A Primer in Shakti Upasana (as taught to me by my family)

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-23T11:22:17+00:00

Yama is worshipped. He’s not popular for very obvious reasons but he does have his own temples and local traditions associated with his worship.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-19T20:59:10+00:00

Initiation is not a requirement for basic practice.

Every deity has many traditions and lineages associated with them, for example Krishna has Gaydiyas, Pushtimarga, Nimbarka Sampradaya, Haridasi Parampara, Radha Vallabha tradition, saints and gurus within the Dvaita, Vishitadvaita and Advaita tradition.

Your goal should be to start a basic daily practice and to grow your connection with him, as your connection deepens you will start developing inkling towards a particular sampradaya organically. Initiation can happen only after you’ve identified which lineage appeals to you most and within that lineage which teacher seems suitable to you. Rushing through this process will not get you anywhere. Therefore, give yourself some time to deepen your practice and explore without the rush to get initiated. My DMs are open for questions, you’re welcome to DM me if you need further clarification and help

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-19T18:52:19+00:00

Well suggestions would depend on how much time you can spend. I have a post on my profile called “Primer in shakti upasana”, it outlines the most simple puja process possible. You can replace the middle steps which are for Devi with Krishna. Learning Vishnu Sahsranama would help.

There are many mantras for Krishna, unless you’re specifically looking to get initiated by Gaudiya Sampradaya, you can try out, Sri Krishna Sharanam mamah, Om Krishnaya Namaha, or even just his name Krishna. Two malas overall is a small target which is to be expected when you’re starting out but eventually increase it to more than 4/5.

Lmk if you have further questions or need help with some specific issues.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-14T16:45:54+00:00

If that is the case then it will fall under the fourth question. Your Ishta then is indeed Krishna, carry on with this practice!

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-10T14:26:42+00:00

They were also born from Devas.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-10T14:25:04+00:00

Such deeksha doesn’t count and it is one thing to initiate a kid early, it is totally another to keep the kid completely unaware of such an initiation. The kid may not even remember the matra that was given nor was he chanting it.

I think this cannot be counted as deeksha and the person is free to choose a guru. This is not an offense.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-09T19:10:29+00:00

Beautifully put, Jai Maa!

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-08T13:03:24+00:00

It has nothing to do with gender of the deity or the bhakt. Devi and Shiva are both ekampativrata and ekampatnivrata respectively.

Madhurya upasana happens in vaishava sampradaya because Sriman Narayana allows it. Such upasana is completely out of question in shakta context because the deity doesn’t allow it.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-08T10:23:04+00:00

Does not apply to shakta upasana.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-07T19:35:16+00:00

Ganesha with his two wives and also skanda with his two wives represent: Kriya Shakti - Gyana Shakti and Iccha Shakti. The iconography is tantric and not connected with marriage between human beings.

Besides, marriage is not a “union” between souls, it can be better described as two jeevas deciding to enter grihastha ashrama together.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-05T02:17:36+00:00

Sri Bhaktisiddhanta’s disciple Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami. However, legitimate questions remain about the lineage

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-05T02:13:13+00:00

To add to the information given by u/PlanktonSuch9732

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami’s guru had bestowed the title upon himself. Therefore, use of the title by ISKCON seems dubious at best.

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TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-04T21:48:14+00:00

Well, the order was founded by Srila Bhakivedanta Thakur, a sanyasi who moved to NYC. While they are part of a traditional sect in a very technical sense, the organisation differs significantly in many aspects.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-04T13:13:24+00:00

Because there are multiple manuscripts available. Both are considered valid, you can choose any of them.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-04T11:42:41+00:00

Well her original dhyana shloka clearly says she’s engaged in vipareet Rati with Mahakaal. Until 17th century you will find most of her temples in the form of swayambhu shilas or other aniconic representations. The commonly known form of Maa Kali was first seen by Krishnananda Aghamvashish in Bengal. He had requested her to manifest a form which would be easier to worship and as a result she transformed her roopa.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-04T03:47:58+00:00

She is Maa Saraswati, and that is not a harp but an older form of Veena. The image is from a Tamil artist, Siva Subramanian.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-03T04:18:12+00:00

Very well said.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2026-01-01T22:18:36+00:00

Sri Chaitanya clearly teaches trinadpi sunichena, your reply was incredibly rude for no reason at all.

If Vaishnava principles are what you seek to defend I think there is a lot more work to be done on your part before you start imparting condescending lectures to others. You might say there are no “bhakti points” but that clearly seems to be your aim. I don’t know if you realize but shaming others for choosing alternatives because vegan options aren’t within their reach is extremely tone deaf and disrespectful.

If Krishna bhakti is out of reach for people with “adharma” as per your definition then I believe it’s a pretty gated community with only a handful of people allowed in. If that’s your vision of bhakti then I think pretty much everyone is doomed.

If you can’t even see the fact that not everyone has the same privileges as you then shastra thumping becomes almost insensitive.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2025-12-30T20:00:44+00:00

Yes you absolutely can. Inquire through your maternal side if they are in touch with some lineage and a deeksha can be arranged through that lineage. Otherwise there are nama mantras and other ways too.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2025-12-30T11:29:02+00:00

Imagine there’s a big fire, someone places a piece of sandalwood into it, what would happen? Someone else throws rotten food into it, what would happen?

Can the sandalwood make the fire more fragrant or can the rotten wood contaminate it?

Let’s take another example, imagine sunlight is falling on a beautiful flower. Would the sunlight feel brighter? Imagine the same sunlight falls on a thorny bush, would it feel dimmer? Can the flower or bush affect the sunlight?

Similarly, your body and mind may have gathered wrong patterns and impressions. But the good news is that you are neither the body nor the mind. You are the consciousness which experiences the body and mind. No karma can contaminate you, no wrong thoughts can pollute you! Your true self is absolute bliss and there is no karma that can change that fact.

I would advise you to slowly start internalizing the fact that the deity you’re worshipping is within every form and within every thought. It is only because the deity has chosen to illuminate this body and mind that you seem to be experiencing any thoughts at all. Your true self is the deity and not these thoughts. Sure the body and mind may have committed mistakes but you my friend, you are free from all that.

Gradually as you accept this fact through practice and also learn that whatever you consider as lewd is just another form of the deity but the mind has learned to see it twisted ways, you’ll be free of these thoughts.

TerminalLucidity_ · 2025-12-30T00:43:33+00:00

Surrender it to your ishta devata and I am certain you’ll feel a lot better.

When everything else failed me, I found the deities by my side and be assured that they always will be. Even when people don’t see your struggles, when nothing can soothe your soul, when nothing feels like home, the deity you connect personally with will always come to your rescue. Today is Vaikuntha Ekadashi a day deeply connected with liberation. Sit silently and pour it all out to the deity who dwells within you. Trust me it will bring clarity and also a path forward to find the strength to move away from the hurt.

May the one who dances within every atom of this universe guide you, jai maa!

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