Article from Times of India (Heading : Divine Feminine) Dt: Jan 22, 2012, 12.

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Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
Srividya is more than just a pretty name. It contains powerful symbolism that reveals the
depth and reach of the Feminine Principle. This came across at a meeting in Mysore
hosted by the Trayinyas Srividya Foundation that discussed the mystical, esoteric and
sometimes misunderstood ancient system of mantra, yantra and tantra in goddess
worship.
Srividya Upasana is almost 5,000 years old. Girishkumar of Sripuram Foundation,
Thrissur, says a guru studies the temperament of his student and then chooses a deity for
him from over 33 million deities. The guru might even create a new goddess and
corresponding mantra for his student, he says. But before that, the guru will test his
student for four months to six years.
Guru's role important
K Ramesh Namboodiri, a Srividya Upasak from Chennai, who has thorough knowledge
of various guru paramparas (lineages) says, "The guru decides which method is suitable
for his student and how long he should practice each step." From the selection of deity,
mantra or chant, yantra or form and tantra or technique, the guru guides his student
with insight and compassion. All methods lead to the ultimate goal, but we should not
change direction mid-way, he says. "Choose your guru with due diligence and even
question his methods, if necessary, initially. Once convinced, stick to one guru and
realise your goal," says Namboodiri.
Each Devi has a corresponding mantra and each mantra, in turn, has its own yantra. The
intricate geometric patterns known as yantra are but forms of the Devi and they map the
cosmos. Girishkumar says yantra is the geometric form of the formless satchitananda.
Contemplating the form will help us transcend and reach the formless. Each mantra, the

mystical sound for Devi, is considered sacred and secret at once. The guru initiates his
disciple and guides him on the correct rendition. The technique an upasak employs for
his mantra japa and meditation on the yantra is the tantra. Namboodiri says: "Tantra is
like a powerful tool. But everything depends on how it is being used."
Sri also means poison
Sri Chakra or Sri Yantra represents the energy of the Divine Mother and is of great
mystical significance. A bindu or dot, residing at the centre inside a series of triangles,
with a circle and lotus petals represents a divine plan and is symbolic of withdrawing to
the Self.
"An idea which has gained traction with people lately is that just placing a Sri Yantra at
home will attract prosperity," says Namboodiri. "That is a misconception. Puja will have
to be done to Sri Chakra in the correct way. After initiation, the upasak has to practice
japa."
Common misconceptions about Srividya prompted H S Thyagaraj of Trayinyas Srividya
Foundation to organise a Srividya meet and to bring the esoteric into the public domain.
"We have taken the gupta (secret) to prakada (outward) state. The Universal Mother is
compassionate to her children."
Srividya is the science of beauty, says Kulavadhutha Sathpurnanda, an expert from
Sikkim. Saundarya Lahiri by Adi Shankaracharya is considered the foremost among
mantra literature. He also installed Sri Chakras in various temples across the country
and in Nepal. Mahatripurasundari, the beautiful goddess, is Srividya.
Kill limited knowledge
Girishkumar says surrendering to the goddess is known as Saranagathi. "When we
realise our limitations, we surrender to a higher power. That power that allows man to
surrender and transcend his limitations is Srividya."
Sri has two meanings. "Sri is prosperity and auspiciousness. Sri also means poison. Shiva
is known as Srikanth, the one who has poison in his neck. How do you make sense of the
knowledge that is considered auspicious and which can also kill you? Propitiating
Srividya kills the limited consciousness that each one of us call as 'i'. The knowledge acts
as visham (poison) and kills the limited knowledge. The etymology is vish (that which
spreads) and comes from the same word 'Vishnu', one who has spread throughout.
Poison kills by spreading. The limited consciousness is killed and in its place the infinite
consciousness takes place. It's unlimited, expanded consciousness. That knowledge
which gives you freedom from limitations, which gives you auspiciousness just by
surrendering to it is called Srividya."
Surrender is spontaneous
Girishkumar says one cannot decide to surrender. It just happens. "The moment we
understand our limitations, we surrender. Should we surrender to the formless,
nameless Superpower that controls everything? As people with forms and names we
cannot do that. The first form to which we surrendered, could have been the Mother, the
female form. The moment we surrender to Mother, She acts as poison and annihilates
our limitations. By doing so, our consciousness expands, it becomes auspicious and one

with Shiva. This is the only vidya that removes our limitations and expands our
consciousness. For this, we need to surrender."