27
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Is the ritual of killing an animal as offering to Maa Kali correct?
I personally believe that a mother would never ask someone to kill her
own children moreover she would ask to kill the wrong and the negative
things within each individual.
What you feel is ...
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18
votes
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In which scriptures can we find the original stories of the Mahavidyas?
First of all it's a very very long answer.
PurAnic accounts of how the DashamahAvidyAs manifested
The following account appears in Devi PurAna, however the same appears also in the BhAgavata PurAna (...
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16
votes
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Is Mahishasura Mardini Lakshmi or Durga?
Godesses Ambika who is also known by the name Godesses Durga is the Mahisasura Mardini (slayer of Mahisasura). Precisely speaking it is Chandika form of Godesses Ambika who slays Mahisasura:
Chaptet ...
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14
votes
Is Radha really a Hindu goddess or not?
Yes most definitely she is a Hindu Goddess. She is mentioned in PurAnas as well as in the Tantras i.e Agamas.
In Brahma Vaivarta PurAna's Prakriti Khanda, it is mentioned that a beautiful and ...
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11
votes
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What is the meaning of Uma?
Do scriptures mention that 'Uma' name is Pranava swarupa?
Yes, the Great Goddess herself describes her form as that of the Praṇava, in the Chapter 49: Manifestation of Uma from the Section 5 - Umā-...
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10
votes
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Meaning of साम्ब ("Samba") with Sadashiva
Yes, Samba means Sa + Amba ie. Attended/ accompanied by Amba or With Amba.
स + अम्बा = साम्ब (ie. With Amba)
स + उमा = सोम (ie. With Uma)
स + उमा + स्कन्ध = सोमस्कन्ध (ie. With Uma and ...
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10
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Is the ritual of killing an animal as offering to Maa Kali correct?
It's not mandatory to sacrifice animals in Devi or Kaali worship. But goat or animal sacrifice is considered as non-killing.
The animals which are sacrificed to the Divine Mother will go to heaven. ...
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10
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Is there any hierarchy for Devi's incarnations?
Before knowing about hierarchy of incarnation of Devi, it is necessary to know about hierachy of Devi herself (with respect to other Gods). So, to explain this I have divided the answer to this ...
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10
votes
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Where does the Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana state that it is the best among the 18 main Puranas?
Yes,the Devi Bhagavata itself states that it is the best among the 18 main Puranas.It is so stated in the first chapter of the Purana.
The following is a screenshot of the page that contains the ...
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10
votes
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Did Lord Rama worship Devi Ambika?
That Sri Rama worshipped Supreme Goddess is mentioned in Lalita Trishati Stotram found in the Brahmanda Purana:
Lakaararthaa Latha Poojya Laya Sthithudbhaveswari Lasya Darshana
Santhushta ...
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10
votes
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Who is devi in devi suktam?
Vaak Suktam Or Devi Suktam is in Rig- Veda - Mandala 10 as sukta 125.
The Rishika of this sukam is Vagambharni i.e. this sukta has been heard by a female sage by name Vaak , who is the ...
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10
votes
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Is it true that Durga had problems with a demon that only created clones? What is this story?
Devi Mahatmyam, which is a part of Markandeya Purana doesn't tell that Devi had any problem killing the Ratkabija. You can read the full story in this chapter. Actually the Gods (devas) were greatly ...
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9
votes
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Reflection of "Yada yada hi dharmasya..." in Durga Saptashati?
Yes, In chapter 91 of Markandeya Purana (or chapter 11 of Saptashati), Devi speaks about her various coming incarnations in future to destroy demonic forces. In the last verse or verse 55, Devi states:...
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9
votes
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Is Goddess Brahmacharini an avatara of Mata Durga?
No, not an avatara. Brahmacharini is one of the 9 forms of Devi Durga.
Sailaputri-adi 9 forms of Goddess Durga is collectively known as the Navadurgas. They have been defined in the beginning verses ...
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9
votes
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Who is Ratri devi? Is she same or different from Devi Kaali?
You must be knowing about Sri Chandi, which is also known as the DurgA Saptashati or the Devi MAhatyam and which is a part of the MArkandeya PurAna.
Now, a Chandi PAtha is considered to be flawed or ...
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9
votes
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Neela Saraswathi and Nila Devi
Nila Saraswati is another name/form of Goddess Tara, the second Dashamahavidya. So, she isn't the wife of Lord Vishnu.
2.Munda mala vibhooshithe neela rupinee ,
Yeka jata neela Saraswathi nama ...
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8
votes
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What are the Mahavidya deities?
Mahavidya are Shakti of Dash Avatara of Shiva. Most people are only aware about Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu. However Shiva Purana Shat Rudra Samhita also gives Dashavatara of Lord Shiva along with ...
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8
votes
Was Goddess Durga really an avatar of Shiva's wife Goddess Parvati?
From the texts it appears that there is a deep connection between Parvati and Durga and generally we believe that the former has emerged from the latter. However Devi Bhagwat Puran Chapter 28 of Book ...
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8
votes
Who killed Banasura - Lord Krishna or Devi?
As per Chapter 55, Rudra Samhita (Yuddha Khanda) of Shiva Purana and Chapter 63, Book 10 of Srimad Bhagvatam, Sri Krishna only cut hands of Banasura. But Chapter 12, Part 1 of Agni Purana doesn't ...
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8
votes
What is the importance of Goddess Radha in Shaktism?
RAdhA is not a deity of Shaktism. She belongs to Vaishnavism, where she is worshipped along with Krishna.
In Shaktism, the principle deities are 1. The Dasa MahAvidyAs (who are mainly worshipped ...
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8
votes
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Does goddess Lalita have her own loka?
The abode of Sri Devi is known as Mani Dvipa. Wikipedia states:
In the Devi Bhagavatam, Manidweepa portrayed as the Sarvaloka
superior to Kailasa, Vaikunta and Goloka. Devi
Bhuvaneshvari/...
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7
votes
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Who will Kalki marry?
As per Kalki Purana, Kalki Avatara will have two wives namely: Padmavati and Rama.
From the Purana's 32nd Chapter:
Text 17
LORD KALKI ENJOYS PASTIMES WITH HIS CONSORTS 343
PadmavatI took ...
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7
votes
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In any of the works of Adi Shankaracharya is it mentioned that any deity apart from Sriman Narayana to be supreme/Saguna Brahman/Ishwara?
Adi Shankara didn't differentiate various forms of Saguna Brahman. He explicitly says that in Prasnottara Ratna Malika.
Adi Shankara at many places says Shiva, Vishnu, Amba(Supreme Goddess), Surya as ...
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7
votes
Who is devi in devi suktam?
She is the same as Adi Shakti or Goddess Durga and not any other Goddesses.
We can show this by using the Devi Atharva Sirsha.
This Upanishad has the Mantras of the Rig Vedokta Devi Suktam in the ...
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7
votes
Actions performed during Devi Paksha affects the individual tremendously?
It should be like that. Because if a bad deed is done in an auspicious time (like say in Devi Paksha) or in a holy place (like say in a Tirtha like Kasi) then the result (of that sin) is said to be ...
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7
votes
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Maa Tara Tarapith prayers and chants in Sanskrit
Goddess TArA is the 2nd MahAvidyA. (IMO the following answer will be helpful for you to read: https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/20742/4732)
Stotras are found mainly in PurAnas/ItihAsas and in ...
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7
votes
What is the meaning of Uma?
Chapter 7 - The childhood sports of Pārvatī of Rudra-saṃhitā : Pārvatī-khaṇḍa of Shiva Purana provides the following meaning:
Afterwards when Kālī wanted to perform a penance she was forbidden by her ...
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7
votes
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Looking for scriptural reference of Shanta Durga
Is this form of mother mentioned in any scripture?
Yes
Shanta Durga form of the mother is mentioned in Sahyadri Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Its English translation is unavailable.
इति श्रीस्कादे ...
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7
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How many Devi Sahasranamas are there in scriptures?
Few more Sahasranamas dedicated to Devi (Adi Parashakti) are also there.
Durga Sahasranama from Skanda Purana
https://sanskrit.safire.com/pdf/DURGA_SAHA.PDF
Durga (a.k.a Parvati) Sahasranama from ...
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