Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra, in it's ‘Kesadi padanta' description glorifies the various attributes of the physical form of Sri Mata. After describing Her nose and its adornments, Her ears and the sun and the moon who become Her ‘thatankas are described! Her ‘kapola’ is similar to the mirror of Padmaraga stone! Her teeth are pure and white like the fresh sprouts! She has shamed the ‘Kacchapi’ with Her sweet talk! She has drenched the Manas of Kamesa with the radiance of Her seductive smile! “ Suddha vidyankurakara Dwija pankthi dwayojwala Nija sallapa madhurya vinirbharsita Kacchapi Mandasmitha prabhapura majjath Kamesa Manasa”
Sri Mata is” Narayani Nadarupa namarupa vivarjita--She is the Sakthi of Narayana, the very form of primordial Sound or Pranava! As such She is Formless and Nameless! She is Awareness Herself and the form of all response or ‘chetana’! At the same time She is inertness or jadasakthi and the undercurrent of everything in the universe!” Chichakthis Chetanarupa jaasakthir jadatmika.”She is “Kalathmika kalanatha kavyalapa vinodini”-She is the soul and Queen of all Art, One who revels in hearing the kavyas or epics! She is “Bhasharupa” the very form of language! She is “Saraswathi sasthramayi guhamba guhyarupini”-She is Goddess Saraswathi Herself, the innate force in the sasthras, the dweller in caves, and whose form is steeped in mystery! Vasinyadi Vagdevatas describe Her as “chandassara sasthrasara mantra Sara thalodari”--the very essence of Chandas' or prosody, sasthras and mantras! She is also slim in Her personality!
After describing the amazing and incredible quality of Devi's tongue, its redness and how it transformed the whiteness of Goddess Saraswathi into red color, Sankara visualizes the sweetness of Devi’s speech! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Goddess Saraswathi is eulogizing on the veena, the heroics of Your spouse Kamesa, in front of You. Involved in appreciation of her praise, You are nodding your head! You are about to compliment Goddess Saraswathi on her performance! The extraordinary and incredible sweetness of your speech put to shame the melodious sound of the veena! Goddess Saraswathi had no other alternative but to stop playing on it and put it under cover!”
Sankara's vision is itself extraordinary and metaphorical! In every aspect of his Divine Mother he sees something significant and special! Coupled with his inner eye and inspiration he sees pictures of Devi which none else can see! Is it possible for anyone else to conjure up such images of Devi? It is because of his intense bhakti and total dedication to worship of Devi that such scenes come to his memory and vision! Sankara's description is in line with what Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra has described in the first line of the eleventh sloka which says that Devi's sweet speech has defeated the Kacchapi-- the melodious music of the veena of Goddess Saraswathi!
The Veena is considered as a Divine instrument. It is not that all can master it. Goddess Saraswathi's Veena is called “Kachchapi” She is represented as holding the Veena in her hands.The instruments and the “ayudhas” held by Gods and Goddesses have distinct names. Thus Lord Siva has his ‘Trisula’ or Trident, and 'Pinaka’ his bow! Lord Vishnu has 'SudarsanaChakra’ or the Disc, ‘Panchajanya’ the conch, ‘Kaumodaki’ the mace, ‘Srivatsa’ the scar, ‘Nandaka’ the sword and ‘Kausthubha’ the precious stone! Sage Narada, considered as the great exponent of the Veena is said to have “Mahathi” as his instrument! The other forms of Veena include Chitra, Vichitra, Rudra and other types. Saraswathi Veena and Chitra Veena are used in Carnatic music while the others are used in Hindustani music! The Veena is the abode of divinity and has references from Kalidas’ ’Kumara Sambhava’, 'Syamala Dandaka and even the Upanishads. Each part of the Veena is said to be the seat of a God or Goddess! Veena's neck is said to be Siva! The strings constitute Parvati and the Bridge Lakshmi! The secondary gourd is Brahma while the Dragon head is Vishnu! The resonated body is said to be Goddess Saraswathi! The speech or voice of Sri Mata is sweeter than the sweetest notes produced by the Kachchapi Veena of Goddess Saraswathi according to Sankara!
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