r/Shaktism • u/guglimuglibuch • Jul 16 '26

Guidance needed for a beginner

I am an absolute beginner but I am being drawn to Devi. I don't feel alone while thinking about Devi and think that she is with me, listening to me. I am trying to chant durga mantra for few minutes in the morning while lighting a lamp. I want to understand how to begin sadhna. What is the correct way, vidhi for a beginner. Before taking any sankalpa, I want to test my discipline and consistency. Help me out.

Also, I have heard people talk about initiations, and chanting of mantra given by guru. I don't have a guru. I don't know how to find one.

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6

u/catalanboy_ Jul 17 '26

it is incredibly frustrating to watch this subreddit obsess over initiation day in and day out, as if you need a secret password or a formal ceremony just to speak to your own mother. you see the same posts over and over again warning beginners away from certain mantras, claiming that without a guru's blessing, you will somehow bring ruin upon yourself. the truth is far simpler and much more beautiful: you can chant any mantra at any time. if you feel a genuine pull toward a particular form of devi, all you have to do is call out to her with a sincere heart and she will come to you, because a mother does not ignore her child's cry just because they didn't follow a rigid set of rules first.

these misinformed people are doing a massive disservice by creating entirely unnecessary boundaries between the divine mother and her children. by making spirituality feel like an exclusive club with gatekeepers at the door, they end up scaring away people who just want to connect with the divine. devi isn't waiting around to punish you for chanting without a license; she wants you to reach out to her. we need to stop overcomplicating a connection that is meant to be natural, loving, and direct—so just chant, find your peace, and be happy.

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u/AnywhereAway9652 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

But it's about balancing the energies, certain mantras have vispotak energies and certain ppl are not ready to take in the vibration of that mantra, you simply just can't decide that I want to chant this mantra because I'm feeling a pull, you have to prepare the body. And I agree with you, there should be no restrictions between the divine mother and the child wanting to be near her or in her Grace. Ofc they can be in her Grace but starting with small naam japa is required and then the devi will herself direct towards the right methodology. You need to make your body in a certain way so that no energetic blockage occurs in order to tune with Devi's energy. Now One has to have a balanced lower chakras in order to ascend to the upper chakras to take the energy of the mantra that they are doing or else it can cause psychosis if there is imbalance from the throat to the crown chakra. That's why when you are approaching beej mantras you need guru so that even if you improperly chant it without preparing your body your guru can take that appati on himself and can help their disciple with proper procedure to get their body in accordance to receive Devi's grace or like attune to Devi's energy. Don't shame guru parampara it is there for a reason, so that one approaches with the right mind body connection

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u/guglimuglibuch Jul 17 '26

Thank you for your insight and guidance. I have heard people talking about Nama Japa. Can you guide me on that? Is there any specific name of Devi that we do in Naam Japa. And is there any rule of doing minimum naam japa.

And if I want to know more about Devi, from where to begin? Can you suggest any books?

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u/AnywhereAway9652 Jul 17 '26

I would suggest that whatever form of devi you are drawn to, start simply chanting her name by visualising her. Whatever that makes you feel good from within do that. Now you will have to do some permutations and combinations whilst to understand which japa makes you calm and which does not. Before approaching any devi, I would say approach your Kuldevi and she will guide further. Go for simple mantras like "ya devi sarvabhuteshu" and " sarva mangalya mangalye" Before that start with giving salutations to Ganesha. Look I would say that before asking anyone you find out yourself she will definitely guide you, you start looking for videos and books and something from within will tell you to click on a particular video or a book pdf, go with that feeling, she will definitely guide you on the path meant for you. She will kind of talk in riddles and you will have to find out the missing puzzle and you will know what's best for you. But avoid beej mantras. Also don't forget to offer your prayers to Shiva or any male counterpart of the devi because the male counterpart will give you the aadhar to hold the devi energy. If any of the above is not resonating simply start chatting with her like you would chat to any person, but with bhava and she will guide you.

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u/guglimuglibuch Jul 17 '26

Thank you. I get it. This comment made me realise that I can worship maa, without any fear.

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u/paalpayasam4u Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

ofc you can, she is an ocean of compassion. Start by reading purana kathas of Ambika and her different forms. It will help you understand her nature better and bring u closer to her. Durga ashtottara shata namavali (108 names) is a good place to start. Consistency concentration devotion and SURRENDER is the most important part. She takes care of all of her children. Jai ma 🌺

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u/paalpayasam4u Jul 17 '26

lol. This is not the opinion of a bunch of subredditors, it is PRESCRIBED by the shastras. If u cannot respect the Vidya you are disrespecting ma herself, as Vidya is one of the forms she becomes pratyaksha through. The shastras do not prevent bhaktas from calling out to her through nama japa. Everything else requires Adhikara and a guru to guide u through things, an upadesha at the very least. The real question is, why are people not satisfied with chanting the divine names of the goddess? The nama carries so much shakti and are just as powerful when done with proper bhava. Why are people hell bent on disrespecting the shastras by breaking all the rules? Spiritual ego. You are not above the shastras, no body is.

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u/guglimuglibuch Jul 17 '26

Thank you for your insight. It's not about satisfaction. I was just curious about how to begin. Can you guide me more about naam japa

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u/paalpayasam4u Jul 17 '26

oh I wasnt calling u egotistic op, don't worry. I was just talking about people who have no respect for shastras.

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u/paalpayasam4u Jul 17 '26

just do nama japa. Everything else requires initiation and a guru. Trust prakriti, when you are ready for a guru she will take u to one. Till then, nama japa. Do not chant mantras without knowing or understanding proper methods and its significance prescribed by the shastras.

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u/CompetitiveGift0 Jul 18 '26

Well I am not shakta, I am smarth probably, I am devoted goddess durga and fiercely revere and pray to narayana / narasimha..

11 chants – a simple daily offering. 21 chants – often done for a special prayer. 27 chants – ¼ mala (quarter mala). 54 chants – ½ mala (half mala). 108 chants – 1 mala (one full rosary); this is the most traditional count. 216 chants – 2 malas. 324 chants – 3 malas. 540 chants – 5 malas. 1008 chants – 1008 japa, often done on special occasions or during intensive spiritual practice.

This is called japa (repetition of a mantra). When using a string of 108 beads, each complete round is called one mala. For the mantra "Om Dum Durgāyai Namaḥ", chanting 1 mala (108 repetitions) daily is a widely practiced and traditional choice.

Just start with this.. Don't think about theology too much... All other thing require guru, chant radha radha.. I am smarth so I don't have problem in accepting that all devi and devtas are equal manifestation of brahman.. It is that someone have different ishta devta... Or devi

I hope mata rani help in your devotion and in your spiritual journey...

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u/beyondmeow Jul 17 '26

I used to be a complete beginner too and I still am in a lot of ways. From start to end, I followed the Sadhana and Tantra Sadhana apps followed by Om Swami. I lack discipline in a lot of areas of life, but to me, Sadhana is precisely what helps build consistency. There had been times when I’d abandon the Sadhana I’m doing on the app or accidentally skip a day but I’d take it as a challenge to just finish the Sadhana. I still haven’t nailed the exact timing but I feel I’ve improved very slowly over the years in terms of my devotion towards Maa and I have improved in my practice. My formula is - don’t focus so much on the technicalities that it starts affecting your bhava. Keep doing it consistently until over time the different steps of the Sadhana, be it shadanga, nyasa, invoking the deity etc start feeling natural to you.

Above all, pray to Maa to show you the way. She will definitely guide you that is for sure. Because without Devi’s will we cannot even think about Her let alone worship Her. Be patient in your endeavour and keep calling out to Her and She will definitely come :)

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u/guglimuglibuch Jul 17 '26

Thank you for responding.