Lalitopakhyana [ The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 9

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Lalitopakhyana – I [see Message 11530]

Lalitopakhyana – II [see Message 11579]

Lalitopakhyana – III [see Message 11680]

Lalitopakhyana – IV [see Message 12221]

Lalitopakhyana – V [see Message 12279]

Lalitopakhyana – VII [see Message 12406 ]

Lalitopakhyana – VIII [ See Message 12605 ]

 

 

333. Only Kutilaksha the commander in chief was left over to console

Bhandasura

 

334.Bhanda along with Kutilaksha started towards the battlefield

 

335. 2185 akshohini army along with 40 commanders followed him

 

336. A). He boarded a chariot named `Aabhilamu'(=dreadful).It

is

dragged by 1000 lions instead of horses.

B). His sword is named Yatana (= torture in hell)

 

337. Noticing this Lalita devi herself started moving in her

Srichakra raja ratha towards the warfront

 

338. Behind her was Mantrini in Geyachakra ratha followed by Potrini

in kirichakra ratha.

 

339.Other shakti deities followed her in crores.

 

340. In the usage of sastra's (mystic weapons) and pratyastra

(corresponding neutralising weapons), none of them were drawn aback

(LSN—Bhandasurendra nirmukta shastra pratyastra varshini)

 

341.Now Bandasura by his mystical powers regenerated Madhukaitabha,

Raktabija and other old demons

 

342. Then Lalita devi made a violent frenzied laughter –Durga

devi

and other deities described in chandisaptashati were born and slayed

these demons

 

343. Now Bhanda generated Somaka and other demons

 

344. Then Lalita devi generated the 10 incarnations of Vishnu from

the finger tips of her hands (LSN – Karanguli nakhotpanna

narayana

dasakrutih)

 

345. Sun was about to set. Lalita devi decided not to delay any

more. She then discharged Narayana astra and Pashupata astra and

destroyed the demons and their commanders who were all turned down

into ashes(LSN—Mahapashupatastragni nirdagdhasura sainyaka)

 

346 .Now Bhandasura was the only one left

 

347. Lalita devi discharged the Mahakameshawarastra and annihilated

Bhandasura . Immediately his shunyaka town got burnt down. (LSN—

Kameshwarastra nirdagdha sabhandasura sunyaka)

 

348. Gods proclaimed victory of Lalita devi on the drums and they

showered flowers, lighted camphor blazes and shouted victory slogans

Kama sanjeevanam(rebirth of kama)

 

349. Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and other gods praised Lalita devi's

grandeur(LSN—Brahmopendra mahendradi deva samstuta vaibhava)

 

350 In that praise they proclaimed thus-

A.) Mother! Bhanda is dead but his friend Taraka is still alive to

trouble us.

B.) To annihilate him Shiva must have a son

C.) We were trying for the same but in the mean while Manmadha (god

of love) died and all these events happened

D.) Therefore kindly give rebirth to Manmadha and perform the

marriage of Shiva and Parvathi.

 

351. Lalita devi smiled compassionately and looked at Kameshwara.

>From her looks Manmadha took rebirth .(LSN- Haranetragni sandagdha

amasanjeevanaushadhih= Lalita devi is the sacred herb sajeevini

which gave rebirth to Manmadha who was destroyed by the fire from

Shiva's eye).

 

352. Rati and Manmadha prostrated to the mother goddess and praised

her.

 

353. The mother goddess blessed them and instructed-

A.) Manmadha! Now you need not fear

B.) Go once again and cast your magical arrow on Shiva

C.) Shiva will loose to you and will marry Parvathi

D.) With my blessings Shiva will do you no harm.

E.) From now on you can enter every ones body and cause aesthetic/

sensuous pleasures to them.

F.) Protect my devotees

 

354. At the instructions of mother goddess Manmadha with his family

went and cast his magic charm on Shiva. This time Shiva left

renunciation and started searching vehemently for parvathi

 

355. Then Manmadha cast magical arrows on Parvati also

 

356. Shiva was very pleased with parvathi's penance. He appeared

before her, granted a boon and married her.

 

357. Kumaraswamy was born to Shiva and Parvathi .He became the

commander of god's army and annihilated Tarakasura. He then

married

Devasena devi, the daughter of Indra.

 

358.After helping all the gods Manmadha left to Sripura to serve

goddess Lalita devi.

 

Sripura varnanam(description of Sripura )

What does Sripura mean?

 

359. After the annihilation of Bhandasura, Trimurtis called upon the

cosmic architect Viswakarma and the architect of demons Maya , and

instructed them to construct 16 palaces in 16 kshetras (sacred

places) for the residence of Lalita &Shiva Kameswara Meru and other

gigantic mountains (9) Jalasamudra and other oceans (7) –total 16

Kshetras. The palatial buildings of mother goddess located in these

kshetras are called Sripura

 

360. Wherever a Sripura is located , its dimensions are like this.

A.)Mount Meru has 4 peaks One on the eastern side, one on north

west, one on the south west. Each is 100 yojanas tall and 100

yojanas wide these are trimurtis worlds. In the center of these is

the fourth, which is 400 yojanas tall and 400 yojanas wide

B.) Sripura is on the Middle peak

 

Sripura has got metallic compound walls 7 in number they are square

shaped. Each wall is separated from the next one by one a distance

of 7 yojanas.

1. Kalayasa (iron)wall – The perimeter of this wall is 16

thousand

yojanas

2. Kansya (bronze)wall—Between these two is the first chamber.

Several trees and gardens are located here. Mahakali and Mahakala

are the gate keepers here.Kalachakra is their throne.

3. Tamra(copper)wall—Here is a forest of Kalpavruksha (wish

granting

tree).This is also called as Kalpavatica. This is the second

chamber.Vasanta(spring) is its protector .Madhusri and Madhavasri

are his consorts.

4. Seesa(lead)wall—Here is a forest of santana trees(progeny

granting).This is the third chamber Grishma(summer) is the ruler .

Shukrasri and Shuchisri are his consorts.

5. Aarkuta (brass)wall—This is the fourth chamber. Here is a

forest

of Hari chandana vruksha(yellow fragrant sandal wood).The ruler is

varsharutu(rainy

season).Nabhasri and Nabhasyasri are his consorts.

6. Panchaloha(five metal) wall—In this fifth chamber is a garden

of

mandara trees (Calotropis gigantea) .Sharadrutu is the protector .

Ishasri and Urjasri are his consorts.

7. Raupya(silver)wall –Sixth chamber .Parijata tree

forest .Hemantarutu is the protector. Sahasri and Sahasyasri are his

consorts.

8. Hema(gold)wall—Seventh chamber. Kadamba forest. Sisira

(winter)is

the

protector. Tavasri and Tavasyasri are his consorts. This is where

Mantrini devi resides in a temple.She has one more quarter very

close to that of Lalita devi in Mahapadmatavi(forest of

lotuses).When she is on duty she stays in that quarter .In this

seventh chamber near Mantrini's residence Matanga kanyas are

constantly singing and dancing.

 

Matanga kanyaka charitra(story of Matanga kanya)

 

361. In the olden days a sage named Matanga used to expand the

creation by virtue of the power of his penance.

 

362. His son Matanga was a great saint and practicant of penance. He

was friend of Himavanta.

 

363.Once Himavanta started boasting saying that he was the father of

Gauri devi.

 

364. With that Matanga felt humiliated and started great penance for

Mudrinidevi (Mudrinidevi is none other than Mantrini devi who had

received a ring from Lalita devi) .She is also called Shyamala devi

 

365. She was very happy with his penance and gave boon that she

herself would be born as a daughter to him.

 

366.A few days later Shyamaladevi appeared in the dream of Siddhamati

Devi (consort of Matanga).Shyamaladevi gave her a flower from the

bunch decorating the formers ear.

 

367. Very soon she had a female child who was named Laghushyama as

she was born in a very short duration (Laghu = short, small). She

was also called Matangi, Matanga Kanyaka. With her power she

generated crores of virgins, who stay near Mantrini devi's house

and

keep singing her praises all the time.

 

 

to be continued

[ Extraction from English Translated version of Lalitopakhyana by

Ganapati Sachchidananda ]