Self-Directed Learning and Knowledge Received from Devī

Engaging in self-directed learning is where we are ultimately to go with our sādhana—not hanging on to the guru for every direction for several years. It’s not limited to chanting; most of what Aiya has learned has come from burying his nose in hundreds of books.

Years after being separated from his guru, Aiya returned to Devipuram and, while there, performed a Mahā Ṣoḍaśī homam and Mahā Pratyaṅgirā homam. Afterward, Guruji said to him that he was so happy to see all the knowledge that Aiya had received directly from the Devī herself. He didn’t mean the Mother appeared before Aiya, sat him down, and taught him different homams; he meant the Devī had revealed her grace to him through his efforts to independently learn about her.