The worship of Sakti is the life-breath of our great Dharma. Worshippers of the Divine Mother are spread everywhere in India, from Kashmir to Cape Comorin, from Bengal to Kerala. There are many sacred texts and many well trodden paths which are capable of bringing the grace of the Mother. Even so, there is a sacred text which occupies a special place, a scripture of undying fame. Crowning all Tantric literature and tradition, it acts as a touchstone to all the doctrines established by them. It is a great Sadhana Sastra, practical science, teaching how to approach with special privilege and win the favour of the unique manifestation of the Mother Durga, whose name signifies that she is not easily approachable, dukhena gantum sakya. The text is Devi Mahatmyam, Saptasati. Verily, this scripture can claim to be the repository of Mantras and this commands a very high position amongst the Tantric texts, as in each chapter are mentioned covertly many Mantras. As the text contains 700 slokas, the name Saptasati has become famous. They say that the name Saptasati is very apt as the categorisation of 700 applies to Parayana, Japa, Homa, Tarpana, the sentences and the sense alike. At the end of the Mahatmyam itself, we have a significant hint Devi-suktam param japan, doing the japa of the great Devi Sukta 328pp / ISBN 978 93 83811 92 / Price Rs 425.00