THE WHITE GARLAND (Soundarya Lahari 74)

In the fourteenth sloka of Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra, Vasinyadi Vagdevatas, after describing the features of Devi's physical form, point out the nature of Her breasts! They are symbolic of the eternal love of Kameswara for his spouse Lalita Maha Tripurasundari! The way the Vasinyadi Vagdevatas describe the breasts is interesting. The breasts are the fruits borne by the creeper like hair originating from Her navel! “ Nabhyalavala romali lathaphala kuchadwayi” Sankara is inspired by this sloka in his description of the breasts of Devi! As a poet and a great upasaka of Devi, he digresses into the different aspects of those Divine breasts and conjures up different images! Devi is like a flash of lightning in its coruscating brilliance and a resident of the six Chakras! She is ‘Maha Sakthi’- greatest energy; Bhavani, transcending all thoughts and the sledge hammer for the wild forest of samsara or family and material life! “Thatillatha sama ruchi shatchakropari samsthita Bhavani bhavnagamya bhavaranya kutarika!”

Sankara hopes that the breasts of Devi, feeding Her children Vinayaka and Kumaraswami should ward off all our difficulties and dangers! In his childishness, looking at the breasts, Vinayaka suspects if his mother has stolen his elephant head! He feels to assure himself if his head is safe and secure! Sankara asserts that both Vinayaka and Kumaraswami remain celibate because they are fed with the Divine nectar of breasts that are actually “Amritaokalasas” studded with rubies!

The poetic psyche of Sankara brings fresh and surprising ideas! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Your breasts wear on them the white garland, strung with the pearls from the head of the Gajasura! That white Garland is reddened by the color of your nether lip of the hue of the Bimba fruit! The garland shines in amazing multicolors! It is similar to the (red) terrible heroism mixed with the white (pure) renown of Iswara!” We find Sankara devoting four slokas on the Divine breasts! Different thoughts come to him as he visualizes them. The childhood of Vinayaka and Kumaraswami comes in handy to Sankara! The description that Vinayaka mistook Devi's breasts as his head is far-fetched and exaggerated! That is the poetic way of inducing surprise and amazement in the readers!

Gajasura is he Elephant Demon. According to Kurma Purana the demon assumed the form of an elephant and terrorized the brahmins worshipping the Linga. Lord Siva emerged from the Linga and slew the demon! He removed the elephant skin and wore  it on his upper body. Another version says that the demon performed severe penance and obtained boons but became proud and arrogant! He robbed and killed people. He once attacked devotees of Lord Siva in Varanasi when the Lord ripped his body and draped himself with the elephant skin! Thus Lord Siva is called Gaja Samhara Murthy, Gajantaka, Matangari! There is a temple dedicated to Gajantaka at Vazuvur in Tamil Nadu. The icon is of eight armed bronze!

WHY VINAYAKA AND KUMARASWAMI DIDN'T MARRY (Soundarya Lahari 73)

After describing the unparalleled Chubuka-chin of Sri Lalitambika, Vasinyadi Vagdevatas point out the attributes of Devi's physical form! Her neck shines brightly with the mangalasutra tied by Kamesa! Her shoulders are decked with golden “angda and keyura! Her breasts symbolize the  love or Prema of Her spouse Kameswara! They are similar to the fruits on the creeper like hair starting from the navel! It is as if her waist is balanced by creeper like hair! In other words she has a very slim waist! She has diamond studded ‘ kinkinis’ and wears garlands! It is Kamesa alone who knows the soft and gentle nature of Her thighs! She defeats  the brightness of the lotus with the radiance of Her feet! Her gait resembles the royal, dignified walk of the female peacock! She has the rishis and Devas praising Her grandeur! She is with Her army ready to kill Bhandasura!

Sankara describes how creator Brahma, having lost one of his five heads, praised Devi withall the other four heads for 'abhaya’! Devi's hands, with the beautiful red color of Her nails, mocks at the freshly blossomed lotus! Sankara further adds that there is no possibility for the lotus to come any where near the color of Devi's nails! The devoted child and upasaka of Devi that he is, Sankara sees in his mind Vinayaka and Kumaraswamy feeding themselves from each of Devi's breasts! He hopes that they would ward off all difficulties and dangers from his life! In a twist of imagination Sankara says that Vinayaka doubts if Devi has stolen his large elephant head and feels if his head is safe and secure! In other other words Devi’s breasts are large enough to create that suspicion!

Sankara describes the extraordinary effect of the milk of Her breasts in this sloka. Says Sankara,“ O Mother! There is absolutely no doubt that Your breasts are “Amirtha kalasas”- made of precious ‘Manikya’ (ruby) precious stones! Otherwise how is it possible for Vinayaka and Kumaraswami to remain as bachelors throughout rejecting conjugal bliss?”

Both Lord Vinayaka and Lord Kumaraswami are confirmed bachelors!  But they are represented with their spouses Valli and Devasena and Siddhi and Buddhi respectively! In spiritual parlance these Devis symbolize the sakthi or energy of the Gods! For example, Vaishnavi is the symbol of the Sakthi of Lord Vishnu. There is an interesting story that explains why Lord Kumaraswami remained a bachelor. One one occasion, Parvati, his mothe,rwanted to arrange a suitable match for her dear son. She selected the girl, came to her son and told him that she had found a suitable match for him. Surprised, Kumaraswami asked Parvati how his future wife looked! Parvati replied that the girl looked like her! Intrigued by her description Kumaraswami replied that if the girl resembled her, she would be his mother and can never be his wife! Later he vowed that he would remain a bachelor throughout! Despite her persuasion! Kumaraswami didn't relent! Growing wild, she demanded that the milk with which she had fed him should be returned!! As per the story Kumaraswami vomited the entire milk mixed with blood!!

There is a temple dedicated to Kumaraswami in Sandur near Bellary in Karnataka. It is said that the lord spat out the milking in this place! The Vibhuti, taken out from the earth, is milk white with red streaks and very soft! Sankara, in his obsession to describe the beauty of Lalithambika conjures up the visions of both the Gods feeding from the breasts of Devi and its effect on them! NIt is all the fertile imagination of the bhakta that induces Sankara to write in detail of Her breasts!

VINAYAKA'S DILEMMA (Soundarya Lahari 72)

After describing Devi's beautiful and delicate shoulders decorated with golden”angada and keyura”, Vasinyadi Vagdevatas give a graphic account of Devi's breasts. They are the symbols of Kameswara's pure Love. They are the two fruits borne by creeper like hair originating from Her navel! She has a slim waist! In between the two breasts are the three “patta bandhavali!” Kameswara premaratna Mani prathipana sthani nabhyalavala romali lathaphala kuchadwayi lakshyaroma lathadhara samunneya madhyama Sthanabhara dalanmadhya pattabandhavali thraya!” She wears the red 'kausumbha’ dress! She has diamond studded ‘ kinkini’ and garlands on Her person! Her thighs are soft and tender whose nature is known to Kameswara only!  Arunaruna kausumbha vasthra bhaswath katithati Rathna kinkinika ramyarasana damabhushita Kamesa jnatha saubhagya mardavoru dwayanvita”

Earlier Sankara has described how creator Brahma, afraid of  the nails that clipped one of his heads, praised Devi's soft and tender shoulders similar to the lotus stalk.  Because of the brightness of the nails, Her tender hands mocked at the freshly bossomed lotus! There is no way for the lotus to equal the ethereal beauty of Devi's soft hands! It may be possible for the lotus if it can obtain Goddess Lakshmi's 'Laksharasa’ from under her feet!

Sankara's fertile imagination, ever active, conjures up beautiful and astonishing visions in describing the beauty and nature of Devi's breasts! The figurative description stuns us! Says Sankara, “ O Mother! Let Your two breasts feeding both Lord Vinayaka and Lord Kumara swamy at the same moment ward off all our difficulties and grant us welfare and happiness! Witnessing  the milk dripping from the nipples of you breasts, Vinayaka, In his childish stupidity, mistook them for his elephant head!! He suspected if his Mother, Devi, has stolen it and touched his head to assure himself if it is there or not!! That is how Vinayaka made his Parents have a hearty laugh and endeared himself to Devi and Kameswara!

In his fancy Sankara  sees the two deities, Vinayaka and Kumaraswamy drinking the Divine milk from both the breasts of Devi! As the Mother of both, She has to satisfy the hunger of Her two children. They cannot take turns and wait as they are hungry! Hence the conjecture that each of them is  feeding himself from each breast! Mother's compassion allows them! Her kindness for children is overflowing even as the milk from Her nipples! Vinayaka suddenly feels if his head has been stolen by his mother! He puts his hand on the head to assure himself of its presence at which the Divine Parents burst into laughter and hug him endearingly!

Sankara suggests that Devi's breasts are as big as the elephant head! Instead of saying it directly, he introduces the fanciful thought of Vinayaka touching his head to know if it is in its place! There is much exaggeration in the description of Sankara! God has endowed breasts to make women beautiful and attractive! They have a larger biological purpose as they are the source of mother's milk that sustains children in their early months and years. We cannot find fault with the description of Devi's breasts as it is that of a Child's (Sankara) wonder! Poets have their uninhibited imagination and none can stop or blame it! Every ‘anga’ of God and Goddess is said to bless the ardent devotee or Sadhaka! Hence Sankara hopes the breasts of Devi feeding Her dear children shall remove  all his difficulties and assure his welfare

DEVI'S HANDS AND NAILS (Soundarya Lahari 71)

Describing the different attributes of Devi's form, Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra points out the beauty of Her feet. Her feet mock at the beauty of the lotus by their radiance! Her lotus feet are adorned by the jingling chains- manjira! Her gait is dignified as that of the female Swan! She appears to be the very limit of charm! Her entire figure is draped in red and She is adorned with with all ornaments! She is seated on the lap of Lord Siva and has Her spouse in Her control! “Padadwaya prabhajala parakruta saroruha Sinjana Mani manjira manditha Sri padambuja Marali mandagamana Maha lavanya sevadhi Sarvaruna navadyagi sarvabharana bhushita Siva Kameswrankastha Siva swadhina Vallabha”

It is significant to note that the descriptions are minute and does not leave the so called  unimportant parts! Even Devi's nails are described. They are very bright .” Nakha didhiti sanchanna namajjana tamoguna! She resides on the center of the peak of Meru mountain! She is the Queen of Srinagara! She is in the Chintamani Home and settled on the plank of “ Pancha Brahma” “ SuMerusrunga madhyasta Srimannagara nayika Chintamani grihantasta Pancha Brahmasana sthita”

Earlier Sankara has compared Devi's neck to the stalk of Her lotus face! The three folds on her neck are the three sutras tied along with the mangalasutra! Sankara now, in this sloka, describes the significance of the nails! Creator Brahma, reflects on how Lord Siva clipped one of his five heads and praises Devi to save his other four heads! says Sankara, “ O Mother! You have mocked at the newly blossomed lotus by the color of the nails of Your hands! Oh! can the lotus be in any way compared  to your rosy hands? It may be a distant reality if the “Laksharasa” on the feet of Lakshmi is available!

As it is usual for Sankara, the metaphorical description is very engaging! Devi's hands are very beautiful with the rosy nails! This rosy color mocks at the natural color of the lotus! The color of Devi's nails heightens the beauty of Devi! “How can I describe Your beauty?” exclaims Sankara. “ Is it possible for the lotus to equal Devi's hands in any way?, he asks and concludes by saying that it is a very remote possibility unless the lotus gets  the ‘Laksharasa’ from under the feet of Goddess Lakshmi

Nails are very important factors for the beauty of an individual. Healthy nails are usually rose in color. They add beauty to the personality of the individual! Devi's nails are, no doubt, rosy. But Sankara exaggerates and uses metaphorical description. In modern times we find young men and women growing long nails on their hands under the misconception that it adds to their beauty. In fact, they spoil their personality and beauty. To Sankara there is no ideal beauty other than that of his chosen Devi Lalithambika!

BRAHMA'S DISCOMFITURE (Soundarya Lahari 70)

Announcing the emergence and arrival of Sri Mata from the Sacrificial Fire, Vasinyadi Vagdevatas describe Her purpose, dazzling brilliance and the physical form! She emerges from the ‘Agni kunda’ propitiated by the Devas in order to kill Bhandasura and his train who were tormenting the Devas endlessly! She came out with the dazzling brilliance of a thousand rising suns and four shoulders! “ Chidagni kunda sambhuta Devakarya samudyata Udyadbhanu sahasrabha chaturbahu samanvita” A description of other ‘angas’ and their attributes follow.  Her Chubuka is unparalleled! Her neck shines with the Mangalasutra tied by her spouse Kameswara! Her delicate and beautiful shoulders are decked with golden ‘ angadas and keyuras'-a kind of ornaments that beautify the shoulders! “Anakalitha sadrusya Chubuka Sri Virajita Kamesa baddha mangalya sutra sobhita kandhara Kanakangada keyura kamaniya bhujanvitha.”

Almost every part of Devi's face, her eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, nose and its adornment, the tongue, its color and its effect in transforming the white color of Goddess Saraswathi into red, Her mellifluous voice that compelled Goddess Saraswathi to stop playing on her Kachchapi, Her incomparable reddish lip, and how the Chakora birds were under an illusion are described by Sankara with amazing metaphors! Her chin is so beautiful that Her father fondles it repeatedly out of filial bond and affection! Kamesa, having failed to kiss Her lower lip,has tried to lift Her chin many a time to reach up to it! Sankara seems to have been satisfied with the description of Devi's facial features!

Sankara compares Devi's neck to the lotus stalk and Her face to the lotus! The three folds on Her neck are the mark of the three threads tied along with the mangalasutra! Sankara now praises the beauty of Devi's Shoulders! Says Sankara,” O Mother! Terribly afraid of the nails of Lord Siva that cut off one of his heads, creator Brahma desires to get ‘abhaya’-safety for all his four heads at the same time! Hence he is praising the beauty of your delicate creeper like shoulders!

Creator Brahma originally had five heads! He was puffed up with pride and arrogance and thought that he was superior to Lord Siva! Infuriated at the height of arrogance of Brahma who gloated over his power of creation, Lord Siva cut off one of his five heads with his nails! Not stopping at this punishment, the Lord cursed him. Brahma lost his power of creation!! He wanted to atone for his horrible sin and started visiting all Siva Temples. According to legend, Brahma came to the Siva temple in Tirupattur near Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu and worshipped the Lord for a long period!

Impressed by Brahma’s single minded devotion and the appeal by Goddess Parvati, Lord Siva released Brahma from the curse and restored his power of creation! He also granted that he would have separate temple for himself! Lord Siva is called “ Brahmapureeswara” in that place!  Further, the Lord granted that since Brahma's fate has changed at this place, whoever worships at the place will have his fate or destiny changed! Sankara suggests that it is because of Devi's grace that Brahma got his reprieve from the curse of Lord Siva! It is also for that reason,he praised the beauty of Her tender, delicate creeper like shoulders! Is there any one, God or human, who is not pleased at the praise of his or her beauty?