Who is the knower ? Mahapralayasakshini ...........

[Guest guest]

Subbuji writes :

 

(The above observation of yours reminds me of a Nama in the Lalitha

> Sahasra Nama: MahApraLayasAkShiNi.)

 

Subbuji, this attribute of Sri Lalita Triourasundari as being

the 'sakshini' appears both in sRI lalita Sahasaranama as well as

Lalita trishati !

 

the name 'Mahapralayasakshini' is nama 571 in Sri LS 

 

 

She is desecribed as

 

Nityatrupta bhaktanidhi rniyantri nikhileshvari

 

Maityradi vasanalabhya *mahapralayasakshini*

 

 

a beautiful explanation of this name  is given by Ambaal bhakta Sri

Ravi Mayavaram , the founder of group

 

 

LS 571. mahApraLayasAxiNI

 

( This name is also taken to mean that SHE witnesses the great

  destruction at the end of the cosmic cycle by maheSvara. Everyone

else

  is absorbed back into them. The deva-s who consumed amR^ita also

  perish at the hands of kAlakAla who does not perish even after

  drinking the deadliest poison. Poetically, his indescuctability is

  attributed to pAtivratyam of ambA (refer saundaryalaharI - tava

jananI tATa~Nka mahimA).)

 

Read my response to Raviji's post in ambaal group !

 

ADI_SHAKTHI'S EXPLANATION :

 

In this context, May we also recall another name of Sri Lalithabika

from LS which is a complement to this one ?

 

LS 232 reads

 

Sri Mahesvara-Maha-Kalpa-Maha-Tandava-Saksini

 

— Silent Witness to the dissolution of the Universe.

 

Sri Lalita Sahasranama

(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Assoc. Advertisers and

Printers, 1989.)

 

 

"The Witness to the Great Dance of Mahesvara in the Great Cycle

(mahesvaramahakalpa- mahatanda — vasaksini). Mahakalpa, the Great

Dissolution (pralaya); Great Dance is caused by the fact that the

Self alone remaining and having become Bliss after the universe has

been drawn into it; as, at that time, there is no one beside Herself,

She is the Witness.

 

The Pancadasistava says,

 

"Your form alone is excellent, having the noose, elephant hook,

Bow of sugarcane, and the arrow of flowers,

And witnessing the dance of the axe-bearing Parabhairava [siva in His

aspect of Destruction]Started at the time of His drawing the universe

[into Himself]."

 

The Devi Bhag. Pr. also says,

 

"This [Devi] at the Dissolution [of the universe],

Having drawn the universe into Herself sports,

Having absorbed the souls [linga] of all beings in Her own body." "

 

R. A. Sastry, Lalita Sahasranama

(R. A. Sastry, Lalita-Sahasranama, The Adyar Library and Research

Centre, Madras, 1988, p. 128.)

 

Raviji GOES ON TO SAY .

 

(saxI means witness. A true witness is unaffected by the action and

its consequences. mahA praLayam means great destruction. SHE witness

this great destruction and it unaffected by it. The great destruction

is end of avidyA and which is the root of all duality. At the

destruction of avidya, Atman alone remains and avidyA ceases to be.

But as Self of all she is untouched by the actions and consequences

in vyAvahAra and also in its final destruction.)

 

now, another devi bhakta , a friend of mind whose name is Vijaya

ganapathy adds

 

"On the Doom's day everything perishes leaving only  Parameshwara..

Why is it so

? The answer is in SL Shloka 26 -- the Thadanga Mahima. ( this is

because of the

sheer power of Her Ear studs ).

 

In the book " Guru Kala " the explanation is given  ----  "as She is

the only Eternal Suvashini, only She exists after the Maha Pralayam.

 

   A true witness (Also) does not participate in the very action.

 

   This Namavali should also be understood and viewed along with the

meaning of LS 385 - Sakshi Varjitha !

 

(msgs 8515 and its up thread LS 571 )

 

**********************************************************************

Subbuji, on another note , may i recall here verse 28 of Adi shankara

bhagvadapoada's Saundarya lahari wherin the acharya talks about

the 'tadanga mahima' (glory of devi's ear studs-her pativratavyam?)

 

SudhAm apy AsvAdhya prathiBhaya JaramruthyuhariNIm

 

vipadhyante vishwe vidhi ShatamakhAdyAdiviShadah

 

karAlam yat kshvelam kabalitavatah kAlakalanA

 

na shamBhostan mUlam tava janani *tAdanga mahima*

 

Even after consuming Amrita , which confers freedpm from the fear-

inspiring decrepitude of old age and of death, deities like

Brahma,and Indra perish finally at the time of cosmic delusion. But

even in spite of taking the terrible poison of Kalakuta thy consort

Shiva ( neelakanta) ENJOYS a life span that has no end. (

mrityunjaya) The cause of this ,  Mother , IS IS INDEED THE UNIQUE

GLORY OF THY EAR ORNAMENTS!

 

ON ANOTHER NOTE - the two ear ornaments of devi reprsent the sun and

moon - eternal time - SHE IS KALI- ETERNAL AND HE IS KALA -ALSO

ETERNAL!

 

(subbuji you can read more about THE BEAUTY OF DEVI'S MANGALYA

BHAGYAM in prof. vk's ji saundarya lahari series archived in this

group ! )

 

SALUTATIONS To the eternal couple Siva-sakti!

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "dhyanasaraswati"

<dhyanasaraswati> wrote:

>

> Subbuji writes :

>

> (The above observation of yours reminds me of a Nama in the Lalitha

> > Sahasra Nama: MahApraLayasAkShiNi.)

>

> Subbuji, this attribute of Sri Lalita Triourasundari as being

> the 'sakshini' appears both in sRI lalita Sahasaranama as well as

> Lalita trishati !

>

> the name 'Mahapralayasakshini' is nama 571 in Sri LS 

>

>

> > Raviji GOES ON TO SAY .

>

> (saxI means witness. A true witness is unaffected by the action and

> its consequences. mahA praLayam means great destruction. SHE witness

> this great destruction and it unaffected by it. The great

destruction

> is end of avidyA and which is the root of all duality. At the

> destruction of avidya, Atman alone remains and avidyA ceases to be.

> But as Self of all she is untouched by the actions and consequences

> in vyAvahAra and also in its final destruction.)

>

> (subbuji you can read more about THE BEAUTY OF DEVI'S MANGALYA

> BHAGYAM in prof. vk's ji saundarya lahari series archived in this

> group ! )

>

> SALUTATIONS To the eternal couple Siva-sakti!

>

 

Namaste Madam,

 

Thank you very much for those explanations.  The meaning of

Mahapralayam, destruction of Avidya, is most appealing to me.  I

wanted to see this on the List and you have posted it! The 'tATanka

mahima' has always left me with a great feeling for that MahA

Sumangali, Devi Lalitambika. 

 

Sometime back Sri Madathil ji had suggested that it would be nice if

someone listed the Namas of the Mother in the LS that are patently

Advaitic.  Will you take this up and provide annotated explanations

Madam? You can spread it over several Posts.  You have the

imagination, the material and above all the Grace of Devi for this

divine project.

 

Warm Regards,

subbu   

[Guest guest]

Subbuji writes:

( Thank you very much for those explanations.  The meaning of

Mahapralayam, destruction of Avidya, is most appealing to me.  I

wanted to see this on the List and you have posted it! The 'tATanka

mahima' has always left me with a great feeling for that MahA

Sumangali, Devi Lalitambika.)

 

Subbuji! thanks . However, i do not deserve all this praise ... it is

Sri Ravi Mayavaram of Ambaal group who came up with this brikliant

explanation. He is blessed with the Divine grace of Ambaal. but i have

a certain kind of 'skill' called 'pratibha shakti' - i normally retain

what i read and i have the capacity to reproduce such material at a

moment's notice. That's all! Amball has given me this 'smriti' shakti

or memory power!

 

You write :

 

( Sometime back Sri Madathil ji had suggested that it would be nice if

someone listed the Namas of the Mother in the LS that are patently

Advaitic.  Will you take this up and provide annotated explanations

Madam? You can spread it over several Posts.  You have the

imagination, the material and above all the Grace of Devi for this

divine project.)

 

Once again, i am flattered that you should think so highly of me. If

anyone can lead and undertake such a project, it is our beloved

Nairji. He is truly gifted in this regard. Let him lead abd i can

certainly add my 2 cents from time to time . Surely, like Muka kavi,,

one of these days due to Ambaal kataksham, i may also be ABLE TO come

up with something 'origina' in Her HONOR.

 

Meanwhile , i would encourage you to take a look at the following web

site

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/2952/gohitvip/1216.html

Subbuji, Professor-ji has done an excellent job of describing the

Lalita Trishati(300 names of SMT.LALITA ) with an 'advaitic'

interpretation! Take a look! in the same web site you will see the

1000 names of sri lalita devi specially coined by many ambaal devotees

on the web. This namavali was completed by all participants (including

me) during Navaratri with supporT and encouragement from Professor-ji!

 

BUT, i will certainly rise to the Occassion when an opportumity

presents itself and see if i can provide an advaitic interpretation to

any 'one' of devi's many names! Right?

 

Meanwhile - here is a start ....

 

Nirvikalpa/nirbhedha  - one of the names of Sri Sri Lalita

mahatripurasundari !

 

NAIRJI, i know you will do 'wondes' with this nama - you can come up

with this best advaitic interpretation of this name ! Others join in,

pl!

 

 

JAI MAA!

[Guest guest]

Namaste Dhyanasaraswathiji and Subbuji.

 

Thank you both for thinking I can do this lofty job.

 

Long back, Smt. Adi Shakti had asked me to attempt a translation of

SrI Rajarajeshwari Stotram.  The fool that I am - I readily agreed. 

And, that still remains a promise to be fulfilled.  Contrast me with

our dear Sunderji.  He had also received the same request.  With

great humility he thanked Smt. Adi Shakti and excused himself by

saying that he was not competent enough to fulfill her wish.

 

Sunderji thus taught me another unforgettable lesson in humbleness. I

am an irresponsible prodigal son of the Great Mother who keeps

calling out to Her from the wilderness of spiritual vagrancy. 

Delving into the advaitic depths of Her great names demands a high

degree of discipline and purity, which I sadly lack.

 

Kindly, therefore, permit me to say a humber 'no'.

 

Besides, I am in the midst of preparing for a vacation commencing 9th

June.  This is, therefore, not an opportune time for me to commit to

leading any discussions.  Appreciate your kind understanding.

 

PraNAms.

 

Madathil Nair

________________

 

advaitin, "dhyanasaraswati"

<dhyanasaraswati> wrote:

...... If

> anyone can lead and undertake such a project, it is our beloved

> Nairji. He is truly gifted in this regard. Let him lead abd i can

> certainly add my 2 cents from time to time . Surely, like Muka

kavi,,

> one of these days due to Ambaal kataksham, i may also be ABLE TO

come

> up with something 'origina' in Her HONOR.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Nair-ji :

 

First , let me wish you and your beloved family a wonderful vacation

time - i presume you are going to 'Kerala' your matrubhumi ! or you

may be even coming to visit your daughter in U.S.A or may be that

secret admirer (girl friend in New york) ? who knows? just kidding.

Anyway, when sri Bhagwati amman wills , you may one day come up with

an Advaitic interpretation of Devi's 1000 names - Meanwhile , i do

have adbvaitic interpretation of some devi names in our group Brahman

shakti posted by none other than Shriman Nairji which i will post

here when an opportunity  presents itself! ok?

 

May i please quote here a significant passage from Brahmanda Purana ?

 

""To make up for the imperfect performances in this age of Kali, which

is noted for the prevalence of sin and delinquency on the part of the

people in doing their duty, there is no protective mantra except the

repetition of this (Lalita) Sahasranama. To a thousand names of

Vishnu a single name of Shiva is preferred. To a thousand names of

Shiva a single name of Devi preferred . . . Therefore, it should be

repeated daily to ward off the sins of the Kali age. The ignorant do

not recognise this hymn of Devi as the best. Some devote themselves

to the names of Vishnu and others to the names of Shiva. Rarely one

in this world is devoted to the names of Lalita. It is by repeating

the names of other deities in hundreds of thousands of births that

faith is generated to repeat the names of Sri Devi. Just as it is in

the last of all his births that a person devotes himself to Srividya,

so it is that the repetition of this Sahasranama is taken by him,

whose birth is the last."

 

On another note , i have read in ambaal group that we cannot even

recite  the 1000 names Sri Lalita Sahasaranama without being formally

initiated into it. Now , can anyone prevent this child of devi ( me)

from calling out to the Mother in times of Joy and sorrow ?

 

Subbuji - here is what sri Nairji wrote in my group on this nama in

response to sri sivadancer's post

 

Nama 178. nirbhedA

She who is beyond all sense of difference

 

She is the core of our being...beyond these names and forms, bodies

and limited egos that make us think, "I am different from you." When

we get past these sheaths that cause a sense of difference, we no

longer say, "I am different from you." We say, "I am you."

 

Nairji's delicious response

 

I like to liken Consciousness (Mother) to a self-projecting,

iridescent mirror on which the world is projected (vikalpas).  There

is nothing outside the mirror, which is another way of saying that

the mirror has no outside.  Well, what about the inside?  The

projected objects, which appear on the mirror, including the identity

of an "I"  as a seer of objects but separate from them, are not apart

from the mirror.  They are verily the mirror themselves.  When the "I

sense of seer", which is an error, gives way through contemplation,

bhakti and total surrender, the objects stop getting projected.  In

other words, the seer becomes the seen!  Then only the mirror remains

shining without vikalpas (nirvikalpa), which means the mirror has no

inside too like it has no outside, because a sense of inside or

outside results from separation.  Also, logically, a thing without an

outside cannot have an inside either.   So, nirvikalpa, in essence,

means the absence of an inside and outside, the whole One without the

possibility of a two or second.  Since there are no objects

projected, there is no differentiation in the mirror, which is

nirbheda.  The nature of Consciousness (Mother) that is verily me is

nirvikalpa.  Being nirvikalpa is being nirbheda too. Both words are

synonymous. Homogeneous can be a poor translation for the idea.

 

Bheda can also mean division.  The name nirbheda, therefore, points

at the indivisibility of Consciousness.  As we all know,

Consciousness is not divisible or multipliable.  Nothing can be added

to It or subtracted from It.  These exercises have validity only in a

word of duality fraught with the pain of separation.  The world of

many, therefore, is a big error - the reason for all our torments.

 

**********************************************************************

So, nairji -we will be waiting for your return when youy will come

back spiritually energized and divinely inspired by Devi and come

back to post these wonderful gems of thought in this wonderful group

of satsanghis.

 

Now as far as Sunderji is concerned , we all know he is a cut above

the rest - not only he is 'humble'  ( he has no reason to be humble

about) - he is the invisible 'hand' that is guiding this satsangha

from time to time with his ability and willingness to help by

providingquickreferences on all topics. Thanks , sunder-ji ! We need

more of you in this group , not less!

 

Aum Sri Matre namaha! 

 

ps - once again, nairji, have a great time ! 

 

 

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- In advaitin, "Madathil Rajendran Nair"

<madathilnair> wrote:

>

> Namaste Dhyanasaraswathiji and Subbuji.

>

> Thank you both for thinking I can do this lofty job.

>

> Long back, Smt. Adi Shakti had asked me to attempt a translation of

> SrI Rajarajeshwari Stotram.  The fool that I am - I readily

agreed. 

> And, that still remains a promise to be fulfilled.  Contrast me

with

> our dear Sunderji.  He had also received the same request.  With

> great humility he thanked Smt. Adi Shakti and excused himself by

> saying that he was not competent enough to fulfill her wish.

>

> Sunderji thus taught me another unforgettable lesson in humbleness.

I

> am an irresponsible prodigal son of the Great Mother who keeps

> calling out to Her from the wilderness of spiritual vagrancy. 

> Delving into the advaitic depths of Her great names demands a high

> degree of discipline and purity, which I sadly lack.

>