use of a particular form of Sadhana in Devi Bhakti

02-18-2002, 06:38 AM

In the Bengal Vaisnava tradition there is a practice where a serious
practitioner is given an esoteric identity within the realm of Vrindavana by
his or her guru. This includes the following details: age, colour of skin, what
kind of clothes you wear, etc. The practitioner memorises maps of Vrindavana,
where he or she lives, where he or she sports with Krishna, etc. Usually the
identity is that of a manjari, a young girl who assists in the play of Radha
and Krishna, but it could also be a friend of Krsna. This new identity is
called the siddha-deha, the perfected body. It is considered to be the
practitioners true identity. In meditation the practitioner enters this
"reality" and the goal is to enter permanently into it at one point. This
"imaginary" world is considered to be the highest reality, the cosmic drama,
the eternal spiritual play of Radha and Krishna.
Does such kind of practice also exist in the Shakta tradition? Can Devi be
worshiped in a similar way?
If it does not exist in the Shakta tradition, does such a practice exist in the
Shaiva tradition in connection with Parvati and Shiva ?
I would be most grateful for some information.

Kind regards,
Alexandra Kafka