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RELIGIOUS SECTS
of the Vámáchárís', the more pure Bali consisting of edible grain, with milk and sugar. Animal victims are also offered to Devi, in her terrific forms only, as KÁLÍ or DURGÁ. The worship is almost confined to a few districts; and, perhaps, is carried to no great extent.
Although any of the goddesses may be objects of the Súkta worship, and the term Sakti comprehends them all, yet the homage of the Sáktas is almost restricted to the wife of Śiva, and to Siva himself as identified with his consort?. The sect is in fact a ra
द्विविधबलिराख्यातो राजसः सात्त्विको बुधैः । राजसो मांसरक्ताद्यं पल त्रयसमन्वितः ॥ मुद्गपायससंयुक्तो मधुरचयलोलितः।।
ब्राह्मणो नियतः शुद्धः सात्त्विकं बलिमाहरेत् ॥ “The Bali is of two kinds, Rajasa and Sáttvika; the first consists of meat, and includes the three kinds of flesh; the second of pulse and rice-milk, with the three sweet articles, (ghee, honey, and sugar,) let the Brahman, always pure, offer only the Sáttrika Bali."
The Brahmavaivartta also observes: “The animal sacrifices, it is true, gratify DURGA; but they, at the same time, subject the sacrificer to the sin which attaches to the destroyer of animal life. It is declared by the Vedas, that he who slays an animal is hereafter slain by the slain." 2 शिवशक्तिमयं रूपं सम्पूज्यं साधकोत्तमैः ॥
यस्तु सम्पूजयेच्छक्तिं शिवं नैव प्रपूजयेत् ।
स एव पातकी रोगी मान्त्रिको दुर्गतिर्भवेत् ॥ “The joint form of Siva and SAKTI is to be worshipped by the virtuous. Whoever adores SAKTI, and offers not adoration to Siva, that Mántrika is diseased: he is a sinner, and hell will be his portion.” For it appears that some of the Saktas elevate
