One must rise by that by which one falls.
—Hevajra Tantra

Neither Devikota’s rustic simplicity nor the wild beauty of Rudralaya prepared Ishvari for the luxury of her Melukhhan home. As she entered the lavish chamber that had sheltered generations of High Tantrikas, her eyes fell upon a couch placed beside mullioned windows—and suddenly she longed to dive into its comfort and hear Mahadevi whisper that the fiery vision she had transmitted to Takshak had burned her own darkness into ashes!

“Not yet time to sleep, my lady!” Ketaki pronounced dourly from the doorway. “A High Tantrika must bathe in Sarasvati water right after maithuna…to purify the six sheaths of body and mind and dispel lurking entities. Mandakini awaits you right...

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