Shakti: Tantric temple of nude goddesses

Dakshina Kalika vigraham in Devipuram temple

In this Temple, Kali is sitting on top of Siva. It means that Life is coupled to Time manifesting all that we see. All powers of Life are arranged around Her in the form of a sacred Sri Chakra.
All the lively powers you see here are latent in you. Your body is a temple. In it, every limb has some power. To expand the latent powers in your organs, you have to pay attention to them.
We are all born through the female genital. Life is manifesting primarily through it. Pay attention to it, adore it, worship it; the doors of all lives open up to you. Vemana became a Yogi by like that. He attained alchemic powers to change base metals to gold; meaning changing humans into Gods.
We were all protected and nourished by milk from Mother. These powers are called Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, located in the two breasts. Suprabhatam sings " Oh Vishnu! You worshipped Lakshmi's breasts with Kumkum, and got all powers to protect and nourish the world." You are Vishnu or Lakshmi when you were married. So you can also give or get such powers by receiving or doing it.
Face is where Saraswati resides. Worship Her smile, and She will shower all knowledge, and a firm resolve to you. Worshipping Mother's feet is the the surest way to get release from all bondages. Thus adoring the limbs of a woman give all attainments. This is Shakti tantra.
Tantra means technology. Tantra is the technique of worship which removes limits to what you can know or do. We hear, touch, see,taste, smell. These powers are all limited to our bodies, senses and intellect. We don't know what is happening elsewhere, or in the future. These limits are like clothes,
limiting our awareness; "you extend only upto this, no more". When a power is limited, we call it a Devi like for example, "Netra Devi" or "Astra Devi"; when unlimited, Shakti. Tantra uncovers, unleashes the power in a Devi, to convert Her into Energy, a Shakti. This uncovering is like
removing clothes. So we adore Devis clothed; Shaktis are necessarily nude.

Lajja Gauri

This is the secret of some nude icons here. Nudity is a saying, "I have nothing to hide, I am not ashamed, because you are a part of me." It is a symbol of unconditional love. Also it is detachment to others opinions, of self reference. "My happiness does not require your approval". It is a symbol of nature; all of nature is nude, except some civilised humans. It is a symbol of innocence, like in a child. Nudity is art.
So, nudity of icons here is not intended to disrespect women but to tell how to unconver limited consciousness.

Khajuraho Temple

In the cults of Mother Goddess all over the world, sex has been and will continue to be considered sacred, whether for enjoyment or for yoga. Wine, meat and sex are the common ways of pleasing Mother Goddess. On special festive days like valentines, sex orgies used to be offerred to Goddesses and Gods; we can see their relics on the sculptures showing them in temples. What has sex to do with temples? Every thing, says Tantra. Worship the genitals, as Siva lingam; the degrading influence of sadistic, angry, hurtful sex disappears. Sex ought to be coupled to sacredness instead of sin, like in olden days in temples. Why? Temples are places where evil influences are less likely, and desires have no chance for turbulence. Anger, neroses, and aggression diminish in society leading to peace.
Peace is godly; war is demonly.

So instead of condemning our tantric culture as uncivilised, let us rethink, see where we have gone wrong, and be willing to correct it if necessary. We enjoy variety in food, music, art and in science. Given the perception that we have one life to live, should we look down upon our curiosity which
seeks variety in sex? Why is there two billion dollar porno industry and the world's oldest trade, flesh trade? Should sex be denied even when it is an offering of self in love? Should ascetic continence be prescribed as the norm for every one? Give honest answers to these questions yourself, not worrying what others say about your answer.

Who are more civilised: nude tribes where sex related crimes are unknown or our clothed civilisation which makes us neurotically develop the sinful magic of total destruction of not only ourselves but our whole world of all living beings with weapons of mass destruction? Who gave us the right to destroy other forms of life enmass? Have we created them?
Energy is energy, it is the same. When in excretory organs, it manifests as fear; in genitals as desire for sex; in the navel as power; in the heart as love; in the throat as communication across distances; in eyes across time zones; in the crown as a spiritual fountain of wonder and delight. Like music, life plays these emotions. You have a choice, of where to play. Let us respect women. Not in theory but in practice. We only talk of advaita. Let us practice it. Let us be truly be guided by the dictum, "All is Brahman indeed" Let us alow conditions which move from aggression to love. That is the message of the nude Shaktis here.

Amrita