As we all journey to merge into the great Brahman, I wanted to share this beautiful piece. It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear. She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages. And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever. But there is no other way. The river can not go back. Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence. The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that’s where the river will know it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean. Khalil Gibran

It seems like you have decided to support on the website runner's side without really going through what the commenters have really said, thus no harm. Let's see what you have to say. Falsely stating that Shaktism was created from Shaivism, Devi was created by Shiva, Matrilineal decline shows Shaiva superiority, Lalita Sahasranama wasn't referred before 18th century, etc..., all no matter you agree or not, are mockeries towards Devi. It is not that no one dares as what I see from here, they did but so funny that all of their attempts are nothing in front of Devi. Just as how any dirt thrown at fire becomes Bhasma, Every mockery made towards my Amba just becomes holy bhasma which Brahma Vishnu Rudra adore as per Ananda Lahari. Thus, it is purely your misinterpretation to consider their acts as right, which again, you are free to do so. Not only Shiva Purana, Devi Bhagavatam, Visnu purana, Mudgala purana, Linga Purana, Agni Purana and the other Maha, Upa Puranas always glorify that one PARABRAHMAM in all different forms, even the tantras. No matter Devi, Shiva, Narayana, or Mahaganapati, claiming that one created another is only applicable in terms of maintaining pure devotion towards that specific form of the supreme, for specific focus. This supposed to aid individual progress towards Brahmam, not mock and form degradatory terms towards other schools. If we need to reach her, first we need belief, then jnana, and ultimately total surrenderness called Para Bhakti. At this stage, one achieves complete wisdom or paripurana jnana, in which one identifies themselves as Shiva, and finally merge with Amba, the ultimate, where She is the Atman or Brahman. This is the antaryagam as per sruti vakyam. Indeed, Tripurasundari is said to be only interested in Shiva at the ultimate state as only one who is Shiva, the completeness, could finally become one with Her. Amba as Parashakti guides the realization pathway of soul as Shiva, the embodiment of ultimate knowledge and finally by himself towards the ultimate satchitananda, Lalithambika. This ultimate satchitananda is recognised as Narayana, Krsna, Parasiva, Lalitambika, Mahakali, Purnachandi, Allah, Jehovah, Shunyam or anything as per their own schools and some may follow combined pathways which finally reach the same destination such as Mahashodashi (Lalita and Mahakali as one at final stage). So, it is for you to think who is sticking and why do they stick to a particular view and ridicule others' views. I didn't request anyone to show interest in replying here after a point. If there is any, concerning my interference, I will reply. Claiming that 'we' are only interested in spiritual advancement in whatever path seems like as though we from here are not in such mode, which is your own perception that doesn't affect us. To us, we ALL are somehow in a spiritual advancement and hence it is Amba as in all forms guiding us ALL. May Amba bless everyone. Sri Mathre Namah.

No one here has made mockery of Maa. No one can dare to do so. Since all are devotees of Maa. Its pure misinterpretation to claim about mockery. As far as Purana's are concerned, every Purana glorifies the Deity, whose story is written. Shiva Puran will tell story by glorifying Lord Shiva. Shakti Purana will glorify Shakti, That does'nt mean we should discard them. All are right from their pov. We have to accept what appeals to us & forget about the rest. Same is with this site. These articles are not written to please any particular pov. Some days back I heard a good lecture on Shree Vidya, where the guru said, Maa Tripurasundari is only interested in Shiva, no one else. If you want to reach Her, you have to become Shiva first. A Jeeva has to become Shiva. When She notices the Shiva in jeeva, She starts revealing Herself. A true seekser's ultimate aim is to merge with Her. In this interesting Leela, some times Shakti takes one to Shiva, other times Shiva takes one to Shakti. Their aim is to meet each other & merge. Shakti has another Magnificent, most Beautiful, Grand form as Mahakaali. Where Shiva & Shakti in form of Mahakaal & Mahakaali guide the seekers. Some advance sadhaka worships both Lalitambika & Mahakali. Spirituality is an amazing journey. Why just stick to a particular view & ridicule other's views. After a point no one will be interested in replying here. We are only interested in Spiritual advancement in whatever path Shiva & Shakti shows us.

A very ancient temple (Shakti Peeth) of Mother Matangi is located in Bodh Gaya across the Phalgu river according to Pranatoshini Tantra. This seems to have been a well-known place of sadhana for Matangi devotees in the first millennium. The story goes that Matanga Rishi meditated here and gained grace. I have located this temple to be at the google location below. It is very small, and ancient, and not very popular. It is opposite the Mahabodhi temple across the Falgu River. Have any of the devotees here visited the place? Would love to hear your thoughts. https://goo.gl/maps/AtGURupMFpF8QrLV7

Dear MnX, thank you for providing your personal views, which you are free to do but mentioning me in specific, forgetting out the others who made a mockery out of Amba is definitely not right for someone who sees Shiva and Shakti as heart and soul. I am strong with my arguments and references, both scriptural and historical, thus it doesn't really matter to me or affect me if you mentioned my name. I agree that the supreme is to be experienced but productive debates are welcomed, in fact sometimes important for understanding the fundamental basic knowledge. No one of this era is equivalent to Jagadguru Shankaracharya in supreme spiritual experience. Yet, didn't he debate for the welfare of mankind? I understand that these articles were written long time ago but it doesn't mean I can't question about them now as I just got to see more of them. Previously, when similar issue was brought up on a different article, Sri Ravi guruji was very polite in answering, infact even agreed to my references and viewpoints. You were right that the original author, Sri Ravi guruji would have been very polite and wouldn't have mocked Shaktism like our fellow commenters here. Indeed Amba would be laughing at the words people have used towards her pathway and Herself in this page. If you believe that followers of this website (in facf all websites focused on spiritual empowerment) are guided by Devi, hence even my comments are also under Her guidance. Theory is 'just' a base. Theory is extremely important as how the base is extremely important for a building. Even I am very thankful towards Sri Ravi guruji as I have really learned a lot from his articles. There are in reality many more to learn which are not in this website. Only through Devi's blessings, all knowledge are known. Lalitambika who exists as both Shiva and Shakti is my cosmos. May Amba bless you too. Sri Mathre Namah.

I am just stating my observations. Various questions are being raised about articles written in 2009. We are in 2021 today. Technically these doubts should have asked at that time. Original author would have replied with love & patience. But now Ravi sir is in much advance stage of Spirituality. He is beyond this play of Maya. In fact Maa Herself must be laughing at this display of words. Main Intention of articles posted here is to provide a place of knowledge to the seekers, who are from different part of the World. Who can not reach to a school teaching Spiritual texts. This portal is for all such souls, who may grow well in their journey. They are guided by Maa Herself. She holds their hand & takes them a step or many steps ahead. Once anyone is progressing, mind is just conditioned to see beyond veil of Maya. Theory just provides a base. Practical application of that knowledge is what counts the most. There is a lot more to learn besides available sources provide. The Supreme is to be experienced not to be debated on. @ Mr Acharya, these are my personal views. I have learned a lot from Ravi sir & this site. Please don't bother quoting me. For me both Shiva & Shakti, are my heart & soul.

I think right hands hold plough and skull as per sanskrit dyanam verse...

I have been doing tara ashtakam and neela saraswati stotram for about two years with intense devotion.Everything auspicious has happened in my life. But not initiated or chanting her mantras . But i do japa of saraswati mantra taken from sharada tilaka tantra , saraswati stotras, and saraswati kavacha. Since tara is none other than saraswati can one go ahead with the recitation of this kavacham?

Owh lets see what you have to clarify here about Lalita Sahasranama. As I have statued earlier, Lalita Sahasranama is primarily vedic as well as tantric, which also traces from vedic sources. Even those scholars whom you mentioned have also stated that even the tantric origins can be traced back to the vedic ones. Not a few, there are ample of evidences of it being Vedic, more than ones that I have pointed out. For this, Saubagya Bhaskaram would be a very good example. Regarding the matter of Adi Shankaracharya, you yourself agreed that Adi Shankaracharya left his human body at 32 then contradict yourself stating the other 80-90 years story. There are many works attributed to Shankaracharya, which some believe to have been written by later Acharyas while some believe to have been from the master himself. So who has to authorize this?? Definitely not you, me, or western scholars who just research for papers' sake. That's where we need true insights from great Acharyas. If you wanna know about someone, would you ask a random person who has been observing that someone or directly to the person's close relatives? Wonderful acharyas from Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati, Kanchi Paramacharya, Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam, and many more has expounded what it true and false. Just because SOME (NOT ALL) of the summarised version or part translation do not contain Lalita Sahasranama or Lalita Trishati, it doesn't mean the puranas lack those. The famous Sri Bhaskararayar has clearly pointed out that it is directly from the Lalithopakhyana, Brahmanda Purana, compiled by Sri Veda vyasa. If some parts are currently missing, that doesn't mean the scripture cannot be trusted. That's where the roles of Guru/Acharya comes in. That's why I pointed out that all Chaturamnaya peetam accept Lalita Sahasranama. Not only this purana, as per your so called great western definition, way many puranas were traced only after the medieval era. So does that mean these scriptures do not come from compilation of Krishna Dvaipayana? This is where the concept of overtime adaptation of theories comes in. Nobody knows which was added later or has been existing since the beginning, other than the lineage of Jagadgurus, who have spent and dedicated their whole life in establishing Advaita from Sruti, Smriti and Purana. If you say Shaktism is based mostly on tantrism, then it shows that you only focus on tantric scriptures, forgetting the Vedopanishads, Itihasas and Puranas. Even the Tantras are traced back to the vedas, which directly establishes firmly that Shaktism is from Vedism. Tantric Shaktism may have been kept hidden as stated by you but the Vedic Shaktism has been there since time immemorial. The valuable efforts of Acharyas and Scholars who follow the path of Shaktism have contributed a lot for our benefits currently and that's why I say claiming superiority of other philosophies over Shaktism is naive. It might not matter to you if someone says Shaktism came late or Shaivism came late. But for a person who sees both as two eyes with one sight, would never abandon or place one over the other. It DOES MATTER when someone induce a superiority complex between my Mata and Pita. If you say Shaivism and Vaisnavism focus directly on spiritual matters or mukti, then you should really study more about the schools within them, like Shaiva Siddhantam and Sri Vaishnavam. When all darshanas from Bauddha, Saura, Vaidika, Vaishnava, Shakta, Shaiva and finally Shambhava darshanas merge into Srividya, Ambal is Bhogamoksha Pradayini. Lastly, regarding the efforts from Sringeri and Kanchi mutts, I think they have been doing great efforts in sharing knowledge on Devi throughout their websites, Facebook pages, Youtube, all full of Anugraha Bhashanam of Shankaracharyas, translation of holy scriptures, clarification on misunderstandings about vedas and many more. For mutts which follow more on Adi Shankaracharya's philosophy, it wasn't necessary for them shedding light much on Tantras, as they clearly establish a solid foundation of Shaktism from Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas. Whatever that has been written in Tantras are already existant in our Shankara Advaita Vedantic tradition. Since it seems that you weren't much aware of the priceless contribution of our mutts, claiming that these are only for privileged ones is not practical. Therefore, I suggest you to go through Deivathin Kural by Kanchi Mahaswamigal, to just get a glimpse of our Shankara tradition. Aum Sri Mathre Namah.

It will not be of much value to do so. But you can give it a try with seeking Her permission first with a prayer. If you notice any untoward results, then stop reciting the kavacam and considering obtaining an initiation into any of Her mantras, from a practicing guru.