Devi is worshiped in different forms, mostly as Mother.
There is a Branch of Hinduism which worships Devi through the Physical parts of the Body as well.
This system has the letters of the Sanskrit Alphabets to aid the process of realizing God hood, Devi.
There are various steps,branches in this.
Please read my post, Lalitha Sahasranama, an Introduction.
In this system the Devi is worshiped in the Form of Chakras in the body.
Each Chakra has a letter corresponding to it.
The Universal Vibration is synchronised with the inner vibration to achieve Union, of the Jivatman, in the case of Dwaita or Visishtadvaita or reverting back to the Reality, as in Advaita,
The slokas Lalitha Sahasranama nad Soundarya lahari are replete with details of this process.
Tara – The Goddess as Guide and Protector, or Who Saves.Who offers the ultimate knowledge which gives salvation (also known as Neel Saraswati).
Tripura Sundari (Shodashi) – The Goddess Who is “Beautiful in the Three Worlds” (Supreme Deity of Srikula systems); the “Tantric Parvati” or the “Moksha Mukta”.
Bhuvaneshvari – The Goddess as World Mother, or Whose Body is the Cosmos
Bhairavi – The Fierce Goddess
Chhinnamasta – The self-decapitated Goddess[5]
Dhumavati – The Widow Goddess,or the Goddess of death.
Bagalamukhi – The Goddess Who Paralyzes Enemies
Matangi – the Prime Minister of Lalita (in Srikula systems); the “Tantric Saraswati”
“Alampure Jogulamba, Sri shaile Bhramarambika’Asthadasa Stotrma ,Adi Shankaracharya.
Jogulamba,Alampur, Shakti Peetam, where Devi’s Upper Teeth fell.
The temple is on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river and is surrounded by Nallamala Hills.
Alampur is the meeting point of the sacred rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna and is referred to and is referred to as Dakshina Kashi(also known as Navabrahmeshwara Theertha) and the Western Gateway of Srisailam, the famous Shaivite (Shaivism) pilgrim centre.
The principal deities at Alampur are Brahmeshwara and Jogulamba.
Dhyana Rupa of Jogulamba
Idol of Jogulamba is in sitting position has huge amount of hair with lizard, scorpion, bat and a human scull in it. Idols of Saptamatrikas, Vighneswara and Veenapani veerabhadra are also present. Original Chandi Mundi idols were left in Bala brahmeswara swammy temple and new idols are made and placed in Jogulamba temple.
Old temple of Jogulamba was destroyed by Bahamani sultans in the 14th century. The idols of Jogulamba and her two shaktis Chandi, Mundi were protected from them and placed in Bala brahmeswara swamy temple untill 2005. Now, a new temple was constructed in the same place and the godess was shifted in to it. New temple of Jogulamba is very much beautiful to see with a nice granite flooring. It is surrounded by a water pool. Villagers of Alampur tell an interesting reason for it: “Jogulamba is an Ugra rupa (highly energetic and hard to worship) and this water pool makes the atmosphere cool so that we can easily worship her”.
Idol of Jogulamba is typical. She is in sitting position. She has huge amount of hair with lizard, scorpion, owl and a human scull in it. Idols of Saptamatrikas, Vighneswara and Veenapani veerabhadra are also present in the temple. Original Chandi Mundi idols were left in Bala brahmeswara swamy temple and new idols are made and placed in Jogulamba temple.
According to a legend, Maharshi Jamadagni has an ashram in Alampur & lived with his wife Renuka and four sons. They were making their livelihood and worshipping Bala Brahmeswara and Jogulamba Devi. Renuka Mata, with her power, regularly used to make a pot with sand and bring water from the Tungabhadra River. One day, she noticed a king of Gandharvas bathing in the river with his wives. By seeing that, she formed a prejudice that happiness comes from materialistic wealth but not by worship. She lost her power for her sinful thoughts and could not make the pot. So, she went home without water. Jamadagni asked her the reason; she told about the incident and admitted her sinful thoughts. Then, Jamadagni got angry on her and ordered his sons to kill her. Three of them refused to do so; but the fourth son, Parasurama obeyed the order of his father and killed his mother by cutting her head off with his axe. Jamadagni was pleased and offered him a boon. Parasurama asked him to give back life to his mother. Then Jamadagni revived her life.
The original Kamakshi Devi Temple is what is presently known as Adi Peeteswari or the Adi Peeta Parameswari. This temple is just adjacent to the Kumarakottam, and is near to the presently famous Kamakshi Devi temple.
Adi Shankaracharya, the famous 8th-century CE scholar and saint, established the Sri Chakra at this original Kamakshi Devi temple in the trough-like structure in that shrine, This Sri Chakra soon became the All India famous Kamakoti Peeta. The Acharya’s Lalitha Trishati Bhashya comments Kamakoti Peetam as Sri Chakra.
The Acharya changed the fierce form of worship into a sowmya form. The Devi in this original Kamakshi temple is called by various names like Kirtimati, Devagarbha in extant Tantric works like Tantrachudamani. She has four hands containing in each of them respectively, Ankusa, PAsa, Abhaya and a Kapala. This description corresponds to those extant old tantric works. Further, Girvanendra Saraswathi describes precisely this swaroopa as Kameswari.
Sundaramurthi Nayanar, the Saiva saint of the 12th century is aware of the Kamakottam. He in fact mentions that the Kamakottam has come in existence just at that time”
Sri ChakraKanchi Periyavar on Kamakshi Amman:
[ Discourse on Sri Vidya was delivered by His Holiness Paramacharya Chandrasekara Saraswati Swami of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham at Vuyyuru, Andhra Pradesh on January 25, 1968, at 8 P.M in the temple of Siva on the invitation of members of Sri Vidyanilayam, Vuyyuru. His Holiness Telugu speech was translated by me.]
I was invited to this village by Sri Vidyanilayam. For this Vidyanilayam, the name “Sri Vidyanilayam” is very appropriate. Generally, every human being wants happiness and thinks happiness comes through money. So, he struggles to earn money. All peoples in this world are surviving and living by learning one Vidya (learning one subject). There is no real happiness in this way of living. Life is very sorrow due to obstacles and insults that we face in our daily life. Professions for earning food is called arts (kalaas). What we do for happiness is called vidya. We get happiness if we do work with our own interest without expecting results. Even arts (kalaas) will become vidyas if we do not expect the result. “ardha kareecha vidya”. In this sanskrit word “cha” means very important. Aim of vidya is for happiness (ananda). Ultimate aim of vidya is for peace and equality. Then only, vidya will become immortal (amruta). All other works are like dead things.
We may sing well, write good poetry, draw picture. Even after retirement, some people learn music through veena, flute, etc; read sastras (holy scriptures). All this we do are not for food. They are for happiness. If we use music, poetry, drawing etc. arts (kalaas) for earning food, they are going to die. They cannot give happiness. Plays on the stage, cinema, etc. unholy things are considered as arts (kalaas). It is not true. Many woman lost their character with the attraction of movies. Their attraction is only confined to the screen of cinema. They do not know how to behave outside of their acting.
We cannot get real happiness through some vidya if we learn it only to know some extent. Real happiness and taste come only if we learn to our complete satisfaction and able to teach others. Therefore, all should learn one Sri Vidya which gives peace, equality, happiness along with other vidyas for earning food. After learning sri vidya, we should give to others and others to next generations. It is called sri vidya because we ourself have taken it as vidya. The main goal of sri vidyanilayam is to teach such a sri vidya.
We are human beings or men or women. ‘Man’ means the descendants of ‘Manu’. We have natural tendency to think or utter (mananam) a mantra repetitively. So, the English word ‘man’ is also indicates the same. Therefore, for human beings the mental happiness (manasika) is only important. Other than that is for animals. Animals only know body pleasure and sorrow. In fact animal is better than man if man wastes his mind. Animal does not acquire money. It does not have debt. “Vidya viheenaha pashuhu”. In fact, without vidya man is inferior to animal. The world can only be perfect with educated people. We are all Purushas (men). It does not mean that we left out women. Every one will have a vidya. Every living being is purusha (man). “poornam anena iti purushaha”. We are eligible to enjoy the things if we can give a part of it to God who gave us every thing. If we do not offer to God and try to enjoy ourselves, then we may be called thieves. “yoo bhumkteesthena eeva saha”.
They are many methods to offer happiness to God that comes from Vidya. A poet ‘Pushpadanta’ described in Sivamahima Stotra in the following sloka.
Trayee saamKhyam yogaha pasupati matam Vaishnava miti
Prabhinne prastaaNe paramidaha madhaha padhyaMiti cha
Ruchinam vai chitryat rujukutila nanapadha jusham
Nrunaameeko gamyastvaMasi payasa marnava eva
Trayee means three vedas. We have to study three vedas and perform karmas (duties) mentioned in the vedas.
Saamkhyam: our body is inertial. It will die. It does not have intelligence. We are knowing this through our experiences. I am fatty, I am block, I am suffering from illness, etc; in all the sentences ” I ” indicates consciousness with body. But consciousness is different from body. This knowledge i.e “consciousness is different from body” is called ‘saamkhyam’. This is also known as “prakruti purusha vivekam”.
Yogam: Our mind is always thinking either good or bad. We are suffering from unable to follow the mind. Even we try to control, it will not be stable. If we keep it stable, we get immense happiness (ananda). Through yama, niyama, aasana and pranayaama, mind can be controlled. This process is generally called Yoga. “yoga chitta vrutti nirodhaha”.
Pasupati matam Vaishnavam: We can not create a single grain of rice. We enjoy with whatever is there in the world. God alone can create such a world with his power. His power is greater than that of us. If we follow his power, we will feel happy. With faith in God, whatever we do should be offered to God. Religion (saivism, vaishnavam, etc.) teaches the process of offering to God. If we say Siva is God, then it is Saivism or alternatively if Vishnu is God, it is Vaishnavam.
When people go to new village, some may go directly to the place where they have work. Some may go around the village and come to their place of work. Similarly some may get happiness directly and some may get after seeing the world. Ultimately all reach the same place.
Some people travel towards the east, some people towards the west, some other to south and some other to northern direction. How can all reach the same place? When we go towards the east, we reach the ocean within a few miles. In the West about 800 miles away near Dwaraka we see the ocean. In south, around 500 miles away near Kanyakumari and in north about 5000 miles away near north pole we see the ocean. River Narmada is flowing towards the west. Ganga and Yamuna towards the east, Brahmmapurta towards the south, Shona river towards the north. All rivers finally join the Ocean. As like the ocean which surrounds the Earth, God dwells in all living beings (jeevaas). Whatever we do, it will go to the God. I mentioned earlier that when we offer some thing from our daily works to God, it will become immortal (amruta). There are 64 arts (kalaas) to earn our daily food. The 64 gaps in Sri Chakra represents these arts. The place where various professionals offer their work to God is a temple. Some people question that when the temple is filled with a lot sounds from bhajans, bells, other musical instruments, how can we meditate? Temples are the places where one has to donate some thing, but not for meditation. There are some holy places adjacent to rivers meant for meditation. Some people, for examples laborers who live with daily earningis are not able to meditate. If those laborers donate a small part of their daily earnings to God, it will become a great pooja (shoda-shoopa-chara pooja) to God. Poor people, women, children, old people may also offer to God leaves or flowers or fruits to their capacity. Rich persons can donate money for temple and it can be used to beautify the temple. Educated persons can donate their tapas with their mantras and anushttanas. By sharing their happiness in this way, great power can be created. Temples are the places to create such a great power. It is very important that the power should be properly distributed to the people. It is not wrong that we are unable to visit a temple daily. For the sake of those who are unable to visit the temple, temple bell is an indication for taking their food which has to be offered to their village temple. The habit of ringing bell in the village temple came for this purpose. This way, cooked food in the every house will become prasada of God.
When we share happiness, we develop real equality and love. Before starting speech, every one say “sisters and brothers”. How can all be sisters and brothers? Is it true that all audience should have single mother and father? Yes! it is possible to have single mother and father for all. Our father is God (Eswara) and mother is Para Shakti. “Jagataha pitarau vande”.
The concept of sister and brother is not only applicable for human beings but also to animals, trees and plants. All these are created by God only. When we realise this, no one will do harm (himsa) to others. Meat eaters will stop meat eating. Buddha said “Ahimsa paramo dharmaha”. But, many Buddhist sanyasins in China and Burma take meat as Bhiksha. In those countries, every Buddhist has to take sanyasa for some time before their marriage. What is the use of big theories when they say something and do other way?
Can we live without doing harm (himsa) to other living creatures? Every grain of rice and wheat is a living being. When we eat each grain, we are killing a living being. How to avoid the sin of killing? If we eat fruits and juice without seeds, we may not do any harm to any living beings. “Jeerna parnaa sanaha rushayaha”. Rishees (sages) lived by eating ripened leaves and fruits. We can eat lemon, orange, mango, banana etc., fruits after they are fully riped and fall down from the tree. When unripened fruit is plucked, some liquid comes from the tree. It indicates that tree suffers with pain due to plucking unripened fruit. Fully ripened fruit automatically detaches from tree. In addition, fully ripened fruit including neem and tamarind will have good taste. Every ripened fruit is tasty. Why do we take such a satvic food? “Aahaara suddhu satva suddhihi”. Those who take satvic food (fruits) will not get kama (desires). Such a people need not undergo family planning and need not kill their babies in the womb. Such people will not be affected by angry. World peace automatically comes when such a satvic people increases.
Will such a food be sufficient to world population? It may not be available. Many people are now dedicating their life for their country and also suffering. Some people commit suicide for what they believe. If satvic food is not available, people should keep on fasting and die. Youth should come forward for this. Finally the required population will remain for available food and there will not be hatred and wars in the world.
Will such a food give enough strength? One Britisher, who thought that Indians were uncivilised and their food was inferior, was getting meat every day from America and eating. He started learning Sanskrit. One day he heard “sushkai trunaih vanagajaha balino bhavanti” a Sanskrit sloka. After hearing, he changed his mind. He stopped eating meat. Which animal is powerful? Elephant. What does it eat? grass and leaves. Some of you may question that lion is powerful than elephant. It is not so. Lion can not pull heavy weights like bull. So the works of non-vegetarians like lions will be useful for destruction. For satvikaharies, entire world looks beautiful.
World looks beautiful if our hearts are good. We like our tender children even if they slap us. If others slap us, we will also try to slap them. We may otherwise report to police and go to court. If we do not have capacity to do so, we will weep and keep quite, but not happy. Enjoying the entire world i.e insults and sorrows with love and affection is called “Sri Vidya”.
Some people say that they are unable to concentrate on God. They asked me what they can do. My advise to them is to learn any one vidya for happiness but not for food. God is “Veda vidya swarupa”. Education is nothing but devotion to God. This is one type of Sri Vidya. Another type of Sri Vidya is there with mantra, chakra and upasana. This is not required for all people. But what I taught till now about Sri Vidya in this discourse is required and interested for every one.
My advise is that Sri Vidyanilayam should teach not only the arts for food but also one Vidya for happiness. It should take students with a desire to learn the above two. Then only, the name, “Sri Vidyanilayam” will be appropriate for this educational school. For this, I pray for the blessings of Goddess and God Srimantripura Sundari Chandramouleshwara.”
For more on KamkshiAmman Check the Wiki Link.
Mooka Pancha sathi is a powerful sloka by Mookha on Kamkshi Amman.
The part of Sati Devi which fell on this place is the groin.
“The temple of Shankari Devi supposed to be in Sri Lanka at Trimkomali.
At present there is no temple available at this place and it is said that the temple was destroyed by Portugese people between 16th to 17th century.
As per the priest’s account, the Portuguese who invaded the island in the 17th century completely cannon balled from their ship and demolished the cliff top Devi temple. In its site stands a lone pillar, as a mute spectator.
The temple of Sankari devi which was exactly on the peak of a hill was ruined by foreign invaders.
However, it is believed that the idol of amma has been preserved in the present temple which is by the side of the place where the idol originally used to be…
The temple is said to be in the famed town of Trincomalee on the eastern coast.
The Temple of Sri Shankari Devi according to the priest’s in Trincomalee, say that the Portuguese who invaded the island in the 17th century completely cannon balled from their ship and demolished the cliff top Devi temple. In its site stands a lone pillar, as a mute spectator.
There is also a more famous Kali temple in the heart of the town to which devotees can make a visit en-route from the Shankari Temple.”
Sankari Tricomalle
The present Shiva temple which is quite well known locally than the Shankari Temple was a recent construction.
The Shiva is called as TRIKONESHVARA (Probably because it is in Trincomalee which is truly TRI CONA MALAI- meaning triangle-shaped hill).
There is a small Devi Shrine built adjacent the Shiva temple.
The famed Bilva tree which is perched right on the edge of the hill some hundred meters above the Indian ocean.
It is an exhilarating and spectacular sight to behold. All round, silence reflects which is needed most in this war-torn nation rightfully called as a paradise.
In the Mantra worship , Devi is worshiped through the Mantras while in the Tantra form She is worshiped through Mystical symbols.
Please read my post on Samayin and Kaulamarga-link provided at the end of the post.
The uniqueness of Hinduism is that one can worship God in any Form one pleases or likes.
Mother, Daughter.
Mother Form is practiced in the Upasna of Kali or Akilandeswari/Tripura Sunadri/Abirami.
As a child She is worshiped as Bala.
Female child of five years is considered as the incarnation of Durga and it is the practice of the Hindus to worship children of this age by washing their hands and feeding them during Navratri.
Shakti worship is of such an importance that Shankaracharya established Shakta worship, devoted to Devi, while reorganizing the six modes of worship-Shanmathas.
Following are the Nine Forms of Devi Worship.
Durga Shailputri (Daughter of Mountain) : “Shail” means mountains, “Putri” means daughter. Parvati, the daughter of the King of the Mountains Himavan, is called ‘Shailputri”. The first among nine Durgas and 1st night of Navratras is devoted to the puja of Shailputri . Her two hands display a trident and a lotus. Her mount is a bull.
The second Durga Shakti is Brahamcharini. Brahma that is who observes penance(tapa) and good conduct. Here “Brahma” means “Tapa”. The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous.One hand hold a “Kumbha” or water pot, and the other holds a rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Bhramcharini is the store house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha beads are Her most adored ornaments!
The name of third Shakti is Chandraghanta. There is a half-circular moon in her forehead. She is charmful and bright. She is Golden in color, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of her hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze in a moonlit night. This Durga Shakti rides a tiger. She is mainly worshipped in Tamil Nadu.
With the fourth night begins the worship of Kushmanda, possessed of eight arms, holding a weapons and a mala ( rosary), her mount is the tiger and She emanates a solar aura. “Kumbh Bhand” means to see the cosmic dance in the form of Pindi; the knowledge of cosmic intricacies in the human race. The abode of Kushmanda is Bhimaparvat !
Fifth name of Durga is “Skanda Mata“. Rising a lion as Her chosen vehicle, She holds Her son skanda on her lap. She displays three eyes and four hands; two hands holds lotuses while the other two hand display defending and granting mudras, respectively. Its said, by the merch of Skandmata, even the fool becomes an ocean of knowledge.
Black (or blue ) skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of “giving” and “protecting”. Her vehicle is a faithful donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Kaalratriis the seventh form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness.
The Eighth Durga is “Maha Gauri.” She is as white as a conch, moon and Jasmine. She is of eight years old. With four arms and the fairest complexion of all the Durgas Shaktis, Mahagauri radiates peace and compassion. She is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depiected riding a bull.
Ninth Durga is “Siddhidatri“. There are eight Siddhis , they are- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva & Vashitva.It is said in “Devipuran” that the Supreme God Shiv got all these Siddhies by worshipping Maha Shakti. With her gratitude the half body of Shiv has became of Goddess and there fore his name “Ardhanarishvar” has became famous.Usually shown ensconced a lotus with four arms, She is the grantor of 26 different wishes to Her Bhaktas
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