“ The sun does not shine there, not the moon and the stars, not these lightnings. How then could this fire? When He shines, everything shines after Him; by His light all this is lighted.” declares Kathopanishad! It is foolish and stupid to think that we have won a victory or attained glory. Man is under the illusion that he has achieved something great without understanding that that there is Divine will behind every success he meets! Why, even the Gods are prone to this unavoidable ego or ahankara that has to be curtailed! Because of this arrogance, man suffers but he is unable to control or correct himself! According to Kenopanishad, it was Brahman that won the victory for gods.The gods gloated over this victory and thought they had achieved the victory by their greatness and valour. It is common that one feels like that since he believes in his strength and heroism. Brahman sensed the arrogance of gods and appeared before them. The gods were shocked at the sudden appearance of the Spirit and wanted to know what spirit it was.
Agni, God of fire, was deputed to find out what spirit it was! Agni boasted himself before the spirit and said that he can burn everything in heaven and earth! The spirit placed a straw before Agni and wanted him to burn it! Agni tried his best but failed miserably! Crest fallen, he went back and reported his inability to find the spirit! The gods didn't give up. They sent Vayu, the wind god to find out what spirit it was. Vayu beat His own trumpet and claimed that he can blow off everything on earth! The straw was place to test hi strength but Vayu could not move it despite his speed or force! He returned hanging his head in shame and defeat! All gods were dismayed. Now it was the turn of Indra, king of gods, to find what spirit it was. Even as he approached, the spirit vanished and in its place stood an exceedingly beautiful woman! She was none other than Uma, the daughter of Himavat! Indra was taken aback to see an extraordinary Beauty before him instead of the spirit! Indira questioned Uma what that spirit was. She then revealed that the spirit was Brahman and all Devas were exulting in the victory of the Brahman!
Sankara begins Soundarya Lahari with the inevitability of the presence of Devi with her spouse Kamesa! She is praised by Brahma, Upendra, Mahendra an all other Devas! She is the part and parcel of Maheswara. Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra, at its end, declares the eternal merging of Devi with her Lord Siva! “ Sri Siva Siva sakthaikya rupini Lalithambika”. Can any activity be done by Siva without the company of Lalithambika? Sankara says no and establishes the primacy of her presence. “ O Mother endowed with ‘ shadgunaiswarya’-six great qualities!”, says Sankara, “ Sadasiva with all His auspicious qualities can create the universe only when He is associated with the energy that can build the worlds! If he is not united with that Shakti or the dynamic energy, he is unable to stir or move”
Therefore, Sankara concludes that he is not qualified to worship or eulogize the Mother as he had not accumulated that much of punya or holy deeds! “ How can I worship or praise you whom Vishnu, Siva and the creator Brahma themselves worship? I have not to my credit that much of holy deeds eligible for your worship.” Do you think that Sankara is really unfit to praise or worship the Universal Mother? We find Sankara exhibiting his utter simplicity and humility before the Divine Mother! Sankara is considered as the avatar of Lord Siva himself! It is he that has re established Hindu Sanatana Dharma and saved it from the onslaught of Buddhism and Jainism! His voluminous stotras on Devi and other deities have enriched religion, devotion and spirituality!
We have to understand that great sages , savants and philosophers always consider themselves as ordinary and not qualified for Divine Mercy and grace! It does not mean that Sankara is unfit for the worship of Devi! In describing himself like this, Sankara is drawing our attention to our status! What are our merits and credits for the worship of the Mother? Do we stand any where when compared to Sankara? Where are we and where is Sankara? By saying that he is unqualified, Sankara reminds us that we are nowhere and that we have to come a very long way before we get ourselves qualified! The actions and conduct of celebrities like Sankara are footprints on the sands of time to be trodden and followed by the succeeding generations!
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