DEVI'S THAMBULA (Soundarya Lahari 65)

Nothing stirs in the universe without the sankalpa or will of Sri Mata! It is foolish to think that one has achieved something through his own effort.That ego has to be eschewed if one wants the grace of Devi. Agni, Vayu and Indra have already realized their helplessness in the absence of Devi's will and grace! We need not think of the position of mortal man who is steeped in Maya and material world.Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes Devi as Katyayani, the destroyer of Time, and the one served by none other than Lord Vishnu himself! “ Katyayani kalahantri Kamalaksha nishevita”. Her mouth is full of betel leaves and arecanut!! She has the radiance of the pomegranate flower!  She has the beautiful eyes of the deer and is attractive! She is important and the spouse of Kameswara! She is the friend of everyone! “ Thambula pooritha mukhi thadimi kusumaprabha Mrigakshi Mohini mukhya Mrudani mitra Rupini”. She is the very embodiment of Will powerl, knowledge and action! “ Iccha Sakthi Jnana Sakthi Kriya Sakthi Swarupini.

Sankara has already explained how the Chakora birds were cloyed with the moonlight of DEVI's Smile generated from Her full moon face! To avoid that cloying sweetness they drank the natural moonlight mistaking it for the vessel wash! Devi's tongue is of the redness of the ‘Japa’ flower and engaged in chanting the greatness and heroics of Her spouse Kamesa! The redness of Her tongue is so powerful that the spotless whiteness of Goddess Saraswathi is transformed into redl Has not Devi drenched all the worlds with the  natural redness of Her form? She is effulgent with the brightness of a thousand rising suns! ”Nijaruna prabhapura majjath brahmanda mandala Udyadbhanu sahasrabha chaturbahu samanvita.”

In this sixty fifth sloka of Soundarya Lahari Sankara speaks of the grace with which Devas defeated the asuras and what reward she gave them! Says Sankara, “O Mother! After victory over the asuras, removing the head gear, Devas and others prostrated before You! They didn't accept  “Siva nirmalya”-- the remnants of puja and worship! On the other hand, Lords Subrahmanya, Vishnu and Devendra have taken in the the remnants of Your half chewed tamboola with white camphor bits! That is the reward that Devi grants to those that have won Her grace!”

Sankara says that Lord's Subrahmanya, Vishnu, and Devendra are not interested in taking the remnants of puja and worship-- nirmalya, the share of Chandeswara,a form of Siva! But they have accepted the half chewed thamboola with bits of white camphor, a fragrant component! That is the gift that Devi gives as they remove their head gear and prostrate before Her!

It is clear from the sloka of Sankara that Devi is the Supreme BRAHMAN before whom the Trimurtis, creator Brahma, protector Vishnu and destroyer Rudra prostrate! It is said in the Sahasra Nama that Devi created the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu from the nails of Her ten fingers! “Karanguli nakhotpanna Narayana dasakrutyai” The Upanishads also proclaim the indispensability of the grace of BRAHMAN in all our activities! Soon after the decimation of Bhandasura with Maha pashupatastra, all Devas were immensely pleased. Brahma, Vishnu and Devendra praised Devi for killing the asura and his train. “Brahmopendra Mahendradi Deva samsthutha vaibhva” The half chewed Tamboola is the prasadam for the Devas!