The sublime manifestions of Shakti

The energy is the essence of the energetic; it is the functional perception and action of that which we call the Source of energy. Without the energy, the energetic is entirely imperceptible, inactive and incapable of any kind of experience, expression, or existence whatsoever.  The sastra declares that the Shakti and Shaktiman are one; therefore Shakti should be understood and worshiped.

Sri Krsna’s supreme energy is known as para Shakti. She is Srimati Radharani, the supreme goddess. From her, innumerable Shaktis manifest. Their names and functions are infinite and full of variety. Among them are Jiva sakti; the energy that manifests unlimited individual spirit souls. Maya Shakti, the energy that manifests the material world and material existance. Above all others, is Cit Shakti; the energy that manifests the spiritual realms.

Maya Shakti is the creatrix and queen of the 7 planes of material existence known as Devi dhama. She is known as Adi Shakti or Durga devi, her names are unlimited and she is the sister of Sri Krsna, known as Subhadra devi.

As of the 1^st of October, the festival known as Navaratri is being celebrated and thousands of devotees worship her many auspicious, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying forms. Most worship her with the goal of material prosperity; a few rare souls worship her for the goal of Spiritual enlightenment. The Vaishnava however worships and honors her with the same mood and prayer that Srimati Radharani and the unlimited gopis exhibit“

"O goddess Kātyāyanī, O great potency of the Lord, O possessor of great mystic power and mighty controller of all, please make the son of Nanda Mahārāja my husband. I offer my obeisances unto you." (SB 10.22.4)

As we know Krsna’s Dasavatar or ten incarnations, it is also important to learn Maya devi’s dasa mahavidya and pay respects to them for the removal of all ignorance blocking the path to Realizing Sri Krsna’s unlimited sweetness, pastimes, and service.

These maha vidyas are generally listed as followed, according to the tantra.

Kali- Kali is said to be the supreme form of Devi and is considered to be non-different from Sri Krsna’s form of Time, the all devouring force of the universe.

Tara- Tara is said to be like pranava taraka, the guide and boatman that carries us across the material ocean.

Bhuveneshvari-  Bhuvaneswari is the universal mother and ruler of the three worlds. the feminine universal body.

Dhoomavati – Dhoomavati is the widow and ghastly form that reveals the truth through the hardships and miseries of life, the natural withering of life’s attachements.

Bagalamukhi- The form who paralyses the flow of material desires and allows our attention to be diverted towards Sri krsna

Tripursundari – The most beautiful of all the forms of Devi, the granter of the beauty of liberation and devotion.

Bharavi-  Bhairavi is the fierce mother who protects her children from the six enimies and eight nooses that bind the soul to materiality.

Chinnmasta-  Chinamasta is the headless goddess who severs her own head to show the process of dissolving ones ego and pacifying all desires.

Kamala- Kamala is the fullness of divine grace and showers the blessings of Knowledge and devotion upon the sincere devotee.

Matangi – Matangi is the supreme goddess of learning and represents Guru tattva, She is the tantric form of saraswati is always worshiped by those who sincerely desire to learn about Sri Krsna tattva.

These ten forms are transcendental and identical to the original Adi Shakti, though that manifest in unlimited and sometimes shocking forms, they have deep symbology and reveal many secrets to destroying anarthas and establishing the mind in the self. Ultimately they are honored and respected to achieve Sri Radharani’s service and should never be worshiped as independent or superior to her, however they also should be seen as non-different from her. Srimati Radharani declares in the narada pancaratra “Those who consider Durga devi to be different from myself are offenders.”

 The Dasa mahavidya prefer to accept offerings of Sri krsna Prasad and should be viewed as Vaishnavis. In this mood they grant bhakti to the sadhaka.

During these nine days it is very powerful to listen to Devi mahatmya the 700 hundred verses that tell the story of durga defeating the demons sumbha and nisumbha, as well as many other important demons which represent our anarthas.

May the divine mother Srimati Radharani bless all readers with sincere devotion to Sri Krsna’s form, qualities, pastimes, and consorts. May Durga devi enter our hearts and destroy the demons of lust, too much and too little, self-deceit and self-deprecation. May she grant us release from her prison and place us at the feet of her swamini, Sri Lalita sakhi.

Aim Hrim Klim chamundayai vicche svaha.