THE STORY OF APASTHAMBHA

Tremendous advancement of science and technology as well as rational thinking has contributed to the loss of faith in our ancient scriptures, the Vedas, the epics, the Puranas and the Bhagavadgita! Modern civilization has gone to the extent of making man question the very existence of God! The present world is almost a world of atheists! They have no faith in the existence of the One who is the cause of all this wonderful and beautiful creation called the universe!  Faith is sine quo non for the existence of human subsistence! The husband should have faith in his wife and she on her husband! Children must have faith in their parents and they must have faith on their children! Otherwise life will be a veritable hell! Many families have been destroyed for lack of faith among its members! It is a pity that people have lost faith in performing the funeral rites for the departed elders of the families! When they are almost forgotten even during their lifetime, it is no wonder that they are neglected and not remembered after their  demise! Our sastras prescribe certain funeral rites to be performed by the members of the family soon after the demise. But most of the families do not perform the funeral rites for their elders properly!

The annual ceremonies performed in remembrance of the departed elders is called “Shraaddha”. That which is performed with “Shraddha” or faith is called “ Shraaddha”. Non performance of the funeral rites and “Shraaddhas" regularly invite the wrath of the “pitrus” that create hurdles and difficulties in the families. Families remain childless and some chronic ailments affect the members of the families who wantonly desist from performing annual ceremonies! This is the strong belief among the people.The annual ceremony or “Shraaddha” consists in inviting two or three brahmins of good Vedic proficiency who invoke the ‘Pitrus’ or the departed souls with Vedic mantras to come and partake of the offering of Anna or food. The Vedic scholars are fed later sumptuously and given 'dakshina’--some money. They bless the family for their wellness and prosperity!

No ceremony should be performed without faith or Shraddha".  There is an interesting story related to the performance of this ceremony. A person was there who always wanted to perform the annual ceremonies with intense faith. Normally he used to invite a great Vedic scholar, a “Purnagnihotri” for meals during the annual ceremony. He was so particular of such a person that he would not perform the ceremony but postpone it to some other day! He would  perform the ceremony on that day when such a great person is available! Even if it is a different day, not connected to to the demise of the pitrus, he would perform the ceremony then! On a particular day a person of great Vedic erudition and radiance came to his house! Seeing him, the person’s joy knew no bounds as he was exactly the man he was expecting for the Shraaddha! “Today we are performing the annual ceremony for our ancestors! You are glowing with the radiance of the Brahman! You must accept our hospitality and partake of the meal”, implored the person. The Brahmin accepted the request of the person and the annual ceremony started. The Brahmin was astounded at the faith of the performer.

The ceremony was almost over and the balls of food had to be worshipped with flowers and gingelly seeds and water. He offered flowers and the gingelly seeds and took the vessel to pour water on the balls of food(pindas). At this point, the Brahmin guest made a signal and lo, not a single drop of water dripped from the vessel! The person was aghast at what had happened! He turned this side and that and wondered how liquid water turned into solid! The person trembled with fear. He gazed at the Brahmin and stood petrified with folded hands! The Brahmin admonished him and advised thus!

“ Your extraordinary faith in performing the ceremony is commendable! But you cannot expect the proper person to be fed every time! You cannot expect a “Purnagnihotri” every time. It is enough if you can get a Brahmin chanting the Gayatri Maha mantra! One who performs  “Sandhyavandanam” always will be suitable for the ceremony. Follow my advice. Don't be in search of one who will not be available!” It was then that he understood the significance of the Gayatri Mantra! He assured the Brahmin that he would follow his guidance. At that very moment water, that had solidified, became liquid and started dripping from the vessel The person was astonished at this incident. Since the erudite Brahmin stopped the flow of water for a moment he came to be called “APASTHAMBHA!” Apah means water.   Sthabhaha means one who has stopped it. Apasthambha was, like Manu, the codifier of ‘Sutras’ or laws!

BESTOWER OF ALL POWERS ()Soundarya Lahari 20)

Sri Mata is Amriteswari! She is the repository of ambrosia or nectar! “ Sudha Sagara madhyastha kamakshi kamadayini”- She resides in the center of the ocean of nectar; she is Kamakshi herself; she grants all desires of her devotees! “ Sahasrarambujaruda sudha sarabhi varshini”-- riding on the lotus of Sahasrara, the lotus of thousand petals, she rains nectar incessantly! “ Amrutadi Maha sakthi samvruta Dakiniswari”--She is surrounded by the sakthis of Amruta and is called Dakiniswari!” In the twentieth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara dilates on the meditation of Devi as Amriteswari!

Sankara says, “ The person who contemplates on you, in his heart , who rains nectar from all parts of your body in the form of rays, as an image carved out of a moonstone-- “Chandrakanta” subdues the pride of serpents like Garuda, the king of birds! The sadhaka will be endowed with the power of curing those afflicted with fever by his mere look that rains Amrutha or Nectar!”

The sadhaka is endowed with a certain power through his concentrated meditation on Sri Mata who is Amriteswari herself! He becomes a terror to all serpents. They have to run helter skelter on seeing him. To their eyes, the Sadhaka appears like the great Garuda the king of birds who is the destroyer of serpents! The devotee of Sri Mata can cure snake and cobra bites by a mere look at the person and mantra while doctors treat them with medicines! His look is an antidote to snake bite!

Not only this! The Sadhaka can cure all sorts of fever by his mere look! It is purely by the Grace of Sri Mata! The cool ambrosia flow from his look cures all varieties of fever! Yogis and Sadhakas enjoy the ambrosia or nectar that flows from the Amrita Nadi! They are filled with ecstasy and bliss! Amrita Nadi saturates all Nadis with nectar!

The true Sadhaka is blessed with tremendous powers by the grace of Devi. We have many devotees who cure chronic diseases of patients given up by eminent doctors. But this requires extreme and concentrated meditation and upasana of Devi! It is very rarely that we come across such great spiritual Sadhakas! But there are many upstarts who declare themselves as upasakas and cheat the common man! One has to be very careful with such people! May Devi save us from such persons and shower her Grace on all of us!

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SOUNDARYA LAHARI 19

Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes the erotic or sringara aspects of the personality of Sri Mata! “ Kameswara prema ratnamani pratiprana sthani”-one having breasts symbolizing the diamond of Kameswara’s love! “ Kamya Kama kalarupa kadamba kusuma Priya"--She is Desire herself, the art of love and to whom the Kadamba flower is very dear! “Sringara rasa sampurna jaya jalandhara sthitha”--She is full of Sringara rasa or erotic feelings and remains in Jalandhara peeta!” Thambula purithamukhi dadimikusuma prabha--Her mouth is filled with betel leaves and areca nut called Thambula and her radiance is that of the flower of Pomegranate! “ Chithkala Ananda kalika prema rupa priyankari--” She is the art of Awareness herself as well as Bliss! She is the embodiment of Love and dear to all! She is also “ Lasya Priya layakari lajja Rambhadi vanditha”--She is  a lover of dance, the maker of ‘ laya’, modesty, and worshipped by the Divine damsels like Rambha!

In the nineteenth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara indicates the effect of the manner in which the upasaka meditates on Sri Mata. He says,” O the Queen of Hara! Whoever meditates on your “Manmathakala” considering the Bindu as the face, what is below as the breasts and below these( hakarardha) the half of Hara (i.e. a triangle)  is capable of subjugating women! This is after all, child’s play and trivial for him because he can move even ‘Triloki’-- the three worlds whose breasts are the sun and the moon!”

“Hakarardha” means half of Hara or Siva. Siva is Ardhanareeswara. It means Sakthi and represents Yoni. Sankara compares the three worlds to a woman whose breasts are the sun and the moon. So, an upsaka who can conquer such a woman can  easily subjugate and conquer the ordinary woman in no time. In short the devotee or upasaka becomes the Lord of the three worlds! “ Manmata Kala” is Kama kala or the Art of Love making.

What are the ‘Bindus’? They are three in number. Fire is the first Bindu indicating the ‘Rajo guna’.The presiding deity is Brahma the Creator! This forms the face! The second and third Bindus are the sun and the moon. They represent the Satwa and Thamo gunas respectively. The presiding deities are Hari and Rudra. These are the breasts referred to by  Sri Sankara. Below that point is the Chitkals, in it's subtle form This is one half of Hawhi his the Yoni, the triangle connecting the three Bindus, of the three Gunas whose Lord's are Hari, Hara and Brahma!

Sankara points out that  the upasaka who worships Sri Mata  concentrating on the “ Kama Beeja” is sure to create confusion among women through amorous feelings very easily. He will be capable of tempting the entire three worlds! Devi upasana under deep meditation is capable of attracting and subjugating all women in the three worlds! But it is like walking on the sharp razor’s edge! It is the severe test that the Devi has for her every true devotee. One should not be the victim of her attraction and behave wrongly like ordinary mortals! She tests whether her devotee can transcend the level of mortal love and passion! One who doesn't fall a prey to her temptations is the real upasaka and She showers her Grace on him!

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SOUNDARYA LAHARI 18

The crimson color of the rising sun is called Aruna. This color has a special significance in the worship of Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari. She has special preference for this color! The dhyana sloka of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama begins with the description of Devi and the color of her person! Sindhuraruna vigraham--of the red color called sindhura. Again She is Hemabham--of the golden hue!  She is again described as Japakusuma bhasuram--shining in red like the Japa flower! Sri Mata is said to have encompassed the entire universe with her Aruna radiance! Nijaruna prabhapura majjad Brahmanda mandala! What about her dress? She has draped herself with the silk of Aruna -the color of light rose of the rising sun! Arunaruna kausthumbha vasthra bhaswathkati tati! Her entire body and the angas or parts are of the color of the rising sun Aruna! Sarvarunanavadyangi sarvabharana bhushita! Thus Sri Mata has a special liking for the color of the rising sun!

In line with the description in Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra, Sri Sankara, in the eighteenth sloka of Soundarya Lahari points out the significance of the color for her sadhakas and devotees. The establisher of Advaita philosophy declares, O Mother! You have drenched the sky and the entire universe with your personal radiance of the light rose color of the rising sun! The person who meditates and considers that the earth and the entire universe is suffused with your Aruna kanthi-the light rose hue, is really exceptionally fortunate! All the Divine damsels, blessed with extremely beautiful eyes similar to the frightened deer, including the most beautiful Urvasi would be tempted and become submissive to him!

There is no power that a bhakta cannot attain through his deep meditation onSri Mata! Whatever he desires he can get through her grace! The apsaras of heaven, who do not wink as per their heavenly status, are themselves surprised at their trembling eyes on seeing Devi upasaka! In short, they become lovelorn,languid and passionate! The antelope in the forest exhibits its shyness through its trembling eyes! The comparison is between the eyes of the passionate Divine beauties and the tremulous eyes of the deer! Adi Sankara, besides being a great philosopher is also a brilliant poet!

The sadhaka has to be very careful in the fulfilment of his desires! Though Devi grants all powers and wishes, they should never be misused or abused! Utilization of Divine powers for materialistic pleasures or in harming people or for satisfying one's lust shall spell doom for the sadhaka! The Powers should be used for the welfare of humanity and further elevation in the spiritual field! Devi’s upasana is very difficult, trying and like walking on the edge of the razor! One small slip shall finish him of! It is because Devi is Maya swarupini, the temptress and tests the Sadhaka in several ways!

SOUNDARYA LAHARI 17

Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama Stotra is from Brahmanda Purana glorifying Durga, the embodiment of energy or Sakthi. She is also called Parvati the daughter of Himavan! She is also the personification of the primordial energy Adi Parasakthi.She is the perfect incarnation of  Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari! When Manmatha was reduced to ashes by the third eye of Siva in meditation, Parvati and Rati prevailed upon the Lord to bring back Manmatha to life! After all, he was responsible for the union of Lord Siva with Parvati. Relenting, the Lord looked at the ashes and lo! out came from the ashes a terrible demon, Bhandasura more cruel and invincible! The Devas were at a loss and didn't know what to do. Sage Narada advised them to perform a yajna and accordingly they prayed and performed the sacrifice to get rid of the menace of Bhandasura!

It is from this Yagna kunda, the sacrificial fire that Lalithambika emerged in answer to the prayers of the Devas! --Chidagni kunda sambhuta Devakarya samudyatha -They offered all their powers and arms and weapons to her and crowned her as Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari! She then sets out with her commandants like Dandini, Varahi and others and kills Bhandasura overcoming all his wiles! She is the Creator, Protector and Destroyer! The word Lalitha means She who plays. She is the embodiment of the Parabrahman! The world and everything is her Divine sport or leela!

Sri Sankara is not satisfied with the exceptional Divine beauty of Sri Mata that he has described already! He continues and says what can be the effect of meditating on her and her beauty along with Vasini Devatas! Sankara says, O Mother! The Vasini Devatas are deities of speech and they are of the radiance of the bits of Chandrakanta stone! The fortunate person who meditates on you deeply along with these Vasini devathas is sure to become universally renowned like poets Vyasa, Valmiki and others! Their poetry shall be very sweet and a feast for the ears as if the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswathi Devi herself has come in their form! They shall be the creators of great kavyas or epics.

Who are these Vagdevi and Vasini Devathas? Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra is said to have been composed by eight Vag Devathas upon the command of Lalithambika! These Vagdevis are Vasini, Kameswari, Aruna, Vimala, Jayini, Modini, Sarveswari and Koulini! Sahasranama points out that one can worship Lalithambika only if she wishes us to do so! The text of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra is a dialogue between Hayagriva and Sage Agasthya.

Hayagriva is the horse headed incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Sage Agastya is also called Kumbhasambhava! On the request of Sage Agasthya, Lord Hayagriva narrated the thousand holy names of Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari. The temple at Thirumeeyachur near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu is said to be the place where Sage Agasthya was initiated into this Sahasranama, the very sacred text for the worship of the Divine Mother!

SRI MATA INSPIRES POETS

Sri Mata is the embodiment of all Devas! She is Iccha Shakti, Kriya Sakthi and Jnana Sakthi! She cannot be designated as Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari alone! She is also the personification of the three Devis, Lakshmi, Sarawathi and Parvati. Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra has a number of references to this aspect! “ Sambhavi Saradaradhya Sarvani Srmadayini” -She is Sambhavi, the spouse of Sambhu, worshipped by Sarada Devi the spouse of Creator Brahma an one who grants modesty! “ Sachamara Rama Vani savya dakshina sevtha”-  worshipped by Lakshmi Devi and Saraswathi Devion her right and left with Chamaras or large fans!

 “Bhasha rupa  bruhat sena bhava bhava vivarjita”-She is the form of language, has a very large army, is devoid of ‘ bhava’ - feeling or no feeling! “ Kalanidhi kavyakala rasajna rasa sevadhihi- She is the treasure of all arts, one who is the connoisseur of artds and epics or kavyas! She is the ultimate in appreciating the “rasas” or feelings! “ Chandas sara sastra sara mantra sara thalodari”-She is the very essence of’ chandas or prosody,as well as the essence of all sastras and mantras!

Continuing the description of the Divine beauty of Sri Mata, Sri Adi Sankara points out how her  personality and Divine beauty inspires poets and composers. Sankara exclaims, “ O Mother! the hearts of all poets are the garden of lotus flowers. Your soft orange and red hue called ‘Aruna’ inspires them like the rays of the sun wake up the lotus flowers! The fortunate good who worship You get wonderful inspiration from Goddess Saraswathi, the spouse of creator Brahma. Inspired thus, they create wonderful works full of ‘sringara rasa’ and subtle and noble  thoughts to please and satisfy all good people!*

POETS ARE BORN OF HER GRACE ( Soundarya Lahari 15)

Sri Adi Sankara is never tired of describing the Divine beauty and grace of Mother, Sri Mata! Wherever there is an opportunity to diagress, he goes into raptures in describing her beauty!  “Dhyayet padmasanastham vikasita vadanam Padma patraya thakshim hemabham pita vastram karakalita lasat hema padmam varangim sarvalankara yuktam sakala mabhayadam bhakta namram Bhavanim Sri Vidyam Santa murtim sakala sura nutam sarva sampath

pradathrim”. In the dhyana sloka of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra the essence of Sri Mata’s ethereal beauty is described wonderfully. She is seated in padmasana; her face is fully blossomed; her eyes are wide like lotus petals; she is golden hued; she wears pitambara (yellow color): holds the golden lotus in her hand; has ideal angas or organs of the body; she is decked with all adornments and is always presenting the Abhaya Mudra.! She is humble to Her devotees; She is Bhavani, she is Sri Vidya and the embodiment of Santhi or Peace! She is praised by all the Devas and the bestower of riches and all prosperity!

In the fifteenth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sankara, while describing the Mother’s beauty, points out that anyone who who worships her, is sure to become a poet par excellence! Says Sankara, “ one who worships and bows down to you who is endowed with the crown of matted locks pure as the moonlight of Sarat kala with the Moon, the one presenting the Abhaya mudra and a rosary of ‘ spatiika’ and a book in her hand shall become a poet! Such a poet’ s speech shall be sweet and mellifluous like honey, milk, and grapes! In other words,by the grace of Sri Mata, devotees who worship her are blessed with poetic fervour and their words and work would be replete with the sweetness of honey, milk, and grape juice!

The fifteenth sloka and the subsequent two slokas describe the result of the meditation on Devi on her Jnana Sakthi! The upasaka becomes a great poet capable of composing poems spontaneously! Many a devotee has experienced the rare privilege of this grace of Devi!

The story of Sri Ramakrishna paramahamsa is a classical illustration of how the Mother bestows Her Grace! He worshipped her for long with unparalleled concentration. But he couldn't obtain the vision of his chosen deity Kali! In a fit of desperation he went to the extent of killing himself with the sword! It was then that Sri Ramakrishna had the wonderful vision of the Goddess in Her resplendent glory! It was again Her Grace that made the ignorant person the preeminent poet and dramatist Kalidas! The moment he had her grace, he sang the famous “ Syamala Dandaka” in her praise in chaste Sanskrit language! What is it that man cannot get when Sri Mata’s Grace descends on him? Sri Mata is the form of Goddess Saraswjathi, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge!

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SRI MATA'S TRANSCENDENCE

Sri Mata traverses through all the Chakras energizing them through Her Sakthi! Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra beautifully describes her path through them. “ Mooladharambujaruda pancha vaktrasti samsthta” She rides the Mooladhara Chkra with five faces! “ Visuddha chakra nilaya rakta Varna trilochani-” seated in Visuddha Chakra She has three eyes and is of blood red color! “ Anahatabja nilaya syamabha vadana dwaya” In Anahata Chakra she is dark in color and has two faces! “ Manipurabja nilaya vadana traya samyuta” She graces Manipura lotus with three faces! “Swadhistanambuja gata chatur vaktra manohara” In Swadhistana Chakra She has four very attractive faces! “ Ajnachakrabja nilaya sukla Varna shadanana” In the Ajna Chakra She is white in color and has six faces! “Sahasradala padmastha sarva varnopa sobhitha” stationed in the lotus of a thousand petals- Sahasrara fully, She dazzles in a combination of all hues! She is fully armed!

In the fourteenth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara describes the highly elevated position  of Sri Mata's lotus feet. Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Mooladhara of the nature of earth has fifty six rays. Manipuraka of watery nature has fifty two rays in it.  Swadhistana of fiery nature is

with sixty two rays. Anahata of airy nature contains fifty four rays. Visuddha Chakra of airy nature  has seventy two rays. Ajna Chakra of the nature of Manas has sixty four rays. Transcending all these Chakras, your lotus feet are embedded in the sea of Amrita- nectar called the “Bainda” similar to the disc of moon in the thousand petalled lotus!”

Some commentators consider ‘ Mayukhas’ as nights and days. Six seasons viz Grishma,  Varsha, Sarat, Hemanta, Sisir and Vasanta represent each Chakra respectively. The sum total of the rays of the six Chakras make one lunar year of three hundred sixty days! There is another point of view that the word ‘Mayukha’ or rays are tattvas or nature! A few more consider the word ‘Mayukha’ as the letters of the Alphabet arranged in different ways! But Sri Mata transcends all tattwas and stands alone in Her resplendent glory!

How can Sri Mata be inhibited by the Chakras and others? She is the embodiment of the power of Will, energy of action, and the power of Knowledge! “Iccha Sakthi Jnana Sakthi, Kriya Sakthi Swarupini.” She is Awareness herself, enjoyer of eternal bliss and the personification of Knowledge! It is very difficult to attain her grace or reach her! She removes all sorrows and grants happiness. She kills all attachments and sins being herself pure and sinless! “ Nir mama, mamatahantri nishpapa papanasini” She is Herself the creator, the form of Brahma the hidden form and the embodiment of Govinda or Vishnu! She is also the one who destroys, the form of Rudra as well as the one who withdraws! “ Srushtikartri Brahmarupa goptri Govinda rupini Samharini Rudra Rupa tirodhana kariswari”

Summing up, Sri Sankara says that Sri Mata is the essence of Existence Awareness and Bliss-- Satchidananda rupini! She is the dynamic force that is the cause of all action in the universe! While Purusha or the Brahman is the potential energy, She is Prakrit or Maya that carries out all her Divine sports or Leela's! She is Brahman herself transcending all tattvas  and other things in the universe!

SRIMATA' S " APANGA" Side Glance ( Soundarya Lahari 13)

The effect of the grace of Sri Mata is astonishing and indescribable! What else can a devotee aspire for if the Mother has a casual glance at him! It is with that ultimate aim that every sadhaka has to worship Her! “ bhavada vasudha vrushti paparanya davanala dourbhagya tula vatula jaradhwanta Ravi prabha bhagyabdhi chandrika bhaktha chittakeki ghana ghana roga parvata dhambholi mrutyudaru kutarika”-She is like the rain of nectar for the trials and tribulations of Samsara; she is like the forest fire for all sins committed by the mortals; she frees all from misfortune and poverty; she is the bright sunlight for the darkness of old age; she is the moonlight for the sea of prosperity; she is the cloud for peacock like hearts of her bhakthas; she is the Vajrayudha for the mountains of diseases that torment people; and she is the battle axe for the tree of death! These are the qualities of Sri Maha Tripurasundari described in Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra! In other words there is nothing in the world that cannot be gained with the ardent worship of Sri Mata!

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In describing the glorious beauty of his chosen Mother Sri Lalitambika, Sankara, in the 13th sloka of Soundarya Lahari, excels in pointing out the effect and efficacy of her casual look on her devotees. Her casual glance cannot be an ordinary one. It can cause upheavals and unexpected sudden developments in the lives of men! “O Bhagavti”, says Sankara, “ He may be on old man or ugly in appearance, a frigid in conjugal affairs, or a man with a rough exterior! When your slight side glance descends on such an individual the effect is immediate and instantaneous! Looking at such fortunate people, young and glamorous damsels stalk and run after them with the knots on their beautiful locks of hair loosened, with the apron on their large , full breasts fallen off, with the sudden splitting of their loin cords and almost in a semi naked condition!”

In Sri Lalita Astothara satanama Stotra there is a namavali “ Ananga janakapanga vikshanayai nomo namaha” Ananga is Mamatha the God of Love. Janaka means that which causes. Apanga means the sideward glance. Vikshna means the look of the Mother! In short, it means that the very sideward glance of the Mother is capable of creating amorous feelings in any one! The graceful look of the Mother can make the poor exceedingly rich! It can a beggar a king! It can convert the timid into the hero! It can change the old into young men! Sri Sankara thus exults in the magical effect of Her sideward glance which her devotees alone can hope for! It is very difficult and rare even for them. Why talk of ordinary mortals? But if on catches gracious her gracious glance, sky is the limit!

This sloka describes the greatness of Devi’s side glance! One who has the distinction of having Her look becomes the center of attraction and Love! You can imagine the state to which one can reach if he gets her full glance! That will be indescribable indeed!  Several great men and sadhakas and devotees had the rare fortune of her gracious look! The ignorant villager that he was, Kalidas became a brilliant poet and dramatist through her Grace! He started singing in beautiful Sanskrit, the “Syamala Dandaka” a poetical composition in praise of her glory and other attributes! Not only this Yogi Vemana, a great Telugu poet was blessed by Devi and thus became great and is remembered even today!

Tenali Ramakrishna one of the poets in the court of the illustrious Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagar  became a “Vikatakavi” by making fun of the Goddess and obtaining her grace. Sri Rama Prasad of Bengal was another blessed devotee who had the grace of Sri Mata! The recent example of a fully dedicated devotee who had the full grace of Sri Mata is Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was a staunch worshipper of Kali, another form of Sri Lalithambika. He went to the extent of cutting his throat as the Goddess didn't present Herself before him in spite of his intense single minded worship and devotion! There are many other devotees who have benefited through the benign grace of Sri Mata!

WHAT MAKES ONE "BHAGAWAN"?

Child Dhruva was sorely disappointed as he was denied his right to sit on the lap of his father king Uttanapada! His mother consoled and pacifying him bade him pray to Lord Vishnu who is capable of granting things thousand times better than occupying the lap of his father. Young Dhruva takes the words of his mother very very seriously and prepared to perform tapas in a secluded place in the forest! On his way to the forest, Dhruva happens to meet the illustrious saint and seer Narada who is stunned at the determination of the young child! He tries to dissuade the child by describing the rigors of penance and the dangers involved! Still Dhruva remains imperturbable and the Maharshi, the embodiment of compassion, gives him the wonderful  ‘Narayana Mantra’--”Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya,”and departs. With the repetition of this mantra, Dhruva performs tapas with single minded devotion and has the vision of the Lord who grants the child incredible boons hundreds and thousands of times better than what the innocent child aspired for!

What is this mantra and what is its efficacy? Vasudeva means the One that has manifested itself in every creature in all the worlds.” Ekah paratma bahudeha varti”. It Indicates Lord Vishnu who pervades the entire universe. The word “Bhagavate” precedes the word “Vasudeva”. What does the word “Bhagawan” signify? One who possesses the qualities ‘Bhaga’ is named “Bhagawan!” ‘Bhaga’ includes six specific qualities that make a person ‘Bhagawan’. They are 1 Jnana, 2 Strength, 3 Iswarya ,4 Virya or heroism, 5 Shakti, or Energy, and 6 Teja or Radiance. ‘Bhagawan' is Jnana swarupa. He knows everything through jnana. There is nothing that one can hide from Him! He is silent secret witness to every action and thought of beings. God doesn't require the physical eyes with which we see things to know and understand them! In fact he is the eye of the eye, ear of the ear, taste of the taste, and thought of the thought as the Upanishad points out!

The next quality is strength. God is called Almighty, all powerful! There is nothing that can bend Him down.While man is unable to bear a very heavy burden and its pressure, there is no limit for the burden God bears for the welfare of humanity! It is said that once there was a discussion among the great sages and saints like sage Viswamitra, sage Markandeya and  others. One of them suddenly asked the question: “ Who is bearing the burden of the entire world or universe?” There was complete silence for a while when SriVatsa Maharshi rose and said it is Lord Vishnu who bears the burden of the entire universe! It is just by his will or Sankalpa that everything happens in the world! There is no physical strain or stress for God as in the case of Man. It is through His desire and wish that the world is running! That is His Strength! The moment He thinks that something should be like this or that, it happens instantly

The next quality of ‘Bhaga’ is “Iswarya” which can be described as extreme riches and prosperity! He is the Lord of Vaikunta, the ideal abode scintillating with brilliance.There is nothing which is not there! He is Viswanatha-the Lord of the entire universe! What more Iswarya can anyone have and aspire for? Heroism or Viryam is the next quality held by Bhagawan! It is the quality of achievement under the most difficult situations! God has demonstrated beyond any doubt His heroism and invincibility during the course of his various incarnations!

Starting from the first avatar Matsya, till the end of Krishna avatar, many hordes of asuras were destroyed by the Lord! Madhu, Kaitabha, Hiranyaksha,Hiranyakasipu, Karthaveeryarjuna, Marica, Subahu and fourteen thousand Asuras in Dandakaranya, Khara, Dushana, Ravana, the ten headed diehard, Putana, Sakata, Baka,Thrunavartha and a host of others were despatched to hell by the Lord! He met their tricks with His subtle and amazing tantrums and saw their end! When the Devas, tormented by the Asuras, came to the Lord for help, He promised to take avatar and destroy the evil and protect Dharma and the wise and good people! “ Parithranaya sadunam vinasayacha dushkrutham Dharma samsthapa narthaya sambhvami yuge yuge!,”The Lord kept up the word and saved the world!

The other quality of ‘Bhaga’ is Tejas or effulgence, the radiance of bright light that issues forth from God! The great Nammazhwar points out that the wonderful effulgence from His face has formed itself into the beautiful lotus on which the Lord stands! The connection with the body of the Divine changes the color of everything in the world! The sun, the moon, the stars, fire and every other thing shines with the radiance of God only! This is what the Upanishad says: “ na tatra suryo bhati na Chandra tarakam ne Mo vidyuto bhanti ku toya magnihi tameva bhanta manubhati sarvam tasya bhasa sarva midam vibhati! The sun doesn't shine; the moon doesn't shine; there is no lightning; stars don't twinkle; fire doesn't burn! It is through His radiance alone that everything shines in the world!! Sakthi or energy is the next quality of ‘Bhaga'! God or Brahman is the smallest of the small and the greatest of the great! He is eternal, indestructible, cannot be cut to pieces,or burnt! It cannot be made wet nor can it be dried in air! This is Paramatma manifesting Himself in every object of His creation! “ anoraniyan mahto mahiyan” says the Upanishad! Thus the Lord is eminently qualified to be called BHAGAWAN! No one else without the above-mentioned qualities can call himself Bhagawan!!