Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother

by Vanamali

Presents the mystery of the Divine Mother in all her manifold aspects • Explores more than 30 different goddess aspects of the Shakti force, both beneficial and malefic • Includes Sanskrit hymns and classic verses by Sri Auribindo for each of the goddesses Shakti is synonymous with the Devi, the Divine Mother or divine power that manifests, sustains, and transforms the universe. She is the womb of all creatures, and it is through her that the One becomes the many. Our first and primary relationship to the world is through the mother, the source of love, security, and nourishment. Extending this relationship to worship of a cosmic being as mother was a natural step found not only in the Shakti cult of Hinduism but also in ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Babylonian cultures. Shakti presents more than 30 goddess incarnations of the Divine Mother that represent both the beneficial and malefic aspects of the Shakti force. From Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati to Durga, Chandika, and Kali--each of the different functions of the female goddesses in the Hindu pantheon is revealed, accompanied by traditional Sanskrit hymns, classic verses by Sri Auribindo, and discussions of tantric philosophy. The author draws from the Devi Bhagavatham, which describes all the stories of Shakti, and the Devi Mahatmyam, the most powerful scriptural text that glorifies Shakti in her form as Durga. Using these texts she shows that through the power and grace of the Divine Mother we may be released from the darkness of ignorance and taken to the abode of knowledge, immortality, and bliss--the source from which we have come.

Genres: Spirituality, Hinduism, Nonfiction, India, Mythology, Religion

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2008

Reviews

[Tony Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastically good book about the 30 main aspect of Mother Divine. As she says- all our troubles arise because our small ego driven self has lost touch with the Atman or god within. The different aspect of Mother Divine shows us how to reconnect with our higher inner self. Vanamali writes beautifully, with a clear and perceptive style. I think she is not just a writer but actually an exponent of what she writes about

[Robert J. Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Cultural Discourse

This knowledgeable and discerning author has put together a voluminous and extremely interesting discourse regarding the feminine goddesses of India. Her insight and carefully crafted writing is enthralling and captivating. A wonderful read!

[Ajay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a detail book.
A must read.
This book is better than those devdutt kinda writers.

[Kaśyap · Rating 4 out of 5]

శ్రీ మాత్రే నమః

[JAGADISH GOWDA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book

[Jainiti]

Nice book

[Manfred Manfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book
And really recommend it for Indophiles

[Anuradha Goyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author explains the most complex concept in the easiest of manner https://www.anuradhagoyal.com/sri-dev...

[Elevate Difference · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the name suggests Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother is about Devi—the ancient, eternal Prakriti and mother of universe—and her various forms. There are an increasing number of books about the incarnations of gods and goddesses, but what makes this book different is that Vanamali goes beyond the stories of over thirty avatars in order to discuss the esoteric significance of each incarnation. Vanamali has accomplished the gargantuan task of bringing the many different aspects of Devi into a single book. It has been spectacularly researched with references to the Devi Bhagavatam Purana, Markandeya Purana, Ganga Mahatyam, and Bhagavad Gita, along with other sources. Every chapter begins with a hymn (mantra) to Devi and ends with a verse from the poem "Savitri" by Sri Aurobindo. The appendix of the book contains more poems on divine mother, names of gods and goddesses, and a glossary of Sanskrit terms and Hindu mythology.

Devi is called many names (Maha Maya, Maha Shakti, Maha Prakriti, Lakshmi, Parvati, and Kali, to name a few), and she is portrayed as the universal expression of power, which is both gentle and forceful. Vanamali explains the concept of Maha Maya, one who causes delusion in the minds of humans, as the production of phenomenal world. Maha Maya herself is the sum total of all and is worshiped as the mother, the life energy of the gods and all other creatures. Vanamali writes that, according to the Devi Bhagavatam Purana, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are born of Devi’s gunas. Hence, the author states, "Wherever you see maternal love, in a bird or an animal or a human being, know that to be an aspect of Devi’s love for the universe, for she is the universal mother.”

Vanamali points out that the worship of god as a mother is found in all civilizations and was later repressed. The book accounts around thirty incarnations of Devi, some of which are gentle and peaceful (Lalitha) while some are ferocious and frightening (Kali). Others still depict the ideal housewife (Parvati) and yet others are shown as fierce warriors (Durga). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother thus provides an invigorating view of feminine power. This book is a great asset to the Hindu household or to anyone interested in the Hindu religion and its philosophies.

Review by Sunitha Jayan

[Penny Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a profound read.

[Kimberly Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanamali does it again with her brilliant interpretations Shakti wisdom. To understand the whole of cosmic intelligence, learn it in its masculine and feminine forms....

[Savita Ramsumair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative

This book helped to remind me how powerful my Devi Maa is. It has helped to reinforce my faith in Her.

[Jamal Sahraoui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. You don't only get to know stories of Indian goddesses but also their esoteric meaning.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother is a fascinating and well-written book about the divine power who is the supreme being of the universe. An insightful book about Hindu religion, spirituality and mythology.

The author speaks about the subtle and gross elements interaction in the universe. The foundation of the first three aspects of mind are not deemed as spiritual entities rather constitute the materialistic things. The concept of zero- point field was a fascinating topic that was well explained. My reading experience with this book was incredible because the knowledge about Shakti and the universe's working along with various other conceptualization was never overwhelming. The majority of the focus was kept on the fusion of spiritual and quantum life. While explaining the Hindu philosophy and religion, the author has spoken immensely about Shakti and her more than 30 divine incarnations. Each Goddess represents different powers that the universe needed to eliminate the encompassing darkness and delusions. She is the embodiment of love, affection and care and she is also the destroyer of evils, sinful and the wicked.

I'm truly enchanting by the way this book was written. I have never read anything like this before and i really liked the fact that everything about Shakti, the Divine Mother were explained in detail and lucid manner. Even if you are curious to know about Hindu religion and philosophy, the spiritual growth and aspects then this book is a treasure trove. It's absolutely rare to find books with accurate knowledge and trustworthy information regarding the sacred foundation of divine, however with this impressive and entrancing book you can gain this wisdom quite easily.

[Romita Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Let’s not forget that in India the symbol of strength is a woman; the goddess Shakti.” – Indira Gandhi

In Hindu mythology, the Devi Shakti is considered to be the epitome of divinity, the Divine Mother. Her reincarnations in various goddesses have been worshipped in India from time immemorial and in this book, the author has compiled the stories of more than 30 goddess incarnations to put forward their importance and the role played by them in Hindu mythology.

The reasons why you should read this book-

- Enlightening ideas presented in the simplest of forms

- Crisp and short chapters dedicated to each Goddess

- Reference to ancient scripts, texts, and verses to support the ideas presented

- Diverse and comprehensive compilation

Truth be told, this book took me by surprise because I was not expecting so many dimensional aspects to be associated with the divine incarnations. Being subjected to their stories from very early childhood, I had my own ideas about their significance but I realized what I knew was only the tip of the iceberg.

I would highly suggest you pick up this book if you are into mythology and ancient philosophy because this book is knowledge well open for exploration.

[Nithya Sastry · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was an incredible book, I feel like I just went on a journey with the mother goddess and have come out the other side with a profound sense of realization for how complex and beautiful shakti and all her forms are. the concept of lila has become central to how I live my daily life, and the play of the goddesses was lovely to witness and learn about. the paradox of maya has followed me throughout my spiritual journey, and I really admired the devotional tone that this book held towards maya in spite of the double edged sword-like nature of maha maya’s artistry. this book was also extremely detailed in its descriptions of the goddesses and their mythology, as well as broad enough to touch on concepts of consciousness and kundalini. reading this book felt like a form of sadhana, and I hope this paves the way for me to develop a deeper understanding of shakta vedanta as I continue to walk this path.

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only made it a little ways in before I started annotating my grievances with the book and stopped when I realized it wasn’t going to let up.

There are quotes in the book of Lynne McTaggart used to justify the equating of an ancient spiritual tradition with quantum physics, a comparison that is already spurious at best. The additional problem with this is McTaggart not being a professional in the field she wrote about, instead being a pseudoscience grifter who has pushed such claims as “vitamin C can cure HIV.”

There were also fundamental mistakes in discussing the subject of the gunas in regards to their associated goddess manifestations, so it isn’t even a good primer for Shakta philosophy.

I gave it more than one star only because I believe that the author was trying her best.

[Darshana Bala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole book is a beautiful expression of the goddess. Each chapter explains a specific form of Shakti, and includes the puranic story and the deeper symbolism of her manifestation.

It really allows a visual representation of the vastness and expansive nature of the goddess to be internalized and understood.

Loved it.

[Heidi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear and well thought out description and analysis of the different forms of Devi. Beautiful imagery is given on each of the deities and the narrative progresses onto discussing topics like Kundalini awakenings and the union of Shiva and Shakti. Would recommend!

[Sahajavidya · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book of origin and mythical stories relating to various aspect of Shakti. But of no practical use or benefit to a seeker.

[Arnav · Rating 3 out of 5]

It a great read for someone who has no knowledge of Ma or shakti. I have heard the author over some podcast and expected some more depth , so it’s a 3 star for me.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at different goddess in great detail. A must for anyone looking to delve into a deeper study of goddess and how to access them and learn about them.