Pranam Tripuraghna Ji, is it true that Aswathama took Sri Vidya Deeksha from Maharshi Durvasa and was able to get rid of the curse given to him by Lord Krishna? Thanks!

I agree.. considering the bigger picture, it's all Maya and the end game is for a greater good.. I wanted to express what I strongly felt. 

There's nothing wrong with that. Just as humans have their own sports and games, Gods/Goddesses/Avatars/Siddhas/Rishis have their own games and sports. Ultimately creation itself is a game and play of the incomprehensible Brahman. It will always be like this, you cannot separate these two things, even reaching the highest destination. People need to understand this. The final destination is not total inertia and lack of sports and games.

Namaste Tripuraghna ji. What an amazing knowledge. One becomes the Deity one worships. Ferocious Deities too have their calm form. Ferocious form is taken for a purpose. After that Deity must be returning to their calm form. In presence of the calm form of the ferocious Deities, many other forces calm down too. Is it possible for a devotee to worship that calm form? It requires tremendous control over one self. Is it important to try to be like our Ishta Deity? Or is this a gradual process? Can one just worship the Deity for the ultimate relationship? Is the final aim, to become the Deity & merge with Her or there is still a greater aim? Sorry for asking many questions. Thanks in advance. .

Namaste Kiran. It's okay to briefly pay homage to other deities as a form of respect or for a greater long-term purpose. This is your choice. You can choose not to do this if you want. But what cannot happen is that you forget your Iṣṭadevata. Your Iṣṭadevata must always be in your memory, even worshiping other deities. You must see the other deities as different forms of your Iṣṭadevata. You will only worship other deities if it is for a greater purpose in the future. Only your Iṣṭadevata will be worshiped until the end of his life. Worshiping other deities must have some reason linked to your relationship with Iṣṭadevata. A serious devotee goes through the following stages with the Iṣṭadevata: first Devi becomes the devotee's Mother; then Devi becomes the friend of the devotee; then Devi becomes the devotee; then the devotee becomes "Saguṇanirguṇa", that is, he becomes incomprehensible (Parabrahma) and at the same time can assume the form of any other deity (Parabrahmamahiṣi). The intelligent devotee must know that he will become the deity he worships before reaching the final destination. That's what many people who worship aggressive deities don't understand. They end up discovering that they don't like the deity they worship but their power. This is not real devotion. They cannot change the temperament and specific tastes of a Divine Mother form. She is not a toy, you will become that form of her that you adore. So you should behave like her and cultivate the same nature as your Iṣṭadevata. In the end you will become Saguṇanirguṇabrahman, but you will not get there until you become your Iṣṭadevata. That's why most people don't reach the end goal. They are distracted by other deities and cannot become Iṣṭadevata herself. They are lost. There is a worse situation. There is the situation where the devotee does not accept the Iṣṭadeva's temperament and tastes. He cannot change Iṣṭadevata. If he thinks so he should worship another deity. If you don't see in your Iṣṭadevata someone that you would like to be, you have no real devotion for her, but are only interested in what she can offer you and that is selfish.

I find it very unfair (and wrong) that in many instances, god avatars "trick" others to attain stuff. 100% with Aswatthama on his actions. Lord Krishna was at fault, especially being "all knowing"... He knew this would happen and still advised and went ahead the crooked way.

Namaste! About comments relating to worshipping of one deity, so if I am chanting Lalita Sahasranaama everyday as a part of my ishta devata upasana: 1. Can I also worship Matangi Devi during her Navaratris and Varahi Devi during her Navaratris through their stotras or just stick to reciting of Lalita Sahasranaama all the time considering all the forms are mere manifestations of Lalita Devi even though they have their own importance on an individual level? 2. Or can I chant their stotras as well especially on Navaratri to appease them while keeping in mind they are manifestations of Lalita Devi so that in principle I will still be worshipping Lalita Devi although may be not on the surface? I do plan to recite Lalita Sahasranaama nevertheless. I apologise for putting across my thoughts in a complex manner, if they seem so. Excuse my ignorance.

Any of these mantras is good for material wealth. Fruition of a mantra is extremely difficult to predict. It is important to follow your guru and perform all the associated sādhana procedures on a regular basis to gain any meaningful benefits.

Pranam JI. Could you also throw some light on the connection between Vana durga and Pratyangira amba ? Also if vana durga is connected with Guhya kali _/\_

Hi.. greetings. Am really in need. If anyone can guide, it would be really helpful. Thank you.