DurgaShakti.org presents Goddess traditions through accessible scholarship and devotional respect. Articles identify the setting of a claim so readers can distinguish scripture, theology, regional practice, historical evidence and modern interpretation. The aim is clear, useful explanation without claiming to represent every community or school.
Writing and attribution
Prose should be natural, connected and specific. We avoid stock AI cadence, repeated dramatic fragments, excessive short sentences and formulaic contrasts. Normal prose does not use em dashes. Sanskrit terms and theological distinctions are explained where they help a reader follow the subject.
A devotional belief is described as a belief or tradition, with its setting named when relevant. Historical and archaeological claims need appropriate evidence. Statements about all Hindus, guaranteed benefits, miracles or universal symbolism are not accepted without the qualification and sourcing the claim requires.
Sources and conflicting accounts
Primary texts, reliable translations, academic scholarship, museum records and recognized institutional sources are selected for the question they can answer. Sources explains that approach in detail. Conflicting narratives are attributed to their texts or regions rather than merged into one artificial account.
BAPS material is not used as a source in this project. Popular repetition is not a substitute for checking an attribution, and an institution’s devotional testimony does not by itself establish an ancient historical date.
Images and living traditions
Source accuracy comes before visual appeal. Images should suit the subject and region, with a balance of historical works, architecture and documentary living traditions where the topic supports it. Several superficially similar sculptures do not necessarily give a more complete account of a Goddess.
Every published image needs clear rights and a supportable identity. Captions preserve available attribution and license information, while alt text describes what is visible. Uncertain candidates are kept in a separate research-only archive and are not uploaded as publishable media. AI deity imagery and invented temple reconstructions are not used as documentary evidence or devotional illustration.
Sanskrit and transliteration
IAST is used consistently where practical to retain meaningful distinctions in Sanskrit names and terms. Common English spellings remain useful in titles and navigation so readers can find a subject. Diacritics are not used in URLs. Devanagari, transliteration and English meaning are checked against the same identified version when presented together.
Regional names and spellings are preserved when they matter to a temple, text or community. A familiar English spelling should not conceal a difference between two deities or turn several related compositions into a single text.
Festival dates and location
Annual festival details are checked for the stated year. Religious-calendar dates are distinguished from community event schedules, with location and time-zone context where needed. India and United States observances cannot always be reduced to one shared Gregorian date. Local ritual timings should follow the relevant temple or calendar authority.
Evergreen festival guides explain meaning and practice; dated pages identify their year and geographical scope. A previous year’s verified date is not carried forward as a current announcement without a fresh check.
Confidence in mantra attribution
Mantra review considers the exact wording, source lineage, transliteration, meaning and suitability for public presentation. Confidence belongs to the particular version being discussed, not automatically to every composition circulating under the same title.
- High confidence: the version and attribution have strong primary, traditional or scholarly support, with the text and transliteration checked.
- Moderate confidence: the form is well attested but a specific question about attribution, wording or translation remains. Publication requires a precise qualification where that uncertainty affects understanding.
- Low confidence / research-only: source lineage, wording or meaning remains too uncertain for a reliable public presentation. The candidate is withheld while evidence is investigated.
An uncertain attribution is qualified or withheld rather than made authoritative through repetition. Confidence can change when a stronger source or a clearly identified edition becomes available. Public educational presentation does not provide initiation or authorization for restricted practice.
The Resources page offers further reading. To suggest a correction, use Contact and identify the relevant wording, source or image. Corrections should follow the evidence while preserving the distinctions that make the subject understandable.