man in His own image, in the

image of God created He him," at Genesis 1:27.

 

And so we have at least three religions of huge influence and appeal,

all built very firmly on the idea of men worshipping an exterior male

God (and women worshipping that same male God from a slightly less

exhalted vantage point). For a huge percentage of men, then, the draw

of the Opposite we discussed is apparently negligible!

 

It's not negligible for us here, obviously; but, as I opined in an

earlier post (#513), "Shakti is unique in that most devotees do not

spontaneously approach Her out of the blue; She tends to 'choose'

certain individuals, whether they like it or not. And once She has

chosen, She will not be denied; however winding the devotee's path,

it

must ultimately lead to Her."

 

That statement was based on my own experience, which is similar to

that of many Shakti devotees I've come to know. I personally

 

to your statement that "I find such incredible mindblowing beauty and

grace manifested in Woman, it can only be divine."

 

But for me, it took a rather shattering series of life experiences

before She had fully commanded my undivided attention. In retrospect,

I believe now that I always saw and felt Her pull at some level --

but

I did not surrender to Her without a struggle (which of course She

was

always destined to win).

I also very much liked your statement: "Intellectually I know that

the

total Divine Reality transcends the polarity of male and female. And

yet, the ultimate divine Essence beyond all forms still appeals to

the

mystic's heart as Feminine ..."

 

This really seems true to me as well, but again -- it just doesn't

seem true to an awful lot of men out there.

 

So what other factors are there (if any) that bind Shakti and Her

devotees together? Perhaps the rest of the answer can be gained by

opening the floor to the women among our membership, and so I will:

What is it that attracts women to Shakti?

 

As always, ALL members are invited and yes, even urged to respond!

Please don't be shy in Devi's presence; She loves Her devotees

dearly,

and in their offerings to Her She seeks only sincerity.

[Guest guest]

Jaiphilcollins

 

"Shakti is unique in that most devotees do not spontaneously approach

Her out of the blue; She tends to 'choose' certain individuals...

 

Yes, this statement is entirely true...

 

I found myself irresistibly attracted by Ma Kali/Ma Durga, without

knowing why or who and without having been exposed to her in my birth

country.

 

 

Yet, She came into my life and "claimed my heart" as her devotee!

 

I am a warrior at heart (I am a martial artist) and a drummer too.

 

She also granted me my master Phil Collins, to show me the way in my

life...

 

The most interesting thing is this:

I am preparing to perform a long tribute to Phil Collins ( check

www.ultimatephilcollinstribute.com ) and it is scheduled for 15th till

the 16th of november this year, which I did not realise then when

scheduling it, that it is the day of Deepavali which is also the day

of Kali Puja!!!

 

Both Laxmi Mata and Kali Mata being worshipped on this most auspicious

day!

 

Imagine my amazement and delight to know that my project dedicated to

my master is happening on the most holy night of Ma Kali, my Ishta

Devata! And on that same most auspicious day of Deepavali, festival of

lights and when Maa Laxmi comes to bless us!

 

Maha Devi works in most mysterious ways!

 

JAI MA KALI!

JAI MA DURGA!

JAI PHIL COLLINS!

 

"Phil Das Bhakta" Phil Hanuman Divyanjali Durga Duke