Maha Tripurasundari is called by myriad names. She is Bhavani. She transcends all thoughts as the Upanishads proclaim, “ yato vacho nivartante aprapya manasa saha" words and manas return unable to comprehend her! She is “ Bhavaranya kutarika”- the axe that cuts at the root of Samsara and all material connections! She is dear to her devotees and always interested in their well being. She is the only goal or destination for Her bhaktas. She is called Sankari, Sarvani, Srikari, Sadhwi,and Satodari! She is worshipped by Goddess Saraswathi! Her beautiful face resembles the cool round face of the Moon during “Sarathkala.” As Brahman, she has no form! No qualities- ‘Nirguna’! She is always pure! She has no defects-’ Nishkalanka’! She has no decay or destruction and destroys Death itself! It is very difficult to attain Her. She is Durga, remover of all sorrows and bestower of happiness! She is the embodiment of compassion and doesn't distinguish between the high and the low! It is practically impossible to list out Her glorious attributes!
Sankara has described the effect of Lalithambika's ‘ Pada renu’ on the Trimurthis. Brahma can create the universe only through the grace of Her Pada dhuli! Vishnu is able to bear the burden of all the worlds on his thousand heads because of Devi’s Pada renu! Siva has applied the fine dust of Her lotus feet all over his body for carrying out his duties! If this is the astonishing efficacy of the dust of Mother’s feet on the Gods, what is its effect on the common, ignorant mortal man on earth? Sankara in his own inimitable way describes it in the third sloka of his Soundarya Lahari! “ Avyaja Karuna murthi rajnana dhwanta deepika” declares Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra! She is the embodiment of causeless compassion and the torch to dispel the darkness of ajnana or avidya!
“ O Mother! Your Pada Renu is the sunrise for those enveloped by the darkness of avidya or ignorance!” Like the Sun who dismisses dense darkness by illuminating the entire world, your Pada dhuli dispels the ignorance of the common man! In other words, your real nature is revealed to those who have the fortune to get and be blessed by that! Man is lost in this illusory world and doesn't know what is real and unreal! It is your Pada Renu that reveals your true nature! Your Grace reaches Man through the fine dust of your feet! The effect of the fine dust of the feet of the Goddess is different on different individuals!
“For the stupid and foolish people it has the sweet and astonishing effect of the flower of awareness from whose bunch drips honey incessantly!” Blessed by Devi, their stupidity vanishes and they become fully aware of the realities of life and its transient nature! That experience is similar to drinking sweet honey raining from the flowers! In short, their stupidity and foolishness is totally driven out from them! “For the poor and the downtrodden, your pada renu is like association with the precious ‘Chintamani’ that satisfies all desires!
What about those who are struggling, caught in the web of Maya, and the cycle of Samsara and life and death? O Mother! For those who are tossed in the ocean of Samsara,” Sankara says, “Your Pada dhuli is like the sharp horn of the wild Boar!” When Hiranyaksha, the Asura, folded up the earth like a mat and disappeared, Lord Vishnu took Varaha avatar --and saved the earth after killing the Asura! Devi's pada renu shall surely extricate them from all their toils and turmoils of life! Sankara advocates total surrender at the lotus feet of the Goddess! The multiple effect of her pada dhuli has not only rendered the Trimurthis very active and powerful but shall bring forth a total transformation in the ordinary lives of the ignorant, stupid, foolish and the poor and the downtrodden!
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