THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AJNA CHAKRA-(Soundarya Lahari 36)

Describing that all pervading nature of Sri Mata, Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra speaks of Her status in “ Ajna Chakra”. She is said to be in the core of this “Ajna Chakra” and pierces through the ‘Rudra Grandhi’. In the lotus of thousand petals She rains cascades of Divine nectar!  “Ajna Chakrantharalastha Rudra Granthi vibhedini Sahasrarambujaruda sudhasarabhi varshini” In the ‘Ajna Chakra’ She is said to be white in color and has six faces! She is said to reside in the bone marrow along with the important Sakthi called Hamsavathi! Her favorite food is turmeric rice and she sports the form of ‘Hakini.’ In Sahasrara or the thousand petalled Lotus She dazzles in multi colors! She is fully armed and the core of “sukla.” She favors all types of food and takes the form of “Yakinyamba”! “ Ajna Chakrabja nilaya sukia varna shadanana majja samstha Hamsavathi mukhya Sakthi samnvita Haridrannaka Rasika ‘Hakini’ rupa dharini Sahasra dala padmastha sarva varnopa sobhitha Sarvayudha dhara sukla samsthitha sarvathomukhi Sarvoudana prita chittha Yakinyamba swarupini”

Sri Sankara, the illustrious philosopher that he is, goes a little deeper in the thirty sixth sloka of Soundarya Lahari. Sankara says, “ O Bhagavati!  I bow down to Lord Siva who is in the Ajna Chakra of yours which defeats the resplendence of a thousand suns and moons! It is only the one who can worship with true love and devotion that can reside in the Chakra beyond the reach of the sun an the moon! It is a lonely loka scintillating and effulgent with soft moonlight  called “Sahasrara!”

What is this “Ajna Chakra” and where is it? What is its purpose? Why is it much talked of?  “Ajna Chakra” is considered as the Third Eye situated between the two eyebrows. This third eye is the seat of meditation and Ajna Chakra is the cause of its activation. Exact location of Ajna Chakra is between the eyebrows and the nose. The Pineal gland deep in the brain is said to be associated with “Ajna Chakra as per Hindu tradition. These two are considered as Third Eye! Why do we apply Vermillion and bindi in between the eyebrows? The location of the “Ajna Chakra” makes it a sacred spot for applying kumkum and bindi to show reverence for it!  “Ajna Chakra” is the sixth primary Chakra in the body according to Hindu tradition. It is supposed to be a part of the brain that can be made more powerful through meditation, yoga, and other spiritual practices.

“Ajna Chakra signifies the subconscious mind which is the direct link to the BRAHMAN! Our two eyes see the physical world whereas the Third Eye reveals insights about future. The Third Eye or Ajna Chakra is said to connect people to their intuition and give them ability to communicate with the world or help them receive messages from the past and future!

In appearance, Ajna Chakra is a lotus flower with two white petals representing two Nadis or nerves IDA and PINGALA. These two meet the central SUSHUMNA Nadi before rising to the crown Chakra-- SAHASRARA! The left petal represents Siva while the right petal signifies Sakthi! They also indicate the manifest and the unmanifest mind as well as the Pineal and Pituitary glands! Inside the pericarp of the flower is the ‘Hakini' Sakthi depicted with a white moon, six faces, six arms, holding a book, a skull, a drum and a rosary! She appears ready for granting boons an dispelling fears! The triangle pointing downwards above Her has a white lingam. The triangle along with the lotus flower can represent wisdom According to some systems, the deity Ardhanareeswara resides within the Linam! This symbolizes the duality of subject and object!

GURU PURNIMA

Today is Guru Purnima dedicated to the Guru or Acharya who guides the aspirant to realize himself! Guru is one who dispels the Avidya or Ignorance of his disciple. You cannot call yourself a  guru if you merely teach the student the Vedas, Vedangas, shastras and scriptures! He has to practice whatever he teaches his student! The word Acharya means one who acts according to his teachings! No one else is entitled to call himself an Acharya if he does not practice the precepts that he hands over to his chelas! Our ancient sages and seers have a hallowed history behind them!They lived a simple unostentatious life instructing their students in ‘Brahma Vidya’ and showed them the right path to salvation or Mukti! IIlustrious saints and gurus like Vasishta, Vamadeva, Viswamitra, Bhrigu, Agasthya, Jamadagni and various others led selfless lives imparting the most important thing viz Self Realization! It is extremely difficult to come across such ideal gurus in modern days! The Guru is not merely a teacher par excellence but the embodiment of God himself! The oft quoted sloka on Guru, “ Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheswaraha Gurus sakshath Parabrahma tasmai sri gurave namaha” illustrates the significance of Guru! He is all in all. He is also that Absolute Brahman! The grace of of the Guru is greater than the grace of God! One need not worship any God or Goddess if he is totally dedicated to his Guru!

Today is the full moon day of the month of Ashada according to the lunar calendar! It is called Vyasa Purnima! It is said that sage Vyasa codified the Vedas on this day and hence its significance! “ Vyasaya Vishnu rupaya Vyasa rupaya Vishnave”  Sage Vyasa is the incarnation of Vishnu even as Vishnu is the form of sage Vyasa! He is described as Brahma without four heads, Vishnu without four hands and Siva without the Third eye! Without Sage Vyasa we would not have had the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata purana and of course the Bhagavadgita which is a part of the great epic Mahabharata! Entire generation of ours is eternally indebted to Sage Vyasa for the yeomen service he has done to humanity through his works! We should remember him today and offer our pranams wholeheartedly and express our gratitude

Guru’s Anugraha or grace is a rare and precious thing in the life of the sishya. If the Guru is pleased he can do anything for him! King Trisanku was a favorite student of sage Viswamitra. The sage liked him and one day the king had an impossible and strange desire! He wanted to reach heaven with his mortal body! He approached his preceptor Viswamitra and expressed his desire. The sage was shocked at this request but wanted to help his student!  By his super power of tapas, he ejected him into the sky to reach heaven! But the Devas did not allow him into Swargaloka as none could enter with his mortal body! King Trisanku was pushed down and he prayed to his master Viswamitra. Angry with the Devas, sage Viswamitra created a different

Swargaloka similar to the original and established King Trisanku there permanently! Thus king Trisanku dangled between earth and heaven! This is popularly called “Trisanku Swarga” a state neither on earth or in heaven! Can we at any time expect such great and capable gurus at present?

Another example of the grace of guru is the story of Ekalavya of low caste who wanted to be the disciple of Dronacharya! But the Acharya refused to take him in as his pupil. Nevertheless, Ekalavya, made a figure of his master and practised archery! To the surprise of Dronacharya, Ekalavya mastered all the astras including the rare Divine ones! He even outclassed the Pandava warrior Arjuna and Ashwathama, Drona’s son! When Drona knew this, he grew jealous and demanded the thumb of Ekalavya as guru dakshina! Poor Ekalavya immediately cut off his thumb and presented it to his ‘manasika guru’ Drona! Drona did not want  anyone to excel his dearest disciple Arjuna! While guru’s Anugraha can work wonders, his 'Agraha’-- anger is detrimental and disastrous to the disciple! A classical example is the fate of Karna the bosom friend of the evil genius Duryodhana! He lied to his guru Parasurama that he was a Brahmin and started his training in archery. Indra, king of Gods, in the form of huge beetle drilled the lap of Karna on which Parasurama was reclining! Blood began flowing but Karna endured the pain! Waking up, Parasurama doubted his parentage and Karna had to speak the truth! Furious at the fraud practised by Karna, Parasurama cursed that what all knowledge he has gained shall fail him at his critical hour! That was how Karna came to grief at the end of Mahabharatha war!

The greatest Guru during the Dwapara Yuga is none other than Lord Krishna who as  “*Parthasarathi” disabused the mind of vacillating Arjuna and egged him on to fight thei Kauravas! “Krisnam vande jagadgurum.” Profound principles of the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Sastras, Bhakti yoga, Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga and several others were taught to Arjuna by the Lord! Total surrender to the Lord and acceptance of His Will was advocated by the Lord! Man, after all is a toy in the hands of  God! Bhagavadgita, thus is called the “ Bible of the Universe” by Swami Vivekananda! The most important Guru we generally forget is, Lord Siva Himself, as Sri Dakshinamurthi, facing South under the Banyan tree surrounded by the great saints Sanaka, Sanandana Sanat Kumara, and Sanath sujatha! His silence was eloquent and dispelled all the doubts in their mind! “ Chitram vatatarormule vruddha shishyas Gurur yuva gurosthu mauna vyakhyanam sishyasthu cchinna samsayah” The Guru is young while the disciples are very old!  The eloquence of His Silence dispelled all their doubts! We require preceptors of such nature who can revolutionize society and put it in the right track! Guru's like Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Shiridi Sai Baba and Sri Satya Sai Baba have contributed much to the wellbeing of society through their teachings and pure Love for all beings in the world! Sri Gurubhyo namaha!

SRI MATA IS EVERYTHING ( Soundarya Lahari 35)

Speaking about the all pervading spirit of Sri Mata, Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra glorifies Her in these descriptions: “ Visuddhi Chakra nilaya rakta Varna trilochani, Anahatabja nilaya syamabha vadanadwaya, Manipurabja nilaya vadanatraya samyuta, Swadhishtanambuja gatha chturvaktra manohara, Mooladharambujaruda panchavaktrasthi samsthta, Ajna Charabja nilaya sukla Varna shadanana, Sahasradala padmastha sarva varnopa sobhitha” In Visuddhi Chakra She is red in color, has three faces; in Swadhishtana Chakra She has four attractive faces; in Mooladharambuja Chakra She shines with five faces; in Ajna Chakra She appears white in color with five faces and in Sahasradala Padma or Sahasrara She scintillates in multi colours! She permeates through all the six Chakras of the human body and is responsible for its awareness or chaitanya! But for this “Chaitanya swarupini” living beings would be dead!!

In the thirty fifth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara takes up this aspect of Sri Mata and dilates on Her all pervading nature! Sankara says, “ O Devi, Iswari! You have become the ‘Manas tattwa’ of Ajna Chakra; you are the aspect of Akasa tattwa' in Visuddhi Chakra; in Anahata Chakra you represent the wind or Vayu tattwa'; You are the principle of Fire in Swadhishtana Chakra; in Manipura Chakra you are the principle of water; in Mooladhara Chakra you are the principle of earth! Can there be any other thing when you permeate and merge into everything in the universe? In short you are the embodiment of this total universe! It is for this purpose that you don the form of Chit Sakthi-- or Awareness or Chaitanya and the form of Ananda Bhairava, your spouse!”

She is smallest of the small atoms, greatest of the great ones- “ Anoraniyan mahatomahiyan”  She has transformed Herself into the Five Elements, mind, ether, air, fire, water and earth! At the same time She transcends all principles and continues as the Chaitanya or Awareness together with the Bliss of Sadasiva or Paramatma!

We are under the illusion that Brahman or Sri Mata are two different entities! They are one and the same! In the same way, they are not different from the universe they have created! They have themselves assumed the shape and form of this grand universe, astonishing Nature, magnificent mountains, murmuring streams and rivers, dense jungles and every other thing! In the microcosm  Sri Mata is Visva, Taijasa, and Prajna! In the macrocosm she is Virat, Hiranygarbha and Antaryamin, the Indweller Iswara!

The seven urdhwa lokas- the higher worlds,…Bhu, Bhuvar,Suvar, Mahar, Jana, Tapo, and Satyalokas constitute Her different forms! In other words the union of Shakti with Siva is the prime cause of the world!

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SESHA SESHI BHAVA (Soundarya Lahari 34)

Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra has described already that the sun and the moon have become the “thatankas” of Sri Mata! “ Thatanka yugalibhuta thapanodupa mandala”. “Kulangana Kulantastha Kaulini Kulayogini akula Samayantasta Samayachra tatpara”- She is the maiden of Kula, its indweller; she is “Kaulini” as well as “Kulayogini.”  She is at the center of the “ Ajna Chakra, pierces through the Rudra Granthi, rides on the thousand petalled Lotus and rains a cascade of Divine Nectar! “Ajna Chakrantharalastha Rudra Granthi vibhedini” “Sahasrarambujaruda sudhasarabhi varshini.” Sri Sankara, from this sloka wants to describe the type of worship called “Samayachara”. Necessary for understanding that are the two branches called “Purva “ and “ Uttara”! These constitute what is called “Kaula mata”! The following two slokas describe the Kaula type of worship.

Sankara says, “ O Bhgavathi, to your Spouse Iswara, You appear as Ananda Bhairavi with the sun and moon as your breasts! You are the body of Ananda Bhairava! It is surprising that His Body appears to be Yours and your Body resembles His! It is thus clear that the relationship between you two is that of “Sesha and Seshi!” This state is common to you both!

Who can be called “ Bhagavathi?” It is the one who has the knowledge of birth, death, arrival, departure, vidya and avidya! Hence Sri Mata is Bhagavati indisputedly! The unity or oneness of Siva and Parvati is emphasized in this sloka. One is the Adhara-container and the other is Adheya-contained! Bhagavati is the body of Sambhu or Lord Siva whose functions are creation, protection and destruction! The word ‘Nawatman’ indicates the nine vyuhas or forms of Iswara or Sambhu.These are Kala, Kula, Naman, Gyana, Chitta, Nada, Bindu, Kala and Jiva. “ Para, Pasyanti, Madhyama and Vaikari sounds constitute the BINDU. Para rises from the nabhi or navel while Madhyama comes from the heart. Pasyanti is from the throat while Vaikari emanates from the mouth!

Iswara or Sambhu is Purusha while Bhagavati or Sri Mata is Prakriti! They are both part and the whole. Prakriti consists of buddhi or intellect, ahamkara, mind, tanmatras, gross elements, jnanendryas, Karmendriyas and the five Pranas! Prakriti is also called as “Ashtangi”, one who has eight limbs viz the Panchabhutas or the Five Elements Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and egoism! This is called ‘ Apara or lower Prakriti.

Apart and above this is the Superior Prakriti or Para Prakriti constituting the life element that sustains the universe. In other words similar to the cup being the container for the ghee, the contained, Siva is the container or supporter while Bhagavathi or Prakriti is the contained or the supported! Since Bhagavathi is the frame or the body of Sambhu, She is one with the Lord! She is inseparable from Her spouse Sambhu!

THE BIJAKSHARAS OF SRI MATA (Soundarya Lahari 33)

Sri Mata is described as, “ Kulangana Kulantastha Kaulini Kulayogini

Akula Samayantasta Samayachara tatpara” in Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra.

She is the Lady of Kula, resides in Kula; She is named Kaulini and Kulayogini. She is also called Akula, the one with in the Samaya and involved in the practices of Samayachara. Chanting of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra will be more effective when the slokas are recited with the key syllables of Devi or the Bijaksharas of Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari which are Aim, Hrim and Srim. Every Nama of Sri Mata has to be prefixed with these key syllables for effective result! The vibration that the Sadhaka attains when he does so is spiritually elevating and wonderful!

In this thirty third sloka of his classical composition, Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara  points out how some of the experienced followers of ‘Samayachara’ perform upasana of Sri Mata prefixing the Bijaksharas before every Nama. Sankara says, “ O Mother without a beginning and end! A few very well experienced followers of ‘Samayachara’ perform your upasana by prefixing your Bijaksharas before every Nama of yours! The first Bijakshara is ‘Aim’ of Kamaraja. The second one is ‘ Hrim’ Yoni or Bhuvaneswari bija; the third syllable is ‘Srim’ which is Lakshmi bija! These upasakas have tasted the spiritual bliss of chanting the Mantras with the Bijaksharas. They chant your name with rosaries of chintamani stones! They offer their sacred offering or ‘ahuti’  to You, the base of the Triangle “ Sivagni” with streams of ghee from the very Kamadhenu, the wish fulfilling holy cow of Heaven! TheTrikona is nothing but the ‘Bindu sthana!”

The word “ Maha bhoga” in general means abundant wealth and power. It suggests final beatitude or salvation. Akshara means that which has no decay. It can be Sabda Brahman or chit kala linked to the three Gunas Satwa, Rajas and Thamas. Chintamani - guna' is the “collection of Matras strung in the form of a rosary.” “ Smara, “Yoni”, “Lakshmi” stand for Ka, E,and I respectively.

One has to develop the mental attitude of “Sivoham”-I am Siva” He has to burn in this fire of wisdom all worldly Samskaras, and mental attitudes like egoism, lust, greed, pride and others! In the same way one has to offer in the sacrificial fire or homa  all his Indriyas, the five sheaths or Kosas, the three Gunas, all vasanas or tendencies, thrushnas or desires! These offerings constitute the highest Yajna or Supreme Homa!

PANCHADASAKSHARI MANTRA (Soundarya Lahari 32)

Sri Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari is “ Maha Tantra Maha  Mantra Maha Yantra Mahasana.” She is the greatest Trantra, mantra and Yantra! She is seated on the Pancha Brahmasana! She is also the nucleus of all Yantras and the form of all  tantras! She is the diamond in the hearts of all! “ Sarva yantratmika sarva tantra rupa manonmani.” She is also, “ Purushathaprada”, the bestower of most important aspects of life viz Dharma, righteousness, Artha, money, Kama desire, and finally Moksha or Mukti or salvation! She is the basis Dharma and presides over money and wealth. She is the promoter of prosperity in all things! She is ”Kamya kamakalarupa Kadamba Kusuma Priya"- She is Desire herself and the one to be desired! She is the embodiment of  ‘Kamakala.’ She is “Swatantra sarva tantresi Dakshinamurthi rupini”- She is totally independent, the chief of all Tantras and the form of Sri Dakshinamurthi!

In this thirty second sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sankara explains the new tantra of Sri Mata which is “ Sakala purushartha sadhaka Tantra.” Sankara says, “ O Mother! Siva represents 'kakara’; Sakthi indicates 'ekara’; Kama means ‘ikara,; ‘Kshiti’ shows ‘lakara’; Ravi represents  ‘hakara’; Sitakirana is ‘sakara’; Again Smara indicates ‘kakara’; Hamsa shows 'hakara’; Sakra means 'lakara; Later, Para is ’sakara’; Mara indicates 'kakara’; Harayaha represents ‘lakara’. These letters( varnas) with the addition of the three “ Hrinkaras” at the end of each form the parts of Your Name! Thus is formed the new Tantra that signifies the name of Sri Mata! The Tantra is “Ka ye yi la hrim, Hasaka hala hrim, Sakala hrim.!”

The most powerful  mantra for the upasana of Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari is this Mantra of fifteen syllables called “Panchadasakshari”. The sixteenth syllable has to be provided by the Guru. Hadi Vidya is explained in this sloka. A few commentator feel it is the description of  “Shodashakshari of Samya mode of worship. The first four syllables relate to Agni, Kriya Sakthi, wakeful state,visva and Tamo guna'. The next five syllables relate to Surya and indicate Iccha Sakthi, Dream state, Taijasa, and Rajo Guna. Rudra grandhi is the Hrillekha between the two!

The next three syllables  relate to Chandra representing Jnana Sakthi, Deep sleep state or Sushupti, prajna and Satwa guna'. The Hrillekha in between the second and third part is  “Vishnu Granthi”.The one syllable , Chandra kala has to come from the Guru! The Hrillekha between the third and fourth part is called “ Brahma Granthi”.

This Mantra has four parts or padas. The first part consists of Agni, Surya and Chandra. The second part represents Kriya, Iccha and Jnana Shakti or Vishnu, Brahma and Rudra. The third part stands for wakeful state ( jagrat), dream( swapna), and Deep Sleep( Sushupti) corresponding to the Visva, Taijasa, and Prajna;  The Fourth is Parasakthi or pure Consciousness, (Chit)! According to some commentators, this Sloka indicates the “Lopamudra Vidya”, the seed or Bija of all Mantras!

SRI MATA'S TANTRA (Soundarya Lahari 31)

Is there any mantra superior to that of Sri Mata? Surely there is none! Vasini Devathas declare in Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra, “ Maha Tantra Maha mantra Maha Yantra Mahasana MahaYaga kramaradhya Maha Bhairava pujitha”--She is the biggest ritual or tantra, highest mantra for Japam or chanting and the representative Yantra, seated on Her great “Pancha Brahmasana! She is worshipped through proper sacrificial rituals. Even Maha Bhairava offers his worship to Her! She is the bestower of the four essentials of our life, Dharma, Artha, Kama. and Moksha or Salvation or Mukti!! These four are called the “ Purusharthas fit to be achieved by every human being! “Purushartha Prada purna Bhogini Bhuvaneswari” She is the bestower of all the Purushathas; She is always full; She is called Bhogini or the Enjoyer and Bhuvaneswari, the Lord of all worlds! Mahakavi Kalidas, in his Syamala Dandaka, describes Sri Mata as “ Sarva mantratmike, sarva yantratmike, sarva tantratmike he Jagan Mathruke”- Oh Mother of worlds! You are the central core of all mantras, yantras and tantras!”

Sankara describes the manner in which the Tantra came to earth! Sankara says, “O Mother!   Iswara, according to different Siddhis, cheated the world with the sixty four “ Maya Sambara Tantras and is enjoying His Divine sport! Your Tantra, because of your compulsion, has come to earth as He has given upadesa to you! This Tantra is the essence and form of all the sixty four Tantras that offer all the four Purusharthas to human beings!”

Pasupati is Lord Siva, the Lord of all creatures including all of us, the mortals! He has helped the humans to achieve one or the other Purusharthas through the sixty four Tantras! Every Tantra is a means to attain a particular Siddhi or special power. Devi has persuaded the Lord to  bring down a single Tantra, of Herself, known as ,” Swatantra!”

This Tantra, by itself enables the mortals to achieve their ends! They can, by adhering to this Tantra realize the four Purusharthas viz Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha which are the four goals of human existence! This single Tantra has the effect or benefit produced by all the sixty  four Tantras!

Lord Siva gives upadesa of the Tantras to Devi in His abode Kailasa! This upadesa is totally recorded by Lord Vinayaka after completion. Later it is communicated to some Maharshi or Siddha Purusha on earth! This practice of communication is continued for ever and continued even today!

WORSHIP OF SRI MATA (Soundarya Lahari 30)

Sri Mata has drenched the entire universe with her dazzling red color! “ Nijaruna prabhapura majjad Brahmanda mandala.” Everything about her is red! she wears the ‘Kousumbha’ vastra or dress! “Arunaruna kausumbha vasthra bhaswathkati thati.” Again She is “Sarvarunanavadyangi.”Aruna or light red color is her favorite and the entire body and its angas are full of red hue! Her lotus feet are are also red and soft and delicate!  They defeat the lotus by their radiance! “ Pada dwaya prabhajala parakruta saroruha.”Her holy feet are adorned with tinkling chains studded with diamonds! “Sinjana Mani manjeera manditha Sri Padambuja.” Her gait is soft, gentle and dignified as that of a female swan! “Marali Manda gamana Maha lavanya sevadhihi.” She strikes everyone with her beauty and grandeur!

How should one worship Devi? Different individuals have different ways! Some believe in Sagunopasana- worship of God or Goddess with a name, form and attributes. There are others who are attracted to ‘Nirgunopasana’- worship of God or Goddess without any name, form and other attributes! They are saints and sages who concentrate on the  Brahman who is the Supreme Reality! “ Ajo nityaha saswatoyam purano”-Brahman has no birth; He is eternal, permanent and sanatana! According to the will of the individual, he chooses a particular deity as his personal God, like Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Subramanya, Maruti, Rajarajeswari, Kali Mariamma and various others! Names and attributes are many but there is only one God! “Ekam Eva Advitiyam  Brahma” There is only one Truth but they call it by different names! Ekam Sath vipra bahudha vadanti.”All Gods and Goddesses merge into the single source of Energy, Adi Parasakthi who is none other than Sri Mata or Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari! By surrendering unto her lotus feet we achieve salvation quickly and easily as she is the Universal Mother waiting to lift us up, the ordinary mortals!

In the thirtieth sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara points out how he worships  Devi and how others should worship her. Says Sankara, “ O Eternal Mother! I worship your lotus feet with their radiance surrounded by the Anima Sakthis! Any Sadhaka who worships you in the same manner as I do shall never care for the treasure of his presence with Siva! He considers that very light as compared to the bliss of your worship! It is not an exaggeration to say that to him the terrible fire of the deluge shall look like a welcome “arati”!

Sankara attached prominence to the worship of the Mother! It is the mother that showers all her affection on children. It does not mean that that the father is without love for his children. The mother understands her children better than the father as she is intimately associated with them in all activities. Her love and affection is spontaneous and causeless or “Avyaja” It is rather difficult to please the father while the mother is pleased very soon! The bliss in worshipping Sri Mata and obtaining Her Grace is superior to whatever the presence with Siva can afford !

Sri Sankara refers to the attendant Sakthis of Devi for the second time in this sloka. They are considered to grant eloquence! They are also called “ Vagdevis.” They are Vasini, Kameswari, Sarveswari, Kaulini, Modini, Jayini, Aruna and Vimala! Those who meditates on them shall become poets par excellence! It is believed that the Vasini Devathas composed Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra under the command of Sri Mata! Sri Mata is, “Avyaja karuna murtir ajnana dhwanta dipika”--She is the embodiment of causeless compassion and the torch that destroys the darkness of ajnana or Ignorance!