Devi Mandir

Temple of Divine Mother

Shiva Meditates on Vishnu

~~OM~~ So Shiva always meditates on Vishnu. And it’s very interesting, one day in Kailash, Parvati was looking a little bit bored because Shiva was just sitting there in deep, […]

Bhagavad Gita : Chapter 9

~~OM~~

    Verse 32

  1. The verse says ” For those who take refuge in Me, even if they took birth in a sinful womb, or as women, as business people or as laborers, all attain the supreme refuge.”

    My reason tells me that in this verse, which begins and ends with the Supreme, ultimately there are no differences in the One- Without-a-Second and through devotion and sadhana we all can attain the Supreme Refuge. Yet the alarms still go off inside me! How can I best understand this or deal with this resistance? Thank you very much

    We can give up the resistance by understanding the cultural context in which this was written. In that society there was a distinction of authority, and what this verse is saying is that no matter what one’s station in society may be, if one takes refuge in God, that individual attains the Supreme Refuge.

Story of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana

~~OM~~ Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana, the three, when they were young men, they went off to do tapasya. And Brahma came and said, “I’m satisfied with your tapasya, what […]

Story of Sagara

~~OM~~ Sagara was a great king of Ayodhya, and he was performing the Ashwamedha Yagya in order to become the emperor of the total known world. And while he was […]

Chandi Path: Summary

~~OM~~

The Chandi Path or Durga Saptasati comprises thirteen chapters.

To learn the form of the Divine Mother, Her pre-eminent quality (guna), and the asuras She vanquishes in each chapter of the Chandi, please view or download the following document:

Chandi Path: Summary

Story of Rama and Bharat

~~OM~~ When Bharat went to Chitrakut he said, “Ram, I want you to take the Kingdom, I’ll stay in the forest.” And Ram said, “No, that wasn’t father’s order. Father […]

Divine Mother, Your chariot awaits!

~~OM~~


Photo of the week – Jan 5 – Jan 11, 2008
(Picture taken December 2007 at Devi Mandir, Napa, CA)

May Divine Mother always ride with us!

Rudraksha related questions

In the video “Om Namah Shivaya”, I noticed that Maa uses the thumb and index fingers to move the mala. I have heard that index fingers are not to touch the mala. Can Swamiji please comment.
Swamiji says:
That is the method that Shree Maa uses to worship Shiva. But the important thing is not which finger you use, but that you do the japa. So many people waste so much time debating which finger to use, that they do not perform the practices.

Could Rudraksha beads be used for Narasimha mantras, and Ganesha/Lakshmi mantras?
Swamiji says:
Yes. More traditional would be a tulasi mala, but followers of Shiva and Shakti can definitely use rudraksha.

Is it forbidden to eat meat when using Rudraksha?
Swamiji says:
Is the question, “At the same time,” or “While wearing?”
Generally, there are vegetarians and non-vegetarians. There is nothing “Forbidden.” It is just a question of the practices one observes.
Vaishnavas forbid. Shaivites and Shaktis request us to use our discrimination.

Story of Jayant as a Crow

~~OM~~ One time Indra’s son Jayant assumed the form of a crow. And he was playing with Ram and Sita, and then he pecked Sita’s foot. And Ram got mad, […]