Soundarya Lahari of Shri Shankara (Study)
by Seetha N. | 1985 | 67,146 words
The essay studies in English the Soundarya Lahari of Shri Shankara, focusing on its philosophical and devotional aspects. The Saundaryalahari represents an epitome of Shaktism (worship of the divine Goddess) by expounding the ultimate goal of liberation (moksha) through the non-dual knowledge of Nirguna Brahman, as taught by the Advaita philosophy....
The concept of Avarana-cakras
The six plexuses indirectly point to the contemplation on Sricakra. The nine cakras in the Sricakra are called Avaranacakras viz. Sarvanandamayacakra, Sarvasiddhipradacakra, Sarvarogaharacakra, Sarvaraksakaracakra, Sarvarthasadhakacakra, Sarvasaubhagay adayakacakra, Sarvasamksobhanacakra, Sarvas aparipurakacakra and Trailokyamohan acakra. (1) Sarvanandamayacakra 142 Bindu is known as the Sarvanandamayacakra. In it resides Mahatripurasundari who rules over the twentyfive principles. She is having golden red complexion and is called Sadakhyatattva. (2) Sarvasiddhipradacakra In this zone Trikona is known as Sarvasiddhipradacakra. resides Atirahasyayoginis of Bandhukapuspa complexion. They are Mahakame svari, Mahavaj resvari and Bhagamalini where Tripuramba is the ruling deity. This cakra is a representation of the threefold aspects of Jnana, Iccha, Kriyasaktis; Sattva, Rajas, Tamogunas; Srsti, Sthiti, Samhara activities etc. The fifteen Nityas representing the lunar digits of this zone are Kamesvari, Bhagamalini, Nity aklinna, Bherunda, Vahnivasini, Mahavaj resvari, 141. Varivasya-rahasya, pp. 82-87. 142. ibid.
353 Sivaduti, Tvarita, Kulasundari, Nitya, Nilapataka, Vijaya, Sarvamangala, Jvalamalini, and Citkala. In the worship of nityakalas, this order is followed from the first day of fullmo on day and if worship begins on half-moon day, this order is reversed. (3) Sarvarogaharacakra Vasukona is known as the Sarvarogaharacakra. The Vagdevatas or Rahasyayoginis who reside here are of Padmaraga colour, viz. Vasini, Kamesvari, Modini, Vimala, Aruna, Jayani, Sarvesvari and Kaulini. This plane is presided over by Tripurasiddha. (4) Sarvaraksakaracakra a Antardasara is known as Srvaraksakaracakra and here reside the Nigarbhayoginis viz. Sarvajna, Sarvasakti, Sarvai svaryaprada, SarvajnanamayI, Sarvavyadhivinasini, Sarvadharasvarupa, Sarvapapahara, Sarvanandamayi, Sarvaraksasvarupini and S Sarvepitaphalaprada, who are having reddish colour of hibiscus and are presided over by Tripuramalini. (5) Sarvarthasadhakacakra Bahirdasara is called Sarvarthasadhakacakra where the Kulottirnayoginis reside, having saffron colour, viz. Sarvasiddhiprada, Sarvasampatprada, Sarvapriyankari, Sarvamangalakarini, Sarvakamaprada, Sarvaduhkhavimo cini, Sarvamrtyupras amani, Sarvavighnanivarini, Sarvangasundari and
354 Sarvasaubhagyadayini. Here Tripurasundari manifests Herself. (6) Sarvasaubhagy aday akacakra. Caturdasara is called Sarvasaubhagyadayakacakra and is blue in colour. Tripuravasini presides over this cakra where reside the fourteen Sampradayayoginis viz. Sarvasamksobnini, Sarvavi dravini, Sarvakarsini, Sarvahladini, Sarvas ammohini, Sarvasthambhini, Sarvajrmbhini, Sarvavasamkari, Sarvaranjini, 03 Sarvonmadini, Sarvarthsadhini, Sarvasampattipurani, Sarvamantramayi and Sarvadvandvak sayamkari. (7) Sarvasamksobhanacakra or Vasudala is having red colour where the Guptayoginis viz. Anang akusuma, Anangame khala, Anangamadana, Anangamadanatura, Anang arekha, Anangavegini, Anangan kusa and Anangamalini dewll. Here Tripurasundari presides. we. (8) Sarvasaparipurakacakra is white in colour and is otherwise called Sodasara. The sixteen Guptayoginis who bless this zone are Kamakarsini, Buddhyakarsini, Sabdakarsini, Sparsakarsini, Rupakarsini, Rasa karsini, Gandhakarsini, Cittakarsini, Dhairyakarsini, Smrtyakarsini, Namakarsini, Bijakarsini, Atmakarsini, Amrtakarsini, and Sarirakarsini. the presiding deity here. Tripuresi is the 2-87
355- (9) Trailokyamohanacakra Bhupuratraya having four openings is called Trailokyamohanacakra with white (outermost), light red (middle) Tripuradevi controls the and yellow (innermost) colours. twenty eight goddesses who exist here as follows: In the outermost one ten Siddhadevis exist viz. Anima, Laghima, Mahima, Isitva, Vasitva, Prakamya, Bhukti, Iccha, Prapti and Sarvakama. In the middle one, the eight Matrsaktis exist viz. Brahmi, Mahesvari, Kaumari, Vaisnavi, Varahi, Mahendri, Camunda and Mahalaksmi. The innermost Bhupura is the seat of ten Mudradevis K viz. Sarvasamsko bhini, Sarvavidravani, Sarvakarsini, Sarvavasamkari, Sarvonmadini, Sarvamahankusa, Sarvakhecari, Sarvabija, Sarvayoni and Sarvat rikhandaka. Sodasaks ari and the nine cakras These nine cakras are related to the fifteen-lettered chant called Srividya, i.e. ka, e, I, la, hrim; ha, sa, ha, ka, la, Hrim; Sa, ka, la, hrim. The three Kakaras and Ikara formed 143 Trailoky amohanacakra; the Hrllekhas (Hrim) formed 143. "Kastritayadi karadbindujatah tadagrime cakre hrllekhabhih tatparacakrat ritayam hakarabhyamekarena ca tatparacakre jate sakarabhyam caturasrani lakaraih evah vidya ksarena cakrajanih..." Varivasya-rahasya, pp. 82-87.
356 Sarvasaparipurakacakra and Sarvasamksobhanacakra; the Hakaras and Ekara formed Sarvasaubhagyadayaka, Sarvarthasadhaka and Sarvaraksakara cakras; the Sakaras formed Sarvarogahara and Sarvasiddhiprada cakras; the Lakaras formed Sarvanandamayacakra. During the process of worship, there should not be the thought of duality. The Jnata who is also the Hota, should identify himself 144 The fifty alphabets as Jneya i.e. Havis and Jnana i.e. Arghya. represent the eight Devatas Avarga (Vasini); Kavarga (Kamesvari); Cavarga (Modini); Tavarga (Vimala); Tavarga (Aruna); Pavarga (JayinI); Yavarga (Sarvesvari); and Savarga (KaulinI). Their seed-letters are Blum, Klhrim, Nblim, Ylum, Jmrim, Hslvyum, Jhmryum 145 and Ksmrim.