use of a special form of Sadhana in Devi Bhakti

[Guest guest]

Kindly allow me some questions about Bhakti Yoga and the worship of Devi.

In the Bengal Vaisnava tradition there is a practice where a serious

practitioner is given an esoteric identity within the realm of Vrindavana by his

or her guru. This includes the following details: age, colour of skin, what kind

of clothes you wear, etc. The practitioner memorises maps of Vrindavana, where

he or she lives, where he or she sports with Krishna, etc. Usually the identity

is that of a manjari, a young girl who assists in the play of Radha and Krishna,

but it could also be a friend of Krsna. This new identity is called the

siddha-deha, the perfected body. It is considered to be the practitioners true

identity. In meditation the practitioner enters this "reality" and the goal is

to enter permanently into it at one point. This "imaginary" world is considered

to be the highest reality, the cosmic drama, the eternal spiritual play of Radha

and Krishna.

Does such kind of practice also exist in the Shakta tradition? Can Devi be

worshiped in a similar way?

If it does not exist in the Shakta tradition, does such a practice exist in the

Shaiva tradition in connection with Parvati and Shiva ?

 

Kind regards

OM SHANTI,

Alexandra

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Alexandra,

I am sorry I can't help you.

What a complicated thing this sadhana concept!

Sounds like my daydreams when I was 16 and didn't like the school

exams. May be because of such preparations I met a young Indian woman

later who made me feel what love and life is all about. I got quite

crazy about her but couldn't have her all for myself. This list is a

selfhelp group for all the people who have been trapped in a similar

manner.

It is not so much about musing mentally over traditions.

 

Are you writing a thesis for your M.A. or why do you want to know

this?

 

Greetings

Lutz