Update July 2011: This book has been replaced by another - Naini Mata: Goddess of Nainital, also available at Amazon.com in print or Kindle. Check out my other blog on Nainital for more on this. The link is in the right column
In many of my visits to Nainital I have visited the shrine Naini Devi – the goddess of Nainital. Just outside the shrine are shops that carry gifts and memorabilia of the goddess. Often I searched for a book or pamphlet on the goddess. There was one in Hindi but none in English. Therefore the thought of producing one myself in English has been on my mind. The first attempt is a small ebook. Much of the matter was taken directly from my blogs.
10 comments:
After I posted this Lulu.com sent an email suggesting that I should set some non-zero price for the book so that they could list it on their distribution channels. Therefore it is no longer free on the given url. However if you will send me your email I can easily mail my copy of the interiorto you as an email attachment (it is minus the cover)
Thanks, Ashok, I downloaded the book, converted it to Kindle format, and read it in the garden.
I was hoping to be encouraged to pay some reverence to this goddess. First, that the author would be her devotee, and speak of her in terms of loving devotion. Next, that there should be some description which gives the reader a sense of her unique presence, and its relation to the geographic space after which she is named. Third, that the author would stay in the background, trusting in his goddess to inspire the reader / prospective worshipper towards the various well-known virtues, rather than add his own sermon. Fourth, that the author would not express mistrust in the powers of the goddess by admitting that her blessings don’t work unless the worshipper follows a set of rules for behaviour, as specified by the author.
These four things, I felt, got in the way. I didn’t feel that the author was convinced of the blessings bestowed by the worship of the goddess.
I believe I have a little understanding of bhakti yoga--the yoga of devotion--and how it works. At one time in my life I was devoted to a goddess. I didn’t even know her name, but she was a presence to me when I needed it, and gave me strength. One of the most important aspects of her presence was that she accepted me as I was, and commanded by no other means but her inspiring love and understanding.
I don’t expect you to have conformed to the standards of my own ideas of goddess-worship, but I hope the feedback is of some use or amusement. (Please don’t take it too seriously!)
I noticed a typo in first para: "buisnessman".
I feel strongly that in the circumstances, your thoughts on how to lead a spiritual life would be better kept separate from a pamphlet on Naini Devi.
However, if you devoted a year or so of your own life (ideally more) to worshipping her, and opening your heart to the teachings which she might transmit to you, then you would be more entitled to speak (as it were) on her behalf.
The above is the spontaneous reaction I had when reading the pamphlet, and not intended as any form of knowledge or wisdom--needless to say!
I am delighted you managed to download a copy.
Thanks Vincent for your incisive comments. They are welcome as always.
Actually Vincent a relationship with a god or goddess is a highly personal and individual thing that differs from person to person if it is honest and from the heart. If it is not and based on copy or instructions of others one will find it is temporary. I am not in favor of Bhakti Yoga. My relationship with the goddess dates back to childhood. There is more on it in my other blog on nainital.
What I have written is based on my relationship. It has to be that way to be honest. The sermon part is an essential ingredient of it. The geographical part would have been great but then that is available widely elsewhere too. This part is not. This is only a small first attempt. Perhaps there shall be another later. I had begun with a copy with photos but then the file became too large so I deleted them. My intention is to produce a printed copy locally for local visitors that will contain photos after a few revisions. Now to rest some of your presumptions in specific detail
You wrote, “I was hoping to be encouraged to pay some reverence to this goddess. First, that the author would be her devotee, and speak of her in terms of loving devotion “
I think your concept of devotion differs from mine Vincent and I was not hoping to encourage you but those who believe in the Almighty. It is abundantly clear in the pamphlet that it is a prerequisite.
You wrote, “some description which gives the reader a sense of her unique presence, and its relation to the geographic space after which she is named.”
No, the goddess does not have a unique presence. She is the mother goddess of all time all over the universe. Nainital is just one of her infinite abodes.
You wrote “Third, that the author would stay in the background, trusting in his goddess to inspire the reader / prospective worshipper towards the various well-known virtues, rather than add his own sermon.”
The sermon was necessary for the majority of readers this book will be directed at. The goddess wished it to be so.
You wrote, “Fourth, that the author would not express mistrust in the powers of the goddess by admitting that her blessings don’t work unless the worshipper follows a set of rules for behaviour, as specified by the author.”
On the contrary this is not mistrust but as the goddess wishes. The blessing do not work as well without the requisite behaviour as made abundantly clear in the pamphlet. It is in some small way as with children and a human mother. The benefits are greater with a certain behaviour inspite of the fact of the mother’s love. You better not trust in the powers of the goddess. She is also the punisher. All you may trust in is her love.
Thanks for the typo . I had missed that one. I have found a few others and if you do too, it will be appreciated. A revised edition will be in with these corrections after a few days.
Actually the entire exercise of producing this ebook took only a few hours after the idea came yesterday. It was an effortless exercise powered by the goddess with a few of my mistakes thrown in for a personal touch.
Vincent, Here is an example of the punishment of the goddess,
At one time only the temple existed on the banks of the nainital lake. After 1841 a town was built by Europeans, mainly British. Inspired by the exceedingly romantic locale the early residents were led into a promiscuous life. It is said the goddess became angry. An entire mountianside on which much of the town was built came down killing the Europeans and taking the temple into the lake.
Later the town was built with many beautiful churches, mosques and temples. The residents returned to a Victorian Morality and the town prosperred again. The shrine too was rebuilt with but with a fearful image of the goddess as the black goddess similar to Kali the punisher of evil.
Since then another temple of the goddess has been built in her gentle image on a mountain peak beside the lake. It is reached by a ropeway from the lake near the lakeside shrine.
The many beautiful religious places of nainital can be viewed at the link
http://www.nainitaltourism.com/religious_places_nainital.html
" I feel strongly that in the circumstances, your thoughts on how to lead a spiritual life would be better kept separate from a pamphlet on Naini Devi."
Naini Devi is all about spiritual life Vincent. For Mumbo Jumbo sort of stuff you would find other sources as you would for Bhakti yoga type of practices ( I have absolutely no interest in them)
My path is what might be described as the path of Karma Yoga, service of the Almighty in diverse forms such as Nature and the Lovely loving goddess Naini, and enlightenment that is devoid of rituals. This pamphlet is all about that.
You will also find gods in line with your interests, such as Lucifer that would not look down on the sort the sort of indulgences you appear to support. I avoid them Vincent preferring the path of Joy, light and happiness to others that lead towards darkness and the bottomless pit. But everyone is free to choose and I am not for a moment suggesting you should give up your path. the created universe needs both light and dark.
your statement ,
"Fourth, that the author would not express mistrust in the powers of the goddess by admitting that her blessings don’t work unless the worshipper follows a set of rules for behaviour, as specified by the author."
your statemtnt is written by lovers of Joy, light, laughter and the lovely goddess as
"Fourth, it is wonderful that the author expressed trust in the powers of the goddess by admitting that her blessings work once the worshipper follows commomly valued rules for behaviour, as specified by the author due to his close association with the goddess and the enlightenment achived by her grace"
Children of the goddess express joy and trust in what those of those of Lucifer see depression and mistrust
I hope the feedback is of great use and amusement. (Please don’t take it seriously!)
:-)
I have no interest in Bhakti Yoga either. My Goddess was from the ancient Greek pantheon, inspired by a translation of the poems of Sappho. It was not conceivable to me that she would punish, or even that she would have any power over the world. I thought of her as probably a creature of my imagination. I don’t know how long our relationship lasted. Not more than a few days, I think.
What kind of indulgences do I appear to support?
As to Lucifer, they say that John Milton in Paradise Lost seems to be stirred to more poetic excitement when describing his exploits than with those of the good angels etc.
Dante in The Divine Comedy had a similar difficulty when he attempted to portray Paradise poetically.
Vincent,
Parents punish, diligent teachers punish, the Almighty punishes (More on that is on four older posts on Karma with much discussion).
It is out of love, for education and for long-term welfare.
Why should the goddess not love too? She is the very symbol of motherly love.
Vincent this is very old well known knowledge,
Much that is evil produces initial pleasure and excitement of the sort you described (such as a visit to a prostitute, the short term gain of lying or stealing etc.) Long- term suffering follows , that is most of the time
Much that is good is initially painful but long- term peace and happiness ensues.
However I am not suggesting you change your ideas. The created universe needs both light and dark, good and evil.
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