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Sunday, 3 May 2009

Shakti Sadhana

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What is Shakti Sadhana?

Shakti Sadhana is a Hindu spiritual discipline (usually some combination of Vedic and Tantric practice) that focuses worship upon Devi (the Goddess, in Her various forms), who both creates and embodies all the Universe. Many devotees conceive Devi as the Supreme Energy (Shakti) of Shiva (Supreme Consciousness); both identical to and inseparable from Him. Others, the "pure Shaktas," worship Her as nothing less than ParaBrahman (the Ultimate Divine Principle) Itself, the One Without a Second, holding that all other forms of Divinity, female or male, are but Her diverse manifestations.


Shakti Sadhana encompasses asana of all shakthis but not paisaachi and kshudra shakthis. Pauishachi is evil foces of ghosty origin and kshudra is evil devine forces. Both have nothing in common with shakthi sadhana. Shakti Sadhana main aim is to attain saarupya (looks) and sayujya (merger) with Adi Paraa Shakthi whose manifestations are lalita etc.

There are various path in Shakti Sadhana. There is Durga and her manifestations, Lashmi, Kali, Tara, The Dasa Maha Vidyas in short. Essentially in each path THAT Mahaa Vidya is treated as supreme and rest as subordinate.


Shakta Tantra

Tantra has always been a secret path. At all times there were opponents. That is why we are taught never to give away our mantra: It is a specific injunction that a person shall not be initiated into Tantra without specific testing as to suitableness. Vaidikas - the followers of Veda - on many occasions derided the Tantra path. But there are also references in Puranas extolling virtues of Tantra.

People in the West have not seen or been made familiar with all the Tantric practices -- even by those who have opened parts of it to the West. Thus, the West was mistakenly led to believe that Tantra is nothing but "glorified sex".

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This misperception has led many astray, and has kept many really deserving persons away from the practices.
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It has also brought many sexually unsatisfied persons to what they think is “Tantra”. It has helped many people to cash in on the “fad” and the “need”.

But let me clarify once and for all that TANTRA IS NOT ALL ABOUT SEX.

Real sexual practices may play some role in the first stages -- and at certain much, much higher stages -- but it is not the be-all and end-all of Tantra. Because, you must understand, sex in Tantra simply plays the same role as in ordinary life. We have sex in our life but sex is not what we live for. It has its role in the psychological and procreative spheres. In the same way does sex has some role in Tantra. But it is not an essential thing.

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