Shaktas in England?

[Guest guest]

Namaste and hello to you all.

 

I’m sorry to have to fill everybody’s mailbox with personal matters, but I

have a question which I’ve been wanting to pose for a while. Actually,

this is the reason I joined this wonderful mailing list in the first

place, and I feel I have been putting it off way too long. I just hope

that my email does not come across as invasive.

 

Basically, I would very much like to meet devotees of the Devi here in

England. I'll provide a little background to myself and the problem I

face, just to explain the situation I am in (which I'm sure, by the way,

is not unique):

 

As a European, for a number of reasons have come to embrace Shakta

philosophy. In some form or other I feel that I have always worshipped the

Devi, so turning to Shaktism is not really one of many ‘options’ for me: I

almost feel like I am stuck (spiritually speaking). Of course, I have

considered turning to other, more accessible paths, but it is just not

working. I have also done my best to meet Hindus where I live (Cambridge),

but almost every Hindu I meet seems to be a gaudiya vaishnava. In the past

year or so I have limited myself to reading the Devi Mahatmyam, Lalita

Sahasranama etc. and praying in a simple way to Her, but I feel there is

only so much one can do without any kind of guidance/support. I guess what

I’m saying is that I would like to learn how to worship the Devi in an

appropriate and efficacious manner – there’s only so much one can learn

from books.

 

Any word of advice on the matter will greatly be appreciated. Again, my

apologises for sending such a ‘personal’ email to the whole list – but I

guess this is partly what the Shakti Sadhana list is for.

 

Yours truly,

 

Sergio

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the e-group.

I don't recall an active e-group participant from England,

but surely we must have other British e-group members.

 

I googled up a list of Hindu temples in England:

http://www.indif.com/nri/temples/worldtemples.asp?Country=UK

 

I see a Rajarajeshwari temple, but I don't think it's near

where you live.

 

Best wishes with your search.

 

, " Sergio K\. " <paganfire

wrote:

>

>[....] I would very much like to meet devotees of the Devi here in

> England. [....]

> I have also done my best to meet Hindus where I live (Cambridge),

> but almost every Hindu I meet seems to be a gaudiya vaishnava.

> [....] I would like to learn how to worship the Devi in an

> appropriate and efficacious manner –

> there's only so much one can learn

> from books.

[Guest guest]

Hail Mother Goddess

At an advanced stage it may be necessary for a Sadhaka to do sadhana in the

loneliness

The enlighted ones prefer dark caves than the crowded temples.

Chanting of Lalitha Sahasranama daily with loveful devotion is enough, yu

will get all you need(so says Ammachi).

 

 

On 10/24/07, Sergio K. <paganfire wrote:

>

> Namaste and hello to you all.

>

> I'm sorry to have to fill everybody's mailbox with personal matters, but I

> have a question which I've been wanting to pose for a while. Actually,

> this is the reason I joined this wonderful mailing list in the first

> place, and I feel I have been putting it off way too long. I just hope

> that my email does not come across as invasive.

>

> Basically, I would very much like to meet devotees of the Devi here in

> England. I'll provide a little background to myself and the problem I

> face, just to explain the situation I am in (which I'm sure, by the way,

> is not unique):

>

> As a European, for a number of reasons have come to embrace Shakta

> philosophy. In some form or other I feel that I have always worshipped the

> Devi, so turning to Shaktism is not really one of many 'options' for me: I

> almost feel like I am stuck (spiritually speaking). Of course, I have

> considered turning to other, more accessible paths, but it is just not

> working. I have also done my best to meet Hindus where I live (Cambridge),

> but almost every Hindu I meet seems to be a gaudiya vaishnava. In the past

> year or so I have limited myself to reading the Devi Mahatmyam, Lalita

> Sahasranama etc. and praying in a simple way to Her, but I feel there is

> only so much one can do without any kind of guidance/support. I guess what

> I'm saying is that I would like to learn how to worship the Devi in an

> appropriate and efficacious manner – there's only so much one can learn

> from books.

>

> Any word of advice on the matter will greatly be appreciated. Again, my

> apologises for sending such a 'personal' email to the whole list – but I

> guess this is partly what the Shakti Sadhana list is for.

>

> Yours truly,

>

> Sergio

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you msbauju and thank you Haridev for your kind replies.

 

With reference to Haridev's point: while it is true that the Devi accepts all

sincere prayers, and even worship performed by the most ignorant (like myself) -

so says shastra - things like the correct pronunciation of mantras and shlokas

(incl. the Sri Lalita Sahasranama) must be learned. I really don't think that

you can follow a sadhana by just reading books and figuring the rest out

yourself. Some basic guidance is needed (and I'm not necessarily speaking of a

guru).

 

Best regards,

 

Sergio