DISTINGUISHING LOOKS OF DEVI (Soundarya Lahari 51)

In the first twenty one slokas of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra, the Vasinyadi Devtas glorify the ethereal beauty of Sri Mata by describing every part of her person. Her radiance that had drenched the entire universe, Her beautiful moonlike face, Champaka, Punnaga flowers adorning Her locks of hair, the crescent occupying her plait of hair, the eyes crisscrossing like the fish in a lake, Her nose shining like the fresh blossomed Champaka flower, the nosegay that defeated the shine of the stars, and the moon and the sun forming Her ‘thatankas’ are descriptions that can never be equalled! Even Her breasts and the lower parts of the body are delicately described! She is extremely compassionate, Knower of everything and does not discriminate between the humble and the noble! “ Sarvajna sandra karuna samnadhika varjitha” She is full of Sringara rasa-- romantic feelings! She is called Jaya and stationed at Jalandhara Peetam! Her mouth is full of “tamboola”-a mixture of betel leaves and arecanut. She shines in the hue of the flower of pomogranate! ”Thamboola poorita mukhi Dadimimikusuma prabha.”

The obsession for the beautiful face and other features of Sri Mata has not left Sri Sankara! He has compared Her locks to the black lillies! Her forelocks covering her face have increased Her beauty and mock at the beauty of the lotus! Her forehead along with the crescent is actually the full moon! Her left eye is the Sun that creates the day while the right eye being the Moon forms the night! Her looks are always spread out, compassionate, invincible, indescribably sweet, protective and bringing good to all! Now Sankara describes what her look means to different persons! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Your gaze at Kameswara is full of Sringara rasa--romantic feelings! It is terrible for others. It is an expression of anger for Ganga who is said to be the second wife of Lord Siva who bears her on his head! It creates an amazement to the Lord's ‘Trinetra’ or the Third Eye! Sri Mata's look creates panic and terror among snakes winding themselves around the neck of Kameswara and is red beating the color of the lotus! It is humorous for the friends of Sri Mata! Sankara finally says that Her look is compassionate to him! Thus the look of Devi is a combination of all rasas' or feelings!

Devi as Parabrahma swarupini is always compassionate. All are equal to her. But depending on the actions and attitude of an individual her attitude changes! She is for Dharma or righteousness. She would never tolerate adharma or unrighteousness. Incarnation or avatar takes place for the establishment of Dharma and the destruction of evil. The Lord, in the Bhagavdgita has clarified the aim of an avatar.” Paritranaya sadhunam vinasayacha dushkritam Dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge.” In that process the good are protected while the bad are eliminated!

In a family, with husband, wife and children, the way in which they look at one another differs according to relationship! The husband's look is romantic as he looks at his wife and is reciprocated by the wife.The look of the husband and wife towards their children is always affectionate. The relationship is filial! Children too return love and affection in their looks! The cat carries its kitten in its mouth gently and softly! But the same cat, when it catches a mouse, tears it off violently! The mouse is its food and enemy!

Devi is the protector of the entire universe! She is very affectionate and compassionate to her children and devotees! But to the evil-minded and the bad she is a terror and nightmare! That is why She took avatar as Rajarajeswari to destroy Bhandasura and his accomplices! Even then her compassion gave them salvation! In every avatar the good are blessed while the bad are eliminated for the evil and adharma perpetrated by them! The look of Devi differs from one to another based on the good and evil deeds! Thus Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Kamsa, Sisupala, Chanda, Munda and Bhandasura perished! Sankara hints at this aspect of Devi's look which is good for the good but terrible for the bad and evil-minded!

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ENVY OF THE THIRD EYE OF DEVI (Soundarya Lahari 50)

Describing the innumerable attributes of Sri Mata, Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra calls Devi as Kalyani and the root cause of this entire universe! She is the ocean of compassion! She is Kalavati the repository of all arts and literature! She is herself the patron of all arts! She is fond of the Kadamba tree!” Kalyani jagati Kanda karunarasa sagara Kalavati kalalapa kanta kadambari priya”! She is full of Sringara rasa, She is Jaya-- victory Herself and resides in Jalandhara peeta! ”Sringara rasa sampurna Jaya Jalandhara sthitha.”She is the embodiment of the bliss of Truth and the Knower of the entire Vedanta or Brahmavidya! “ Sarva Vedanta samvedya satyananda swarupini”! She is also the form of all languages, has large armies and devoid of positive or negative thoughts! “Bhasha rupa brihat sena bhavabava vivarjita”! She is the treasure house of all fine arts , the presiding deity of all epics and the connoisseur of all rasas' or emotions! “Kalanidhih kavyakala rasajna rasa sevadhihi”!

Sri Sankara is not yet satisfied with the description of the beauty of Sri Mata's face! He finds different ways of enjoying her beauty! He finds the eyes of Devi exceptionally beautiful and extending to Her ears! Says Sankara, “ O Mother!  Your eyes are very dark colored like the bees and your sideward glance seems to be friendly with the ears that are lost in the appreciation of the kavyas of poets! Observing this close association of Your eyes and the ears, your Third Eye has become envious and hence has developed red color a little!”

Once again Sankara's imagination runs riot! He says that Her ears are enjoying and appreciating the different rasas-emotions described by the poets! Her eyes are considered as the bees that are black in color! Her sideward glance is unable to withdraw itself from that enjoyment! DEVI'S “Trinetra”--the third Eye is unable to withstand this close association of the ear and eye of Devi! It becomes envious of this state and thus the Third eye grows red in color indicating its displeasure!

Accomplished poet and philosopher that he is, Sri Sankara fully utilizes his poetic imagination in highlighting the delicate Divine beauty of his Mother Sri Mata! He uses “alankaras” like the SImile, Metaphor, and even Exaggeration! As we all know, poets have a  license to describe their favorite persons and things according to their intellectual imagination!

We cannot find fault with Sri Sankara for his description of the beauty of Devi. As the beloved child of his of Divine Mother he has the liberty of drinking deep Her indescribable Beauty! The Child is exceptionally devoted to its mother. Similarly the inordinate bhakti of Sankara for his Mother eggs him on to describe Her beauty in various angles and derive superlative pleasure! Sankara's pleasure and enjoyment is not only his but ours also! Can there be any one who can deny this? The more we read the slokas and understand the intricate descriptions, the more blessed we are without any doubt!!

SPECIAL LOOKS OF DEVI (Soundarya Lahari 49)

Speaking about the face and eyes of Sri Mata, Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra points out that her “ mriganabhi” mark is similar to the spot on the moon! The ‘mangala sutra’ on her beautiful face is like the colorful festoon decoration! Her agile eyes are similar to the fish criscrossing the lake like face of Lakshmi! “Mukhachandra kalankabha mriganabhi viseshika Vadanasmara mangalya griha torana chillika Vaktra Lakshmi Parivaha chalan minabha lochana” The description continues and the nosegay and it brilliance, the ears decked with Kadamba flowers, as well as Her ‘thatankas’ formed by the sun and the moon are described exceptionally!  Her ‘Kapola’ is a mirror of Padmaraga stone! She has drenched the Manas of Kamesa with the brightness of Her Divine smile!

Sri Sankara is totally lost in his devotion for the Divine Mother! He is not ready to describe anything else without exhausting the features of Her face! He is unable to withdraw his looks from the exceptional beauty of Her face! Everything about Her face is so beautiful that he is unable to think of anything else! The result is that he now starts describing and explaining her looks and their effect and efficacy. Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Your looks are 'Visala'-very broad and not restricted to a particular locality. They are forever conducive to general happiness for all. Not only this, they are bright and radiant and invincible! They bring a cascade of universal compassion! They are indescribably sweet and encompass everything! They are forever protective! They have conquered a cluster of various cities and towns!  Your Looks, thus, are eligible to be called by the names of the cities and towns!”

There are eight cities called Visala, Kalyani, Ayodhya, Dhara, Madhura, Bhogavati, Avanti and Vijaya. In the same manner, there are eight varieties of Devi's Looks! Visala look is endowed with radiance! Kalyani look has an element of surprise! Ayodhya look has the eyes open with the black pupils! Dhara look is a little tired and sluggish! Madhura look is vacillating and unsteady! Bhogavati look is called “Asruna”! Avanti look is called ‘Mugdha’! Vijaya look brings both the black pupils together! These are called “Akekaras” and  equal to women!

What is the significance of these looks of Devi? Why does Sankara allude to these special looks of the Divine Mother? These looks of Devi are capable of creating good as well as bad effects on those who receive them! They are responsible for creating ‘ samkshobhana’- confusion, ‘Akarshana’- --attraction, ‘Dravana’, ‘ Unmadana-- insanity or madness, Vasya--control over others, ‘Ucchatana’-driving away all evil influences, Vidveshana’--enmity and hatred, and ‘ Marana’ inflicting death!

The city Vijaya is the place from which Sri Mata fought and achieved victory over Her enemies through Her ‘akekara look of Vijaya! Likewise the city Visala is the place from  where She created ‘Samkshobhana’ -confusion through Her Visala look! Sri Sankara, while appreciating the beautiful and delicate looks of Devi, dwells on the effect of those looks on humanity and how they create different moods and feelings!

RAVI SASI NAYANA-DEVI'S EYES (Soundarya Lahari 48)

The sun and the moon become ear studs or rings for Sri Mata! Her gait is slow and dignified like that of the female Swan! She is decked with all ornaments. She is seated on the lap of Kameswara! She has totally surrendered herself to Him! She is seated in the center of Meru and is the chief of Sri Nagara! She is inside the house of Chintamani and sits on “Pancha Brahmasana”! She is in the forest full of lotus flowers and prefers the ‘Kadamba Vana!’ She is at the center of the ocean of Amrit and goes by the name of  Kamakshi whose glory is sung by all groups of Devas! “ Thatanka yugalibhuta thapanodupa mandala, marali mandagamana mahalavanya sevadhihi, sarvaruna navadyangi sarvabharana bhushita, Siva Kameswara ankastha Siva swadhina vallabha, Sumeru srunga madhyasrha Sriman Nayika, Chintamani grihantastha Pancha Brahmasana sthitha, Maha padmatavi samstha Kadamba Vana vasini, Sudhasagara madhyastha Kamakshi kamadayini, Devarshi gana sanghata sthuyama natma vaibhva” Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra continues to record the exceptional attributes of Sri Rajarajeswari Devi!

While Lord Siva is endowed with three eyes, the third in his forehead, Lord Vishnu is described as having the Sun and the Moon as his two eyes,”Ravi sasi nayana!”. Sri Mata, sister to Lord Vishnu too has the Sun and the Moon for Her two eyes! Though Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes the Sun and the Moon as Her “thatankas” or earstuds, Sri Sankara conceives them as Her left and right eyes responsible for day, night and the in between “sandhya kala.” Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Your right eye is the Sun and hence it creates the day! Your left eye being the Moon, creates the night! Your third eye, like the half bloomed golden lotus is responsible for the “Sandhya kala” in between the day and night!”

The third eye in Sri Mata's forehead is the eye of Fire! It is therefore the creator of ‘Sandhya’ both in the morning and evening! Sri Sankara suggests that Devi is the creator of Time in its different units like the fortnight, month, season or Ritu, yuga and kalpa and hence She transcends Time and is in unaffected by its variations! In his “Annapurnashtaka” Sankara refers to Devi as “ Chandrarkagni samana kundala dhari Chandrarkavrneswari”--the one who has the sun and the moon as her earrings or studs--kundalas and the one who combines the hues of both the sun and the moon!

Sri Mata is said to reside in the center of the Sun's disc! “ Bhanumandala madhyastha Bhairavi Bhagamalini!”. She combines within Herself the duties of the Trimurtis, Brahma, Vishnu and Mheswara! She creates as the creator Brahma, protects as Vishnu and destroys like Siva! She has also the rare power of “Tirodhana” or concealment as well as showering Grace! Thus She is called “Panchakritya Parayana!” “ Srushtikarthri Brahmarupa gopthri Govinda rupini samharini Rudrarupa Tirodhana kariswari Sadasivanugrahada Panchakritya Parayana”

As Parabrahma swarupini, Sri Mata is the primum mobile who is the root cause of everything in the universe! She is the embodiment of Time but not affected by it! She is “Kala Swarupini” and at the same time “ Kalatitha” transcending Time! Sri Sankara, in this sloka, explains how Her eyes, the sun and the moon, are utilized by Devi to bring in the different units of Time! As usual, Sri Sankara describes every part of Devi's face and the significance it has for Him!

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DEVI'S EYEBROWS ;(Soundarya Lahari 47)

Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes in detail the different angas and various attributes of Sri Mata according to ‘Kesadi padanta’method. Her kapola is similar to the mirror of Padmaraga stone! She has stolen the heart of Kamesa through her bright smile! Her neck shines brightly because of the “ Mangalya” tied by Kamesa! Her arms are are beautified by the golden ornaments like 'keyura’! She has pendants studded with diamonds and rubies. Her breasts are similar to the fruits borne by the creeper like hair with the navel as their base! “ Mandasmitha prabhapura majjath Kamesa Manasa, Kamesa baddha mangalya sutra sobhita kandhara, Kanakangada keyura kamaniya bhujanvitha, Rathna graiveya chintakalola mukta phalanvita, Nabhyalavala romali lataphala kuchadwayi”

While the description in the Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra is very detailed by itself, Sri Sankara's description of Sri Mata's face, her locks of hair, the Vermillion mark similar to ray of the rising sun and Her lalata or forehead far exceed the descriptions of Vasinyadi Vagdevatas. Again and again Sankara's imagination is triggered and he sees in Her, innumerable opportunities for descriptions that none could ever think of! Says Sankara, “ O Mother, .capable of warding off all evils and sorrows of the world! I consider your slightly bent eyebrows as the concealed bow of Manmatha! The dense dark bee colored eyes are the bow strings! You hold it in your right hand! The bow is concealed in between your fist and forearm!”

Sri Sankara exults in using metaphors and similes in describing the Divine beauty of Sri Mata!  The slightly bent eyebrows of Her remind him of Manmatha's mischievous but formidable bow that could disarm and defeat any Deva and mortal! While the eyebrow is the bow, the eye itself becomes the bowstring preparing it for action! The bow is held in Her right-hand but hidden in between the fist and the forearm! The comparison is between Her nose and forearm while Her forehead is compared to the fist! The eyebrow is compared to the bow because of its bend!

Manmatha's bow is invincible! It has disturbed even Maheswara from his tapas! Sri Mata has the bow of the Love God- Sugarcane bow, in her hand! In other words She has control over the bow as well as the Love God! “ Manorupekshu kodanda Pancha tanmatra sayaka”.The bow is Manas itself! The flower arrows are the five-- Manas, buddhi, ahankara or ego, chitta and others! With her very attractive eyes She controls the feelings of all mortals and keeps in check the devious ways of human beings!

When manas is under control man attains peace of mind! But it is the quality of mind to waver and remain unsteady! It is the Manas or mind that is responsible for either attachment or detachment! “ Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha moksha yoh” The Upanishads point out that our indriyas are the horses that take us in gallop very dangerously!  The Atma, riding the chariot of the body has to utilize his intellect or buddhi to control the Mind! It has to be the bridle to check the gallop of the horses that are the sense organs- the Indriyas! When our Manas is in the hands of Devi where is need for fear? We are very safe as we have surrendered ourselves to her Will! The side glance of Sri Mata is enough to grant salvation or mukti! Her eyes or looks are so powerful!

DEVI'S' LALATA' OR FOREHEAD (Soundarya Lahari 46)

The first ten slokas of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes the different parts of the Her person from head to face! She has come out of the sacrficial fire or the purpose of saving the Devas from Bhandasura and other asura! With four arms, endowed with the bow, arrows, and ankusa She hs drenched the entire universe with the soft orange color of the rising sun! Decked with Champaka, Asoka and Punnaga flowers, Her full moon face has the ‘mriganabhi’ mark similar to the spot in the moon! Her eyes are like the criscrossing fish in the Lakshmi like lake of Her face! Her nose gay outshines the brilliance of the stars! The sun and the moon have become Her thatankas- ear studs or rings! Her temple reflects like the mirror made of Padmaraga stone!

After describing the dazzling crown of Sri Mata studded with the “Dwadasadityas”, her thick dark locks of hair enviably fragrant,her plaits of hair that appear to imprison the Vermillion mark similar to the light of the rising sun, and Her captivating smile and seductive forelocks that defeat the beauty of  the lotus, Sri Sankara gloats over the Divine beauty of forhead or ‘lalata’. Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Your lalata is elegant and glamorous, a different moon bit from the one that adorns your head! Otherwise how is it possible that when the four corners of the two moons are joined there is the full moon with all its sixteen kalas radiating softmoon light?”

As usual, Sankara loses himself in the inordinate beauty of his Divine mother! Each and every one of Her angas have an ethereal beauty that defy any description! He points out that Her lalata  is a semicircle or a crescent! When the crescent on the head and the semicircular lalata ends are joined it becomes a full moon in all its glory! What a brilliant metaphorical description! !

The full moon formed by the combination of the four ends is an exceptional one coated with the Divine nectar or Amrita! Sankara is astonished at this rarest of the rare visions of Sri Mata's lalata! Extreme devotion  coupled with poetic fervor and ripe imagination makes Sri Sankara experience and enjoy the vision of his Mother!

It is very difficult to find any other poet or a devotee of Sri Mata who can be compared to the great exponent of Adwaita for this kind of unparalleled description of Devi!

LORD VINAYAKA AND HIS MANY FORMS

“ He is white robed, all pervading, of the color of the moon, has four shoulders, has gentle and soft face and the one who wards off all obstacles and impediments” This is how the first popular  sloka describes Lord Vinayaka! He is the Lord who has no “Nayaka”! He is Nayaka himself! All the Gods are wary of Vinayaka! He is the first God that has to be propitiated if one wants success in his endeavors. Lord Siva too had to recognize the significance of Vinayaka during his fight against the demons of Tripura! Ravana had to lose the “Atmalinga” granted to him because of the wiles of Lord Vinayaka! Any puja or worship has to begin with Vighneswara worship for its successful completion! Different stories describe the birth or origin of Vinayaka. Sri Lalita .Sahasra Nama Stotra points out that Sri Mata created Ganeswara by her look at the face of Her Lord Kameswara! “Kameswara mukhaloka kalpita Sri Gneswarayai”! Many Puranas have different versions of the Lord's origin and birth!

According to Ganapati Adharvana Sirsha He is above “all the three Gunas- Satwa, Rajas and Tamas; he transcends the three states- jagrat, swapna and Sushupti! He is also far above the three types of bodies- Sthula, Sukshma and Karana! He transcends the stages of Time- Past, Present and the Future! He is present in the Mooladhara Chakra of all of us! He is the embodiment of the three types of energy-- IcchaSakthi, Kriya Sakthi and Jnana Sakthi! The Yogi's meditate on you always! You are the personification of the Trimurtis, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara! You are the Lord of the three worlds! Fire- Agni, Vayu-Wind, the sun and the moon are under your control Entire Creation is within you! You are all pervading!” “GAM” is the Bijakshara of Ganapati. If the Pranava OM is joined to the syllable “GAM” and chanted, Lord Ganapathy is sure to present Himself before the Upasakas! The Lord has a single tusk, four shoulders; a rope in one hand, and ankusa in another. The other two hands present Abhaya and Varada mudras'! He has the flag of the mouse! He is red in color, has a pot belly, winnow ears and wears red dress! His body is fully smeared with red sandal paste! Devotees worship Him with red flowers! He is compassionate to his devotees. He is the very cause for the creation of the universe! He has no Death! He is the form of the BRAHMAN and is said to be present long before creation itself!!

Lord Vinayaka has taken a number of avatars and has different names for every form! “Mudgala Purana”  mentions thirty two forms of Ganapati whose detailed descriptions are found in the Sivanidhii portion of 19th century Kannada “Sri Tattvanidhi.” Nanjangud Temple and Chamarajanagar in Mysore have sculptural representations of these forms! Each of the thirty two forms have a dhyana sloka describing the attributes of each form! First sixteen forms of Ganapati are popularly worshipped as “ Shodasa Ganapathi” The thirteenth “Maha Ganapathi” is specially worshipped. The tantric sect is devoted to Sakthi Ganapathi, Ucchista Ganapati and Lakshmi Ganapathi. Herambha Ganapathi is very popular in Nepal.

The names of the thirty two avatars of Gnapathi are listed below: 1 Bala Ganapathi 2 Tharuna Ganapathi (young) 3 Bhakti Ganpathi 4 Vira Ganapathi 5 Sakthi Gnapathi 6 Dwija Ganapathi 7 Siddhi Ganapathi 8 Ucchista Ganapati 9 Vighna Ganapati 10 Kshipra Ganapathi 11 Herambha Ganapati (mother's beloved son) 12 Lakshmi Ganapathi 13 Maha Ganapathi 14 Vijaya Ganapathi 15 Nritya Ganapati 16 Urdhwa Ganapati (elevated) 17 Ekakshara Ganapati 18 Vara Ganapathi 19 Trayakshara Ganapati ( Lord of three letters A U M) 20 Kshipra Prasda Ganapathi 21Haridra Gnapathi (made of turmeric powder) 22 Ekadanta Ganpathi- with single tusk 23 Srishti Ganapathi--in charge of creation 24 Uddanda Ganapathi ( unchained) 25 Rinamochana Ganapathi- remover of all debts 26 Dhundi Ganapathi--sought after 27 Dwimukha Ganapathi- two faced 28 Trimukha Ganapathi--with three faces 29 Simha Ganapathi (lion) 30 Yoga Ganapthi (ascetic) 31 Durga Ganapathi--Invincible and 32 Sankatahara Ganapathi--dispeller of all impediments and sorrows!

Vinayaka chathurti is celebrated all over India and has become almost a national festival! In many places it is celebrated for ten days in a gala festive mood! Vinayaka welcomes you at every street corner! He is popular as every individual wants His grace to overcome the obstacles in this mortal world! Poets and Saints have sung his glory in their compositions which are sung by musicians even today! Saint Purandara Dasa, Saint Thyagaraja, Sri Muthuswamy DIkshitar and many others have extolled the greatness of Lord Vinayaka in no uncertain terms in their compositions! “Vatapi Ganapatim bhajeham” and Sri MahaGanapatim” are just two popular songs loved by people! On this day of Vinayaka Chathurti, let us pray and worship the Lord for our progress and prosperity as well as that of our Nation! May Mother India revert to the path of Dharma and be free from the canker of Corruption and other vices!

THe BEAUTY OF DEVI'S FACE (Soundarya Lahari 45)

The face of Sri Mata is extremely and indescribably beautiful! It is adorned by the the crescent of the eighth day! The “mriganabhi” mark on Her full moon face is similar to the dark spot on the full moon itself! Her face similar to that of Goddess Lakshmi is like a ‘ Parivaha’ in which the eyes flit across like the fish! Her nose gay shines like the fresh blown Champaka flower! The other ornaments of Her nose defeat the effulgence of the stars in heaven! Kadamba flowers deck Her ears while the sun and the moon position themselves as Her ‘Thatankas' or ear rings or studs! “Ashtamichandra vibhraja dalikasthala sobhita mukha Chandra kalankabha mriganabhi viseshika vaktra Lakshmi Parivaha chalan minabha lochana navachampaka pushpabha nasadand virajita tarakanthi tiraskari nasabharana bhasura kadamba manjari klapta karnapura manohara thatankayuglibhuta tapanodupa mandala” what a tremendous description of the face of Sri Mata by the Vasinyadi Devtas in Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra!!

Sri Sankara, following the “ Kesadi padanta’ description has already extolled the grand and amazing Crown or Kirita of Sri Mata. He has also declared the extraordinary beauty of Her locks of hair that appear to imprison the Vermillion mark which resembles the soft red ray of the rising sun! Now Sankara sees in his vision, the beautiful face of his Mother and loses himself in describing it to us! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! The looks of Iswara, who has won over the guiles of Manmatha, are always fixed on Your smiling face and teeth!! Your lotus face, covered over by the natural curly locks similar to the bees, makes fun of the real lotus flower!”

It is not possible for Sankara to describe the beauty of his Divine Mother in a normal manner! He is so fascinated by more than the celestial beauty of Her face that he breaks into metaphorical language and uses similes to explain.The curly locks similar to the dark color of the bees mock at the beauty of the natural lotus according to Sankara. The looks of Iswara are compared to the bees that are attracted by the fragrance of Her smile slightly exhibiting Her teeth!

It is not easy for a person not to be attracted by the smile of a beautiful damsel! Sages and saints had bitter experience on account of the Wiles of beautiful women! Lord Siva himself had fallen in love with Mohini who was Lord Vishnu in a different guise! When Manmatha, God of Love, disturbed the Lord's tapas he was reduced to a heap of ashes by the third eye of the Lord!  Even such victorious Iswara's eyes have no other way but to hover over the lotus faced Sri Mata in all Her Glory!

Sankara, besides being a very great philosopher, was a poet par excellence! With the poetic lisence at his disposal he beautifies his Divine Mother better than the Vasinyadi devatas in Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra! It is interesting to compare Sankara's description of Devi with the actual description in the Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra.The sloka exhibits the rich imagination of the poet that Sri Sankara was!! I

SRI MATA'S VERMILLION MARK ( Soundarya Lahari 44)

Sri Mata's nose ring makes fun of the dazzling and twinkling stars in heaven! Wonder of wonders, the sun and the moon have positioned themselves as Her ‘Thatankas’ or ear rings! Her forehead is like the mirror made of Padmaraga precious stone! “ Tarakanti tiraskara nasabharana bhasura kadamba manjariklupta Karna pura manohara thatanka yugalibhuta thapanodupa mandala Padmaraga Siladarsa pari have kapola bhu” Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra exults in describing almost every anga of Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari!

Sri Sankara, in his own inimitable manner describes the specialities of Her person that enhance Her beauty! His imagination is triggered immediately when he visualizes the thick dark locks of hair and the clearly demarcated separation in between! Sri Mata has her Vermillion mark on Her face. Says Sankara, “  O Mother! Your vermillion mark looks like the ray of the rising sun imprisoned by the thick dark hair! The line of separation between the parts of hair has enhanced your beauty a thousandfold! Let that sacred separating line bestow prosperity to all of us!”

Sankara imagines that Sri Mata's locks of hair are lines of darkness!  The vermillion mark is imprisoned by the thick dark hair! The red vermillion mark in between appears to be the ray of the rising sun that has been imprisoned by the dark hair! Once again Sri Sankara uses metaphorical description in praising the beauty of his beloved Mother!

How can the plaits of hair be compared to darkness? Probably it is because of their color! The vermillion mark in between makes Sankara think it is imprisoned! The red color of the mark reminds him of the soft red hue of the ray of the rising sun! Each and every part of Sri Mata is capable of bringing prosperity to all in the world! Sankara's total dedication to the beauty of his Divine Mother is illustrated in this sloka.

When a person is totally lost in devotion or bhakti, he considers every thing associated with his chosen form of God or Goddess as sacred, pure and a bestower of peace and prosperity! No wonder, Sankara, one of the greatest devotees of Sakti, derives inspiration from the celestial beauty of Devi! The waves of beauty are manifold and it is given to Sankara to drench himself with those rare waves of beauty and explain them to ordinary mortals like us!

SRI MATA'S LOCKS OF HAIR (Soundarya Lahari 43)

Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra starts with ‘Kesaadi padanta’ description of Sri Mata. She is “ “Simhasaneswari” emerging out of “Chidagni kunda”- the sacrificial fire for the avowed purpose of fulfilling the desire of the Devas! She has the terrible radiance of a thousand rising suns and endowed with four arms! She has the 'pasas’ or ropes representing ‘ragas’ or attachments! She wields the bright ‘ankusa’ a sign of her anger! Her sugarcane bow represents ‘manas’ and the arrows are the five “Tanmatras” like manas, buddhi, ahankara or ego and chitta! She has literally drenched the entire universe with her soft red hue of the nascent sun! Her locks are decked with extremely fragrant flowers like Champaka, Asoka, and Punnaga! Heightening her inordinate beauty are the rows of “ Kuruvinda mani beads! The stotra runs riot in describing every part of Her face, eyes, Mangalya', nosegay, ears, and the ear rings which are the sun and the moon themselves!

In line with the description of Sri Mata in the Stotra, in the forty third sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sankara’s flight of imagination is really astounding. It is only a person of Sankara’s stature and repute who can think of such description! Says Sankara, “ O Mother!, Let Your dense, nice, shining, and delicate locks of hair destroy our ‘ajnana’ or Ignorance and ‘avidya! How can I describe the astonishing beauty of your locks of hair? The flowers of the Kalpa vruksha in the Nandanavana of Swarga or Heaven have migrated to your locks of hair to obtain their natural Divine fragrance which they miss in the wish fulfilling Tree in Paradise!

Sri Snkara is never satisfied with the description of the beauty of the Mother! Like a child stupefied at the celestial beauty of Lalita Maha Tripurasundari, he tries to glorify Her in different angles! Once again this is purely a metaphorical assertion! The locks of hair of the Divine Mother are so natural, fragrant, nice and delicate that even the flowers of the heavenly Kalpatharu desire to adorn Sri Mata’s locks of hair! It is believed that the locks of Divine ladies have a natural, indescribable fragrance that is denied to locks of hair of ordinary women!

Sankara compares the locks of hair of Sri Mata to the dense or thick black Lilies.! These lilies have the same qualities that are attributed to Sri Mata’s locks! The distinguishing nature of Swarga is the renowned “Nandanavana” of  Indra, king of Gods! No mortal can ever dream of entering its premises! The Kalpatharu in the farm is the wish fulfilling tree which is the sole property of Indra!

Two more precious properties of Indra are the Parijata tree and Kamadhenu, the cow! The former is found only in Swarga! Lord Krishna had to visit Heaven to get Parijata flower to appease the anger of his wife Satyabhama and please her as per the Puranas! Kamadhenu is also called Surabhi. It has been the envy of many a king as well as the treasure of a few sages! When the king wanted to seize the Kamadhenu with Sage Vasishta, it generated an army of soldiers from it's body and defeated the king's army!

SRI MATA'S KIRITA--CROWN (Soundarya Lahari 42)

One way of celebrating the glory of Gods and Goddesses is to describe their figure from head to feet which is called “ Kesadi padanta varnana.” Every part of the idol is described in detail with  the entire embellishments up to the feet of the deity. Another method of enjoying the beauty of the Lord is to start from the feet and progress up to the head of the Godly figure which is called “Padadi Kesanta Varnana--from the feet to the head and the hair of the God or Goddess! The beginning of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra follows the first type of description. Starting from the “ Simhasana” She occupies, it describes the rising sun radiance of Sri Mata, Her four shoulders with pasa, ankusa, sugarcane bow, and the arrows representing the “Pancha tanmatras.” She has totally engulfed the entire world with her radiance of the rising sun! Flowers like champaka, Asoka and Punnaga adorn Her locks! Her eyes are similar to the fish cris crossing Her lake like face! Her nose gay defeats the brilliance of the shining stars! She has the sun and the moon as her ear studs or rings called thatankas! Her forehead sparkles like the  mirror made out of the precious Padmaraga stone! She has stolen the heart of of Her spouse Kamesa with a smile! Her neck shines with the ‘Mangalya’ tied by Her Lord Kamesa!

Following the tradition, Sri Sankara, after tracing the path of Sri Mata in various Chakras and describing the effect and efficacy of Her “Pada dhuli’ which the Trimurtis  apply to carry on their duties, is enthralled by the crown or Kireeta that She wears! Says Sankara, “ O Mother!” Your golden Crown is decked with the precious stones of the twelve Suryas or “ Dwadasa Adityas!” One who meditates on you and tries to describe You thus shall definitely mistake the crescent on Your head shining with coruscating brilliance, for a rainbow!

Sankara indulges in metaphorical description  of of Devi's kirita. The precious stones are not the ordinary stones! They are the twelve suns embedded firmly on Her crown! One is enough to shed brilliant light. How about the twelve suns radiating their brilliant light at once? The different hues of the twelve suns fall on the crescent moon on Her head and create an illusion that it is not the moon but a rainbow due to refraction of light! This illusion makes Sri Mata much more beautiful!

We are under the impression that it is Lord Siva alone who is adorned with the crescent moon.  Sri Mata who is, “ Sivakameswarankastha Siva swadhina vallabha” too has the crescent on her head! We find Sri Mahaganapati also wearing the crescent on His head! Who are these Adityas? They are the progeny of Aditi and Kasyapa prajapati. Generally all the Devas are considered as ‘Aditeyas’. The progeny of Diti, other wife of Kayapa are called ‘Ditijas’ or  ‘Asuras’ while the Devas are named as 'Suras’!

According to Sankara, the twelve Suryas who deck the brilliant crown of Sri Mata are: 1 Dhata 2 Aryama 3 Mitra 4 Varuna 5 Indra 6 Viswavan 7 Twashta 8 Vishnu 9 Amshuman 10 Bhaga 11 Pusha and 12 Parjanya! It is because of Her they glow and offer life giving light and heat! Hence it is not for nothing that they occupy the crown of Devi They beautify themselves by remaining on her crown! The look of Sri Mata and the diffusion of the light of the twelve Adityas save the world and its inhabitants!