LalithA SahasranAma: aSvArUdhAdhisthitASvakotikotibhirAvrutA

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aSvArUdhAdhisthitASvakotikotibhirAvrutA : Surrounded by many crores

of horses conducted by AsvArUdhA

 

AsvArUdhA : is a certain goddess well-known in the Tantras; her

Mantra is composed of thirteen syllables and she is the mistress of

the horses of Devi. The BrahmAnda Pr. Says, "AsvArudhA sprang

from the noose of LalitA, and rode in front with great speed… a

horse called AparAjita, and crores of swift horses followed her." In

TripurAsiddhAnta the explanation of the name is given :"As she is

the mistress of the horses she is called AsvArUdhA."

 

Or the senses are called horses. In a certain sUtra of the KAdimata,

we are told that the senses are meant by the word "horses'.

"Arudha, rider [of horses] the controller of the senses. Thus one

[Yogin] enjoys pleasures governing the countless sense-impressions

by a single mind. If we take the word ArUdhA as a pural form

[riders] the meaning is that she [DEVI] directs endless sense-

impressions in many minds simultaneously. The meaning is that if a

Yogin realizes his divine self as said above and develops the power

called Udyama, he becomes at his will master of everybody. So say

the Siva-sUtras [i.12] : vismayo yogabhUmikA [ a wonder is the step

of Yoga].

 

The commentary explains it thus :"Just as amazement arises in

excessive joy, so also to the Yogin, there is always amazement in

perceiving whatever is to be known. Vismaya is that wisdom, perfect

contentment in the supreme Self, whose senses are merged in the

enjoyment of unparalleled bliss. The wonder [vismaya ] of the Yoga

which leads to the supreme reality, has degress [bhUmikA]; this

indicates that the supreme rest is to be attained gradually."

 

A second sUtra [i.13] runs : icchASaktih umA kumAri. [ The energy of

desire is Uma, the unmarried]. The commentary : "the eternal

state is his whose mind has ascended the degrees of Yoga called

Vismaya, and who realizes by Yoga the supreme BhairavatA [ as aspect

of Siva]. To that Yogin the energy of desire comes by degrees, that

energy is called ParAbhattArikA [ Supreme Queen]. She is known as

the `unmarried' [kumAri]. As sport, she creates the universe

from SadAsiva to the earth [ 36 tattvas]; hence she is kumAri.

 

Or she destroys [mArayate] the ground [ku] of the great illusion,

[hence she is kumAri]. KumAri is enjoyer of everything. KumAri is

not to be enjoyed by the Yogin who is the Bhairava himself, who can

enjoys everything [except kumAri] as she is one with the enjoyer.

KumAri is UmA, she who has renounced all attachment and is chiefly

devoted to the Lord. Such is the icchAsakti in Yogins : thus is the

easy path discovered by the great teachers [anuttaradesikas]."

 

A third sUtra [i.14] is drsyam sariram [The body is visible].

Commentary : "Thus to the Yogin who possesses the powerful energy

of desire, whatever he sees becomes his body; seeing all as himself

without separateness, through his likeness to Siva; thus in the body

externally and everywhere, whatever is visible."

 

The fourth sUtra [iII, 14] says : yuthA tatra tathA anyatra [

whatever is there is everywhere]. Com : "Just as in the natural

body self-dependence is manifest, so also the Yogin's self-dependence

is manifested in the bodies of others. The self-dependence of the

devoted Yogin is the fullness of individuality."

 

 

BhAskararAya's commentary

Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry