db, let us concede to sesh.......

[Guest guest]

in all fairness to sesh, the picture you posted last week (during

vasant navratri) is the picture of sree sree raja rajeshwari as she

is worshipped in datta peetham in karnataka...

 

our beloved sesh hails from bangalore, karnataka and this deity sree

raja rakeshwari is very poular in karnataka. there are many temples

dedicated to her, hotels are named after this popular deity and

colleges and other businesses are also named after her...

 

certain deities are popular in certain regions- durga mata in bengal,

bhagwati amman in kerala, kamakshi in kanchi, meenakshi in madurai,

visalakshi in kasi and sree raja rajeshwari in karnataka ( of course

to me , she is still lalita mahatripura sundari ) ....

 

 

here is how sree raja rajeshwari is described and folks now tell me

is this any different from a description of sree lalita devi?

 

Raja Rajeswari is the presiding deity of Sri Chakra she is the

mother of love and grace. All sentient and insentient being are

linked to, and dependent upon her power for their existence. She is

the personification of the Divine desire to create the universe and

also the Divine desire to merge the creation back into the ultimate

Bhraman (God the father). This two fold desire is the basis of love,

the vivifying bond that ties the Creator and the created. She

controls our minds and sensory organs and holds the key to

transcendental knowledge. She resides on the top of the head

(Sahasrara) , and also in the second chakra (Swadisthana).

 

She is having for hands and three eyes. She wields in her four

hands the noose, the goad , sugar cane bow, and five flowered arrows.

Her three eyes are Sun, Moon and fire representing the three triads

in creation. Her crown is decorated with the crescent moon the symbol

of divine delight. The noose represents strong determination and love

by which She binds the whole creation. The goad is the symbol of the

power of knowledge, it is the wrath of fiery emotions by which the

whole creation is spurred into activity. The sugar cane stem depicts

the mind principle of man. The five flowered arrows are the five

tanmatras ,sound, touch, form, taste and smell the source of the five

elements. She is having three forms, the gross physical form (sthula

sharira), subtle astral form, (sukshma sharira) and the causal

archetypal form of the macrocosm and microcosmic creation.

 

When She is meditated upon, this ultimate energy, in the first and

second chakra (Muladhara and Swadhisthana) the sadhaka (spiritual

aspirant) is performing internal fire sacrifice. She emerges out of

the lotus chakras as Kundalini the supreme power elevating the

sadhaka.

 

The graceful Mother removes evil and develops goodness within all of

us.

She is the power of Bhraman; pure consciousness embodied. She is the

bliss of "Sat - Chit - Ananda" existence, knowledge and bliss.

 

from datta peetham...

 

enjoy the rest of the evening....

[Guest guest]

Adi wrote, "in all fairness to sesh, the picture you posted last week

(during vasant navratri) is the picture of sree sree raja rajeshwari

as she is worshipped in datta peetham in karnataka."

 

Absolutely conceded, Adi! In fact, I want to specifically thank Sesh

for bringing up this excellent topic. I know I've learned a lot from

the learned posts of our membership, and I think many others have as

well!

 

Thanks also for your lucid presentation of the regional guises of

Devi. This is a most important point to assimilate as we travel Her

path together.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe