Guest guest Posted January 27, 2008 Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 Dear Friends, I'm currently experiencing some difficulty determining which form of Devi Ma is my ishtadevata. My history with Hindu goddesses is long and varied, and I also have a strong attraction to the Tibetan Tara (I know she has an Indian presence, too). Could anyone give me some insight into this dilemma? Is it necessary to " choose? " Sincerely, LakshmiSunyata Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2008 Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 No, it is not necessary to choose from the list or even choose at all. Ishtadevatha need not be from within the Shakthi parivar even. , " lakshmi_sunyata " <lakshmi_sunyata wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > I'm currently experiencing some difficulty determining which form of Devi Ma is my ishtadevata. My history with Hindu goddesses > is long and varied, and I also have a strong attraction to the Tibetan Tara (I know she has an Indian presence, too). > > Could anyone give me some insight into this dilemma? Is it necessary to " choose? " > > Sincerely, > LakshmiSunyata > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 In Hindu tantra, Tara is one of the 10 mahavidyas. I've seen her described as a protectoress and one who carries beings across the oceans of samsara, which is much the same as in Buddhist tantra as well. In Tibetan Buddhism (my learning and initiations come from that tradition) there are 21 forms of Tara, who embody together many of the aspects of Devi, from peaceful to wrathful. Yet She is also of course one. You might look for a translation of the traditional prayer, chanted daily by many Tibetan Buddhists, 21 Praises Of Tara, and from that learn more about Her, if you like. " In the expanse of the unborn Mother, Tara resides, Bestowing well-being to all. Invoke Her protection from all fear. My mind is Dharmakaya, But I don't know it yet, So common words and noxious philosophies deceive me. Great Mother, Righteous Goddess, I invoke your protection. " (From a traditional Buddhist prayer to Tara) - " lakshmi_sunyata " <lakshmi_sunyata Saturday, January 26, 2008 5:33 PM ishtadevata Dear Friends, I'm currently experiencing some difficulty determining which form of Devi Ma is my ishtadevata. My history with Hindu goddesses is long and varied, and I also have a strong attraction to the Tibetan Tara (I know she has an Indian presence, too). Could anyone give me some insight into this dilemma? Is it necessary to " choose? " Sincerely, LakshmiSunyata Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 Shri Gurubhyon Namaha||| Shri Matrey Namaha If your question is how do i choose my ishta diva then it would be as simple as who is your favourate actor is among the lot many available, but here in the aspect of devi it is the same mother present in different forms to give and acheive different objectives, so you can choose your ishta diva to be one that pleases you most, be it external or by her divine attributes, hope this helps Shri Matrey Namah - " lakshmi_sunyata " <lakshmi_sunyata I'm currently experiencing some difficulty determining which form of Devi Ma is my ishtadevata. [....] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 I am not entirely sure if my viewpoint is valid or not, but I will put it in for whatever it is worth... Before I began to take my studies on Hinduism and Shaktism seriously, I actually started to have dreams on Kali. The dreams persisted for a while (I do not know exactly how long...days, maybe weeks?) until my depression at the time worsened; as people probably gathered in my confession post, I been dealing with depression for off and on since I left high school. I just did not know what to do... This was sometime when I first joined the Shakti Sadhana group, a long time ago (before I disappeared and reappeared again). I was honestly afraid of what to do. It was not that I found Kali malevolent in any way, but I was unsure on how to show her proper respect; how to serve her properly. I had no fluency in Sanskrit (and I still only know a few words to this day), I had limited information on Hinduism, and so forth. And then I messaged someone from this group that seemed fairly experienced in Shakti Sadhana. I asked them what to do, and they told me this: " Love her selflessly, and you will be fine. " And that was what I started to do. I had my moments of depression, but in the end...my faith helped me overcome it. I may not be the most knowledgeable in the Indian culture, I may still have much to learn (as many can see), but it does not make me love Devi ma any less. I think I have made progress, and I never had any regrets about clicking on that " Join This Group! " button. Suffice to say, I have came quite a ways from when I was someone who knew nothing to becoming someone who is a novice trying to learn more (lol!). Now, I am not saying that you have to wait for any sort of sign like I did...but I guess I would personally say to find the aspect of Devi that you can relate to the most, the one that 'beckons' to you the most. And do not worry if you are not sure in the present. I think you will find your way, no matter how short or long it takes. The children always find their way back to their mother, in one way or another - in one lifetime or the next. Or even more...the children always find a way to realize they found their mother. :-) If you have read this far, you can probably tell that I have much to learn myself...and I am constantly praying for more guidance. You are not alone. Jai Ma! Sincerely, Christina ---- raghavender ganti <rganti9 wrote: > Shri Gurubhyon Namaha||| Shri Matrey Namaha > If your question is how do i choose my ishta diva then it would be as simple as who is your favourate actor is among the lot many available, but here in the aspect of devi it is the same mother present in different forms to give and acheive different objectives, so you can choose your ishta diva to be one that pleases you most, be it external or by her divine attributes, hope this helps > Shri Matrey Namah > > - > " lakshmi_sunyata " <lakshmi_sunyata > > I'm currently experiencing some difficulty > determining which form of Devi Ma is my > ishtadevata. [....] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 You do not choose; you are chosen. Unless you are born into a family which has a ishta, the ishta chooses you, not vice-versa. How do you know? You will know. aim mAtangyai namaH , " lakshmi_sunyata " <lakshmi_sunyata wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > I'm currently experiencing some difficulty > determining which form of Devi Ma is my > ishtadevata. My history with Hindu goddesses > is long and varied, and I also have a strong > attraction to the Tibetan Tara (I know she > has an Indian presence, too). > > Could anyone give me some insight into this > dilemma? Is it necessary to " choose? " > > Sincerely, > LakshmiSunyata > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 So true, DB. , " Devi Bhakta " <devi_bhakta wrote: > > You do not choose; you are chosen. Unless you are born into a family > which has a ishta, the ishta chooses you, not vice-versa. How do you > know? You will know. > > aim mAtangyai namaH > > > , " lakshmi_sunyata " > <lakshmi_sunyata@> wrote: > > > > Dear Friends, > > > > I'm currently experiencing some difficulty > > determining which form of Devi Ma is my > > ishtadevata. My history with Hindu goddesses > > is long and varied, and I also have a strong > > attraction to the Tibetan Tara (I know she > > has an Indian presence, too). > > > > Could anyone give me some insight into this > > dilemma? Is it necessary to " choose? " > > > > Sincerely, > > LakshmiSunyata > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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