Pranaam sir , I want to ask how do you select suitable mantra for native which one is best suited for him . Is it according to his goal ? Or Diksha guru select for him.

Siddha puruṣās like Swamiji, Ravi guruji etc. can definitely give a direct initiation to Pañcadaśī, Ṣoḍaśī etc and the initiates may also benefit from the same. If we talk about śāstra pramāṇa (scriptural doctrine and authority), then we would need to reference the source granthas (manuals) of Śrī Vidya and those would be Śrī Paraśurāma Kalpa derived from Śrī Dattatreya Saṃhita and other major works such as Śrīvidyārṇavatantram, Mantra Mahodadhi, Mantra Maharṇava, Bṛhat Tantrasāra, Śāradā Tilakam, Nityotsava, Ṣoḍaśikārṇava etc. There are also various manuscripts listing the Śrī Krama etc. which include the initiation of Śrī Bālā, Śyāmalā, Vārāhī etc. There are some traditions associated with Kaula Mārga that suggest Vaiṣṇava Krama for incorporating Bhakti, Kālī Krama for destroying ones ego etc. prior to an initiation into Śrī Vidyā. While there is no such single authority that I am aware of which claims that Ṣoḍaśī devi initiation is not permitted directly, it is quite implicit that one must go through the krama of Śrī Bālā etc. The logical reasoning being that it is better to go through the karma cleansing in a gradual manner and build a strong foundation within Śrī Vidyā. So what really happens when one get directly initiated to Ṣoḍaśī? In many cases, absolutely nothing happens. Depending upon ones practice and sincerity, there could be rapid karmic cleansing and that may cause a lot of anxiety in personal relationships and finance. I am very close to at least 2 individuals who went through divorce and had severe financial setbacks. In my own case, I descended from Ṣoḍaśī to restart from the beginning with Śrī Mahāgaṇapati. The ajapa was so strong that I almost got into an accident and there were also severe financial setbacks in the months following the japa. It did not matter that I had practiced several other Mahāvidya, Ucchiṣṭa Gaṇapati mantras etc, including Puraścaraṇas. It is my experience and that of many other gurus that I have consulted with, that a proper Śrī Vidya krama is recommended instead of direct exposure to Ṣoḍaśī.

Greatly appreciate the reply and information...Best wishes

Having a realized guru is life's greatest blessing. Krishna Garu, Have a question on pre-requisites of Panchadasi initiation. Many many years ago during one of our trip to Varanasi, we met a very old Srividya Upasak. He mentioned to us its South Indian practice to have pre-requisite mantra purascharanas of Sri Mahaganapati, Sri Bala etc., before intiation into Panchadasi or Shodasi. Swamiji mentioned Panchadasi can be given directly. My Chinnamma was initiated into Panchadasi directly by a Srividya guru based in Rishikesh. Recently came across this interview of Sri Siddeswarananda Bharatiji. Swamiji says like Sri Tara, Sri Kali mantras etc Panchadasi/Shodasi can be initiated directly. "Its only regional practice and few recently written scriptures that talk about pre-requisites before Panchadasi/Shodasi initiation". Please watch from 16:40 onward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To24VDaM9Ik Is what Swamiji said is true?. If not, are there any "ancient" & "authentic" srividya scriptures which mentions the pre-requisites of Sri Mahaganapati, Sri Bala Tripurasundari, Sri Rajashyamala, Sri MahaVarahi before initiation into Panchadashi Mantra? Thank You.

Kevin, I suggest reciting 32 names of Mother Durga. You don't need a guru initiation to recite it. Easy, Very effective and Safe. Here is a YouTube video of Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, head of world-renowned Bihar School of Yoga, teaching the recitation of the 32 names. He repeats 3 times in the video as it is their Ashram practice to recite 32 names 3 times in the morning. Video has names & meanings too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7vCNJmB6-g

There is no religious restriction to discovering our own True Reality. Bhakti/belief is extremely important and is a prerequisite for practicing any mantra. The Durgā Caṇḍi Navārṇa mantra can be recited with the proper nyāsās, kīlaka, argala stotras and also by studying the Durgā Saptaśati and its hidden meaning. There are many good books on Devi Mahatmyam that you may refer to when time permits. Your yoga guru̍s recommendation can be followed and may that lead you to discover the Truth for yourself! Wishing you the very best in all your endeavors.

If you can read Sanskrit here is the link: https://archive.org/details/Kalika_Sahasranama_Stotra_From_Kalika_Kulasarvasva/mode/2up

I am baptized Christian. I live on Reunion Island where there are many cultures and mixtures. Hence perhaps my attraction to Sanathana Dharma, without denying Christianity. Especially since I practice traditional yoga thanks to my teacher. He gave me a mantra 7 years ago and since then I have not stopped repeating it, I’m even more attracted by the science of mantras. My Yoga teacher give us mantra diksha to ‘launch’ and help us and spitirual path, but I’m not a disciple. I believe, love and respect him of course, as a pupil/friend. He’ve much disciples too. Last year during our more intense yoga training, I could see that I was drawn to Goddess Durga and it hasn't stopped being the case ever since. I recite the navarna mantra every day, one of its navratri forms every day. With that, right now I am also reciting the gayatri mantra where I feel a lot of benefits, and very sooth calm. Next to Shiva (mahamrityunjaya) and Ganesh. As well as other deities but just few recitations for yantras I get. I love recite mantras, and the thing is I don't even take sankalpa or ask anything. First it was just to dharana now it's like more bhakti. I find the siddha kunjika strotram beautiful, and the navrana mantra is there. I realized that I was attracted to Goddess Durga in a dream where I heard a mantra of her the bija dum. During a puja in his name, and from a distance, I started crying because it touched me even if I didn't understand much of what the pundits said. For sure I feel attract by shakti. I got yantras for one when I ordered, I’ve to take them to give it to him. The 2 ones was Goddess Kamala and Matangi. Since that I feel little attract to das mahavidya but I know it’s strict and can be harmful so i just read their stories no more. At my age 38 years old, still with my parents, works part-time (photographer) not enough money to be more independent, family life is good fortunately, no girlfriends which is sometimes hard because feeling alone, health is good (knee pain in long sitting postures). Jagged emotion, too many thoughts, not enough love for me, esteem, hard on me, negativity sometimes (envious, self sabotaging). Yoga in all this helps me see more clearly and stabilize everything, pranayama as I read on your website is something I do everyday with the practices ???? I think/feel my ishta Devata is Durga Goddess. For my situation I don’t know which mantras can help me, but I still recite with my guru mantra, navarna mantra (as I'm attract to Maa Durga), gayatri, shiva. I look at mantra initiation but I didn’t find anyone provide mantras for Durga. Thank you Have a nice day !

The Śmaśāna Kāli Sahasranāmam is in the Śrī Kālī Upāsanā Rahasyam book published by Mayuresh Prakashan. There may be other Kālī devi books containing the same information also. At this time, we are not looking at publishing this article.

Namaste Krishnaji. Is it possible to publish Kaali Sahasranama? Just the text would suffice. I am not sure where to find the authentic one. Or if you could point me to a source on the internet. Thank you. The one which starts with "Shmashaanakaalikaa Kaali".