Tuesday, February 5, 2019

DEVI'S UNIQUE NATURE (Sounndarya Lahari 96)

Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari and Kameswara are together always! They are never apart!  The Sahasranama Stotra describes Her as the One United with Siva! “Sri Siva Sakthaikya rupini Lalithambika!” It is combination or merging of Siva and Sakthi the energizing factor of all creation! She is the personification of the three types of energy namely wish or desire, Jnana or Knowledge and activity or work! “Iccha Sakthi Jnana Sakthi Kriya Sakthi swarupini” It is Kamesa who has tied the mangalasutra and it is He who alone knows the softness of Her thighs! “Kamesajnatha soubhagya mardavorudwayanvita!” In the “ Ashtotharasata Namavali” She is described as “Bhutesalingnodbuta pulakangyai” one who enjoys the bliss of the the embrace of Bhutesa or Lord Siva! She has Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswathi fanning Her with “Chamaras” on the left and right! “Sachamara Rama Vani savya dakshina sevitha!”

Is it possible for all the Devas to approach Her easily? Not at all. She is no ordinary Goddess! She is the chief consort of Kameswara! None can have an easy access to Her! It is very difficult for Devas to get a chance to worship Her lotus feet! Sankara says that Indra, king of Gods and other Devas have access only up to her threshold! The threshold is guarded by the Siddhis like ‘Anima’ and others! The Devas are of vacillating mind and hence are satisfied with these transient Siddhis and are not interested in attaining eternal emancipation or “Paramapada!”

In this ninety sixth sloka of  Soundarya Lahari Sri Sankara explains the unique nature of Sri Lalithambika. She is distinctly different from  the other Devis, Lakshmi and Saraswathi! Says Sankara, “O Parvati! All poets who have the grace of Goddess Saraswathi are called “Saraswathi pathis”  One becomes a “Laksmipathi” with a certain amount of money! O the the Crown of Chastity! Your story is not of that type! Your close embrace is possible for Iswara alone! It is not available even for the lifeless “Gorinta” plant for the ritual called “Dohada!”

Generally rich people are called “Lakshmipathis” while Lord Vishnu is the real Spouse of Goddess Lakshmi! In the same way great poets are called “ Saraswathi putra and Saraswathi Dhava” Son of Saraswathi and Spouse of Saraswathi respectively! The real husband of Goddess Saraswathi is Creator Brahma. These names are employed in describing the rich and the scholarly and the poets. But Lalitambika’s name can never be associated with ordinary mortals however great they may be! That is the unique nature of Devi's name!

“Dohada” is an ancient ritual in which a beautiful lady embraces a barren tree or plant to energize it! It is believed that such an action activates the inert and barren tree or plant to flower and bear fruits later! In some cases, the woman lands a kick on the plant which activates the plant to bear flowers and fruits! Sankara says that even the “Gorinta” plant that deserves “Dohada” can never dream of an embrace from Devi as it is exclusively reserved for Kameswara alone!

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