Following Maa's request to do daily recitation of Indra mantra for rain, it has been raining well in Georgia, USA. What is the best way to thank Indra to show him how grateful we are.

Swamiji says: Continue to recite the mantra at least one mala each day.

During Purascharana, when the mantra is chanted at high speeds, there is a chance that Mantras are repeated incoherently. Are these chants of any use? Doesn't the Mantra's Deity know that the chant is directed towards Him or Her and accepted anyway? Or is Mantra Sabda Spashtatha (Clarity of Sound of Mantra) of prime importance with Guru Mantra.

Swamiji says:
There are many aspects of our worship to which we are required to pay attention simultaneously: asana, pranayam, intonation, meaning, method, order, etc.
If we make mistakes, which invariably we will, then we beg forgiveness. BUT we ware trying with sincerity. That is the greatest exemplification of our devotion.
How many times did Shankaracharya write: I don't know mantras, yantras, tantras, worship, etc. But I am going to keep on trying to worship you anyway.

There are many stories that I have heard when the Deity is not pleased with the person who is chanting. What is the right attitude and right method of chanting?

Swamiji says:
The best attitude I can suggest is:
Dear God,
I am going to do the best I can to please you through my worship. If you are pleased, then please grant me the fruit of my worship. If you are not pleased, then please teach me how to worship in such a way that you will become pleased.

I understand that there is a need to be faithful to the Guru Mantra and that it should repeated it ceaselessly. How does one treat Special Purpose Mantras? Does one get "obligated" to a Deity after mantra takes effect (assuming that the Mantra is of a Higher Deity)? How does one safely thank the Deity of the Mantra and continue with the Guru Mantra. Is there a process?

Swamiji says:
There is only One God. Some times we call Him Creator, Protector, Transformer; He has many names, indicating the many functions He performs. Some times we call Him Her. She also has many names.
So every name of God we call upon, is a name of the same God.
Therefore, there is no higher God or lesser God. There is no obligation to one form of divinity or to another form.
The reason we cultivate a special relationship with one form or another, is to create greater intimacy in that union. There is no question of jealousy among the Gods.

We all know that an awakened mantra is more effective than one that is chosen from a list.Does one need to be initiated by Sri Swamiji or Shreemaa to be able to "effectively" chant any of the mantras that were recently posted on these pages? (referring to the Devi Mandir yahoo club)

Swamiji says:
First we cultivate the soil and then we plant the seeds. Use the mantras given in order to prepare yourself so that you will know if this is the example you wish to follow, and if so, what you can expect to achieve by following that example.
When we have a clear understanding, then we can talk about the meaning of initiation.

Is there a assured method/mantras through which one can remove the sins committed by him during his present/previous life(s)

Swamiji says: Yes, the daily recitation of the Chandi Path.

My lifestyle has been slowly but surely changing from a materialistic one to a more spiritual one. Lately, I like to spend most of my time contemplating God/ different scriptures, so much so that I am unable to connect with most people as I feel I do not have much in common with them. Is this situation that I am facing normal?

Swamiji says:
This perfectly normal. You don't leave the world; the world leaves you. You just feel less and less and satisfied with worldliness.
The only thing you can do for this feeling is sadhana.

Which day should a person start the recitation of durga mantra - full moon or new moon?

Swamiji says:
Today. You will catch up to the lunar cycle, so don't worry about it.