LalithA SahasranAma [ LSBhasya series ] : SrimannagaranAyikA

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SrimannagaranAyikA : Ruler of the beautiful City

 

The cities are of two kinds, one of them is on the middle peak of

Mount Meru. The LalitAstavaratna [v.5 ] says ,"I salute the city

of ancient VidyA four hundred yoganas in circumference constructed

by the celestial architect, beautified with many walls." It is

said

in the VidyAratnabhAsya, "there is also another city in the midst

of

the ocean of milk.With many walls" means twenty five

in number.

 

The second city is outside and beyond all the worlds, in the islands

of gems [ ratnadvipa ], in the middle of the ocean of nectar. The

RudrayAmala says "Outside and beyond the countless myriads of

world systems, in the ocean of nectar, more than hundred crores in

extent, in the gem-island [ratnadvipa], a hundred crores in area,

the lamp of the world, there is the supreme city of SrividyA, three

lakhs of yojanas in heights and adorned with twenty-five walls

representing the twenty-five tattvas." But in the

VidyAratnabhAsya

the word Srimannagara [ beautiful city ] is explained as Sricakra.

 

The Visva also says, "cakra means city, house, hamlet, town and

abode,"and the commentator on the sUtra of GaudapAda interpreted

the

word Sripura to mean Sricakra. "One may enter the city [nagara]

without knowing the rsi; the city [pUr] of the Devas is impregnable;

the city is surrounded by nectar, etc..;" in these and other

Srutis,

ciry [ pUr or nagara] means Cakra; and nagara and cakra are one and

the same.

 

BhAskararAya's Commentary

Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry.