From the first sloka of Soundarya Lahari Stotra to the twenty first sloka the beauty of Sri Mata is glorified in no uncertain terms! The ‘Kesadi padanta’ description does not leave any part of the form of Devi untouched! Her radiance, purpose, bow and arrows, the ‘pasa’, flowers and ornaments, more importantly Her face similar to the full moon, the eyes flitting across like the fish are described in detail. Her nose gay is of the brightness of fresh Champaka flower! The ornament of Her nose dims the brightness of the stars! She decks Herself with flowers of different hues and looks very pretty! Devi has the sun and the moon for Her ear studs or thatankas! “ Vaktra Lakshmi Parivaha chalan meenabha lochana navachampaka pushpabha nasadanda virajita Tarakanti tiraskari nasabharana bhasura kadamba manjari klapta karnapura manohara thatankayuglibhuta tapanodupa mandala” Sankara too is inspired by the beauty of Devi's face and her eyes. He looks at Her face and eyes in different angles and with rare poetic
zeal explains their significance! His interpretation of the nature and beauty of Her eyes and ears is astounding!
Sankara requests Devi to extend Her benevolent looks, beautiful like the half open ‘kaluva’- Lily flowers! His life shall find its true fulfilment only then! She would not lose anything by doing so. Her earlobes create an illusion in the minds of people since they look like the bow of Mamatha! The wide eyes crossing the earlobes appear to be the dangerous arrows of the Love God! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! The two ear studs, reflected on your exquisite cheeks look like four! Looking at this face with the two earstuds, I consider it as the four wheeled chariot of Manmatha! Is it not the one with which Manmatha targeted Lord Siva who fought the asuras, with earth as His chariot, the sun and the moon as the two wheels and accompanied by an army of the Pramathaganas?”
Sankara points out that Lord Siva went to fight the Tripurasuras with earth as his chariot, Brahma as the driver, and the sun and the moon as the two wheels of the chariot and Narayana as the arrow! He was accompanied by all Devas and the Ganas. Finally He killed them to the great delight of Devas who heaved a sigh of relief. Such a great invincible Hero like Lord Siva is targeted by Manmatha with the exceptionally beautiful face of Sri Mata which is like the chariot of Manmatha with four wheels-- the two studs reflected as four on Her beautiful cheeks! Sankara compares the heroism of Lord Siva to that of the Love God and suggests that it is Manmatha that wins finally!
The story of Tripurasura samharam is narrated in the Bhagavata Purana. Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, Viryavana, sons of Tarakasura performed tapas in different poses for three thousand years! They demanded immortality from the creator Brahma which he refused as impossible. They wanted as an alternative, three forts, of gold, silver and iron where they would live for a thousand years! The forts would align as one once in thousand years. This combined fort is called Tripura! Anyone who destroys Tripura, at the time of alignment, with a single arrow shall kill them! Accordingly the boon was granted and the forts were built by Maya the architect. The asuras flourished. But the Devas were uncomfortable! Lord Siva told them that the asuras have not committed any sin and so nothing can be done! Lord Vishnu suggested that the asuras should be forced to commit sin so that they can be killed! He created a man with a shaven head to preach a religion against the Vedas!
The disciples went to the forts and spread the new religion against the Vedas, worship, non belief in heaven and hell! The new religion was so convincing that even sage Narada was confused and converted! Vidyunmali at length accepted the religion! People opposed the Vedas, worship and fell into evil ways! They committed sin! Knowing this, Lord Siva agreed to destroy the asuras. He had the earth as His chariot with the sun and the moon forming the wheels of the chariot! Creator Brahma drove the chariot!The four Vedas became the horses and the Lord proceeded against the asuras! The three forts aligned into Tripura at the same moment! At this opportune moment the Lord shot His arrow with Lord Narayana at itq s tip! That saw the end of Tripura and Tripurasuras! Lord Siva came to be called ‘Tripurantaka!’ Sankara alludes to this incident to demonstrate the Lord's great heroism and invincibility! Manmatha aims his arrows at the Lord and wins too!!! There is another version in Tamil Literature that the Lord destroyed them by his explosive laughter!
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