In the second sloka of Soundarya Lahari Sankara speaks volumes of the greatness of Devi's “Pada renu” the fine dust under Her feet! By taking a small portion of that Brahma is able to create the universe and all animate and in inanimate creatures! It is because of that “Pada Renu” Vishnu with his thousand heads is in a position to bear the burden of the entire universe! Sankara says that Siva is not an exception at all! He has smeared that “Pada renu” all over his body!! Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes Devi's feet as “padadwaya prabhajala parakruta saroruha Sinjana Mani manjira manditha sripadambuja!”--Devi has defeated the brightness of the lotus by the radiance of Her feet! Her lotus feet are adorned by the jingling diamond studded ‘manjiras'! Towards the later part of Soundarya Lahari, Sankara once again describes the distinctive qualities of Lalitambika’ feet!
Sankara has already, in the earlier slokas, described how Devi has lightened the entire earth by her 'Nithambas!’ Her round and soft thighs are softer than the elephant trunks and the plantain stem! Sankara continues and comments that Her forelegs “Janu”, are harder and more stony than the heads of the eight ‘Diggajas--Elephants guarding and holding the eight directions! It is because She has been prostrating and worshipping Her spouse Iswara always! Revelling in his poetic imagination, Sankara says that Manmatha,to win over Lord Siva, converted the ‘Jangha’ of Devi into his quiver where he kept his ten arrows! Indra and other Devas are always at Her lotus feet worshipping Her!
Sankara in this sloka points out the speciality of the feet of Devi! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Your feet which have the Vedas and the Upanishads as adornments on Your head, which have the water of the Ganga from the matted hair of Lord Siva for a wash, which are red in color like the Kaustubha diamond of Lord Vishnu--kindly place them on my head and sanctify me!”
Lalithambika is described as “ Sruthi simantha sindhurikrutha padabja dhulika Sakalagama sandoha sukthi samputa maukthika” in the Sahasranamam. Again “Sarvopanisahdudghusta santyatita kalatmika” She is ‘parabramha swarupini’ where words fail to describe and Manas cannot enter! “Yato vacho nivartante aprapya Manasa Saha” Sri Mata's feet are washed by the water of the river Ganga from the matted hair of Lord Siva says Sankara! Not only that, Her feet are red like the Kaustubha diamond worn by Lord Vishnu! Sankara hints that Sri Mata is sublime and far superior to the Trimurtis!
It is ahankara or ego that causes the downfall of man! Pride and arrogance undoes the individual however great he might be! “Ma kuru dhana Jana yauvana garvam harati nimeshat kalas sarvam” rebukes Sankara in his “Bhajagovinda Stotra.” Despite his phenomenal contribution to religion, philosophy and devotional literature, Sankara is humble and considers himself a sinner! He knows his limitations! What is he in the presence of his Mother Sri Mata? So in all humility he requests Lalithambika to place Her distinguished feet on his head so that all his blemishes and sin can be warded off once for all! Is it possible for any person, including Sakara, to obtain the Grace of Sri Mata easily? If Sankara considers himself impure, what about us, poor mortals???
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