SrimAtA - 2/9

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In the previous part we saw the bhAshyakAra elaborating on the nature of

mother and how the supreme mother can put a stop to the chain of births

and deaths. I simply glossed over the sanskrit text. Going deeper into

that has its rewards. The Audio lecture (see audio section of )

goes over this bhAShya sentence by sentence. Especially the choice of

words. duranta means difficult to end. That is, it is possible to end,

but extremely difficult. This duranta duHkha is samsAra. The one capable

of ending this, haraNa xamasu, is the supreme being, sarvottama jagan

mAta. But why should she step into help. For that, to attract her mercy

-- svasmin dayAvatvaM apAdanAya, *mAtR^itvenaiva stotavyA* addressing

her in her motherly aspect is invoked. Crying out ambA quickly brings

us to grasp Her mercy. This sentence says that goal of this work is moxa

and in essence this motherly aspect that brings her mercy to our reach,

captures the entire essence of this work. Hence, it can be said that

this first name is the core and essence, from this all else flows out of it.

 

Now coming to the 2nd point.

 

shriyo laxmyA mAtA. shrI means laxmI and She is laxmI's mother. shrIriti

gIH upalaxanaM tadvAchakameva vA. shrI is upalaxaNa of gIH and that

denotes sarasavatI and She is the mother of sarasvatI also. According

to the dictionary vyAdikoshaH, shrI is defined as

"laxmIsarasvatIdhItrIvargasampadvibhutishobhAsu". Hence, shrImAta means

mother of laxmi and sarasvatI. That is prosperity and knowledge. In the

previous part, when discussing about phala it is said moxAdi. In this

world, worshipping shrImAtA will secure the necessary knowledge and

prosperity to seek Her and follow a dharmic life.

 

[ 2/9 will be continued]