Lalitopakhyana [ The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 5

[Guest guest]

Lalitopakhyana – V

 

Lalitopakhyana – I [see Message 11530]

Lalitopakhyana – II [see Message 11579]

Lalitopakhyana – III [see Message 11680]

Lalitopakhyana – IV [see Message 12221]

 

 

Maha Yaga

187. The great Maha Shambhu smiled and said

A. I am aware why you have all come here.

 

B. Pralaya (destruction) is of three types. (i) Avaantara Pralaya

(ii) Maha Pralaya and (iii) Kama Pralaya.

 

C. I am the one who is responsible to rescue the world from Maha

Pralaya.Vishnu is the one who rescues from Aavantara Pralaya. It is

Lalita Parameshwari who rescues from Kama Pralaya.

 

D. These three kinds of Pralaya take place in a cyclic pattern in

every Kalpa. Now, Kaamika Pralaya has taken place because of the

destruction of Kama and subsequently due to the actions of

Bhandasura.

 

E. Only Lalita Devi can rescue from this situation. Parashakti alone

can create another Lalita Devi. Therefore, take shelter in her. Beg

her to help you.

 

188. Hearing this, the Devatas did not know what to do. They again

prayed to Maha Shambhu to teach them the method of appeasing

Parashakti.

 

189. Maha Shambhu explained :

A. This is called as Maha Yaga. (great fire sacrifice)

B. I am (assuming the form of Vayu) the Hota (the priest who makes

the offerings in a Homa) in this Yaga (fire sacrifice).

C. My Chidagni itself is the fire in this Yaga.

D. The last of the seven seas, i.e., Jala Samudra (Water Sea) has

now dried up. The huge pit so formed itself is the Homa Kunda (fire

pit where Homa is performed)

E. The remaining six great oceans constitute the six drops of ghee

which is used as offering.

F. Srishti (creation) is of five types (i) Manasa Srishti (ii)

Jarayavee Srishti (creation-taking place through the womb. E.g.

Human beings), (iii) Anda Srishti (creation taking place through

eggs) (iv) Swedaja Srishti (creation taking place through sweat) and

(v)Udbhijja Srishti (creation taking place by sprouting). These five

Srishtis (creations) are the sacrifice animals in this Maya Yaga.

G. Bhoomi (land), Parvata (mountains), Jala (water), Vayu (air) and

Akasha(space) these five are the substances used in this fire

sacrifice. Agni element (one of the five elements) being a part of

my Chidagni can not be a substance to be offered.

H. At the end of this great fire sacrifice, all of you (the

performers of the Yaga) should jump in to the Homa Kunda (fire pit).

While doing so, you must possess absolute devotion.

I. Then, Lalita Parameshwari will manifest.

J. She will be seated in a chariot called Chakra Raja Ratha.

K. She will create Parabrahma in the name of Kameshwara and will

have Him as Her consort.

L. This couple will re-create the entire universe, which will turn

out to be more beautiful than the previous creation.

M. Lalita Parameshwari will bring Manmatha back to life.

N. She will create four weapons, namely (i) Ikshu Dhanus – a bow

of

sugarcane (Mano roopekshu kodanda – is one of the 1000 names of

Goddess Lalita)(ii) five Pushpa Banas – flower arrows (Pancha

tanmatra saayaka is one of the 1000 names), (iii) Paasha – noose

(Raaga svaroopa paashaadhyaa – is one of the 1000 names of

Lalita)

and (iv) Ankusha (a hook, especially an elephant driver's hook)

(Krodha akaarankushojjvala is one of the descriptions of Lalita)

O. With the help of these weapons, she will destroy Bhandasura.

P. She will bring Manmatha back to life.

Q. She will give you fresh bodies.

R. If you all agree, I will begin this great sacrifice myself.

 

190. The angels became very pleased and begged Maha Shambhu to be

the Hota and carry on the sacrifice. Parashakti and Maha Shambhu

disappeared.

 

191. The angels also returned to their abode.

 

192. After some time, Maha Shambhunatha, accompanied by Parashakti

started chanting the Lalita Maha Mantra and entered the Universe in

the form of the sevenlayered Vayu (air).

 

193. Parashakti assumed the form of His Kriya Shakti (energy of

action).

 

194. With the help of Kriya Shakti, Vayu blew the Jala Samudra with

all his energy. The Jala Samudra (water ocean) became totally dry.

 

195. In the pit thus formed He kindled the Chidagni with the help of

fire emanating from the third eye. This Agni raged from the Patala

(a region in the nether-world) to the Brahma Loka.

 

196. He decorated the periphery of the Homa Kunda with the stars

just as one decorates a sacrificial fire pit with flowers.

 

197. After this, he performed the Yaga as ordained by the Vedas. He

used the Pralaya Meghas (clouds appearing during Pralaya), namely

Pushkala and Aavartaka as Srik and Sruva (the two spoons which are

used to offer ghee in fire worship).

 

198. As the Homa progressed, the Chidagni emanating from it spread

to vast area.

 

199. He then offered the first six oceans and then the five-fold

creations to this Agni.

 

200. In the end, the gods too decorated themselves and sat on the

Srik and Sruva, ready to be offered to Agni. Maha Shambhunatha

offered them to Agni.

 

201. After this, Maha Shambhunatha discarded his Vayu form and

assumed his real form. He then chanted 8 special mantras and

performed 8 Homas.

 

to be continued

[ Extraction from English version of Lalitopakhyana by Ganapati

Sachchidananda ]