MANMATHA'S QUIVER (Soundarya Lahari 83)

The beauty of Sri Lalitambika

is indescribable and incomparable! Vasinyadi Vagdevatas describe Her exceptional beauty in the first twenty one slokas of Sr Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra. With such beauty and adornment, Devi prepares Herself for the terrible fight with Bhandasura and his evil company! In fact she has emerged from the homa kunda for the specific purpose of rooting out evil and establish Dharma! The Devas had prayed for Her intervention as Bhandasura and his train were invincible! Is she not the ocean of compassion? ”Avyaja karunamurthy rajnana dhwanta dipika”-Her compassion is causeless and She is the torch that dispels all darkness! She is of “ Sandrakruna samanadhika varjitha”- Her compassion is very deep and all are equal to Her irrespective of their status, humble or noble! There is no power equal to Her; She has all power; She brings all happiness and grants emancipation; She is the inherent force in everyone and the embodiment of all mantras! “ Sarva sakthimayi sarvamangala sadgatiprada Sarveswari sarvamayi sarvamantra swarupini”

Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama specifically says that  the softness and gentleness of DEVI's thighs is known to Her spouse Kameswara alone! Her forelegs (janu) are in the shape of “ Manikya' makuta- a crown of ‘Manikya’ precious stone! Then comes the description of Devi's ‘ jangha’ “ “Indragopa parikshiptha Smara thunabha janghika”--It is similar to Manmatha's hidden quiver of arrows!

Sankara's description of the thighs of Devi is in line of what the Sahasranama has said. She has lightened the entire universe by covering it with Her ‘ Nithambas!’ She has defeated the softness of the elephant trunks and plantain stems by Her round and fine thighs! She has even defeated the hard and stony nature of the heads of ‘Diggajas' by her hard forelegs by prostrating to Her spouse Iswara repeatedly!

Sankara's poetic imagination conjures up an amazing vision of Her “ jangha” which only a poet like him can think of!  Says Sankara, “ O Mother, Daughter of Himavan! In order to defeat and disturb the severe penance of Siva, Manmatha laid aside his ten arrows and made Your “Janghas” his quiver! In other words the “ janghas are perfectly round and look like the quiver where arrows are kept! Indra, king of Gods and other Devas are ever at Her feet worshipping Her!

Sankara refers to Manmatha's attempt to bring together Siva and Parvati by disturbing the severe penance of the Lord! Sankara says that Manmatha laid aside his five flower arrows and others. He converted Devi's ‘Jangha’ as his quiver for his arrows! The round and perfect ‘ Janghas’ are an invitation for love and eroticism! Sankara's description of Devi, with the exception of the first few slokas, is full of Sringara rasa! We wonder at his imagination and the visions that he perceives in his inner vision! We cannot take exception to his descriptions as he has his poetic license!!