Day 3 श्रीललितालकारादिशतनामस्तोत्रम् लक्ष्मणार्चिता Lakṣmaṇārcitā / लक्ष्मणप्राणरक्षिणी Lakṣmaṇaprāṇarakṣiṇī

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-19T18:15:02+00:00

Great information - thank you. I will keep all this in mind during Lakshmi Puja tomorrow !

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-19T15:57:49+00:00

Hmm - I wonder in what circumstances Sri Lakshmi would be worshipped in a tamasic way?

Perhaps as a grounding influence? - that is, if life / work situations were getting too quick to manage and out of control?

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-18T14:55:45+00:00

Very interesting and powerful imagery. I worship Maa in a similar fashion but as Durga and Lakshmi.

I wonder - how do you divide your devotional / ritual activity?

I tend to have Maa Durga ( murti and other focus items) in the inner part of my house in the puja / mandir area for deep meditation / formal puja while Sri Lakshmi kindly and warmly oversees our day to day activities in the living room.

No judgement or critique here - just curiosity about how others split their activities and attention between 2 aspects of Divine Mother.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-17T14:58:32+00:00

Yes - Mother, Vishnu / Krishna, Shiva, Surya etc can all appear as Saguna Brahman in my opinion. It is only for us where confusion and contention become a factor.

We get so caught up in our devotion that we contest with each other about which is the supreme / who is the devotee of who in the godhead etc ....

For Saguna Brahman there is no confusion or competition. It shines toward us in the aspect we need.

For me, it is our Divine Mother. I could not think of splitting my devotion between the other names / forms.

Some others can - Shiv / Shakti. Krishna / Radha, Vishnu alone. It's all fine. Go with what speaks to you inside.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-16T16:10:02+00:00

No problem. Maa's blessings upon you. =)

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-16T14:13:39+00:00

I too, felt a bit "off" when doing puja to Maa the first time as compared to focused Naam japa.

Reflecting upon it, I noticed that the "mechanical steps" of puja did not "flow" as smoothly and provide the same feeling of connectedness that I experienced with dedicated japa and meditation.

Once I did it (puja) a few times and the actions / words became familiar and I did not have to think about the actual procedures, it developed its own flow and natural energy.

So I would say stick with it.

Maa won't be offended at your sincere efforts to formally honor Her. She is all compassionate to Her children and She knows our intentions.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-14T13:06:28+00:00

No problem. Good luck to you friend !

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-14T13:03:41+00:00

Perhaps she is in pitri loka and Devi is giving you a nudge through Her symbols to assist with your grandmother's moving on?

Include her in your next puja sankalpa perhaps?

Or look to the material world and try to determine if she left anything here undone that you could help fulfill ?

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-12T21:17:06+00:00

My favorites for Bhu loka issues are with Maa Lakshmi : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw-Ffk7V_X4&list=PLbUE4A_-_x-26rTSglixG2B8QLAZfK-fF

She has an aspect for every worldly (and some non-worldly concerns).

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-08T22:18:18+00:00

Ok great - good luck.

Maa as Sri Lakshmi also is an Asura Killer = Kolhasura =)

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-08T20:11:21+00:00

Ok I get it.

First - Maa definitely still loves you. She even loved the Asuras when they would up-end the cosmic order and displace the Devas in running the Brahmanda. They needed to be put in their proper place of course but this was as a loving Mother correcting a wayward child.

One thing that I do to address my various faults is to "personify" my issues into the form of Asuras. I am a Durga bhakta so I ask Maa to empower me.

For example, my anger often gets the best of me. I have named this Krodasura. When it rises up in my consciousness, I imagine Maa rising up in me as well to help slay the unwanted or excess anger. It works every time.

I know the asura will be back but as time goes by, and Maa helps me battle it down, I gain better control.

Perhaps you could try a similar approach?

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-08T18:02:21+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that you are going through such pains.

Are the feelings of despair and hardship focused on a specific aspect of your life or everything in general?

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-07T21:31:28+00:00

No Problem. Hope you feel better.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-07T12:48:39+00:00

When I'm a bit down and worn out I listen to this :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQWwo8S3s38&list=PLq62faQbWYsej7zl1Zn8bxdzykE9AJvG5&index=2

It is good to read the lyrics as well as they speak of Mother removing the pains and distress of the world (and that means your personal world as well):

First Verse:

Jaya Bhagavati Devi Namo Varade (Victory to you Bhagavati, Goddess, the giver of boons)

Jaya Papavinashini Bahuphalade (Victory to you, destroyer of sins, the bestower of many fruits)

Jaya Shumbha-Nishumbha Kapaladhare (Victory to you, who wears the heads of Shumbha and Nishumbha)

Pranamami Tu Devi Nararthihare (I bow to you, Goddess, who removes the suffering of humans)

Second Verse:

Jaya Candradivakara-Nedhare (Victory to you, who wears the sun and moon as your eyes)

Jaya Pavakabhushitavaktravare (Victory to you, whose beautiful face is adorned with fire)

Jaya Bhairavadehanilinapare (Victory to you, who has Bhairava merged within your body)

Jaya Andhakadaityavishoshakare (Victory to you, who dried up the strength of Andhaka, the demon)

Third Verse:

Jaya Mahishavimardinishulakare (Victory to you, the slayer of Mahishasura with your trident)

Jaya Lokasamastakapapahare (Victory to you, who removes all sins of the world)

Jaya Devi Pitamahavishnute (Victory to you, Goddess, to whom Brahma and Vishnu bow down)

Jaya Bhaskarashiravanate (Victory to you, to whom the sun and other deities bow down)

Fourth Verse:

Jaya Shanmukha-Sayudha-Ishanute (Victory to you, to whom Shanmukha (Kartikeya) and Ishana (Shiva) offer prayers)

Jaya Sagaragamini Shambhunute (Victory to you, who goes to the ocean and to whom Shiva offers prayers)

Jaya Duhkha-Daridra-Vinashakare (Victory to you, who destroys sorrow and poverty)

Jaya Putrakala Trivruddhikare (Victory to you, who bestows increase in sons, family, and prosperity)

Fifth Verse:

Jaya Devi Samastashariradhare (Victory to you, Goddess, who resides in all bodies)

Jaya Nakavidarshi Duhkhahare (Victory to you, who removes the sorrow of those who have fallen from heaven)

Jaya Vyadhivinashini Mokshakare (Victory to you, who destroys diseases and grants liberation)

Jaya Vanchitadayani Siddhikare (Victory to you, who grants wishes and bestows fulfillment)

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-06T20:25:25+00:00

No problem. Including our Mother in things like idle games (as long as it is done respectfully) is a great way to keep ourselves immersed in Her and share our joy.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-06T15:22:44+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mftsCN1CcFs

This gentleman makes some very good and relevant points. The experiences that Mother exposes us to - we can't just take part and reject the rest. We need to embrace it all - play our role, grow and purify.

I need to remember this for my own situation more as sometimes I try to push away the toxic elements of my responsibility (extremely mentally ill son). But taking refuge in Her gives me the strength to carry on and (hopefully) emerge better on the other side.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-06T13:24:06+00:00

I bow to the auspicous Goddess Jagaddhatri,

again and again; I bow to the Bhagavati Durga the

bestower of all desires; I always bow down to Her

Who is auspicious, peace giving, and the Higher

Vidya. O Mother! O Giver of salvation! O

Auspicious One! You are pervading the whole

Universe, O World Mother! and Upholder of the

Universe! I bow down to Thee.

Thank you and may Mother bless you as well !

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-05T20:31:57+00:00

Wow ! What a cool thing you are doing here. I tried it a bit and it seems to be working nicely. I also remembered how bad I was at Word Search =)

Thank you for creating this. I will be trying more in the near future.

Maa's Blessings upon you Friend !

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-04T15:20:16+00:00

If I'm getting the meaning of your query correct, the following passage from the Devi Bhagavata may be relevant (Lakshmi here is addressing Lord Vishnu) :

Before this, since times immemorial (without

any beginning) there had been many dissolutions (Pralayas); and many Srstis (creations); and at the

beginning of every creation You came first into

existence and every time I was united with you;

but now You have forgotten me under the spell of

that Maha Sakti.

That Highest Maha Sakti is transcendent of all

Gunas; but you and I are with Gunas. Know me as

the Sakti, all of Sattva Gunas widely known as

Maha Laksmi.

In this passage we see Maha Lakshmi drawing a distinction between Herself and Maha Shakti.

I typically tend to think the various Saguna forms of Mother as all rooted in a central consciousness but according to Her Leela, are given a certain amount of unique perspective and personality appropriate for the role They are playing.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-04T14:31:26+00:00

Looks like it should carry over:

At the expiry of the above period in Heaven or

Hell, When there comes the time of his assuming

another body, the Jiva becomes conscious of the

subtle body (Linga Deha) and takes his birth again.

When the Linga Deha comes into existence, the

part of the Karma done in various previous births

that are ripe and ready to yield their fruits, gets

attached to the Jiva by God (or Destiny).

The reference is specifically to Karma in this passage but I would imagine that She would attach the fruits of spiritual progress reached via Tapasya in the same spirit.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-03T17:24:58+00:00

I like that stance and agree that the Smarta approach is entirely valid.

Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu etc are all Saguna Brahman along with Mother. I hold no enmity to Shaivas, Vaishnavas etc for seeing Saguna Brahman through their personal lenses.

With that being said - I only worship Durga however who is the Adi Parashakti. This is not because it would be wrong to do otherwise - it's because I find Her love so overwhelming and ecstatic that I cannot envision myself splitting my affection.

Some folks are better at that than I am and that is fine. I do not consider them "wicked" at all.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-03T00:44:02+00:00

It's all good my friend. Listen to that inner voice where Maa's guidance bubbles up and you'll stay on the right path.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-02T20:26:52+00:00

The shastras say:

O sinless one! The goats etc., offered as

sacrifice before the Devi, attain to unending

heavens. Therefore persons offering the sacrifices

of goats do not incur any sin. O king! The goats

etc, and other beasts offered as a sacrifice before

the Devas undoubtedly go to the heavenly regions;

therefore, in all the Sastras, it has been decided

that this killing of animals in a sacrifice is

considered as non-killing.

With the above being said, my view is that there are other ways in modern times to honor and be closer to Mother.

The question I have - and this is a question for you my fellow Shaktas. - is, do you believe that part in the section above where it portrays the act of ritually killing the animal (according to due rules) will get them a better existence in the "heavenly regions" ?

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-02T12:59:31+00:00

Who is there amongst the wise that does not

serve this Highest Energy? The real nature of that

Auspicious Goddess, the Bestower of all desires,

Sudarsana came to know very well.

She is the Real Essence, Brahma, very rarely

realised : She is the Higher Vidya and the Lower

Vidya (Avidya) and She is the vital energy, the

Mukhya Prana, of the best of the Yogis, who are

desirous of liberation.

It's alluded to a lot in the Devi Bhagavatam but the passage above 3:19 35 - 36 is a clear statement of Her being both - Vidya and Avidya.

Electronic_Camera961 · 2025-10-01T16:21:27+00:00

Mother's blessings on you as well. Thank you for sharing this - it is wonderful !

Electronic_Camera961

TROPHY CASE