Shri Shakti Mariammaa Temple

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Shri Shakti Mariammaa Temple One Mission..Our Pledge..Your Temple!

Our mission is simple!
* We aim to acknowledge, praise, and increase awareness of our Divine and Benevolent Universal Mother – in all her glorious forms - through devotion, dedication, passion, education and preservation of our culture.
* We strive to foster an intellectual understanding of how devotion to the Universal Mother can positively transform and improve our lives as well as to provide a meaningful and all inclusive platform for the next generation to adopt and foster.

THEY HAD WITNESSED HER FURY. YET THEY CALLED HER GENTLE! On the sixth day of Navratri, we honor Maa Katyayani, the fierc...
10/16/2026

THEY HAD WITNESSED HER FURY. YET THEY CALLED HER GENTLE!

On the sixth day of Navratri, we honor Maa Katyayani, the fierce warrior form of Durga, celebrated for destroying the mighty Mahishasura.

But have you ever wondered how a Goddess who carries such terrifying weapons can also be the Mother in whose presence we feel safest?

The answer is beautifully preserved in our scriptures.

In the Devi Mahatmyam, after Maa defeats Shumbha, the Devas glorify her in the sacred Narayani Stuti.

And listen to these words!

“Etat te vadanam saumyam,
Lochana-traya-bhush*tam,
Patu nah sarva-bhutebhyah,
Katyayani namo’stu te.”

“May your gentle face, adorned with three eyes, protect us from all beings. Salutations to you, O Katyayani!”

HER GENTLE FACE!

These were the very Devas who had witnessed her terrifying power in battle!

Yet they knew something that we, as devotees, should never forget.

In the very next verse, they invoke Bhadrakali, praying that her fierce, flaming trishul protect them from fear.

And then they pray that the sound of her sacred bell protect them from evil, just as a mother protects her children.

What a beautiful way to understand Amma!

The weapons that brought destruction to the demons were the very weapons her devotees trusted for protection.

And there’s another remarkable connection!

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the young gopis of Vraja worshipped Maa Katyayani for an entire month, praying for Sri Krishna to become their husband.

And do you know what the scripture calls the Goddess they worshipped?

BHADRAKALI!

The Devas approached her with fear in their hearts.

The gopis approached her with hearts longing for Krishna.

One sought protection. The others sought the fulfillment of their devotion.

And isn’t that how we still come before Amma?

A mother worried about her child. A family praying for someone they love. A devotee carrying a wish too personal to speak aloud.

We stand before the same mighty Shakti, sometimes with tears in our eyes, sometimes with hope in our hearts.

And perhaps the most beautiful thing about Maa Katyayani is this:

We never have to ask her to become less fierce in order to be our loving Mother.

Because when the world becomes frightening, it is precisely her strength that we seek.

To those who threatened her children, her trishul was something to fear.

To those who sought refuge at her feet, it was a reason to feel safe.

And that is why, even before a Goddess whose power can shake the heavens, a devotee can close their eyes, fold their hands, and whisper just one word…

AMMA. ❤️

🌺🔱 Jai Maa Katyayani! Om Sakthi!



SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES

• Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati), Chapter 11, Verses 25–27

• Vamana Purana, Chapters 18–21

• Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 22, Verses 1–5

AMMAA HAS TWO SONS AND A DAUGHTER. SO WHY DOES SHE HOLD ONLY ONE CHILD?Have you ever looked at Maa Skandamata and wonder...
10/15/2026

AMMAA HAS TWO SONS AND A DAUGHTER. SO WHY DOES SHE HOLD ONLY ONE CHILD?

Have you ever looked at Maa Skandamata and wondered something?

We know Parvati Amman is the mother of Ganapathi and Kartikeya, whom many of us lovingly call Murugan.

And as we explored in an earlier post, the Padma Purana also tells us about Her daughter, Ashokasundari!

So why, on the fifth day of Navratri, do we see Ammaa holding only little Murugan?

Where is Ganapathi? Where is Ashokasundari?

Does Ammaa have a favorite child?

Of course not!

But here’s something fascinating about Hindu worship that many of us may have never stopped to consider.

Not every sacred image is meant to be a family portrait!

Think about it.

When we see Ganapathi sitting alone, does that mean He has no brother?

When we see Mahadev and Parvati Amman together, does that mean they have no children?

And let’s bring it into our own lives!

When you take a selfie alone, does that suddenly mean you have no husband, wife, children, parents, or family?

Of course not!

The people we love don’t disappear simply because they’re not in the picture.

But our sacred images go even deeper than that.

When Amma destroys Mahishasura, we worship Her as Mahishasura Mardini.

When She nourishes the world, we worship Her as Annapurna.

And when we honor Her as the Mother of Skanda, we worship Her as Skandamata.

That little boy in Her lap is no ordinary child.

He is the future commander of the divine armies, the warrior who would defeat the mighty demon Tarakasura!

His presence tells us which form of Amma we are worshipping.

Ganapathi hasn’t been forgotten. Neither has Ashokasundari.

We are simply witnessing one sacred aspect of Maa’s divine motherhood, not Her entire family.

And that’s what makes Hindu iconography so extraordinary.

A lion. A lotus. A weapon. A child.

Every detail has a purpose. Every form has a story.

And just because someone isn’t pictured doesn’t mean they aren’t loved, remembered, or part of the story.

Our sacred images are not simply portraits of the Gods and Goddesses. They reveal the different ways the Divine is understood and worshipped.

One image can tell a sacred story without erasing all the others.

And perhaps that’s the beauty of Maa Skandamata.

She doesn’t need to hold all Her children in one image for us to recognize Her as their Mother.

🌺 Jai Maa Skandamata! Om Sakthi!

BEFORE THE WORLD KNEW HIM AS A WARRIOR, MAA HELD HIM AS HER CHILD.NAVRATRI DAY 5 — MAA SKANDAMATA There is something inc...
10/15/2026

BEFORE THE WORLD KNEW HIM AS A WARRIOR, MAA HELD HIM AS HER CHILD.

NAVRATRI DAY 5 — MAA SKANDAMATA

There is something incredibly beautiful about this form of Shakti.

Maa sits upon a powerful lion, holding lotus flowers in Her hands. But resting in Her lap is a little boy.

Her son, Skanda, also known as Lord Kartikeya or Murugan.

The very child who would grow to become the commander of the divine armies and defeat the demon Tarakasura.

And yet, in Maa’s arms, he is simply Her child.

Think about that for a moment.

We worship the Divine Mother for the demons She destroys, the battles She wins, and the worlds She protects.

But on the fifth day of Navratri, we worship Her as a mother holding Her son.

And perhaps there is something deeply human in that image.

Because anyone who has ever loved a child knows that frightening feeling.

You can hold them close. Protect them. Give them everything you have.

But you cannot fight every battle life will eventually place before them.

The world may one day see a fearless warrior. A mother will still remember the little child she once carried.

And that is the beauty of Maa Skandamata.

She reminds us that tenderness and unimaginable strength can exist in the very same heart.

Never mistake Her love for weakness. Even with Her child in Her arms, Maa still sits upon a lion.

🌺 Jai Maa Skandamata! Om Sakthi!

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THEY SEE YOU WALKING ALONE. THEY DON’T SEE WHO WALKS WITH YOU.They don’t see the nine forms of Amma behind you.They don’...
10/14/2026

THEY SEE YOU WALKING ALONE. THEY DON’T SEE WHO WALKS WITH YOU.

They don’t see the nine forms of Amma behind you.

They don’t see Sri Kaal bhairav guarding your every step.

They see the battles you’ve survived, but not the divine strength that carried you through them.

They see one person walking through life.

They have no idea who stands behind you.

Nine forms. One Shakti. And Bhairav watching over the path you walk.

❤️🔱 Jai Mata Di! Jai Bhairav Baba!

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THEY SEE YOU WALKING ALONE. THEY DON’T SEE THE NINE FORMS OF MAA WALKING WITH YOU.They see the woman who keeps going.The...
10/14/2026

THEY SEE YOU WALKING ALONE. THEY DON’T SEE THE NINE FORMS OF MAA WALKING WITH YOU.

They see the woman who keeps going.

They don’t see the nights she almost gave up. The battles she fought in silence. The strength she had to find when she had nothing left.

This Navratri, remember something.

Just because the world cannot see who walks beside you doesn’t mean you’re walking alone.

Nine forms. One Shakti. With you through it all.

❤️🔱 Jai Mata Di!

WE CALL UPON THE BROTHER DURING PURTASSI. BUT HOW MANY OF US KNOW HIS SISTER?This year, something beautiful is happening...
10/14/2026

WE CALL UPON THE BROTHER DURING PURTASSI. BUT HOW MANY OF US KNOW HIS SISTER?

This year, something beautiful is happening.

Purtassi and Navratri are being observed together!

One honors Lord Venkateswara, whom so many of us lovingly call Balaji.

The other celebrates the Divine Mother, Shakti.

During Navratri, we hear so much about Maa as Mahishasura Mardini, the fierce Goddess who destroyed the buffalo demon Mahishasura.

But that’s not the only katha of Maa’s extraordinary power!

Across India, there are countless stories of Shakti that many of us have never heard.

And this one involves Lord Venkateswara’s own sister!

Her name is GANGAMMA!

And no, we’re not talking about the Ganga Maa many of us grew up worshipping!

In Indo-Caribbean Hindu traditions, Ganga Maa is worshipped as the sacred River Goddess, especially during waterside pujas.

But Gangamma of Tirupati belongs to a different regional tradition!

She is a powerful village guardian goddess, revered as Lord Venkateswara’s younger sister.

AND HER KATHA IS EXTRAORDINARY!

Long ago, according to local folklore, a cruel ruler named Palegadu terrorized the women of the region.

He believed he could do whatever he pleased.
Until he encountered Gangamma.

The man who made women tremble in fear found himself trembling before a woman.

When Maa revealed Her terrifying divine power, he fled into hiding.

But She wasn’t finished.
Gangamma took on different disguises, searching until She finally lured him out and destroyed him.

And to this very day, devotees celebrate Her victory during Gangamma Jatara, dressing in elaborate disguises to remember Her story.

BUT HERE’S SOMETHING EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL!

Every year, Lord Venkateswara’s temple sends Gangamma a sacred saree and traditional offerings during Her festival.

A brother honoring His sister.

A sacred relationship still remembered and celebrated in Tirupati!

And perhaps that’s what makes Her story so unforgettable.

This Purtassi, millions call upon Lord Venkateswara.

This Navratri, millions bow before the power of Shakti.

We celebrate Maa as Mahishasura Mardini, the destroyer of Mahishasura.

But in Tirupati, another katha of the Divine Mother has been kept alive for generations.

A tyrant once made women afraid to walk their own streets.

Today, those streets fill with devotees celebrating the Goddess who brought him down.

How many of you knew about Gangamma, the sister of Lord Venkateswara? Is She worshipped in your family’s traditions?

Govinda! Govinda! Om Sakthi!

NAVRATRI DAY 4 - MAA KUSHMANDA ❤️Before there was a Sun, a moon, or even a world to call home, there was only darkness.A...
10/14/2026

NAVRATRI DAY 4 - MAA KUSHMANDA ❤️

Before there was a Sun, a moon, or even a world to call home, there was only darkness.

And then, according to sacred tradition, Maa Kushmanda smiled.

From Her divine smile, the universe came into existence.

Known as Ashtabhuja Devi, the eight-armed Goddess, She is believed to dwell within the heart of the Sun, radiating the energy that sustains all life.

Among the sacred objects in Her hands is an Amrit Kalash; a vessel containing the nectar of immortality.

Maa Kushmanda is worshipped for health, strength, vitality, and long life.

And perhaps that is why Her form means so much to those fighting for their lives.

Somewhere tonight, a mother is sitting beside her child’s hospital bed, praying she’ll get to bring her baby home.

A daughter is holding her father’s hand, wishing she could give him some of her own years.

Someone is enduring another painful treatment, fighting for a future they once took for granted.

Not everyone standing before Amma is asking for wealth, happiness, or success.

Some are simply begging for more time.

One more birthday. One more conversation. One more ordinary morning together.

The very Mother revered for bringing an entire universe into existence is being called upon by someone desperately fighting to remain in it.

And tomorrow, the Sun will rise.

Most of us will barely give it a second thought.

But somewhere tonight, a family is holding the hand of someone they love, whispering to the Mother whose divine energy sustains that very Sun…

“Please, Amma. Let them live to see it rise again.”

Jai Maa Kushmanda! Om Shakti!

WE SHOUT “JAI MATA DI!” BUT DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT WE’RE SAYING?Navratri is here! And those three familiar words are EVE...
10/13/2026

WE SHOUT “JAI MATA DI!” BUT DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT WE’RE SAYING?

Navratri is here! And those three familiar words are EVERYWHERE!

But have you ever stopped to think about what they actually mean?

🔱JAI — Victory! Hail!

🔱MATA — Mother, the Divine Mother.

🔱DI — Punjabi for “of.”

Together, “VICTORY TO THE DIVINE MOTHER!”

Now here’s something beautiful.

Think about how often we approach Maa asking for something.

Amma, protect my family.

Amma, give me strength.

Amma, please hear my prayers.

But when we shout JAI MATA DI, we’re asking Her for absolutely NOTHING.

No favors. No wishes. No conditions.

Just three words celebrating HER.

For once, we’re not telling Amma what we need.

We’re telling the world what She means to us.

So this Navratri, don’t just say it because everyone else is saying it.

Say it like you KNOW what those words mean!

🔱🌺 JAI MATA DI! 🌺🔱

We’re shouting from QUEENS, NEW YORK! Where in the world are you shouting from?

Address

135-26 Rockaway Boulevard
Ozone Park, NY
11420

Opening Hours

7am - 5pm

Telephone

+19176838021

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