Guest guest Posted April 11, 2002 Report Share Posted April 11, 2002 Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold">I will again pass this on to . Perhaps Sri Harshanandaji (what a lovely name!), you can give some background on yourself. Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold"> Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold">Love Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold">Harsha 12.0pt;font-family:Arial'> AUTOTEXTLIST \s "E-mail Signature" /join 12.0pt;font-family:Arial'> 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"> -----Original Message----- harshanand_16 [harshanand_16 ] Tuesday, April 09, 2002 2:09 AM advaitin Tripurasundari Ashtakam... color:black">Jaya Jaya Shankara ! "Courier New";color:black">Namastripurabhairavyai ! "Courier New";color:black">Namo Chandramouleeshwaraaya ! "Courier New";color:black">Namo Naarasimhaaya ! "Courier New";color:black"> Worship of Mahatripurasundari effects a reconciliation of the "Courier New";color:black">paths of work, love and reason. It is in agreement with the findings "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of the modern science. While the followers of different creeds "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">quarrel among themselves, the SAKTA has no quarrel with any of them. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Shankara Bhagavatpada in ancient times and Sri Ramakrishna in modern "Courier New";color:black">times have demonstrated through their lives and teachings which they "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">have lived through, that such a reconciliation is not only possible "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">but also necessary. They have proved that all paths pursued with "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">devotion and a sense of non-duality lead to the same goal, that "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Mantras are efficacious, that Devathas and higher powers exist and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">that step by step the Divine mother Mahatripurasundari leads the "Courier New";color:black">sadhaka to higher and higher levels of consciousness till he reaches "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">perfection and becomes one with the supreme reality. color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> Sri Acharya's Soundaryalahari, Lalitha Trishati Bhashyam, "Courier New";color:black">Prapancha sara Tantra and various stotras give us a deep insight into "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the secrets of worship of Chitprasakthi. The TRIPURASUNDARI "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">ASHTAKAM ,short and sweet in a mellifluous metre, contains, as if in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">a nutshell, the entire philosophy of Shakti worship. "Courier New";color:black"> Of the thousands and lakhs of epithets of the Devi, "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari is the most wondrous one, declared unanimously by "Courier New";color:black">all agamas,tantras and Vedas. It means she is the belle of all the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">three worlds, the beauty par excellence in the `triad'. The "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">term `Tripura' can be variously interpreted. "Courier New";color:black">1. Three bodied : Paramashiva is the matrix, as it were, of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. The Kalika Purana says that by the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">will of Pradhana (the first principle) the body of Shiva became "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">triple : the upper part became Brahma, the middle Vishnu and the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">lower Rudra. As these three puras (bodies) are in him, he is called "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Tripura (three bodied) and hence his spouse is called Tripurasundari. "Courier New";color:black">In this context it will be of interest to learn about the linga at "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Gudimallam, a sacred township, about twenty miles from Sri Kalahasti "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">in Andhra Pradesh in India. The lingam here, said to have been "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">installed by Parashurama has its lower part bearing the form of a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Gandharva (a musical demi=god). The middle part resembles "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Parashurama, with a turban and the upper part that of shiva lingam. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Under a curse Brahma once became a Gandharva, Chitrasena by name. The "Courier New";color:black">lower pat of the lingam is thus Brahma. Parashurama is an avtar of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Vishnu. Thus the form of Shiva here is of Tripura. [From Upadesham of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Mahapeetham]. "Courier New";color:black">2. Resident in the triads : The Devi's mantra consists of three "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">syllables. Her Srividya panchadashi (or sodashi) mantra is composed "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of three kutas (peaks) Vagbhava, Kamaraja and Sakthi kutas. She "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">resides in these which are her very form (Sukshma form- subtle form). "Courier New";color:black">The nadis (psychic nerves) where she resides are three Ida, Sushumna "Courier New";color:black">and Pingala. Her Sakthis are three : Iccha(will), Jnana(knowledge) "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">and Kriya(action). The Srichakra, her very form again consists of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">circles, angles and lines. The worlds which she pervades are three : "Courier New";color:black">Heaven, earth and the nether worlds. Every tabernacle wherein she is "Courier New";color:black">the immanent self is composed of three frames : Sukshma sarira "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">(subtle body), Sthula sharira(gross body) and Karana Sharira ( causal "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">body). This again has three states of existence : Jagrat(wakeful), "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Swapna(dream) and Sushupti(deep sleep). The whole universe of which "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">she is the Mulaprakriti (First principle) and which she pervades is a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">modification of the three modes of energy, Sattva (rhythm), Rajas "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">(mobility) and Tamas (inertia). "Courier New";color:black">3. Tripura also means `anterior to the trinity, Brahma-Vishnu-Rudra'. "Courier New";color:black">Abhiyukta says : ` Because the Devi created the three forms "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">(trimurtis), because she is before all (Purobhava), because she is in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the form of the three(Trayeemayee), because even after after "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">dissolution of the three worlds she recreates them again, the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Mother's name is appropriately Tripura. [vide commentary of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Natanandanatha on Kamakalavilasa]. "Courier New";color:black">Lovability and joy are the inherent qualities of beauty. ` A thing of "Courier New";color:black">beauty is a joy for ever ' (Keats). Ina finite thing there is no "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">perfect unalloyed joy. What it gives cannot be abiding. Sruthi "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">says : ` That which is infinite is Bliss- Yo vai Bhoomaa tat sukham; "Courier New";color:black">naalpe sukham asti. Bhoomaiva sukham- Chandogya Upanishad). "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Expalining this text, Simadacharya says : ` …in what is finite there "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">is no bliss. Because the finite or the small always gives rise to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">longing for what is more than that. And longing is a source of pain. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">And what is a source of pain is never Bliss. Hence it is quite "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">correct to say that there is no Bliss in what is finite. Hence the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">infinite alone is Bliss, specially because in infinite, there is no "Courier New";color:black">possibility of pain like longing and the rest. Beyond the operation "Courier New";color:black">of time, space and causation, infinite is free from mutation. It is, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">therefore, Eternal Truth. Limitless Bliss and Beauty Eternal are the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">properties of Truth Absolute. This is what Kalidasa says in Kumara "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Sambhava : ` That is beauty which never fades but renews its freshnes "Courier New";color:black">at all moments.' When such a blissful beauty takes a form it is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari. She is beautiful in every limb…sarvangasundari… "Courier New";color:black">all limbs are in proper proportion having all the qualities of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">perfection mentioned in Saamudrikaa Shastra. "Courier New";color:black"> The devi, the never changing one among the many is therefore "Courier New";color:black">called Mahatripurasundari. It is noteworthy that of all the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">manifestations of the supreme that Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa had "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">witnessed,that of Sri Rajarajeshwari was the most beautiful to him. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> I will not type the actual Shlokas, which can be obtained "Courier New";color:black">from www.ambaa.org "Courier New";color:black">The first verse: "Courier New";color:black"> I seek shelter in Mahatripurasundari, Mater Familias of the "Courier New";color:black">three eyed one, strolling in the Kadamba forest, who is like a bank "Courier New";color:black">of clouds to a galaxy of sages, whose hip excels the mountain, who is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">served by celestial damsels, whose eyes rival the new-born lotus, And "Courier New";color:black">swarthy like the nimbus newly formed ! "Courier New";color:black"> Kadamba is a kind of tree called Nauclea cadamba. It is said "Courier New";color:black">to put forth orange, fragrant buds at the roaring of thunder clouds. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">A withered relic of the Kadamba tree is preserved in the precincts of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the Madurai Sri Minakshi temple. It also means multitude. In that "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">sense, the Kadamba forest stands for the universe that the Devi "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">permeates completely. "Courier New";color:black"> As a bank of clouds quenches the thirst of the earth, so does "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari slake the spiritual thirsts of infinite number of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">sages and divine beings by granting them herself. Muni word means "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">silent meditator. "Courier New";color:black"> Mother is described as having lovely hips, mainly to "Courier New";color:black">facilitate the Saguna Dhyana of the mother by those who cannot "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">contemplate on her formless aspect in the early stages of spiritual "Courier New";color:black">evolution. This also confirms by the standards prescribed by "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Saamudrika Shastra for Sarvaanga Sundari. "Courier New";color:black"> Swarthy like the newly formed rain cloud : this indicates the "Courier New";color:black">mother's massive grace, ever ready to rain upon her votaries to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">extinguish the fire of their suffering. "Courier New";color:black"> Esoterically, the Devi has her abode in the Sahasrara Chakra, "Courier New";color:black">where her mansion is built of Chintamani ( a precious stone credited "Courier New";color:black">with the capability to grant all desires) and surrounded by Kalpa and "Courier New";color:black">Kadamba trees. In the form of Kundalini, the Devi is normally always "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">in a slumber in the mooladhaara Chakra. The vital energy i.e prana "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">directed there by the Yogis, practicing Pranayama, generates enormous "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">heat in Moolaadhaara and it consequently awakens the Kundalini "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Shakti. She now courses through the Sushumnaa nadi, piercing all the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">six charkas, to the Sahasrara chakra to meet her lord there. In union "Courier New";color:black">with Parabrahman there, she pours down the nectar of Kulamrita, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">resembling freshly formed rain clouds, which in turn quenches the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">heat in Mooladhaara. "Courier New";color:black"> By the word three-eyed one, Paramashiva or Kameshwara is "Courier New";color:black">meant here and not Rudra, Maheshwara or Sadashiva. "Courier New";color:black">The second Shloka : "Courier New";color:black"> I seek shelter in Mahatripurasundari, Mater familias of the "Courier New";color:black">three eyed-one, who is habituating the forest of Kadamba trees, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">holding a golden Veena, Wearing a necklace of priceless gems, having "Courier New";color:black">a face deeply aglow with ambrosia, bestowing prosperity due to her "Courier New";color:black">infinite mercy, Clear eyed and Wandering. "Courier New";color:black"> Habiting the Kadamba forest means that the Devi is not only "Courier New";color:black">transcendent of the universe but also immanent in it. As the soul is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">in the body, so is she in the universe. "Courier New";color:black"> Vina stands for the universe and its music for the orderly "Courier New";color:black">behavior of all therein. It is the player who generates music, the "Courier New";color:black">instrument in itself is lifeless. In like manner it is Devi who "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">brings about harmony among all the things in the universe. She is the "Courier New";color:black">moving spirit in all. But for her, there would be only chaos. This "Courier New";color:black">clearly indicates at the mantra from Kathopanishad, ` Tameva "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">bhaantamanubhaanti etc. ` "Courier New";color:black"> The stem of the Vina represents the spine or Merudanda and "Courier New";color:black">the Vina's strings represent the nadis that run through the spine. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> Also, the very sight of Vina is regarded as a blessing since "Courier New";color:black">it is the queen of musical instruments. The stem is regarded as "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Shiva, strings as Uma, shoulder as Vishnu, tailpiece as Lakshmi, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">gourd as Brahma, midpoint as Saraswathi and the binding nerve as "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Adishesha. So the mother's playing on the Vina reminds us that it is "Courier New";color:black">SHE who gives energy to all the deities to perform their appointed "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">tasks. "Courier New";color:black"> For Mahatripurasundari, the personified universe or "Courier New";color:black">Vishwaroopini, the stars are the gems on her necklace. Being the in- "Courier New";color:black">dwelling self in all bodies, virtually it is she who is wearing the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">ornaments of all. Whosoever living beings secure for themselves "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">objects of enjoyment such as ornaments, food etc, she only is adorned "Courier New";color:black">with all of them for her pleasure. She is the self in every deity; "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">every ornament offered by the devotees to please their respective "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">deities, they all really adorn her. "Courier New";color:black"> Also, it is the custom of the Samayacharins to offer the "Courier New";color:black">Great mother, jewels set with gems, while meditating on Her in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">manipooraka chakra. This custom has its genesis in the concept that "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Sridevi fills the interior of Manipoora with priceless gems of her "Courier New";color:black">own light. "Courier New";color:black"> Mother is described by Srimadacharya as having a face deeply "Courier New";color:black">aglow with Vaaruni or ambrosia. Vaaruni literally means the liquor "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">that issued out during the churning of the milky ocean for nectar. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">However, varuni here indicates deep intoxication or bliss brought "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">about due to the Kulamrita resulting from the union of Shiva and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Shakti in the Sahasrara. "Courier New";color:black">Inebriated with the nectarine flow, she displays signs of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">intoxication like blood shot eyes, red cheeks etc. All these signs "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">may be explained with reference to Vijnaana or the science of descent "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of Kundalini back to Mooladhaara after the great communion. The exact "Courier New";color:black">relevance may be learnt from one's own Guru. "Courier New";color:black"> In the vama modes of worship, Devi is propitiated with "Courier New";color:black">Panchamakaras namely Madya Maamsa etc. as detailed in raurava tantras "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">like Kali vilasa tantra. Esoterically, spiritual liquor is indeed the "Courier New";color:black">divine Kulamrita. It is unfortunate that most Vamamarga Sadhakas "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">indulge in sex and wine without proper understanding of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">underlying esoteric significance. They, thus get more and more "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">entangled in samsara. This is the very reason why Srimadacharya "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">banned Vamamarga as not being suitable to all. Tantras themselves "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">have declared that Vama marga is for Pashu Bhaava sadhakas. Even "Courier New";color:black">Abhinavagupta, though a very great Tantric scholar and a follower of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Vamamarga, was defeated comfortably by Acharya in a debate. His "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Abhichara prayoga (some say kritya) on Acharya was reversed back to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">him by Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. "Courier New";color:black"> By the way of refinement, the poorva kaulas "Courier New";color:black">offer consecrated coconut water as a substitute to liquor. Samayins "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">have no need for all these external symbolism. "Courier New";color:black"> Vaaruni also means the juice extracted from the "Courier New";color:black">dates, said to be a favourite drink of lord Varuna. This is nothing "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">but a type of wine again. Every variety of wine is called by "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">distinctive names, Sura is the wine extracted from rice, Kohala from "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">barley, Madhulika from wheat etc. "Courier New";color:black"> Vibhava means both wealth and final beatitude. While "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the former is necessary for a comfortable living in the material "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">world, the latter is the final goal. Mahatripurasundari is one who "Courier New";color:black">bestows enjoyment and liberation as well. Srimadacharya is rightly "Courier New";color:black">full of praise of her grace, for it confers prosperity for the life "Courier New";color:black">here and the final beatitude for the life hereafter. Hence it is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">said ` Sri sundari sadhaka pungavaanaam bhogam cha moksham cha "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">karastha eva'. Different deities grant different boons. However no "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">other deity, not even any of the other Mahavidya goddesses is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">credited with this rare combination of both worldly enjoyment and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">liberation. This indeed is the uniqueness of Mahatripurasundari, "Courier New";color:black">which has earned her the epithet, Rajarajeshwari, not applicable to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">her any other form. "Courier New";color:black"> Mother is said to be clear eyed since she remains as an "Courier New";color:black">unattached spectator. Unruffled by any experience, bitter or "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">pleasant, she is ever serene with her eyes tranquil. color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> She is also called wandering since , even though she is the "Courier New";color:black">moving spirit in every being, she has no desire whatsoever. Residing "Courier New";color:black">in all bodies, her moving about is therefore carefree wandering. "Courier New";color:black">Third Shloka : "Courier New";color:black"> "Arrayed we be in the panoply, by her Kadamba forest abode, "Courier New";color:black">by the garland gracing her massive bosom, by her bosom rivaling "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">mountains, by the splendid flow of her surpassing grace in the form "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of Guru's grace, by her cheeks ruddied by wine, by her melodious "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">musical voice, by her cloud-like blue, by her inscrutable play ". "Courier New";color:black"> Here, Acharya invokes the Devi's abode, garland, breasts and "Courier New";color:black">dark blue complexion that they shall shield us from every evil. Once "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Her grace descends upon us, no evil will befall us. "Courier New";color:black"> Once again, Kadamba forest abode signifies the entire "Courier New";color:black">universe in the macrocosm or the sahasraara chakra in the microcosm. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Or it simply means the hearts of the devotees. "Courier New";color:black"> Garland is a symbol of auspiciousness. She is hence ever "Courier New";color:black">auspicious. Also mantra is something that protects the chanter. Now "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">devi's garland is nothing but the varnamaala or the alphabet from "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">which all sounds and mantras arise. She is thus sarvamantrasvaroopini "Courier New";color:black">and who better can ward off evil than her? "Courier New";color:black"> The Devi is the mother of all. In the form of Annapoorna, she "Courier New";color:black">gives food, spiritual as well as physical, to all her children. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Instances are many of her suckling small children and of their "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">blossoming into spiritual giants. Eg. Tirujnanasambandhar who was fed "Courier New";color:black">by Ambal Abhiraami. Her massive mountain like breasts represent her "Courier New";color:black">cosmic motherhood and her eagerness to nourish the entire creation. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> Now, srimadacharya also speaks of her surpassing grace. Of "Courier New";color:black">all kinds of love, the mother's love is so well known to be the best "Courier New";color:black">that any further explanation will be redundant. For the spiritually "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">less evolved, it is through Her grace that the noumenal incorpo-real "Courier New";color:black">Brahman becomes phenomenal corporeal Ishwara. It is she who shows up "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">and brings the quality-less Supreme Being within our reach as the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">mortal mother shows first her child its father. The great mother "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari blesses us not only with enjoyments but also with "Courier New";color:black">Moksha. No doubt thus, that her grace is peerless, surpassing. It is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">splendid for it dispels our ignorance and brings us enlightenment. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">The word Guru here means heavy or abundance. Her grace is heavy and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">abundant. "Courier New";color:black"> Guru also means spiritual preceptor and gurukripa, his grace. "Courier New";color:black">It is known to samayacharins that through Sadguru's grace ( in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">form of sambhava mahavedha ), Paraamba suddenly appears in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Manipura from where she has to be lead to the crown. Without the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Gurupaaduka mantra, it is said that srividya gives no results at all, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">on the contrary, it leads to Yogini Shaapa. This clearly points to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the absolute necessity of Guru's guidance. However, I would also like "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">to tell here that in Rudrayamala, Bhagvathi assures that she herself "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">will be the preceptor to the sincere and devoted sadhaka par "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">excellence. Since Aatma-Guru-Srichakra-Srividya-Sridevi are all one "Courier New";color:black">without an iota of duality, grace is all the same whether we say "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Gurukripa or Devi's grace. In satashloki, the great Acharya brings "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">out the uniqueness of Guru's grace by drawing a parallel between it "Courier New";color:black">and the philosophers stone. He says ` For the venerable preceptor who "Courier New";color:black">bestows the liberating knowledge, there is no known comparison in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">three worlds. Even the philosopher's stone, can only turn iron into "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">gold ; it cannot transmute it into another philosophers stone. On the "Courier New";color:black">contrary, the venerable guru makes his disciple who has taken refuge "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">at his feet, his own equal. Peerless nay, transcendent is He !" "Courier New";color:black"> For everyone, the veryfirst Guru is one's own mother. The "Courier New";color:black">Devi , the mother of infinite number of worlds is indeed the foremost "Courier New";color:black">Guru. In the form Uma, she cleansed Indra of his pride and arrogance "Courier New";color:black">and taught him the knowledge of the Absolute as explained by Kena "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Upanishad. The tantras define Nigama as the tantra which emanated "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">from the mouth of Girija, which was listened to by Maheshwara and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">approved by Vasudeva. From this it follows that she has been guru to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">even her cosmic consort Kameshwara. It is this great Vimarsha shakti "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">that gives a sense of "I" ness or identity to the attributeless "Courier New";color:black">Paramashiva. He sees himself only through Her and hence she is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">undoubtedly the Guru of the best of the Gurus. Bhattanaarayana "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">comments on the name "Nijaagnaaroopanigamaa' in the Lalita "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Sahasranama "Courier New";color:black">that the Nigamas (by which he means the Vedas since generally agamas "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">mean tantra and nigamas refer to sruthi ) are the expressions of her "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">eternal command. Here guru's grace, may also mean Srividya mantra "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">itself which is obtainable only by the highest grace of the divine "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">mother ( this interpretation was by H.H.Sri Srimad chandrashekhara "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Bharathi Mahaswamigal, of Sringeri sarada peetham, the greatest of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">yogis in the recent times). Srividya means as much the path to the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Divine knowledge as the Divine Knowledge itself. She is not only the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Divine Knowledge but also the great path of srividya leading up to it "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">i.e herself. "Courier New";color:black"> Further, Mahatripurasundari is also the spouse of world "Courier New";color:black">Guru Dakshinamurthy and due to the fivefold identity that exist "Courier New";color:black">between her and "Courier New";color:black">The lord ( explained in the commentary to the last verse of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Anandalahari, the first half of Saundaryalahari and also in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Agamachandrika), Guru epithet is naturally applicable to Her. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> Why is her grace like flow? For like water it flows down from "Courier New";color:black">a higher level to a lower level. Even a tiny crack in the devotee's "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">heart will do for Her grace to rush in. This word kripaa is very "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">significant. Love for equals is Maitri, love for superiors is Bhakti "Courier New";color:black">and love for inferiors is Kripa. Grace is absolutely necessary for "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the less evolved to get rid of all earthy shackles and to embrace the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">magnificent infinite. "Courier New";color:black"> Melodious voice – Needless to say a mother talks to her "Courier New";color:black">children sweetly. Towards their little ones even the ferocious "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">animals give up the ferocity. What to say of Bhagavathi who is the "Courier New";color:black">highest water-mark of grace. Moreover bliss or ananda is her very "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">nature. As Shyamala, she is the mother of all fine arts including "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">music. Shyamala is of various forms like Saahitya shyamala, venu "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">shyamala, shuka shyamala, shaarikaa shyamala etc. it is said by "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Narayana in TripuraBhairavi stotra in Jayadrathayamala that goddesses "Courier New";color:black">Saraswathi gets all her poetic and musical capabilities by drinking "Courier New";color:black">the water that is used to wash the Sri Paadukaas of "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari. "Courier New";color:black"> Anything vast partakes the color of blue e.g. the sky, the "Courier New";color:black">ocean etc. The Devi is vast in as much as she is pervasive of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">entire universe. She is therefore described as Blue. She is also a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">bank of clouds to the parched world. She is called blue ( though the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">traditional Dhyana on Mahatripurasundari prescribes a ruddy "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">complexion (arunaa) to her) to indicate that she is the nectarine "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">cloud that showers the Kulamrita. "Courier New";color:black"> Her inscrutable play is the act of projecting-sustaining- "Courier New";color:black">withdrawing the universe. As Taittareya sruthi says ` Yato bhootani "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">jaayanthe etc. `, the entire phenomenal world has its genesis in, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">stays on and dissolutes into Brahman. How the finite arises from out "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of the infinite is an incomprehensible mystery, called Maya. It is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">absolutely wrong to say that Brahman has transformed into universe. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">For Brahman is infinite and infinite is devoid of parts. Also "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">immutability is the essential quality of the infinite. This "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">completely refutes the nonsensical theories of Gaudiyas and other "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">sects with concepts like sukshmanu paramanu etc. the phenomen of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">universe is therefore past reasoning. It is Devi's play or Lila. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> For the ordinary mortals it is well nigh impossible to "Courier New";color:black">meditate upon and realize the supreme Parabrahman. For them this maya "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of Devi is of immense help in bringing the formless attributeless "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Brahman within their reach by investing it with a form and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">attributes, which does cause limitation, but the mother's divine "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">grace helps one to evolve spiritually so as to transcend it. "Courier New";color:black">Karanaagama says " for helping ascetics, ritualistic worshippers, "Courier New";color:black">yogis, to do meditation and Puja, the supreme Brahman assumes a form "Courier New";color:black">playfully' . Thus it would indeed be foolish to argue whether Kali is "Courier New";color:black">better than Lalita or Tara is the best among the two. It is very sad "Courier New";color:black">to see that the so-called illumined saints of the various dualistic "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Vaishnavite sects have argued (and continue to argue) that Krishna is "Courier New";color:black">the best and the only from of the great lord. Now, any form with "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">attributes can never ever be without limitations. One has to, at some "Courier New";color:black">point of time cross over to the formless supreme, which indeed "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">happens by divine grace. "Courier New";color:black"> Beyond the operation of Maya, the ways in which the Devi "Courier New";color:black">bestows Her grace upon and blesses her devotees are mysterious. To "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">quote some of the innumerable instances : "Courier New";color:black">1. The moment Devi scribed Bijaksharas on the tongue, Kalidasa, the "Courier New";color:black">dunce, was transformed into Kalidasa , the great poet. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">2. There is a township, Kadiramangalam by name in TamilNadu. On a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">certain day there was a heavy downpour in this place. In the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">rainstorm a good number of leaves flew from the thatch of the hut "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">occupied by Kamban, the Tamil poet. The roof started leaking and the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">poet became worried that his poetical works would be destroyed. He "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">however fell asleep. When he woke up in the morning, he noticed to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">his surprise, that the roof of his hut had been newly thatched with "Courier New";color:black">the eyes of the paddy. He was filled with devotion towards his "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">beloved deity Durga. After this event, the entire township was called "Courier New";color:black">Kadirveyndamangalam, kadir meaning the eyes of paddy and veynda "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">woven. He is the author of the masterpiece Kambaramayanam. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">3. Rous Peter, a Briton, was the collector of Madurai in 1812. it was "Courier New";color:black">his routine to go round the Minakshi temple every day on horseback "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">before setting about his daily duties. One night, it was raining very "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">heavily, accompanied by thunder and lightening. Rous Peter was fast "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">asleep in his apartment. He was suddenly woken up by a small girl, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">unseen before, and beckoned by her to get out. So he did implicitly. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Hardly had he left his chamber, before the entire structure came "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">down, struck by lightening. The girl vanished right before his eyes. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">He realizes that his escape was providential- due to the grace of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">supreme mother Minakshi. "Courier New";color:black">The fourth verse : "Courier New";color:black"> "Seek I shelter in Mahatripurasundari , mater familias of the "Courier New";color:black">three-eyed lord, who is in the middle of Kadamba forest, seated on "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the golden disc, who resides in six lotuses, who is like a constant "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">lightening to the siddhas, splendorously mocking scarlet Hibiscus, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">with cloudless moon for her crest jewel " . "Courier New";color:black"> As the spider remains in the center of the web ejected out of "Courier New";color:black">its own person, Mahatripurasundari stays as the pivot of the universe "Courier New";color:black">(Kadamba forest ) projected from her own person. "Courier New";color:black"> In this line there is an allusion to Kanchi Kamakshi who is "Courier New";color:black">none other than Mahatripurasundari. Among the four major shakti "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">peethams, the supreme-most is the oddiyana peetham or the Bhuvah "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">puram which is situated in Kanchipuram. It is the bindu sthana of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">srichakra. Lalitha Mahatripurasundari has gross-subtlle-more subtle- "Courier New";color:black">and most subtle forms which are respectively Lalitha color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari as kamakshi in kanchipuram, srichkara, srividya "Courier New";color:black">and as Paraakundalini ( refer subhagodaya stuti and kanchi mahatmya "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">varnam for more reading on this topic ). Thus, Mahatripurasundari "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> Rajarajeshwari exists in stoola roopa only in Kanchi kamakshi "Courier New";color:black">temple, which has no separate shrine for Paramashiva indicating that "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Kamakshi, unlike deities in various shakti peethams, is not Shakti "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">but Shiva-Shakti ONE, non-dual Parabrahman. The kanchimaahaatmya and "Courier New";color:black">Kamakalavilasa speak of kanchi as the navel of the world. Just as the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">navel is the center of the body from which all the 72000 nerves "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">proceed full-fledged fashion, so kanchi, the seat of Kamakshi, the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">only gross prototype of Parabrahman, is the navel of the world from "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">where her grace radiates. "Courier New";color:black"> Of all the manifested sources of energy, the sun is the most "Courier New";color:black">potent. With his rising, the entire world becomes active. It follows "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">that Mahatripurasundari reveals herself through the living God, Sun. "Courier New";color:black">This also refers to the form of the goddess residing in the solar "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">disc namely Gayathri. Indeed srividya is the third and the most "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">secretive form of gayathri. Bhasuranandanatha proves this beyond "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">doubt in Varivasyarahasya. This is also explained in Tripuratapini "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Upanishad and also in texts like Yoginihridaya. "Courier New";color:black"> This also refers to the Devi radiating in the Anahata "Courier New";color:black">chakra , a twelve-petalled lotus in the region of heart.as fire "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">shines in Muladhara, moon in sahasrara, so the sun shines in Anahata. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> As kundalini, she abides in the six lotuses on the way to "Courier New";color:black">Sahasraara. As swami shivananda says, kundalini can be aroused from "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">any Chakra, though the simplest is to do so from Muladhara. The great "Courier New";color:black">occultist Swami Punyananda meditated on the Devi directly in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Sahasraara and achieved Siddhi. However this may not be possible to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">all. So lets stick to Moolaadhaara, for which the place of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">concentration is actually the sthanam or kshetram of Aajnaa. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> Saudaamini means lightening. On her way to Sahasraara, the "Courier New";color:black">Devi stays for a while at Aajnaa Chakra, manifesting herself in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">form of a streak of lightening whereby the Yogi's eyes close to all "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">outer dualities and the inner eyes open up to the greater truths, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">making him eligible to enter the higher realms of Lalaata and other "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Chakras. "Courier New";color:black"> Also, in Manipuraka chakra, sadashiva manifests as a winter "Courier New";color:black">cloud, in company with his spouse in the guise of lightening. They "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">are called Megheshwara and Saudamini. Mahattarayonitantra names the "Courier New";color:black">cosmic couple differently as Amriteshwara and Amriteshwari. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> She is also like a lightening to the Siddhas who are "Courier New";color:black">accomplished beings. Now, the siddhis are ten namely : "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">anima,laghima,mahima,ishitva,vashitva,praakaamya,bhukti,icchaa,prapti color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">and sarvakaamasiddhi. (Some include garima siddhi also, but none of "Courier New";color:black">the Classic tantras explain as to how this extra siddhi can be "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">accomadated in Trailokyamohana Chakra. Chatuhsshati shastra clearly "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">objects the use of Garimaasiddhi. Some versions that I have seen on "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the net have included Garima siddhi in the Khadgamala mantra, which I "Courier New";color:black">think is a mistake. Rudra yamala's mala mantroddhaara chapter, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Vamakeshwara tantra, Tripurarnava Tantra, Prapancha saara saara "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">samgraha, all these granthas have omitted Garimasiddhi. Though a "Courier New";color:black">scholar tried to argue about its correctness saying some sampradayas "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">do include garimaa, he was unable to justify his stand. If any one "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">has an explanation, please go ahead. I think, the version in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">ambaa.org or sambhavi.org also has this mistake). "Courier New";color:black"> In the course of yoga practice, when kundalini courses up to "Courier New";color:black">sahasrara, the yogi acquires these supernormal powers. Being latent "Courier New";color:black">in the body, these siddhis are instantly brought to light by "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">kundalini like a flash of lightening. Also the place of meditation "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">for Chinnamastaa is Aajnaa chakra. Chinnamastaa is actually the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">goddess of the siddhamandala. Sadhakas of chinnamasta experience the "Courier New";color:black">opening of their consciousness to various lokas of siddhas and other "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">higher beings to a large extent. Hence among the Mahavidyas, ( which "Courier New";color:black">are all present in the Aavarana of Mahatripurasundari's Srichakra ) "Courier New";color:black">Chinna is placed as the Anuttara samayaambaa or the attendant to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Srimata in the Anuttara quarter referring to Aajnaa Chakra again. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> There could be yet another interpretation. She reveals to "Courier New";color:black">those who are in persuit of the Siddhis that compared with the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">ultimate realization of the self as Mahatripurasundari, these siddhis "Courier New";color:black">are as ephemeral as a lightnening. However, a second's foolish "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">indulgence in these may cause irreparable damage just like blinding "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">after being struck by lightening. "Courier New";color:black"> Mother is also described as having a red complexion that puts "Courier New";color:black">Hibiscus flower to shame. Red signifies activity. It is the color of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Rajo guna. Here Mahatripurasundari is described as reddish to speak "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of her kriya shakti and to indicate that she is the source of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">entire dynamic quality of the universe. Furthermore, she is that "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">primordial power which activated the qualitiless unmanifest Brahman, "Courier New";color:black">resulting in the appearance of this universe. Also scarlet Hibiscus "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">flower is considered very sacred to the Devi in Agamas and Tantras. "Courier New";color:black"> She also has a cloudless moon as her crest jewel. Moon is the "Courier New";color:black">sign of immortality or Amrita in tantric terminology. In the middle "Courier New";color:black">of Sahasraara there is the lunar disc from which Amrita, the elixir "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of life flows. Devi is not only immortal herself, but also the source "Courier New";color:black">of deathlessness for others. The serene moon represents that especial "Courier New";color:black">prerogative of hers. Now, does not this make mother much superior to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">a philosopher's stone that we spoke about in the previous verse? "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">The fifth Shloka : "Courier New";color:black"> "Seek I shelter in sage Matanga's daughter, Mellifluously "Courier New";color:black">conversing, vina gracing the bosom, adorned with curly tresses, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">residing in the lotus, scorning the evil-minded, Reddish-eyed due to "Courier New";color:black">nectar and captivating Cupid's enemy". "Courier New";color:black"> Matanga was a great sage and a maestro of music. In deference "Courier New";color:black">to his prayer Mahatripurasundari took birth as his daughter. This is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">what earns her the title `Matangi `. Rajamatangi or Shyamala is the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">minister to Mahatripurasundari and she shines as Minakshi in Madurai. "Courier New";color:black"> Bliss is her nature, so her speaking is soft, sweet and "Courier New";color:black">pleasant. That is why she is called Kalaalaapaa in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Sarvasampoortikarii stava i.e the Trishati. Acharya comments on this "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">name as follows : ` Kalaa means purposeful and indescribably sweet. "Courier New";color:black">Aalaapaaa means conversation. According to the saying, " Avyakta "Courier New";color:black">bhaaratee tathaa ", it is the mark of the great to have exquisitely "Courier New";color:black">sweet speech. "Courier New";color:black"> Music has the irresistible force to spellbind every "Courier New";color:black">being. "Music is " says Longfellow, "The universal language of "Courier New";color:black">mankind. " Vina is symbolic of the cosmic harmony she brings about, "Courier New";color:black">both in the micro and macrocosms. "Courier New";color:black"> Mother has lovely curly tresses. Graying or falling of hair "Courier New";color:black">is the sign of senescence. For parashakti, the embodiment of cosmic "Courier New";color:black">energy, there is no aging. She is ever youthful and free of senility. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">This is mentioned as Nithyayouvanashaalini and "Courier New";color:black">Vayaovasthaavivarjitaa. The totality of cosmic energy remains "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">constant. In it there is no increase or decrease at any time. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> She resides in lotus. Esoterically it means the heart where "Courier New";color:black">the Devi resides. Same thing is said by Shri Ramana , " it is the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">center of the self. The self is the physical center ". "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> It also means Sahasraara where Mahatripurasundari has her "Courier New";color:black">abode and also the Moolaadhaara Chakra where she resides as "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Tripurabhairavi. "Courier New";color:black"> Popularly the epithet `Lotus resident ` refers to Lakshmi, "Courier New";color:black">the goddess of wealth who is one of the many emnations of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">primordial Shakti. This is why Parashakti is called Ramaa in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Rahasyanaamasaahasra. I have tried to explain the significance of the "Courier New";color:black">Srisukta in light of Srividya in a previous post. "Courier New";color:black"> Skanda purana narrates two versions of the birth of Devi in a "Courier New";color:black">lotus. "Courier New";color:black">1. Shiva had given a boon to Daksha that Devi would be born to him. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">In its fulfillment, the Devi came down to river Yamuna, assumed the "Courier New";color:black">form of a white conch, settled herself on a lotus in the river and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">commenced doing penance.in the course of time, on a certain day "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Daksha came to the river for his morning ablution. Espying the pretty "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">conch, he took it in his hands, and it directly became a girl. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">2. Devi wanted to get rid of the body fostered by Daksha, for he had "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">turned Shiva-hater. To do so, she got permission from Shiva and came "Courier New";color:black">down to a lotus tank called Padmaa and took the form of a child. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Himavan, who was doing a penance nearby chanced upon it and took her "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">home happily. "Courier New";color:black">The devi scorns the evil minded. She is not accessible to the evil- "Courier New";color:black">minded, dishonest and the like. The Prashna Upanishad says : " For "Courier New";color:black">them is that taintless world of Brahman, in whom there is no "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">crookedness, no falsehood, and no dissimulation. Mundaka upanisd also "Courier New";color:black">says: " The self is attainable through truth ". The way to spiritual "Courier New";color:black">realization is through ethical purity. The evil-minded have a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">tendency to bring about disharmony in public life and damage the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">moral fabric of the society. Whenever such demons gain upper hand, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the Devi embodies Herself and destroys them. "Courier New";color:black"> Captivating Cupids enemy alludes to the legend that when "Courier New";color:black">Kama, the god of love , at the behest of Indra, shot an arrow of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">desire at Shiva, Shiva opened his third eye, the eye of wisdom and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">reduced kama to ashes by a mere glance. The self-same Shiva was, "Courier New";color:black">however charmed into matrimony by the Devi. "Courier New";color:black"> The nativity of Kama or Manmatha is narrated in the "Courier New";color:black">Rudrasamhita of Shiva Purana. After Brahma had created Marichi, Atri, "Courier New";color:black">Pulaha, Pulastya, Angirasa, Kratu, Vasistha, Narada, Daksha and "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Bhrigu, his mental sons of lordly stature, a beautiful woman of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">comely features was born of his mind. She was called Sandhya. On "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">beholding her, Brahma and others involuntarily got up, impelled by "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">passion. Just then, Brahma noticed another son much more beautiful, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">handsome and comely had appeared as his mental creation. His very "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">appearance was enough to set his heart aflame with love for Sandhya. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Hence when Kaama asked of Brahma about his function the latter "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">assigned to him the same work , to arouse passion in the hearts of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">beings. To test how far he could succeed in this task, Kaama at once "Courier New";color:black">aimed his flower-arrow at Brahma, his father himself. Lo ! The poor "Courier New";color:black">Brahma could not control his passion. Ever since, kama has been "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">setting the hearths of beings aflame with love. "Courier New";color:black"> Kaama means desire and love. Kaama is only a personification "Courier New";color:black">of desire. He is portrayed as carrying a sugarcane bow, representing "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the mind, and five flower arrows representing the five sense "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">perceptions. The external world becomes knowledgeable to us only when "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the mind is conjoined to the sense organs and directed to the sense "Courier New";color:black">objects. "Courier New";color:black">Manas (mind) is so called since its function is manana or thinking. "Courier New";color:black">The nativity of Kaama from Brahma's mind illustrates that all desires "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">have their origin in the mind. The whole world is nothing but a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">projection of mind. As one in dream experiences many things in his "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">dreamworld and all such things appear to be real during the dream, so "Courier New";color:black">one in Maya experiences many things in the world and all such things "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">appear to be real as long as he is under the spell of Maya. But the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">moment the dreamer wakes up he realizes whatever he has experienced "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">in his dreamworld are false as compared with the things that he "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">experiences when awake. Even so, the moment he wakes from Maya into "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Brahman consciousness, he realizes that the falsehood of the external "Courier New";color:black">world. As the dream world is projected by the mind when it stays in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Manomaya Kosha (psychological sheath ), so the material world about "Courier New";color:black">us is projected by the mind when it stays at Annamaya kosha ( "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">anatomical sheath). It, therefore follows that all the objects around "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">that are experienced are mere products of mind. Kaama is only a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">personification of these objects born of mind. "Courier New";color:black">The sixth Shloka : "Courier New";color:black"> " Seek I shelter in Mahatripurasundari, Mater familias "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of the three eyed-one, who bears the first flower of Manmatha, clad "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">in blue garments, spotted sanguine, holding a liquor bowl, with eyes "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">inebriated languishing at the ends, close set bosoms heavy and high, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the swarthy one with locks disheveled! " "Courier New";color:black"> Manmatha the god of love carries sugarcane for bow and five "Courier New";color:black">different flowers for arrows. Of them, the first is the lotus. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari in one of her meditation forms holds a lotus in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">her hand. According to tantras like Rahasya Agama, the lotus is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">emblematic of the universe. Pushpa means flower as well as menstrual "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">flow, and a woman in her period is called pushpini. " Prathama "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">pushpini" means a woman in her first periods. Of the pancha makaras, "Courier New";color:black">the last is maithuna or sexual coupling. Esoterically, it means the "Courier New";color:black">union of Kundalini with Shiva or the individual consciousness with "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the universal consciousness, and that is the culmination of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">entire Tantric practice. "Courier New";color:black"> Muladhara, where Devi is ever in slumber, is a region of "Courier New";color:black">total darkness. Awakening her, yogi leads her up to her spouse Siva's "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">abode in the Sahasrara. As the mortal parents give their nubile "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">daughter in marriage to a worthy groom and leave her in his charge, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">so the yogi leads the ever youthful Kundalini to Paramashiva, her "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">groom and leaves her with him in the bridal chamber in Sahasrara. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Physical union is possible only after one has attained puberty. So, "Courier New";color:black">endeavoring to rouse the sleeping Kundalini in him for leading her to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">lord, the yogi meditates upon and worships her as if she has just "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">attained puberty and become fit for congress. The divine mother in "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">first periods is the personification of the Red bindu that I have "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">spoken about in my post Srichakra. "Courier New";color:black"> The Devi is described as being habited in a blue sari with "Courier New";color:black">red spots. As the first menstrual flow shows itself when a woman is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">ready to bear, so on the blue welkin, the Devi's raiment, signs "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">appear, heralding creation. In a Bhagavathi temple in kerala as well "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">as in the Kaamaakhyaa temple, red spots appear once a year in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">robes of the goddess to this day. "Courier New";color:black"> Mother also carries a bowl of wine of Maya. Madhu not only "Courier New";color:black">means liquor but also honey and spring season. It is a common "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">experience that passion gains in strength in spring. Being of a "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">similar quality, liquor also whets ones passion. "Courier New";color:black"> The intoxicated eyes of Devi are an external sign, which "Courier New";color:black">shows the depth of the divine bliss the Devi has had from the company "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of her lord in Sahasrara. As wine makes the drinker oblivious of his "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">environs, so does the divine ecstasy. God-intoxicated, a Yogi "Courier New";color:black">develops irresistible craving for the divine bliss of the Brahman, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">just as a drunkard is ever after his liquor bowl. "Courier New";color:black"> The disheveled locks of Sridevi indicate that she is ever "Courier New";color:black">free from formalities such as arranging the hair etc. this hints at "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the vishwottheerna form of Parabrahman. "Courier New";color:black">The seventh shloka : "Courier New";color:black"> " In Japa I remember the mother, smeared with vermilion, "Courier New";color:black">forelocks grazing the dot of musk, looks soft and smiling, bearing "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">arrows, bow, snare and goad, deluding all people, in red garland, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">apparel and jewels, having the splendor of scarlet Hibiscus". "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Here Mahatripurasundari is described as red. She is the prime desire "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of the supreme Brahman to multiply into many. Red is also the color "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of dawn indicating the light that dispels darkness. She is at one "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">point of time causing Maya (Mohini ) and lyet again she is the one "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">who destroys Maya (Mohanashini). Moha means delusion of mind which "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">prevents one from discerning the truth and makes one believe in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">reality of worldly objects and to be addicted to the gratification of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">sensual pleasures. "Courier New";color:black"> Sridevi wields in her four hands five-flower arrows, the "Courier New";color:black">sugarcane bow, the snare and the goad. The five flower arrows – "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">lotus, Asoka, mango blossom, jasmine and blue lotus are the five "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">rudimentary subtle elements viz. sound, touch, form, taste and smell. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">The sugarcane bow is the mind. The snare is the desire and attachment "Courier New";color:black">and goad is wrath. "Courier New";color:black">ATTRACTION AND REPULSION ARE THE REACTIONS OF THE MIND TO THE SENSE "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">OBJECTS. The whole universe is an expression of the compound of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">five rudimentary subtle elements. Mind is the force that activates "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the sense organs. And the sense objects are experienced. The Vedas "Courier New";color:black">say, from the Brahman first arose Mahat, and it was followed by the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">five subtle cosmic elements. Combination of these elements has given "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">birth to the universe. The Devi wielding the cosmic mind in the form "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of the sugarcane bow and the five subtle rudimentary elements in the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">form of five flower arrows symbolizes this. She is manipulating these "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">and bringing the universe into being. Being the only empress of the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">entire cosmos, Rajarajeshwari, she has to have the well being of "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">people at heart. The Paasha, love, by which she binds the subjects to "Courier New";color:black">her, represents this. She also upholds justice, which is represented "Courier New";color:black">by the goad of wrath indicating policing. In short she brings "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">universe into existence and reigns over it. Yogini Hridaya identifies "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">snare, goad and arrows with Icchaa, Jnana and Kriya shaktis "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">respectively. The bow makes these effulgent. "Courier New";color:black"> The last shloka: "Courier New";color:black"> " I salute the mother of the world entire, who has "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">the celestial queen for plaiting the tresses, Brahma's consort for "Courier New";color:black">anointing sandal paste, Vishnu's spouse for adorning with lustrous "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">gems, and heavenly damsels for servant maids ". "Courier New";color:black"> The Brahmanda Mahapurana has it that the goddess Lalita "Courier New";color:black">Mahatripurasundari rules over the entire universe from Sripura or "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Srinagara. She is the supreme empress and Brahma-Vishnu-Rudra are "Courier New";color:black">mere functionaries in her empire. The Rahasyanaamasaahasra portrays "Courier New";color:black">that Lakshmi and Saraswathi attend the Devi on either sides bearing "Courier New";color:black">flywhisks or Chaamaras. "Courier New";color:black"> According to Mantra shastra, Kameshwara who transcends the "Courier New";color:black">Trinity Brahma-Vishnu-Rudra, is action less and unattached. His form "Courier New";color:black">is that of a pure colorless crystal which becomes invisible when "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">immersed in water. Vishnu and Parvathi, both dark blue, are twin "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">manifestations, as also Shiva and Saraswathi, both white and Brahma "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">and Lakshmi, both golden yellow. Daylight is colorless, yet it "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">contains all the colors. If one of the colors is separated from the "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">colorless light, the rest of the colors reveal themselves. Under the "Courier New";color:black">influence of the Red Paraamba, the colorless Parabrahman Kameshwara "Courier New";color:black">manifests himself as the trinity and their consorts. color:black"> "Courier New";color:black"> Srimadacharya says in his divine composition Saundaryalahari "Courier New";color:black">(which has no comparison whatsoever whether in lyrical beauty, "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">grammatical aspects or from the point of view of Yoga or Mantra "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">shastra), "these three divinities Brahma – Vishnu –Rudra, start their "Courier New";color:black">cosmic process when the Supreme Mother knits her brow for a fraction "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">of a second. She stands beyond them all and her red splendor "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">stimulates them all to perform their respective functions, by here "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">very presence ". "Courier New";color:black"> The lesson we have to draw from the foregoing is that the "Courier New";color:black">same Supreme Being appears in diverse forms as we conceive. It is to "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">shower its grace in the manner whereby we invoke it. Now what can be "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">said of fools who argue that Krishna is much superior to Shiva "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">whereas the rest are demigods and vice versa. I feel this is what "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">earns Srimadacharya the tile of "Jagadguru " since he was not a "Courier New";color:black">cultist and his teachings are universal beyond space and time. How "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">can any other sectist guru be termed a Jagadguru for all they did was "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">to advocate a cult practice, be it the Gaudiyas or the southern "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Shaivaites, shunning the other forms of lord as inferior to their own "Courier New";color:black">chosen deity. Sad !!!!!! "Courier New";color:black"> It follows that the energies manifested for the purpose of "Courier New";color:black">creation, maintenance and destruction are lower than and subservient "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">to the primordial total unmanifested cosmic energy. This idea is "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">expressed here poetically portraying the total cosmic energy as the "Courier New";color:black">Supreme Empress Rajarajeshwari and the manifested energies as maids. "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">All are, however, different of the one and the same Paramount "Courier New";color:black"> "Courier New";color:black">Parashakti. "Courier New";color:black">NAMO NAMASTE SHIVA KAMAKOTI !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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