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!
No comments:
Post a Comment