nirvanibliss: Kalaratri form of mother Durga is her seventh form in the sequence of Navaratra worship. Her bodily complexion is that of thick darkness and black. She has disheveled hair. A necklace flashing like lightning adorns her neck. She has three eyes which are circular in the form like cosmic egg which always eject rays shining like lightning. Terrible flames appear when she inhales or exhales air through her nostrils. Her vehicle is a donkey. Her raised right hand always seems to grant boons to all and sundry. Her right lower hand is in the pose of allaying fears. Her left upper hand holds a thorn-like weapon made of iron and in the lower left hand there is a dagger. A form of mother, Kalaratri is extremely frightening to look at but she is always auspicious in effect. This is why she is otherwise known as Subhankari (doing good). So the devotees need not feel any fear from her. On the seventh day of Navaratra the worship of Kalaratri form is prescribed by the scriptures. This day the mind of the striver reaches Sahasrara Cakra. For such a striver the door of all Siddhis of the universe start opening. This day the Sadhaka with all his faculties is identified with the mother Kalaratri. As a result of her direct vision the devotee becomes quite fit to earn all sorts of virtues. All his sins and obstacles in his way are completely destroyed. He attains the abodes which are the fruit of inexhaustible virtues. The mother, Kalaratri destroys the wicked. Danava, Daitya, Raksasa, Bhuta, Preta and all other evil spirits are terrified and run away as soon as the devotee remembers Kalaratri. She is also the remover of planetary evil effects. Her worshipper has no fear from fire, water, wild beings, enemy or night. By her grace he always remains unmindful of any fear. By keeping her form in the heart and meditating on her the devotee must worship her single-mindedly. He should observe all Yamas, Niyamas and Samyamas (all rules and regulations). Purification of mind, words and body is essential in her worship. She is Subhankari. The auspicious effects emanating from her worship are innumerable.
giottoblue: “Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon”  A really badass sculpture from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art. 
deliriumofdesire: Maa Durga»!!!
nirvanibliss: Mahavidya Kamala     She is one of the Ten Mahavidya Devis in the Tantric tradition. The Divine Mother is  represented by these Ten aspects or Cosmic personalities in Tantra. Shaktas revere her in all her forms. Kamala is the ‘Lotus Goddess’ and is the Tantric aspect of the Goddess Lakshmi. She is the Goddess of wealth, prosperity, well-being and fertility, just as her sister Goddess Lakshmi…although she is more esoteric in nature.      Kamala is considered the Goddess of both material and spiritual wealth, and is the creative force to create beauty in everything. Every married woman is considered to be an incarnation of Kamala/Lakshmi. As the creative force, she is also the Goddess who blesses couples with children. Those having difficulty conceiving may wish to offer worship to this powerful Tantric Goddess.      As we commit ourselves to our spiritual path Kamala teaches us to see beauty in all the world around us because she is present in everything in the manifest world. She is here to bless us with spiritual wisdom and helps us to let go of the anger and resentments of the ego and embrace peace and beauty. By recognizing beauty in all things we will also move further down our path of sadhaka and our communion with God will blossom as a lotus.        Kamala truly is the radiant beauty of the Cosmos that is manifest in the material world.
raven-steals-the-light: Yoni Mandala It is disheartening to me how little Tumblr actually has on tantra. this needs to be addressed.
devavat: 1000 handed, 11 faced sitting Avalokiteshvara also starring White Tara, Amitabha, Green Tara, Manjushri and Vajrapani.
devavat: Vajrasattva - Aloka Padmaloka Triratna Buddhist Community 
sleepingwithfoxes: Shiva and Shakti by o_zhdanov on Flickr.
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