Though we are used to seeing the wife of a god as a different person who looks differently, but that is merely for our convenience of imagination. The truth is that gods and their consorts are essentially non-different. If a god is Sun, then his consort is like sun's rays, light or heat etc. Sun and his light and rays exist together. Without rays and light, it is as if Sun was not there. Without Sun, there would be no rays and light.

Same is true with other gods and their consorts. While Purush (the male element) represents the potential energy, Shakti (the female element) represents the kinetic energy. If a god knows, desires or acts, his consort represents his knowing, desiring or acting.

Those who read Chandee Paath (aka Durgaa Sapt Shatee or Devee Mahaatmya) may remember that goddesses Braahmee, Maaheshwaree, Kaumaaree, Vaishnavee, Vaaraahee, Naarasinhee, Aindree etc are described in its chapter 8. It is said that they look exactly like their male counterparts in form, for example Braahmee looks like Brahmaa, Maaheshware looks like Maheshwar, Kaumaaree looks like Kumaar, Vaishnavee looks like Vishnu, Varaahee looks like Varaah, Naarsinhee looks like Narasinh, Aindree looks like Indra etc, rode the same vehicles and wore the same weapons as their male counterparts. Thus, female deities are shown by identical imagery of their male counterparts. After all, they are simply the kinetic energy of their male counterparts and help them manifest in the world through knowing, desiring and acting.

Explain the story of how Moon carries away Taaraa, the wife of Jupiter. Moon is the sensory and motor mind, i.e. the part of mind that interacts with the external world. While Jupiter is the Dhee Shakti, i.e. discrimination and wisdom. Taaraa is Jupiter's consort. She represents the "application" of discrimination and wisdom. If the personification of the discrimination and wisdom inside one (Jupiter) thinks, desires, knows and acts, Taaraa represents that thought, desire, knowledge and action!

When sensory and motor mind (Moon) sets its eyes on the application of discrimination and wisdom (Taaraa), based on its need, then the facilitator of applied wisdom (Mercury) is born and he handles communication between Buddhi and Manas. Discrimination and wisdom accept it as his own and imparts all knowledge of its decisions to it so that it can communicate them to Manas.

Characters in Pauraanik stories are personifications of various qualities and forces within us. Some of our common sense related to interpersonal dealings is inapplicable to them.

Devee Worship
Devee worship in general is not a game. One has to be very careful as which is he worshipping? There are two types of Devee - one who are Shaant (Peaceful and two who are Ugra (wrathful). In simple words, Shaant Devee can tolerate some mistakes in their worship, but the Ugt=ra Devee are very particular, they do not tolerate even a minor mistake, then it becomes very difficult to pacify them.

For example Varaahee, Chandee, Bagalaamukhee, Pratyangiraa Devee and similar Ugra (wrathful) Moorti need not to be played with. For Pratyangiraa Devee One recitation requires 1,000 Gayatri Mantra to cool down the heat generated, so keep off her. Thus this is not fun and games. If one wants to attain worldly things, Bala, Lalitaa or Mahaa Lakshmee, Samayataa, Mahaa Ganapati etc can be invoked. These Shaant (peaceful) Moorti will tolerate minor mistakes, but not the Ugra Devee. That is why Ugra Roop Moorti should never be invoked from a book. Because if a person is looking for the rituals, for example of a Hom, in the form of a book, it means that he is on a search to do things on his own which is not a good idea to do it by himself. Or else, one should have asked from his Guru for the ways and means for the Hom.

Deekshaa is necessary as a Guru would have evaluated the student and would have prescribed the correct rituals based on the spiritual strength of the individual. A Guru will always be at hand and will know if something has gone wrong during the Saadhanaa by the disciple, without even telling the student to his Guru.

Even the Shaant Moorti should not be invoked all the time. In fact it is the Guru who decides which Devee worship is appropriate for each of his disciple to undertake and then only gives Deekshaa. Without Guru, it is better to follow paths other than Mantra Jap even for Shaant Moorti. We should look beyond the mere forms of the deities and not confuse with their looks to decide if they are wrathful or Shaant. That is an affront to the inherent divinity in them.

What Happens When Something Goes Wrong
As far as chanting Mantra, they have their own good effects, but for only that period till the divine form does not appear before the Saadhak. Its effects will be minimal. But if by some good fortune, the divine form appears, the person who is not properly initiated might not know what to do with that Moorti without proper guidance from a Guru. It is not a great experience to see a Ugra Moorti arriving at your door or even appearing for a microsecond in one's mind, even if she is just paying a courtesy visit to you. In such cases the divine form must be properly welcomed, given all the Upa-Saaram deserved for such a Guest and properly asked to take leave (Yathaa Sthaanam). If it is explained in more colloquial terms, she will not leave unless a proper Yathaa Sthaanam is made. Some may think as a good thing that she will be one's home forever, but, suppose if she cannot leave, it means she is being placed in a house arrest. It means, she cannot accept the offerings of her other Saadhak. This will make her even angrier than what she is already is. The effects can only be guessed....

Mantra Jaap
There are Beej Mantra which can be used in some cases. Beej Mantra are single character Mantra which are as capable as any bigger Mantra. Beej Mantra are free from all restriction; there are no rules, no rosary or Yantra is required to do Jap of them and even no Deekshaa is necessary. And best of all, these can be recited mentally anywhere while doing anything. To recite mentally, imagine hearing the Mantra again and again in your own voice.

Beej Mantra are available for each deity, thus have solution for any situation. The best example of their power is the Bhuvaneshwaree Mantra - "Hreem" which is a Beej Mantra. The method is simple. Pick a Beej Mantra based on the situation and recite it as much as you can till the problem is solved. You can do it in office, in gym, in restaurant and even while sleeping. Beej Mantra yield almost instant results. Please note, correct pronunciation is a must for these Mantra to work. But beware, if you'll try to use these Mantra for wrong purposes, they will not work and you will have to face terrible consequences.

Difference of Opinion About Mantra Jaap
There are some difference of opinion also.
--One American-born Saadhu who instructs people to chant simple Mantra with the Beej as prefix, such as "Om Aing Saraswatyai Namah".
--Other, Indian-born devotees insist that one should use the honorific prefix "Shree" instead of a Beej, at least until a Guru has given you permission otherwise.
--Kevin Ashley Farrand insists that wrathful deities should not be invoked with "Swaahaa", but only with "Namah," or unless the Guru instructs otherwise.

What about the worship of Hiramb Ganapati? One book says his Mool Mantra is based on the Beej "Goong".