Beginning Again

[Guest guest]

Namaste!

 

I have just purchased some of the books from the Devi Mandir site and

they arrived yesterday. I began reading the Chandi. I cannot

express to you all how delighted I am in having this book and the

other books on various pujas. This is what I have been looking for

in vain. Someone to teach me how to worship, how to pay attention to

the Deities, how to give to Ma Shakti and to Shiva what I feel in my

heart. The correct form, the Sanskrit mantras in a way that I could

start to learn them. Swami Satyananda's translation is clear and I

can feel the exhuberance he pours out with each word. I have never

heard anybody express these mantras so clearly and with such joy and

energy. I love the fact that he translates the Deities' names into

titles. So every time you read the name you are told what this God's

or Goddess's function is. It makes me see them as parts and aspects

of the Whole. They are in harmony and are not fighting for

preemenence. They are each doing their work in the Universe. Ma Kali

is She Who Removes Darkness, Shiva is The Consciousness of Infinite

Goodness, Chandi is She Who Tears Apart Thoughts. Oh, I especially

like the definition of Chandi. These thoughts that come and go, how

they torment, how they lead one down ugly paths and to dead ends.

This way of translating the names takes the Devas beyond their

mythologies into the places set for them as living archetypes.

 

I had given up that I would ever hear or read these things for

myself. I offered simple puja to Ma and Shiva and did the best I

could. Now at least I can read these wonderful scriptures in

Sanscrit as well as in English. What will come of that, I do not

know, but I am happy.

 

Om Jai Kali Ma! Om namah Shivaya!

Kumari