to Kumari about journey to Maa and Swamiji

August 26, 2009

Dear Kumari ~ thank you so much for sharing in depth about your spiritual journey to Maa and Swamiji. What I wrote was a nutshell version, and you and I have had similar paths. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone not only shared their journey, but that these stories would be placed in the files section of the site. Any takers?

One question: how did you learn Sanskrit. This is the one thing I am missing. I can only chant the transliteration and then read the English, and it slows me down; I get behind everyone else and get discouraged, and sometimes my discouragement is so great that I just stop.

Again, deep appreciation for your sharing, Kumari ~ Linda

Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!!

Kumari wrote:

I know there is some introductory material in the files, but I would appreciate it if other members would tell the story of how they came to Devi Mandir, Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda. Personally I love to hear stories like this. It reaffirms my interest and involvement and gives me insight into why this is so very important to us.This is my story (I will try to make it as short as I can):This journey I am taking started a very long time ago. I was restless and unsatisfied with the religion I was born in after I got to be a certain age. It seemed unfair and as if it was being shoved down my throat. I had a good sense of karma, even though I didn't know the term. I could see that there is punishment for mistakes and sins right in this life. Why would we be punished forever after death as well? What if we just couldn't believe the things the church taught? Honestly? Why would a person be punished for that?Then much later I was involved with a Vedanta center. I learned a tiny bit of Sanskrit and watched rituals. I loved the Goddess and the rituals right from the start....I met a woman devotee at the puja who told me to check out Devi Mandir. I did look at it briefly when I got back, but didn't get what it was about. But I kept going back to the website. I was still searching. I did not think the Kali Temple was the whole answer yet.I looked at the book lists and checked out the videos and teachings on the Devi Mandir website. Was what I was seeing correct? This Swami Satyananda was laying out everything I wanted to learn in books and most shocking for free on the website. I could learn to worship Mother? I could learn in depth about the Devi Mahatmya (the Chandi)? I could chant in Sanskrit and understand what I was chanting? I could worship any of the Deities? The mantras were right there for me, as much as I could hold, as far as I wanted to go. I was totally blown away. ...My life now has a new dimension. I won't say anything is lost, I have simply gained so much more.

August 27, 2009

When I say I had learned a tiny bit of Sanskrit, that is what I mean. I took classes from a Sanskrit teacher, but that was many years ago. I know certain words, mostly names of deities and phrases, prayers and the Devi Suktam from puja. I am very far from being able to look at Sanskrit and read and understand it. I do the same as you. Look at and repeat the transliteration and meaning. I do it over and over and over, and gradually I start to pick out the words I know. I do not mean to imply that I am a great scholar of Sanskrit, at all! Swamiji has made any new progress in this possible for me. I am working very hard on the Devi Kavacam right now and it is finally getting to the point where I only stumble on the words half the time! :-D

Jai Shree Maa! Jai Swamiji!

Kumari--- On Wed, 8/26/09, nierika <nierika wrote:

nierika <nierika[www.ShreeMaa.org] Re: to Kumari about journey to Maa and Swamiji Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 6:55 AM

Dear Kumari ~ thank you so much for sharing in depth about your spiritual journey to Maa and Swamiji. What I wrote was a nutshell version, and you and I have had similar paths. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone not only shared their journey, but that these stories would be placed in the files section of the site. Any takers?

One question: how did you learn Sanskrit. This is the one thing I am missing. I can only chant the transliteration and then read the English, and it slows me down; I get behind everyone else and get discouraged, and sometimes my discouragement is so great that I just stop.

Again, deep appreciation for your sharing, Kumari ~ Linda

Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!!

Kumari wrote:

I know there is some introductory material in the files, but I would appreciate it if other members would tell the story of how they came to Devi Mandir, Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda. Personally I love to hear stories like this. It reaffirms my interest and involvement and gives me insight into why this is so very important to us.This is my story (I will try to make it as short as I can):This journey I am taking started a very long time ago. I was restless and unsatisfied with the religion I was born in after I got to be a certain age. It seemed unfair and as if it was being shoved down my throat. I had a good sense of karma, even though I didn't know the term. I could see that there is punishment for mistakes and sins right in this life. Why would we be punished forever after death as well? What if we

just couldn't believe the things the church taught? Honestly? Why would a person be punished for that?Then much later I was involved with a Vedanta center. I learned a tiny bit of Sanskrit and watched rituals. I loved the Goddess and the rituals right from the start....I met a woman devotee at the puja who told me to check out Devi Mandir. I did look at it briefly when I got back, but didn't get what it was about. But I kept going back to the website. I was still searching. I did not think the Kali Temple was the whole answer yet.I looked at the book lists and checked out the videos and teachings on the Devi Mandir website. Was what I was seeing correct? This Swami Satyananda was laying out everything I wanted to learn in books and most shocking for free on the website. I could learn to worship Mother? I could learn in depth about the Devi Mahatmya (the

Chandi)? I could chant in Sanskrit and understand what I was chanting? I could worship any of the Deities? The mantras were right there for me, as much as I could hold, as far as I wanted to go. I was totally blown away. ...My life now has a new dimension. I won't say anything is lost, I have simply gained so much more.

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