Lalitopakhyana [ The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 10

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1 Lalitopakhyana – I [see Message 11530]

2 Lalitopakhyana – II [see Message 11579]

3 Lalitopakhyana – III [see Message 11680]

4 Lalitopakhyana – IV [see Message 12221]

5 Lalitopakhyana – V [see Message 12279]

6 Lalitopakhyana – VI [ See Message 12321 ]

7 Lalitopakhyana – VII [see Message 12406 ]

8 Lalitopakhyana – VIII [ See Message 12605 ]

9 Lalitopakhyana – IX [ See Message 12660 ]

 

 

Lalitopakhyana [ X ] The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 10

 

The Compounds of precious stones:

 

Inside the golden compound, there are eleven prakaras (compounds)

one inside the other and inside them there are six more compounds

described hereunder. All these compounds are perfect squares. Here

also, the distance between one compound and the other is Seven

yojanas. (yojana is a measurement of length of about nine miles).

 

1. Pushyaraga Prakara (The compound of Topaz)

The area between the golden compound and this one is called

Pushyaraga area. Here male and female Siddhas reside. Those who were

born earlier in the race of Siddha and who obtained attainment

(Siddhi) in their spiritual practices worshipping the Divine Mother,

stay here as Siddhas and gladly continue to worship Her.

 

2. Padmaraga Prakara (The compound of Ruby)

Here celestials of the species called Caranas reside. Those who were

born in Carana world and worshipped the Mother are reborn here,

after attaining Her grace.

 

3. Gomedhika Prakara (The compound of Agate)

In this arena, Kala Sankarshani devi resides. She is worshipped by

the Yoginis and Bhairavas.

 

4. Vajra Prakara (The compound of diamonds)

Apsaras and Gandharvas (divine dancers and singers) stay in this

arena. They are ever engaged in the Japa (repetition) of the Divine

Mother's names and stay here happily. The river Vajranadi flows

in

this place. The Goddess Vajreswari stays here. When the demon Bhanda

swallowed the diamond weapon (Vajra Ayudha) of Indra, he could get

back his weapon by worshipping the Mother here.

 

5. Vaidurya Prakara (The compound of Cat's eye)

Those of the netherworld, who attained spiritual achievements by

worshipping the Mother, stay in this arena. The emperor Bali also

resides here.

 

6. Indraneela Prakara (The compound of Sapphire)

Those people who were born on the earth stay in this area enjoying

pleasures, after their worship of Lalita during their lifetime

there. Soon after the effect of their punya (merit) is exhausted,

they will be born again as human beings on the earth. By the effect

of their previous pious deeds, they again worship the Mother and

return once more to this pious place. Due to the blue colour of

these precious stones, the dark effect of likes and dislikes

persists in them. Hence they are born again and again. Those who can

control their senses in total merge in the ultimate state of

salvation, i.e., in the Divine Mother. They do not have rebirth.

 

7. Mukta Prakara (The compound of pearls)

Several rivers named Tamraparni, Mahaparni, Sadamukta, Sadodaka etc.

flow in this area. The celestials who worshipped the Mother and

chanted her Mantras stay here. The cities of the rulers of the eight

sides exist here. (The eight sides are East, West, North, South,

North-East, South-East, North-West and South-West).

 

8. Marakata Prakara (The compound of Emerald)

The abode of the Goddess Dandanatha also called Varahi exists in

this area. There is a garden of golden palm-trees here. The Goddess

Unmattabhairavi, Svapnesvari, Tiraskarini devi, Kirapada devi reside

in this area. When Goddess Dandanatha is on duty, she stays in a

separate palace in the forest of Mahapadma (Big lotuses).

 

9. Vidruma Prakara (The compound of Coral)

In this area, Brahma along with sages like Marica stays and worship

the Divine Mother.

 

10. Manikya Prakara (The compound of Gem)

This area is also called the hall of gems i.e. Manikya Mantapa. Her

Vishnu worships the Mother.

 

11. Navaratna Prakara (The compound of several precious stones)

In this area exists a huge hall with thousands of pillars. Here Siva

along with his attendants constantly supervises the activities being

done as per the orders of Lalita Devi.

 

12. Manomaya Prakara (The compound of mind)

The entire area is a big well of Amruta (nectar). The Goddess Tara

resides here. Along with her attendants, she rows a big boat and

takes her devotees inside along with Her.

 

13. Buddhi Prakara (The compound of the intellect)

The entire area is a big well of Bliss. The captain of the ship in

this arena is the Goddess Varuni. She is also called as Sudha malini

and Amruteswari.

 

14. Ahankara Prakara (The compound of Egoism)

The entire area is a big well of criticism and nectar; The water of

this well is nothing else than the nectar in the nerve Sushumna (The

central nerve between Ida and Pingala nerves of one's backbone.

The

captain of the ship in this area is the Goddess Kurukulla.

 

15. Suryabimba Prakara (The compound of the Sun)

Here brilliance comparable to the light of the rising Sun exists

always. Plenty of flowers called Kuruvinda are abundant here. The

Sun performed penance here and obtained brilliance. Martanda

Bhairava stays here. He has a very luminous form. His three wives

are Mahaprakasa Sakti, Cakshusmati Sakti and Chayada Sakti (The

powers of great brilliance, eyesight and shade)

 

16. Candrabimba Prakasa (The compound of the Moon)

Moonshine ever exists here. The Moon performed penance here and

attained illumination. Somanatha, the Lord of the stars is the chief

deity of this area.

 

17. Srungara Prakara (The compound of eroticism)

This area is full of waters of eroticism. Here Manmatha, (Cupid-the

god of love) does Japa of the Mother's sacred names, rowing in a

boat. Only those who are of pure mind by nature can cross this area.

 

18. Cintamani Gruha (The abode of Gems)

This is the great palace of Sricakra. It is called Mahapadmatavi

also. Around the mansion, hundreds of thousands of lotus like

palaces exist.

a) To the east of this place, there is a large vessel with a

diameter of one

Yojana. This is called Arghya Patra (the vessel used to wash hands)

b) At the south-east corner exists Cidagnikunda (The fire pit of

knowledge)

c) At the south-west exists Sricakra Ratha, the vehicle of Sricakra.

d) At the north-west exists the Geya Cakra Ratha of the Goddess

Mantrini.

e) At the north-east exists the Kiri Cakra Ratha of the Goddess

Dandini.

f) In between the East and the south-east exists Mantrini gruha –

the abode of the Goddess Mantrini.

g) In between the East and the north-east exists Dandini gruha –

the

abode of the Goddess Dandini

 

The description of the Palace of Cintamani

1. This palace is centrally located in Sripattana – The City of

Sri

(Wealth).

2. The walls of the palace are built with Cintamani gems.

3. The roof also is madeof the same stones of Cintamani.

4. The palace has three towers by names Iccha Sikhara, Kriya Sikhara

and Jnana Sikhara i.e. the towers of desire, action and knowledge.

5. The palace has four doors. They are called Amnaya devas. They are

Purva, Dakshina, Pascima and Uttara – Amnaya devas (on the East,

South,West and North sides). Amnaya means Veda.

6. Bindu Peetha (central seat of power) is centrally located in the

palace.

7. This seat of power (peetha) has steps on four sides.

8. The entire structure described above is of the design of Sricakra.

9. All the male and female deities of Sricakra reside here.

10. The Bindu Peetha is called Sri Peetha, Maha Peetha, Vidya Peetha

and Ananda Peetha also (The seat of prosperity, greatness, knowledge

and bliss)

11. On the pedastal exists the cot of the five brahmas

12. The cot has four legs namely Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesana and Iswara.

These four deities have attained female form by worshipping Mother.

13. The plank resting on these legs is Sadasiva

14. To the east of this cot, there are 36 steps, representing the 36

aspects of spiritualism

15. There is a foot-rest in front of the cot.

16. There is swan like bed on the cot.

17. On the cot, there are two pillows for the head and one pillow

for the legs

18. A light red blanket is spread on the bed.

19. The Lord Kameswara sits on the cot facing the East. He is ever

in the form of a sixteen year old boy. He has four hands and three

eyes. He wears erotic costumes.

20. On His lap sits Lalita Devi. She is ever in the form of a

sixteen year old girl. Her complexion is rosy. She wears erotic

costumes. She has four hands. Her decoration is the moon.

 

21. As she pleases Sadasiva, she is called Lalita (Lalana – to

please)

Siva Kameswarankastha Siva Svadheena Vallabha

Sumeru madhya srungastha Srimannagara nayika

Cintamani gruhantastha

Panca Brahmasana sthita

Maha Padmatavi samstha

Kadamba vana vasini

Sudha sagara madhyastha

Kamakshi Kamadayini

 

The above names in the Lalita Sahasra nama indicate the Srinaara, the

Cintamani gruha (the palace of the Mother) and her other divine

aspects described above.

 

The Mother incarnated to kill the demon Bhanda. She is the Supreme

Mother as per these divine names, will achieve everything auspicious.

 

*****************************************************************

This is the final Instalment to Lalitopakhyana : The Story of

Goddess Lalita.

 

[ Extraction from English Translated version of Lalitopakhyana by

Ganapati Sachchidananda ]