But I have a hunch that this was all for the best. I’m a hopeless optimist and my head is still spinning from having a big part of my life and plans turned upside down, but already I am seeing new, better paths and opportunities, and maybe thinking a bit more openly and clearly. So I have a question: It seems like, if we can tolerate a lot of turbulence and shock, Mahā Pratyangirā brings the same level of loving motherliness of Lalitā, but her method of care uses creative destruction of circumstances and ego and attachments. & she is rapidly acting and non-compromising. My question is, it kind of seems like there is a wonderful cold shower style shortcut to accelerating one’s life with her mūla mantra, so, if one feels drawn to take the plunge and face the frigid shock, can we eventually count on a better result by throwing caution to the wind & rushing to be in this form of Maha Śakti’s lap? Even if it kills a person in one birth, I have the sense that Mahā Pratyngirā does perhaps the most to rapidly elevate those who seek her. Since the world we perceive while awake and dreaming is just the play and art of Lalitā, and constantly being reformed and optimized for better play, should we really even fret about one birth being wiped out, if it means we may play in a more exciting and conscious and aware manner sooner rather than later with the actions of the fierce universal energy of Atharvana Bhadrakālī?

Partly as an experiment, and partly because Śrī Jothi Agaval commented that Mahā Pratyangirā’s root mantra would burn away unnecessary everything, including physical mass (literally I thought it would facilitate my conditioning for rock climbing and bouldering; this seems especially exciting given the favoritism and special bond between Kuja Deva and Pratyangirā, and the mantra does indeed heat a person up and cause elevated metabolism per my little anecdotal experience - literally the meditation with it promptly put my body temp up a bit, which was shocking) I tried reciting the root mantra found her in the pranayama section, along with the full khadgamala stotram. Within not even seven days, everything Śrī Śrī Tripuraghna warned about in the below-pasted comment happened just so. Very shocking. It ended up being rougher and more abrupt and disruptive to my life than I could’ve imagined. Here is the ratna of wisdom he bestowed upon us regarding the Maha Pratyangirā mūla mantra: “ Lastly. The most common thing that happens if someone starts reciting her root mantra is that bad things start to happen. Why? Other souls and creation itself will begin to fear this person, even if unconsciously. People will start fighting with you for trivial reasons. Other souls and creation will not feel very comfortable with you walking around with a nuclear bomb pointed at them. Only if your heart is exceedingly pure will souls and creation feel safe around you practicing a Vidya of this caliber. Who can blame them? Let a bad person practice this and he will blow himself up and the people around him. This is a Vidya for very pure hearts. I have this knowledge, but I don't practice it. I only pray to Lalitambika because it's easier to deal with other souls saying "if you make mistakes I will forgive you most of the time"; instead of: "I will drop a bomb of mass destruction on you if you make a mistake." Over time, the devotee begins to realize that gaining the respect of creation through fear may not be a good idea. Atharvana Bhadrakali is a Vidya for very specific and transitory situations. It won't be your fault, but everyone is struggling to overcome their own sins and they don't want a nuclear bomb pointed at them that will explode if they make a mistake.” I knew I am not sattvic or sufficiently filled with love, and while I took the warning seriously, I also took it as a shortcut to triggering uncanny divine action. I am quite bruised and shaken at the moment. For the sake of stability, I wanted to share to others that these things are very real. In hindsight I lacked faith; now thinking upon the deities in this khadgamala, I am frightened and humbled and awed. This awesome form of Divine Mother really doesn’t make you wait a long time for the result if you approach her with glibness

Is there any small mantra that can have a great effect even if recited one time

Namaste. Thanks sir

In our tradition the 'oṁ' is used as a prefix to the Śrī Vidyā mantras. The tantras specifying the uddhāra ślokas do not include the Tārā bīja oṁ as a prefix. The other curse removal, life-infusing mantras etc are from the tantras and are applicable in all cases. It is best to follow the mantra as guided by your guru and not follow a book or a website, including ours etc. What we provide is only a reference. Mantras require an initiation from a practicing guru to be effective.

Yes, you are correct. In general, it is always best to receive a mantra from a preceptor and follow what their suggestions to get the best results.

The correction is now in place. Thank you for letting us know.

Ekapadā with the dīrgha ̍'ā̍' is Feminine in gender. The dīrgha ̍'ā̍' and 'ī' are used for denoting the female gender in Sanskrit.

Namaste, Divya. Thank you for your enlightening writing about meditation and for approaching it practically. Your writing speaks to me as clearly as the thoughts in my mind. I have not encountered many females who practice meditation and are ready to share it so lucidly. I try to "meditate" or calm my mind, as I call it, just before I sleep and wake up. The starting process you mention is the same - chanting and steering my mind to focus on that. I utter a stotra, and I feel my mind wander with thoughts; when I catch it and redirect it back, it starts the strotram exactly where it lets off!! Sometimes, the thoughts trick me by withholding a few keywords in the Strotram, and I am stuck; I have to cajole my mind into recollecting the phrases with promises of continuing those thoughts at other times. It magically brings forth the exact phrase. I enjoy praying just before I sleep and love to wake up praying. I don't think I have reached a "meditative state" more a lucid dreaming state that gradually eases into sleep or wakefulness depending upon the time. Nevertheless, I sleep deeply and wake up refreshed, with a resolve to face my chores with equanimity. I wonder if I can make progress in meditation if I choose to meditate in a particular asana during the daytime. Unfortunately, I don't have the resolve to sit still and devote unlimited time to myself during the day. Any thoughts on how I proceed from here? Thank you

Hi sir, so its mandatory to get initiated if all the japa karma like nyas, panca pooja, dhyana, samarpanam is to be followed . am i correct ?