saundaryalaharI - 8

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shrI lalitAyai namaH

 

sudhAsindhormadhye suraviTapivATI parivR^ite

maNidwIpe nIpopavanavati cintAmaNigR^ihe

shivAkArema~nce paramashivaparya~NkanilayAM

bhajanti tvAM dhanyAH katicana cidAnanndalaharIm.h 8

 

O bhagavatI,

 

sudhAsindhormadhye: in the midst of the ocean of nectar

suraviTapivATI: rows of kalpa vR^ikshAs

parivR^ite: surrounded by

maNi dvIpe: island of gems

nIpa upavanavati: with a garden of kadamba trees

cintAmaNi gR^ihe: in a mansion built of cintAmaNi (wish-fulfilling)

stones

shiva + AkAre: of the form of shiva (the multi-triangular shrIcakra)

ma~nce: in the bed

paramashivaparya~NkanilayAM: who is reclining (dwelling) on the

mattress called paramashiva

cit + AnandalaharIm.h: in the form of flood of Consciousness and bliss

tvAM: you

katicana dhanyAH: a few blessed ones

bhajanti: worship

 

 

O bhagavtI, blessed are those few, who worship You, You in the form

of Consciousness-bliss, who is reclining (seated) on the mattress of

paramashiva, on the couch of the (multi-triangular) form of shiva,

in the mansion constructed of cintAmaNi gems, attached to the pleasure

garden of kadamba trees, surrounded by an avenue of kalpa trees and

situated in the midst of amR^ita samudra or the ocean of nectar.

 

 

commentary:

 

This verse gives a succinct description of shrImAtA's abode. In the

middle of the ocean of nectar, there is the island of precious gems

of infinite variety. All around the periphery of the island, there

are rows of celestial desire-granting trees. There is a palatial

mansion inside these groves of celestial trees. The mansion is built

of celestial cintAmaNi gems. All around the mansion, there are pleasure

gardens of kadamba trees. Inside this mansion, in the central hall there

is a regal seat which has for its four legs brahma, vishNu, rudra and

IshAna. Over this cot is spread a couch which is said to be paramashiva.

On this couch is seated sadAshiva on whose lap is seated shrIdevI in the

form described in the previous verse. shrI shankara says that those who

worship shrIdevI, as in this abode, are blessed as they attain infinite

bliss thereby.

 

shri shankara's other works also contain descriptions of shrIdevI's

abode very similar to given in this verse (tripurasundarI-vedapAdastava,

verses 7, 8, 9, 10; mantramAtR^ikApuShpamAla, verse 1). I can post exact

verses if there is sufficient interest.

 

shrIlalitAsahasranAma stotra verses 22 and 23 say

 

cintAmaNigR^ihAntasthA pa~ncabrahmAsanasthitA

mahApadmATavIsaMsthA kadambavanavAsinI

sudhAsAgaramadhyasthA kAmAkshI kAmadAyinI

 

kAlidAsa has a similar description for shrImAtA's abode in

ShyAmalA danDakam.h

 

sudhAsamudrAntarudyanmaNidvIpa saMrUDha bilvAtavImadhya -

- kalpadrumAkalpakAdambakAntAravAsapriye

 

[to be continued]

 

 

 

Regards

Gummuluru Murthy

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