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!