The Hindu Article on Shankara's Saundaryalahari

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

The list discussed this great work of Shankara during

June/July/August of year 2000. The entire discussion was conducted by

one of our senior member, Sri Gummuluru Murthy and inteterested

members are welcome to access them.

 

Web address: advaitin

 

warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

Date:10/02/2003 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/10/stories/2003021001460800.htm

 

Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Redeeming nature of divine grace

 

CHENNAI FEB.10 . The hymns composed by saints and preceptors of the

various philosophical systems form a unique class of scriptural

literature. They have been composed with the objective of helping lay

people follow the spiritual path by practising the simple method of

chanting hymns in praise of deities. The efficacy of this method is

due to the inclusion of the divine names and mantras in the verses.

As it is not possible and advisable for all to undergo initiation or

adopt esoteric spiritual practices, the preceptors have out of

compassion for humanity composed hymns incorporating mystic syllables

and divine names which are capable of giving the same benefit. One

such hymn in praise of the Divine Mother is the Saundaryalahari of

Adi Sankara.

 

According to hagiological tradition this hymn has a divine origin.

Sankara is believed to have obtained it from Lord Siva and Parvati

directly in the course of his pilgrimage to Kailas. When he was

returning with the palm leaf manuscript Nandikeswara stopped him at

the entrance to the holy abode where he was keeping watch and

snatched it from him. The preceptor managed to return with only the

first 41 verses of the hymnal work and when he was feeling remorseful

that he could not get the entire hymn to propagate the worship of the

Divine Mother as detailed in this work, he heard the voice of the

Goddess commanding him to compose the remaining verses. At once

because of Her grace verses streamed forth describing Her divine

beauty from head to foot and the work was completed in 100 stanzas,

said Srimathi Sudha Seshaiyan in her discourse.

 

The first half (41 verses) which he had obtained is called as

Anandalahari and the latter section he composed (59 verses) came to

be known as Saundarayalahari, though the entire work is known by the

same name. It is also known as Chidananda Lahari because of the

esoteric nature of the subject. There are differences of opinion

about the origin of this hymn and also a view that Sankara composed

the entire hymn. Along with the Lalita Sahasranama and the Abhirami

Andadi, which has been influenced by this hymn, these constitute the

core hymnal literature for Devi worship.

 

The devotee on his part has to only surrender to the Divine Mother.

Her benevolent grace, which is compared to waves in this hymn

(Lahari), blesses him by removing his ignorance, which is responsible

for his suffering and fulfilled both worldly desires and the goal of

liberation from bondage.

 

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