Puranas

Are there parts of other Puranas which are chanted in the same manner as the Chandi Path from the Markendaya Purana?

Swamiji Says:

The Devi Gita is an excerpt from Shrimad Devi Bhagavatam;  the Bhagavad Gita is an excerpt from Mahabharat;  the Guru Gita comes from Skanda Purana.

Too Much/Too Little

Why are Madhu and Kaitabha called “Too Much” and “Too Little”, respectively?

Swamiji Says:

The dictionary meanings for Madhu mean specifically honey, sweet, pleasant, charming, delightful. In excess it is intoxicating.  The extension with poetic license is Too Much.
Kaitabha in the dictionary means as insignificant as an insect: Too Little.
Together they stand for every extreme which keeps us from maintaining our balance.

Sankalpa

If one has taken sankalpa and, due to one’s life situation, one cannot chant complete the sankalpa, then can the sankalpa be changed in mid stream?

Swamiji Says:

We want to strive to complete our sankalpas.  Sometimes it is not possible.  When it is not possible, we ultimately must surrender and try to accomplish our goals again the next time.  We will also want to be forgiving; to others as well as to ourselves.

Adjustments for Limited Time

Do we have to do the full kushandika, or would it be ok to offer a light and a flower if we are pressed for time and then chant the Sapta Shloki Durga, as a preparation for chanting the Chandi?

Swamiji Says:

Each according to his or her capacity.  There is a viddhi called Seedha Path, which is described in the book on Pronunciation.

Swaha

In the Chandi Path, when do we add “svaha” at the end of each verse, and when do we not add that?

Swamiji Says:

When we are doing a Homa, we do not add svaha after the verses in the Kushandika, Kavacham, Argala Stotram, Kilakam, and the Dhyanams.    If we are not doing a homa, then we do not add swaha after any of the verses, unless the verse itself contains swaha.   The book on Pronunciation is a description of the homa viddhis.

 

Navarna Mantra

Do verses 2 and 3 of Siddha Kunjika Stotram proclaim the superiority of that stotram to that of the Navarna Mantra?

Swamiji Says:

Actually the Navarna Mantra is the root mantra of the Chandi.

Stotram

What is a stotram?

Swamiji Says:

It is a specific song about a particular form of divinity.

Phat/Clapping

Does the act of clapping while saying “phat” assists in clearing mind, banishing thoughts?  How does that happen, energetically?

Swamiji Says:

The clap is a starling sound which demands that the mind pay attention.

 

Raktabija/Vasana

Does raktabija, seed of desire, and vasana mean the same thing?

Swamiji Says:

Yes