SRI MATA'S ANXIETY ( Soundarya Lahari 29)

Sri Mata is “ Kamesa baddha mangalya sutra sobhitha kandhara”- Her neck shines by the Mangala sutra tied by her spouse Kameswara!  “ Kameswara prema rathna mani prathiprana”- sthani- Her breasts are symbolic of the Love of Kameswara! “Kamesajnatha soubhagya mardavoru dwayanvita”- She has very soft thighs known only to her husband Kameswara! During her fight with Bhandasura she creates Ganeswara by a mere look at the face of Kameswara! “ Kameswara mukhaloka kalpita Sri Ganeswara!” She is the Live Nerve of Sri Kameswara, grateful and worshipped by Manmatha, God of Love! “ Kameswara prema Nadi krutajna Kama pujitha”  Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra glorifies thus the Divine love of the Devi and Kameswara! They are “like Juno’s swans still coupled and inseparable.” Prakriti and Purusha have their divine sports and enjoy themselves! When the husband arrives after a long absence, it is but natural for the wife to become emotional and meet him with trepidation! She is extremely desirous of giving him very warm welcome by running to him! While it is so with the ordinary human beings, what should be the intimacy and love between the Ideal and the First Couple ( Adi Dampathi)?

Sri Sankara, being a poet par excellence, gives flight to his Imagination! He conceives a situation where in Sri Mata’s friends tell her how to cross the crowns of creator Brahma, Vishnu the protector, and Indra, king of Swargaloka that have prostrated themselves before Her! Kameswara is approaching Sri Mata and she is in a hurry to welcome him quickly! But on her   way are these Devas prostrating with their Crowns or Kiritas! These are the words of Sri Mata’s friends who caution her as she prepares to welcome Kameswara! “ O Mother! Please set aside the kirita of Brahma Deva! Be careful not to touch the rough and hard crown of Vishnu! This is the crown of Jambhari or Indra, king of Swargaloka! Cross it carefully! O Devi! This is how your friends caution you as your husband approaches your home”

Devi is Parabrahma Swarupini The Trimurtis are subordinated to Her! They wait upon her in the Sri Chakra along with their spouses! “MahaKamesa Nayana kumudahlada kaumudi”-She is the very eye of  Kameswara and is like the moonlight that pleases the Lily flower! She is “Pancha Preta manchadi sayini”- When she takes over the ‘Panchakrutyas’ She is the Lord of all! Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Iswara lose all their power and qualities and become lifeless! They form the legs of  pedatal which is Sadasiva!

It is interesting to note how Sankara imagines the state of Sri Mata! He visualises the Devi in her court surrounded by her maid servants! He wonders how She can advance to welcome Kameswara as the devas prostrate in front of her! He imagines that Sri Mata may stumble, in her hurry, against the Kiritas of the Devas! He then fancies that Her maids caution her to proceed slowly and carefully to welcome Kameswara! Wonderful indeed is the poetic imagination of Sankara!

Throughout his magnum opus, Soundarya Lahari, Sankara treats Sri Mata as his Mother! His description of Lalithambika is that of the wonder and supreme love or bhakti of a child for his mother! It is untainted and greatly spiritual! It is the enjoyment of the Divine Beauty of the Universal Mother by her child!

THE POWER OF DEVI'S THATANKA

 Virat Purusha or the Cosmic form is said to have the sun and the moon as his eyes! In the same way Sri Maha Vishnu is described as” Ravi sasi nayana”--having the two luminaries as His eyes! Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama Stotra extols Sri Mata as one with “ Thatanka yugalibhuta thapanodupa mandala”--one with the sun and moon as her ear studs or rings! While Sri Mata is the embodiment of Iccha Sakthi, Kriya Sakthi and Jnana Sakthi as well as the Supreme Brahman, the angas or parts of Her body and the adornments she is decked with have a special power and significance! They become Divine with Sri Mata’s association and discharge the mandates of Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari to protect Her devotees! In the Bhagavata Purana when  Ambarisha, the great Vishnu bhakta was threatened by the spirit invoked by sage Durvasa, Sudarsana Chakra destroyed the Spirit and chased the sage! It did not leave the sage till he fell at the feet of Ambarisha and begged his pardon! The Trimurtis were unable to save the sage who had evil intentions on the great devotee of Vishnu! Sri Mata is also described as the core force of the region of the Sun. “Bhanu mandala madhyastha Bhairavi Bhaga Malini.”

In the twenty ninth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara describes the efficacy of Sri Mata's thatankas or earrings. Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Brahma, Indra and all the other Devas in Swarga loka, despite drinking Amruta, the Divine nectar that annuls terrible old age and death, are not exempt from Death! How is it that in spite of swallowing the dreadful Halahala poison your spouse survives? It  is mainly because of the the effect of your thatankas or earstuds! While all the Devas are swallowed up by Time, Siva alone is exempted!” Why is it so? Your thatankas are the origin, status and end of Time! The inexorable effect of Time is ineffective in the presence of Sri Mata’s thatankas! Otherwise even Iswara would be in danger!

We are under the impression that the Devas are Immortal because of drinking Amruta! They have attained relative immortality! They are not exempt from death in times of the Mahapralaya or the great Deluge! They cannot remain in heaven forever! Life there is transitory. As enjoyment in heaven is over and their punya is experienced in toto, they have to come down to earth! “ Kshine punye marthya loke visanthi” Thatankas are the prerogative of a Sumangali. She is “ Sumangali sukhakari suveshadya suvasini, suvasin yarchina prita  sobhana suddha Manasa" She bestows happiness, is of pleasing personality,, is fond of worship by suvasinis, is radiant, and of pure heart!” She can never lose her thatankas until her spouse Sadasiva perishes! He is the Supreme Immortal being who is “Kalatita” - one who transcends Time! It is because of Her “Soumangalya” that Siva survived after swallowing the virulent poison Halahala!

Devi's thatankas are wonderful and powerful! They have a marvellous influence on the longevity of her husband. There is an interesting story about the miraculous effect of Devi’s thatanka  in the life of one Subramanya Iyer of Thrukadayur in Tamilnadu during the eighteenth century. He was a staunch devotee of Sri Amrutha Ghateswara, and was mad after Lord Siva. People mistook him for a real madcap but a few realized the intensity of his devotion.The ruling king Serfoji visited the temple on a day and heard about the ardent devotion of Subramanya Iyer.  Though many informed the king of the man’s insanity, he wanted to test the bhakti of the Brahmin. It was Amvasya on that day and the king questioned Subramanya Iyer what day it was. Iyer, who was lost in the dazzling radiance of Devi’s face, replied that it was a full moon day! The king was as much stunned as he was angry. He felt wronged at this answer and ordered that Subramanya Iyer would be beheaded if the moon didn't arise at six pm on that day!

Soon after the king left, Subramanya Iyer came to himself from hi trance and vision of Devi! He felt sorry for the grave mistake he had done in insulting the king by his answer! He surrendered himself to Goddess Abhirami and prayed her to save him! He prepared a platform under which fire was lit! He tied the platform with hundred ropes and started singing on the glory of the Goddess by composing beautiful stanzas in Tamil language. After every stanza he cut on rope to which the platform was connected! When he completed the seventy ninth stanza the Goddess could not contain Herself! She immediately threw one of Her dazzling and brilliant thatankas in to the sky! The whole sky was lit by the coruscating brilliance of the thatanka and the whole temple was flooded with light! The king who saw this incredible miracle was wonder struck at the true devotion the bhakta and fell at his feet! He called him henceforth “Abhirami Bhattar” by which name he was known later! The Tamil stanzas he composed are called “Abhirami Andadi” where one stanza begins with the end word of the previous stanza! Each stanza is pregnant with intense devotion, spirituality and sincere prayer. It is also a literary masterpiece, the pride of the Tamils!

ALL ACTIONS ARE YOUR WORSHIP (SOUNDARYA LAHARI 27)

Man is full of ego and arrogance! He thinks that he is the doer and takes pride in his achievements! He does not understand that there is a superior power above responsible for all his actions. As long as he thinks that he is the doer or kartha he is subjected to Papa or sin and punya. But when he offers all his actions to God, he is divested of all the effects of his actions. In the Bhagavadgita, Lord Krishna explains to the despondent Arjuna that he is, after all an instrument in His hands! “Nimitta matram bhava Savyasachin.” The Lord has already willed that the Kauravas should die. That Sankalpa can never be altered! Arjuna killing the Kauravas is like killing a dead snake! Performing all our actions and offering them to God is the only way to be absolved from all our sins! Total dedication to God and accepting everything as His will is the hallmark of a devotee or bhaktha! God takes over all the responsibilities of the devotee if he worships Him with single minded devotion and faith! “ Ananyas chintayanto mam ye janah paryupasathe thesham nityabhi yuktanam yoga kshemam vahamyaham.”

Sri Sankara in the twenty seventh sloka of Soundarya Lahari touches on this point of offering all our actions to God! Every thought word and deed has to be offered to Devi here who is the Mother of all Gods and Goddesses! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! All chanting of mantras offered to the Brahman, painting of pictures and other handicrafts, various mudras that create confusion and conflict in others, independent movement, performing ‘pradakshina’ in temples, eating, offering ‘havis’ to one’s chosen deity, offering obeisances, rolling on the floor, happiness and pleasures enjoyed through the Senses, including the opening and closing of the eyelids---let all these be considered as worship for you in the place of regular worship!”

 In short, Sankara points out that whatever action is done as an offering to the Brahman should be taken as the worship of Sri Mata. The same tattva is brilliantly explained in Sankara’s excellent Siva Manasa Puja Stotra. What is the worship that I offer you? Says Sankara, “ puja te vishayopa bhoga rachana nidra samadhi stithihi” -The pleasures that I experience through the Karmendriyas, the vishaya sukhas are my worship for you My Lord! The samadhi experience is the regular sleep that I have each and everyday! It does not stop there.

 What is the ‘pradakshina’ that I do for You? “ Sancharah padayo pradakshina' vidhihi”--my walk throughout this world is the ‘pradakshina’ that I offer you! The entire universe is the manifestation of God and hence movement anywhere in the world is equal to circumambulation of the temple! The world becomes the temple as it is the manifestation of God! Sankara voices the noblest philosophy of Advaita in the Stotra when he says that Siva Himself is his Atma! Girija, Devi Parvati is his intellect! Friends that move with him are the five vayus or Pancha pranas!

 “Sareeram gruham” Sankara emphatically says that his body is the home of Lord Siva! The body is the temple of God.” Deho Devalayam proktva jeevo devas sanatanaha” The Upanishad proclaims the same established truth. “Atmanam rathinam viddhi sareeram ratha meva tu buddhimtu sarathim viddhi manah pragraha mevacha” The. Atma is the charioteer; the body is the chariot; intellect is the driver of the chariot; Manas is the bridle that controls the running horses that are the Senses! If the Manas fails to control the senses it will be disastrous and may end in fatal accidents! Hence the body chariot has to be run cautiously remembering that the Lord as Atma is embedded there.That realization has to come to every person! Finally Sankara says in the stotra, “yadyat karma karomi tattadakhilam Sambho tavaradhanam.” O Lord! Sambho! Whatever action I perform is exactly your worship alone and nothing else! This sloka in Soundarya Lahari echoes the same thought of Sankara in his Siva Manasa Puja Stotram!

TRIMURTIS ARE NOT IMMORTAL

Man is called mortal because he is destined to die one day or other! There is no escape from death for any creature as what is created has to lose its existence at some time! That is natural law! The Sanskrit saying, “ Jatasya maranam dhruvam”- that which is born is certain to die-confirms the state of all creatures including human beings! The Devas or gods are called Immortals meaning thereby that they have no death and are eternally full of joy and enjoyment! We are totally mistaken! When their punya or the effect of their holy deeds gets exhausted they have to come down and fall on to the earth! “ Kshine punye martya loke visanthi” So even for the celestials life is uncertain and limited! They cannot remain eternally in heaven or swarga! Thus we can feel a satisfaction that the Devas are no better than the mortals that we are! There is no exception to this rule and all the Gods including the Trinity have to obey the rule of law! Sri Sankara, in the twenty sixth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, dwells on this important aspect of the transient nature of the Immortals! Sri Sankara, says “O Mother! Creator Brahma reaches the state of death; the same fate is reserved for Vishnu the Protector; the lord of Death himself is unable to escape death; the lord of wealth, Kubera is in no way different as he too dies! Indra, king of Gods with all his train has to suffer death! In this great Samsara, O Devi! it is your spouse, Sadasiva alone that plays his Divine sport freely and steadily with his closed eyes.!” Sri Mata is described as “ Pancha krutya Parayana”- capable of performing the five acts of Srushti creation, sththi protection, Samhara destruction, Tirodhana hiding, and Anugraha or blessing! She is also described as “Pancha Pretasanaseena” seated on the five pretas or lifeless bodies! Who are these “ Pancha Pretas? They are the Trimurtis, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Iswara and Sadasiva. As Sri Mata and Sri Maha Ragni, She has delegated her powers to these Devas directing them to look after the working of the entire universe. They are thus energized by the power of Sri Mata to perform their duties. But at times, Sri Mata Herself takes over the duties of creation, protection, destruction, hiding, and blessing! Then the responsible Gods lose their dynamism and become lifeless! It is then they are called “ Pancha Pretas or disembodied souls! It is said that during the great deluge or Maha pralaya, the Trimurtis, Yama, Kubera and other Devas lose their existence! They are all absorbed in Sadasiva! When even Yama the Lord of Death dies , there is only one entity called Sadasiva, Sri Mata’s Lord that exists! He is the unchanging eternal or otherwise called the “ Kutastha.” Sri Mata or Parasakthi can never be separated from Her spouse Sadasiva or Paramasiva! He is Ardhanareeswara and she's the owner of half of His body! We are under the impression that there is only one Brahma and that he is eternal! It is not true. After every pralaya a new universe is created and new Brahma is appointed by Sri Mata! Sri Lalitha Sahasranamas Stotra clearly points out how the Trimurtis are subordinated to Sri Mata! During her fight with Bhandasura, Devi brought out the ten avatars of Narayana through the nails of her ten fingers! “ Karanguli nakhotpanna Narayna dasakrutyai namo namah” There is nothing that Sri Mata cannot do >

SRI MATA-GOD OF ALL GODS AND GODDESSES (Soundarya Lahari 25)

The very purpose of the avatar of Sri Mata is to destroy the terrible, invincible demon Bhandasura! She has equipped herself with all arms and ammunition in addition to those granted by all Devas! “ Bhandasura vadho dyukta Sakthi Sena samanvita" How many forms of Devi were created for effective fight with the Demon! Sampathkari, Aswaruda, Manthrini, Dandini, Bala, and Varahi, the second in command fought and engaged the Demon endlessly! She demolished the mines and yantras planted by Bhandasura through Ganesha whom she created by a mere look at the face of Kameswara! This was not enough to defeat the asura! She created from the tip of her nails the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu! “ Karanguli nakhotpanna Narayna dasakrutihi.” Finally She killed Bhandasura with Maha Pasupathastra and delghted all Devas! For any destruction, mere Satwa guna will not suffice! There should be a mixture of Rajo and Tamogunas! The Trimurtis, Creator Brahma, protector Vishnu and destroyer Rudra are in a position to do their job through these qualities alone! Sri Mata is the embodiment of Iccha, Jnana and Kriya Sakthis! She is capable of creation, protection and destruction at her will! In a few slokas earlier Sri Sankara has already described the efficacy of Her Padadhuli and how the Trimurtis carry on their respective activities through its power. Once again the poet and philosopher that he is, Sankara speaks of the worship that they offer her. He says that is the real worship. Says Sankara,“O Mother! Hari, Hara and Brahma the Creator are the products of Satwa, Rajas and Thamo gunas. The worship they offer at your lotus feet is the real worship and nothing else! For what reason do they stand with folded hands always by the diamond studded pedestal on which You rest your lotus feet?” Devi is “ Brahmopendra Mahendradi Deva sumsthutha vabhava”- She is prayed and worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, lndra, king of Devas and others! All of them are obedient to Sri Mata and await her orders! They stand with folded hands and vie with one another to execute Her orders! Where is the need for worshiping Brahma, Vishnu and Siva who themselves are the worshippers of Sri Mata? By worshipping Her, we worship all the Devas in the other world! There is an interesting story in the Upanishad illustrating the greatness of Adiparasakthi and the futility of the powers of Devas. After their success in war against the Asuras, Devas became arrogant and egocentric! They gloated over their victory and celebrated it! Devi wanted to teach them a lesson! She called Vayu, placed a straw, and asked him to move it! Strangely enough,Vayu, despite his wild strength, could not move it even by a fraction of an inch! Crestfallen, he retired! It was the chance of Agni, God of fire. Adiparasakthi bade him burn the straw. Fire, despite his ever hungry tongues, couldn't burn it! He went back in shame! The others too failed miserably! They wondered at their loss of face. Adiparasakthi appeared as Uma before them and declared that it was her Shakti that had brought success for them and not their prowess! The Devas realized their folly and praised Devi! Sri Mata is “ Sarva saktimayi sarva mangala sadgati Prada” “ Maha Maya Maha Satwa, maha sakthir maha rathihi”--She is the owner of all energy, extremely holy, and the bestower of mukti or salvation! She is Maha Maya, the embodiment of illusion, Almighty, the great Enjoyer! Thus by praying and worshipping Sri Mata, we worship the entire range of celestial deities and derive the maximum benefit, peace of mind, and Devi’s GraceGrace

THE EYEBROW EFFECT OF SRI MATA (Soundarya Lahari 24)

There is nothing in the universe that happens without the Sankalpa of Sri Mata! She is Brahma Swarupini!  Without Her nod nothing moves! As the Upanishad proclaims ”na tatra suryo bhati na chandra tarakam nemo vidyuto bhanti ku toya magnihi tameva bhanta manu bhati sarvam tasya bhasa sarva midam vibhati” The sun, moon stars, lightning and even fire do not shine by themselves! It is your radiance that gives them light to shine says the Upanishad! She is the spouse of Mahakamesa. She is Mahatripurasundari! “ Mahakamesa mahishi Maha Tripurasundari”. Sankara has described in the first few slokas of “Soundarya Lahari” the efficacy and indispensability of Her padadhuli!

The Trinity, creator Brahma,Vishnu and Siva carry out their regular duties because of the dust under Her lotus feet! Manmatha, the God of Love, in spite of his sugarcane bow and arrows of flowers and friend Vasntha’s chariot, sways the hearts of all mainly because of Sri Mata's Grace! He made Siva lovelorn and languid when Vishnu took the form of Mohini! It is through Her Grace that Manmatha is capable of disturbing the minds of great sages and saints! She is “ lccha Sakthi jnana Sakthi Kriya Sakthi swarupini Sarvadhara  suprathishta sadasath rupa dharini”--She is the embodiment of desire or Sankalpa, Jnana or knowledge and action! She is the foundation of every thing; she is well established and the form of living and nonliving objects!

Sankara continues and remarks “ O Mother! Brahma creates the worlds, Vishnu protects them while Siva destroys! Iswara merges them into his body! Sadasiva, through the help of your Grace, reclaims the four tattvas! In other words, it is the movement of your eyebrows that helps Sadasiva in creating and destroying the many worlds!! Your twitching of eyebrows is capable of creating or destroying the entire creation through the the medium of Sadasiva!”

The evolution and involution of the world is described in this sloka! During the cosmic deluge the world is merged in the ‘avyaktam’ or the unmanifest or the ‘Mulaprakriti’. It remains as a seed form similar to the tree in the seed! When Iswara wills to become many, there is vibration and the primordial sound OM is produced projecting the entire world! This is creation. Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra create, protect and destroy it respectively. Evolution starts with the vibration of Prana in Akasa. Vayu' or air is produced from which emerges fire. From fire water and from water earth are produced. Akasa is the womb for the four lower tattvas. In the process of Involution, the lower tattvas merge into the higher in the reversed order. The earth is absorbed in water, water in fire, fire in air, and air in Akasa in the Unmanifest!

Iswara destroys the universe along with the Trimurtis! Iswara himself disappears. Now there is only “Transcendental Trigunatita Nirguna Brahman” the changeless and eternal! He absorbs all the principles including all the Tattvas and Iswara within Himself in seed form! Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Iswara are all the Agents of Sri Mata and get the power of attorney from Her. They execute the order of Devi!

ARDHANAREESWARI SRI MATA (Soundarya Lahari 23)

Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra again and again describes Sri Mata as a passionate lover of the light red or crimson color! The beginning of the Dhyana sloka itself is,“ Arunam karuna tharangi thakshim" --She is Aruna herself with waves of compassion in her eyes! She has  drenched the entire universe with her distinct ‘aruna’ hue! Her personality is stunning! She wears the crescent moon of the eighth day radiating soft pleasant light! Her breasts command the deep love of Kameswara, her spouse. It is as if they are fruits hanging from the creepers starting from her hair at the navel! “Kameswara premaratna mani prathiprana sthani. “Nabhyalvala romali lataphala kucha dwayi”  Her waist is very narrow--” Lakshya roma latadhara samunneya madhyama!” She is one half of the body of Kameswara by which He derives the name of Ardhanareeswara!” “ Nitya shodasika rupa Srikantardha sareerini”--She is eternal, of sixteen forms and half of the body of Srikanta or Lord Siva! She is also “Sindhuraruna vigraham trinayanam”- of the red color of Sindhur and with three eyes similar to her spouse Kameswara!

The twenty third sloka of Soundarya Lahari by the great Sankaracharya is in line with the  description of Sri Mata in the Sahasra Nama Stotra! Sri Sankara says, “O Mother! Your entire body is draped in red color! It has three eyes! The slim waist and the whole body is bent with the heavy weight of your breasts! You are also wearing the crescent moon! It appears to me that after stealing half of the body of Kameswara you were not satiated and therefore have taken over the other portion of the body of the Lord!!

The happy union of Siva and Sakthi or Parvathi is indicated in this sloka! Siva is potential energy while Shakthi is kinetic and dynamic energy! Without Sakthi nothing can be done by Siva! Siva, shorn of Sakthi, becomes Sava or a mere corpse! It is the combination of Purusha and Prakriti that is the cause of creation sustenance and destruction! As Shakti owns half of Siva's body, he is called as” Ardhanareeswara”-ardha-half; nari- female; Iswara- Lord! Thus Siva owns the right half of the body while gives up the left half to his dear Parvati! Sankara delightfully comments that Sri Mata has slowly but steadily encroached upon the form of Siva too!

Through this gradual encroachment the form of Ardhanareeswara is transformed into Maha Tripurasundari! Thus there is no distinction between the two! She is the form of all deities,the forms of creator Brahma, protector Vishnu and destroyer  Siva! She is in charge of all their activities! “ Srushtikartri Brahmarupa goptri Govinda rupini Samharini Rudra Rupa tirodhana kariswari Sadasiva nugrahada pancha krutya Parayana!”

The legend is that when child Markandeya knew that his end was in sight he performed severe penance propitiating Lord Siva. The Lord of Death, Yama, came in person to take him! Earlier, his kinkaras had to beat a hasty retreat unable to approach Markandeya! When Yama threw his ‘Pasa’ or the rope to take the child’s life, Markandeya embraced the Linga as it fell on the Siva linga! The Lord in his fury, kicked Yama by his left foot which belonged to Sri Mata!! Thus Siva came to be called “Kala Samhara Murthy!” There is a Temple dedicated to Lord Siva as Kalah Samhara Murthy at Thirukadaiyur in Tamil Nadu. Sri Mata is called as Abhirami in that holy kshetra!

AVYAJA KARUNA OF SRI MATA (Soundarya Lahari 22)

Sri Mata is the embodiment of mercy and compassion! There is none equal to her! She is always available for her devotees in their need of the hour! “ Sarvajna Sandra karuna samanadhika varjitha”- She is the knower of all; she has deepest sympathy for her bhakthas; she does not differentiate between the noble and the humble! To her all are equal. She is particular of pure mind and devotion whoever it may be! “ Vijaya Vimala vandya vandaru jana vatsala”- She is success personified; she is without any defect or impurities;  she is fit for worship by all; she has filial bond of affection for her intense devotees! She is ready to do anything for her true devotees! Is there any limit for the grace of Sri Mata? Her grace has no limit! “ Samrajya dayini Satya sandha sagara mekhala”- She grants kingdoms to her devotees; she is truthful and keeps up her word; she has the entire ocean as her waist belt!.” She fulfills all the desires of of her upasakas; she is Savitri, the power of Sun and the very embodiment of Existence, Awareness and Bliss- Sat Chit Ananda! Why is she so compassionate to all of us, her children? Is there any cause for that? No! her mercy and love is totally causeless! “ Avyaja karunamurthi rajnana dwanta dipika”--She is the embodiment of causeless compassion!That is how Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes Sri Mata!

Describing Sri Mata's anxiety to shower her grace on her real devotees, Sri Sankara says that she is ever inquisitive to do so. “O Mother! If anyone prays for your grace sincerely, you are too ready to bestow that on the devotee even before he finishes his sentence and request! Even as that half request is made, you grant him the impossible position that the creator Brahma, Vishnu and Siva dearly wish for! He has to say just “ O Mother, I am your servant, kindly shower your grace on me!”, remarks Sankara!

We know how merciful and compassionate our human mothers are! Is it a wonder, then, to find our Divine Mother, extremely kind and compassionate towards us? Her Divine filial bonds are too thick and strong to be easily broken! She killed Mahishasura and Bhandasura outwardly but she granted them salvation in reality! She destroyed the thamoguna and rajoguna of the asuras and merged them within herself! She is the deity who can destroy these detestable qualities in every human being! The annihilation of these demonic traits in human beings is the main goal of Sri Mata! Despite our frailties and asuric tendencies she is exceptionally tolerant and waits eternally for us to turn over a new leaf! It is only when one is puffed up with pride, arrogance and ego that she corrects the concerned individual Her heart melts at the suffering of the individual!

The word “Sayujya” means ‘to merge in’ or ‘to become one with’! Sri Mata is capable of granting  final emancipation from the disgusting cycle of birth and death. It is no wonder that a pure and true and unselfish devotee attains the state of oneness with the Devi!

Sankara has described in the previous slokas, the Antar yajna or Bahir yajna methods of approach. In this twenty second sloka he elucidates the efficacy of bhakthi or devotion leading

to the merging of the individual soul into the Absolute Soul or Brahman! What is bhakti? It is pure unselfish Love for God whatever may be the name and form! A total dedication to any form of God, shorn of selfishness and ego will certainly lead to oneness with God! That is the goal of every devotee of God!

pop

KALAS OF SRI MATA (Soundarya Lahari 21)

While in the nineteenth sloka of Soundarya Lahari Sankara describes the Bahya or outer meditation of Maha Tripurasundari, here he explains the subtle meditation or “ Sukshma dhyana” on the embodiment of Chit or Awareness! “Antarmukha samaradhya bahirmukha sudurlabha” She has to be worshipped from within! It is extremely difficult to realize Her through external worship and show! “ Sahasrarambujaruda Sudha sarabhi varshini’”-Seated on the lotus with thousand petals, she rains nectar or Sudha all over other parts! Sri Mata is similar to the flash of lightning and seated above the six Chakras in our body! ”Thatil lata Samaruchi shatchakropari samsthita.” “Kamya Kama kalarupa kadamba kusuma Priya”-She is desire herself!

She is the personification of erotic play and lover of the Kadamba flower. “Kalavati kalalapa kanta kadambari priya”-She is full of kalas, talks much on them and loves the kadamba forest!  She is also the dynamic force, the form of awareness as well as the inert energy and the inner core of it!,”Chitsakthis chetana rupa Jada sakthir jadathmika.” She is full of Chit or Awareness, Bliss and the embodiment of vijnana or science! ”Chinmayi paramananda vijnana ghana rupini” She is at the center of the Sun and called as Bhairavi and Bhagamalini! “ Bhanumandala madhyasta Bhairavi Bhagamalini” She has the sun and the moon as her ear studs! ”Thatanka yugalibhuta tapanodupa mandala”.

Sankara says, “ You are seated above the six lotuses, in the Sahasrara! Your Kala is the form of the sun, moon and Agni and similar to the flash of lightning! Whoever meditates on your Kala, shorn of Kama, krodha and other impurities shall be drenched and carried away in the flood of extreme, ecstatic Bliss”

It is not possible for ordinary devotees to practice subtle meditation or Sukshma dhyana!  Only those advanced in spiritual devotion can attempt on such dhyana! What is this Bahya Dhyana? It is gross outer meditation with rituals, show and ostentation. For that matter, no God or Goddess shall favor such a bhaktha! Inner, subtle meditation is called “Abhyantara Dhyana!”-- inner subtle meditation! Sthula dhyana, outward meditation is also called gross or concrete meditation! Sukshma or subtle is otherwise called Abstract Meditation! In other words, meditation on Sri Mata as BRAHMAN without name and form is subtle meditation! On the other hand meditating on Her with name, form and attributes is gross or sthula!

Who are the blessed and fortunate few that can behold Sri Mata’s ‘Kala’?  It is not for all! Only those who are in total control of the “arishadvargas”, the six inner adversaries like kama, krodha, lobha, moha,mada and matsarya are eligible for the view of Devi’s Kala! They should be free from ego, arrogance and lust to qualify for that unique state! ‘Sagunopasana’ is easier than Nirgunopasana’. Sahasrara is “ Mahapadmatavi” -- forest of the great Lotus with one thousand petals! ‘Kala’ is Sri Mata herself as the embodiment of Chit Sakthi or Awareness! or Absolute Consciousness! By its power it manifests as the three Bindus or Kalas of Sun, Moon and Fire!