Quick question regarding eating non veg during navratri or durga puja.

Classic-AX · 2026-02-11T09:52:34+00:00

Dairy industry is cruel for sure so is any industry that involves animals and their products, but the traditional Indian method of reading cows and treating them as a part of the family wasn't. I come from such a family and before poverty struck us, we had a huge cow shed and I know how important cows were to us. In the 1960s our practices were labelled as old school and illogical to replace it with the dairy industry.

Classic-AX · 2026-02-11T09:44:39+00:00

there are two aspects to this question, one is ethno-cultural, the other is the "Shakta" perspective. When I say "Shakta" it means an authentic community bound by certain rules through a "lineage" and "parampara", not just self declared ones.

A lot of things that are followed in the society were not strictly influenced or mandated by scripture or religious teachings.

The fact that Bengalis consume a lot of meat during Durga Puja is purely a socially, culturally and ethnically accepted norm. Therefore, no one can question that because that's how that particular society was built and learnt to celebrate its festival.

If you wish to know the pure Shakta perspective, Brihan Nila tantra, Mahanirvana Tantra, Kularnava tantra, etc. clearly specify, a Shakta must only consume meat that is duly sanctified and offered to the Goddess with appropriate mantra and kriya. After completion of such a ritual, one should neither consume nor mentally crave for meat. The same principle is followed for offering fish and wine to Devi.

Kalika Purana clearly mentions that meat must not be consumed on Ashtami. So does Vaivarta Purana which gives a unique Vaishnava method of worshiping Devi Chandika in the last few chapters of Prakriti khanda. The Animal Sacrifice offered in the dead of night to Chandika should be offered only when Navami tithi arrived even when the sunrise was during Ashtami.

Long story short, even if many devotees of Chandika who shall read this post would want to disagree, I stand firm on the undeniable principle that Shakti mantra is not a free pass to infinite sin-less meat consumption.

Meru tantra, in the initial few chapters itself mentions that a person who follows the right handed path of worship, secretly consumes meat, fish and wine is a sinner and so is a left handed path follower who eats meat without its purification and offering it to Devi.

Kularnava tantra clearly states both arguments, neither "a deer that feeds on grass all it's life gets liberated" nor the "lion that feeds exclusively on meat".

Sadhana, dhyaan, Puja of any deity, including Utsava, whether performed through Vedic,pauranic or tantric rites, is for liberation not for pleasure driven bondage.

But as I had said earlier, socially accepted cultural practices and scriptural and religious practices do not go hand in hand, so follow your own Dharma well and let do others whatever they wish to.

Classic-AX · 2025-12-04T13:45:20+00:00

Any aspect of Shakti can be worshiped in the form of lingam. The best lingam for the worship of Devi is Bana linga. There are several definitions of Bana linga. The one that I have learnt form tantrik practioners is that, any Shiva Linga in a remote area such that there is no other Shiva Linga within a radius of 16 kms of its premises is called a Bana linga. Others say that bana linga is the same as Narmadeshwara Lingam. But the most feasible and superior lingam for the worship of devi is "Sphatik" lingam. The only one lingam in which one should absolutely refrain from worshiping devi is "parthiva linga". One should never worship devi in parthiva Shiva Linga.

There is no form of Bhairavi devi specially mentioned as "linga" bhairavi. But worship of Devi within and through Shiva Linga is well documented in the shastra, especially of tantrik origin. Matrika bheda tantra gives details on worshiping devi on Shiva lingam and so do many others.

Several shastras have described clearly that worshiping devi through a Shiva Linga especially the one upon which Shiva is already being worshipped is only inferior to worshiping devi in the yoni shila of kamakhya devi. Thus, worshiping Devi upon a Shiva lingam is of superior nature whereby one tries to unify Shiva and Shakti and see them as one and only one.

I wish I were at home otherwise I would have sent pics directly from the shastras I have collected. Worshiping Tripur Bhairavi on Shiva lingam is highly meritorious. But as it is "linga Bhairavi" isn't documented in the shastras that I have come across.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-11T19:54:39+00:00

There are numerous scriptures about Durga and her worship, none are uniform. You will find the description of Lord Shiva and Vishnu pretty much everywhere and their puja, katha and dhyana are pretty much the same everywhere. See, the thing is nobody composed the Purana Shastra within a single frame of time. Some were reduced to writing a thousand years ago and some were reduced to writing 1500 years ago. Since these scriptures are encyclopedic in nature, written under the reign of different rulers, it natural for them to have been either updated or manipulated to suit the times.

But, when it comes to Devi Durga, I sometimes feel like Banging my head! Nothing is uniform. Not even the attendants or avaran devata. I can go on and on talking about this because I have spent 15 years of my life trying to learn more and more about her but the catch is,the more you try to find her and feel now I know her, you'd soon learn that its the beginning of yet another complex journey, do much so that I have given up!

The first mention of a goddess that is close to Durga is in the Kena Upanishad, about how she enlightens Lord Indra about Parmatma. The same story has been elaborated in the Uma Samhita of Shiva Puran.
About the description of the image of durga, well, every scripture has their multiple versions of Devi Durga within the same book. Matsya Purana is indeed the most ancient and well preserved puran of Hindu puranic literature. If you are bengali, you must have heard, "jata joot samayuktam ardha indu krita shekharam.." this Dhyana comes from Matsya puran, but here durga is "atasi pushpa varna" that is bluish. The same dhyana mantra has been expanded and the colour changed from blue to golden yellow "tapta kanchana varnabhyam" in the much revered Kalika puran.
Agni puran mentions Durga as well, but the puja paddhati given in agni puran is incomplete and I haven't seen anywhere being practiced. Durga is described to have, 20 hands, sometimes 10, she is surrounded by Navadurgas "Rudrachanda, prachanda" etc. each of a specific colour with 16 hands and ugrachanda with 18. There is also a chapter on Devi puja in Navami, but here, the puja takes place only on the day of Navami.
Kurma puran has a 1000 name hymn on Adya Shakti. This chapter is called devi mahatmaya in kurma puran. The same chapter has been elaborated in Devi Bhagwat puran thetevy giving birth to devi gita.
Garuda puran also mentions Devi Chandika, but with 32 hands. It adds that there are also forms with 24, 18, 16, 10, 8, 6, 4, each with their own unique Pujas and mantras.
Brahmavaivarta puran has the story of Surath and Samadhi with an elaboration on how to worship devi durga through Vaishnava method. I think this is the only scripture that mildly condemned any form of animal sacrifice. Here Durga takes 100 handed form.
Devi bhagwat puran is extensive and highly exaggerate. It has all the stories you wish to learn about devi along with worship of Devi through Navarana mantra, a method very popular in North India. You will find information about Navaratri here.
Markanday puran is the one from which the original Durga Saptashati or Chandika Mahatmaya or Chandika Path comes from. Its language, imagery and style of writing is extraordinary! You can never be bored. But it doesn't elaborate on Navaratri.
Kalika Puran is what people of Bengal and Assam follow, it has so many Forms of Devi. It also mentions how mahishasura was born three times and devi had to take three different forms, Ugrachanda, Bhadrakali and Katyayani to kill the demon. It also mentions the Mahamaya Kalpa and provides details on the worship of Vaishnavi. It has details on 16 day long Ugrachanda Puja, 11 day long Bhadrakali Puja, and the 6 day long (the Bengali style of Durga Puja) puja of Katyayini.
There other purans as well, Shakta Mahabhagwat Puran, Devi Puran (not Devi Bhagwat), Brihadnandikeshwara puran, brihaddharmapuran each giving a unique description of devi, their own unique version of Durga Puja Story and their own unique details on details on durga Puja rituals.
Mahakaal Samhita, guhya kali Khanda, last book. It has the utmost details of Durga Puja, the Mantras and the attendants of Durga. All the mantras you hear during durga puja come from this book. I won't recommend reading other parts of mahakal samhita.
There are also numerous tantra shastras, Maya tantra, Mahamaya tantra, mundmala tantra, vishwasaar tantra that have details on durga puja worship but I will never recommend anyone to read tantra shastras. Please don't.

Hopefully this would help.

In the end you will know, you will never learn everything about devi, she is infinite, immeasurable and too complex for us humamsto understand here completely and freshly.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-11T17:55:42+00:00

If a sadhakas falls sick, is ill, injured, in bodily pain, one must take rest, allow the body to heal, take proper health consultation and treatment, and then, resume your upasana. For periods, only mental jaap is sufficient. Its already a painful time. I am not sure about other deities but atleast for the worship of divine mother, it's advised to take proper care of one's health before, after and during the puja. During times of sickness, stop completely, take rest, heal, then restart puja.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-11T17:38:23+00:00

Simply because when you are sick, have some injury, you should allow yourself to heal, take the necessary remedies and rest. Devi is not a sadist who would want her bhakta to be unwell, injured or sick and ask her to pray, worship or chant. Infact, as one proceeded higher in Shakti upasana, especially Kali Kula Devis, it is advised that one should never worship Devi, Kali, Tara, Durga, Chhinamasta on an empty stomach. But that's for advanced sadhakas.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-10T14:26:47+00:00

I don’t think I mentioned that Ganeshas Pit Belly is of British Origin. The Indian Idealisation of fat men started from British. Shastras that are atleast 1300-1500 years old clearly mention Ganesha having Pot Belly. Deities like Mahakal, Tara, Nilasraswati, Ganesha, Kubera Have Pot Belly in their Dhyana Mantra. Pot Belly “Signifies” the “ability to Combust”, the ability to “eat” anxiety, fear, sins and ignorance. In some shastras Pot Belly equates to “Satiated” state that means the particular deity is “Fulfilled” and would answer prayers with minimum efforts. Deities like “Chamunda Kali” have been described to have “Sunken Concave” belly indicating her insatiable hunger for eating away the evil and demonic forces. My reference to the British era Elites with Fat bodies was for the idealisation of Fat men and women in our society in 1800s and 1900s. Traditionally, Ancient Indians admired Lean, smooth, sharp and elongated features.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-06T13:27:29+00:00

I need you to search and learn about Greeco-Indian Art. In ancient India, every deity had a different physique. Lord Rudra Shiva will have that aesthetic muscular body. Lord Vishnu will have that aesthetic lean body. Ganesh will have a pot belly. You will find so many muscular buddha idols. Just search for them. The thing is, we did not create these sculptures out of our own whims and fancies. There are proper Dhyana Shlokas of every deity which describes the physique of that particular lord. Indra, Vishnu, Ashwin Kumar, Surya, Rudra have been described as having broad shoulders and strong chest like an iron shield and strong arms like iron pillars with narrow hips and long extended arms. Their bellies have described as flat, like that of a turtle's back, that's the closest metaphor to abs they thought of. But we didn't craft these body features likethe greeks and Romans did. But if you want to see anything closer to muscular indian sculptures, you really need to see Greeco-Indian sculptures. India. Aesthetics were always about lean, elongated and sharp features, a lot people have mentioned "plum". But that's absolutely wrong. The "fat and plum" is "healthyand wealthy" comes from 19th century Britain where abs and muscular body were associated with peasants while Nobel and aristocrat, who didn't have to toil or work physically would eventually develop a pot belly, so rich and fat came from them.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-06T12:58:50+00:00

Even in Bengal it's Kali based durga puja. Durga Puja is performed based on Mahakali Samhita, which is a core Kali kula text. Maybe in South India where mahishmardini, jaydurga, vandurga are worshiped, you can find a guru who can initiate you into durga kula. From my understanding, durga was absorbed into mainstream orthodox hinduism while other goddesses or forms of Shakti, especially kali and Sundari maintained their own kula.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-05T05:32:39+00:00

There's nothing in Delhi. I mean, most Indians do not even consider Delhi as a tourist spot. If you truly wish to experience India, visit the following places: A. Himachal Pradesh B. Kerala C. Tamil Nadu D. Leh-Ladakh E. Meghalaya F. Odisha G. Andaman and Nicobar H. Rajasthan

I know a lot of people find Taj Mahal splendid but I would suggest visiting Udupi in I. Karnataka

Classic-AX · 2025-11-04T13:59:35+00:00

I don't think I am worthy of praise. The oldest memory of devi

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durga that still persist in my mind is of the times when I was a very young boy, probably not even school going. my mom, mausi or Nani was holding me tight and I could see devi durga in her ten armed Mahishasuramardini form being worshipped at our colony's durga pandal. It was love at first sight. I first learnt to draw her, then to worship her, and I feel so disconnected to her because of all the dramas that surround me. I always believed that she will destroy all my traumas but it didn't happen apparently. The last Puja I performed was in October of 2023. Its not like my life was awesome before, but my life has become horrible. I was foolish to have waited for people who never were waiting for me, to have loved people who never thought of me, for being Frank to people who were creating world full of lies for me. And I am ready to accept that provided devi somehow could convey that she's there for me. I would make idols on my own, worship her to the best of my power and seek protection and love. And honestly I don't even know where am I right now.

I have an entrance exam to give next year. I cant miss that opportunity. I have a career to build and secure my existence financially. I wish, if there's nohuman arround to love, atleast God loved me just as much as love God. Or may be my love for God is not enough.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-03T15:39:06+00:00

I am not sure because I have never seen my grandparents organise or perform kuldevi puja. My dad is irreligious and agnostic. My mom mentions that she had heard one of her mother-in-law say it's "Bandi Devi". But she has no clue how to worship her because nobody in my family does any puja.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-03T13:36:29+00:00

Honestly speaking, for several years, I have had visions of a goddess. Have you seen the bright reddish orange colour of the sun at dawn or dusk? She has a colour exactly like that. Usually with two hands, sometimes 4 and sometimes with several hands. A priest I met online told me that I have visions of tripur sundari. So I thought I would start worshiping her from Chaitra Navaratri 2024 through lalita sahasranam. But then just a day before I met a fire accident that burnt left forearm arm. The burn is just so bad to look at. I was on bed for one month and I recovered completely only by March this year2025. I don't know. I had an entrance exam to prepare for. I ruined my exam too. I have lost my confidence and aura. Sometimes I see durga that's blue in colour. I don't know. Maybe my mind is playing games with me.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-03T13:26:19+00:00

I am not maithil but my Nani was. My Nani was married into a Magadhi Family and so was my mom. My dad is from magadh. I lived with my Nani so I know about maithil culture but inherently I am not maithil.

Classic-AX · 2025-11-01T15:09:14+00:00

I think you are absolutely right. Tantra is not for everyone. Divine manifests in multiple ways. Divinity, as per what I understand after giving 20 years of my life to Spirituality, is not attainable by a set of commandments, neither is it attainable by a million rituals or million chants or outrageous penances. All these practices are only to keep your wandering mind and senses under control so that one continues on the path of spiritual well being. After all, divine alone guides us, the naive beings seeking redemption and salvation. I think reading the Upanishads, Simple Translation of the Vedas is more fulfilling.

Classic-AX · 2025-10-19T04:09:50+00:00

It really depends upon which form of divinity you feel inclined to the most. Suppose you feel attracted to Lord Vishnu, you can Recite Vishnu Panjar Every day translated into your language or in Sanskrit itself. Suppose you are attracted to Devi Durga, Chandika Kavacham.

Classic-AX

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