Essay name: Soundarya Lahari of Shri Shankara (Study)
Author:
Seetha N.
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Department of Sanskrit
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.
Chapter 7 - Philosophical aspects in Saundaryalahari
15 (of 57)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- can be aroused. Yoga can be practised through Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyah膩ra, Dharana, Dhyana, etc. Yogangas 68 The ten aspects in Yama are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya,
70 Brahmacarya, Daya, Arjava, Ksama, Dhriti, Mit膩h膩ra and Sauca. 69
Tapa, santosa, 膩stikya, dana, Isvarapuja, Siddhantasravana, Hri,
Mati, Japa, etc. are aspects in Niyama.
The nine Asanas are
Svastika, Gomukha, Padma, Vira, Simha, Bhadra, Mukta, Mayura and
71 Sukha. The human body is having 96 angulas of length. In
the middle of the human body there is a fire of reddish golden
hue. The exact position of this is two angulas above Guda (anus)
and two angulas below Medhra (penis). The place of Muladharacakra
is nine angulas below Kanda (fleshy excrescense). It is having
a length of four angulas. In Kanda, there lies an egg-shaped
72 flap, in the middle of which exists Nabhi (navel).
73 74
Susumna is
the nerve that exists in Kanda. Other Yoganadis (yogic nerves)
are situated around Susumna. Susumna runs through the middle
of Prstha in the shape of Vinadanda (lute) upto head. Of the
Yoganadis, the chief ones are Ida and Pingala which are found on
the left and right side of Susumna respectively. The God
68. Da. Up. I.5.
75 69. ibid. I.6.
70. ibid. II.1.
71. ibid. III.1.
72. Da. Up. Iv.1.
t
73. "kandamadhyasthita nadi su峁mneti prakirti" ibid. IV.5.
74. ibid. IV. 10.
75. ibid. IV. 13-14.
