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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/br/2002/05/07/stories/2002050700060301.htm)

 

Devotional hymns

 

 

 

 

 

THE SAUNDARYALAHARI OF SANKARA: Rs. 75.

 

SRI LALITASAHASRANAMA: Rs. 140. Texts in Devanagari and Tamil, Translation into

Tamil with expository notes by G. V. Ganesa Iyer; Pub. by S. G. Charitable

Trust, 218, T.T.K. Road, Chennai-600018.

 

 

THERE IS a general criticism that the fundamental metaphysical position of

Advaita is such that it cannot accord any place to or loving devotion to God in

its scheme of practical discipline.

 

Sankara, in his commentary on the (2.3.41), states that self-realisation which

leads to liberation would arise from the great sayings of the Upanishads through

the grace of God. The latter could arise only from loving devotion or towards

Him. It is against this background that the importance of the two works under

review in the literature on must be understood.

 

of Sankara contains 100 verses. According to Hiriyanna it speaks of divine

power (sakti) in terms of beauty and every stanza of it, we may say, is drenched

with rich imagery. This work is a classic example of the unique quality of the

poet-mystic that Sankara was. His awe-inspiring invocation of the Devi in all

Her varied modes and moods is indeed a testimony not only to the richness and

ripeness of his poetic and imaginative sensibility but also to his matchless

devotion. Sankara shows himself not merely the great Advaitin he was but as one

who saw Beauty as Truth and Truth as Beauty. As an affirmation of this

fundamental truth, this hymn is superb.

 

It has several commentaries and they are celebrated exercises in unravelling the

tantric concepts imbedded in the poem. Most popular among these is

Lakshmidhara's commentary. The editor-cum-translator of the work under review

has followed mainly Lakshmidhara. He has given a word-for-word translation of

the text in Tamil followed by expository notes based upon a close study of the

text with the commentaries. The translation is faithful to the original. In his

introduction in Tamil, which runs to over 40 pages he gives details regarding

the mode of worship of the Devi in a lucid manner. A study of this work with

Tamil translation does evoke in the mind of the reader a thrilling picture of

the Devi, magnanimous, compassionate and tenderly considerable to Her devotees.

The Tamil version of the by Kaviraja Pandita, an earnest devotee of the Devi, is

appended to this work.

 

The second work is the famous litany of the names of Lalita Parameswari.

It is one of the classical scriptures of the Devi cult. It occurs in the

Lalitopakhyana section of the and it is imparted by Hayagriva to Agastya. The

origin of the Sahasranama of the Devi is the Devi Herself. She bade the divine

attendants on Her set this litany forth for the benefit of humanity. The

thousand names are a magnificent evocation of the Devi in all Her moods and

forms and in all Her varied activities.

 

The names cover Her Her description from crown to foot and that of Srichakra.

One feature of the Devi worship is that it is perfectly compatible with

Advaita-anubhava. The Devi is described as the secondary sense of the term (in

the major text ), and as of the nature of pure consciousness. This litany

has one standard authoritative by Bhakskararaya. The translator has given the

text in Devanagari and Tamil scripts and has provided translation in Tamil. Each

name is explained in Tamil elaborately with notes added at appropriate places.

The introduction deals with the supremacy of the Devi, the different modes of

Her worship, and the fruits that would ensure therefrom.

 

G. V. Ganesa Iyer, the translator of the two works, was truly a blessed soul. As

a devotee of the Devi, he had the good fortune of bringing out editions and

Tamil translations of the besides these two works.

 

These works are unquestionably the fullest account of the Devi worship yet

published in Tamil. Only one thoroughly conversant with the vast and complex

field of the Devi cult, who is besides a loving devotee of the Devi could

provide authoritative translations like the present ones.

 

The S. G. Charitable Trust must be congratulated on bringing out these works,

which remained long out of print, at a price, which is affordable. We recommend

these two works wholeheartedly to all those who seek a way out of the sorrow,

suffering and agony, the toil and turmoil of life on this earth.

 

 

 

N. VEEZHINATHAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

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