LalithA SahasranAma [250] paNcabrahmasvarUpini

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paNcabrahmasvarUpini : The five Brahmans are her form.

 

The five begin with BrahmA and end with SadAsiva. These are included

under Brahman; because the TripurAsiddhAnta says, "The unconditinoed

Brahman by the play of the mAyA in itself becomes, BrahmA, Visnu,

Rudra, Isvara, and SadAsiva. Thus by name only Brahman is in five

forms."

 

Or, the five BrahmAs are IsAna, Tatpurusa, Aghora, VAmadeva and

SadyojAtA. The Linga Pr. says, "Jiva-prakrti, buddhi, ahamkAra and

manas; the senses, namely ear, skin, eyes, tongue and nose; and the

subtle elements are the forms of the five Brahman." It is described

in the same book that the above[five subtle elements] are the causes

creating the five gross elements. These are her forms.

 

The Su. Sam[iV.14.2] says, "The one Siva, characterized by

existence, knowledge, etc. without change, pure, becomes five by his

own sakti." Becomes five ie by the saktis of creation, preservation,

etc. he becomes SadyojAta, etc.

 

The Garuda Pr. also says, "Visnu who confers blessings on the world

and destroys all the wicked, although one, becomes five, namely,

VAsudeva, Samkarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and NArAyana." AcArya

also says, "when you sport as a man [you become] the five persons :

your casual talk [becomes]the three Vedas; O mother, a glance of

your eyes[becomes] the sun; and your sweet smile, the moon"

 

 

BhAskararAya's Commentary

Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry.