Describing the glorious attributes of Sri Mata,Vasinyadi Vagdevatas point out the dexterity of Devi in music and literature! She is the personification of all sixty four arts! She is an expert in artistic discourses! “ Kalavati kalalapa kantha kadambari priya”. Not only this, She is a redoubtable debater, who can demolish any opponent through Her arguments! “ Vagvadini vamakesi vahnimandala vasini”. She is the very heart of fine arts, the master and one who revels in discussion of kavyas-epics! “Kalathmika kalanatha kavyalapa vinodini sachamara Rama Vani savya dakshina sevitha”- She is fanned with chamaras-- a kind of fan with feathers, by the Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati on Her left and right! She is the Knower of all Vedanta- the essence of all Vedas as well as the embodiment of Satya- Truth and Ananda or Bliss! “ Sarva Vedanta samvedya satyananda swarupini”.
Is there any limit for the attributes of Sri Mata who is “ Akhilandakoti Brahmanda Nayaki?- the Lord of all the worlds in the universe? She is the very form of all languages, has a huge army, bereft of ‘bhava’ feeling and 'abhava'- absence of feeling! She is Rajarajeswari, the bestower of kingdoms and the queen of all Kingdoms! “Rajarajeswari rajyadayini rajya vallabha”.Vasinyadi Devatas are never tired of glorifying the countless attributes of Sri Mata. She is the essence of all ‘Chandas’--rules of prosody and composing, of all Sastras and Mantras or invocations! She grants peace and rest to mortals tortured by the inescapable cycle of birth, death and old age! She is well versed in the Upanishads, and the very center of art that transcends peace and calmness! “Janma mrityu jaratapta Jana visranti dayini Sarvopanisha dudgushta santyatita kalatmika”
Earlier Sri Sankara has described Sri Mata's earlobes as the bow of Manmatha and the eyes that cross lobes as the arrows of the Love God! In another twist of imagination he calls Her face with exquisite cheeks that reflect the two earstuds, as chariot of Manmatha! He wonders how Manmatha could target Lord Siva who with earth as chariot and the sun and the moon as the two wheels and the Vedas as the horses, killed Trpurasuras! Sankara now exults in the sweet music and songs Devi is engaged in! Says Sankara,” O Mother, the spouse of Sarva (Siva), Your melodious and mellifluous song is being heard and enjoyed by Goddess Saraswathi! Even as she nods her head in total enjoyment of Your music, her ear studs produce a tinkling sound! I consider that as an appreciation and praise for Your music!”
Strange and amazing indeed is the poetic imagination of this devotee, Sankara! He says that Devi's words beat the cascade of Divine nectar! They are so sweet like honey. In his vision Sankara sees Goddess Saraswathi drinking deep the beauty of Devi's song continuously! As a result of this ecstasy, she nods her head without a stop! Her earstuds (kundalas) produce a sweet tinkling sound as if Goddess Saraswathi is appreciating and extolling Devi's music and song!
Every poet has what is called poetic license! We cannot take exception to pictures
painted by Sankara's imagination! Sankara has embellished the image of his Divine Mother through his rare poetic vision! In doing so, he has derived inexplicable delight, not only for himself, but passed it on to the readers of Soundarya Lahari! Every sloka is a gem of description involving flights of imagination, fancy and imagery!The reader who understands and enjoys each and every sloka is really fortunate! Devi shall surely bless him!
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