Soundarya Lahari Series (Article5) : Verse3 – “Attainment of all Knowledge, Amazing power of Dust of Devi’s feet”

BENEFICIAL RESULTS:Attainment of versatile knowledge, particularly of Vedas.

WORD FOR WORD

avidyanam – for the uninstructed

antah stimira mihira – inner darkness banishing

dvipa nagari – light city, mid-ocean placed

cadanam – to inert ones

caitanya stabaka makaranda – the ooze of mind-expanding

sruti charim – sweetness from within blossoms celestial

daridranam – for indigent spirits

cintamani gunanika – a brood of philosophers’ stones

canma caladhau – in the ocean of repeated birth and death

nimagnanam – for those submerged

damstra – the tusk

muraripu varahasya – of the boar of Vishnu (the enemy of Ripu)

bhavati – you become

Meaning: May all become happyMay none fall ill |May all see auspiciousness everywhereMay none ever feel sorrow |Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||Today we will be talking about Gurupushyamrutha yoga. It is considered as very auspicious to gain knowledge. More so it is very auspicious for spiritual knowledge, performing rituals, mantra Japa, and Dhyana. Results are multifold when spiritual undertakings are started in this day. One should start his spiritual journey with faith, trust, confidence. Continuation of Soundarya Lahari Mantra 2, these states are related to degrees of awareness that have tripled into the matter of mind, Mind is a matter which is subjected to time and space like any object. But the experience of shakti is different for different people and It depends entirely on one’s perception as long as we remain in the state of avidya(ignorance). We can see a different perspective of Shakti. For us, Shakti gives glimpses of illumination that dispels the darkness and for the dull, she gives awareness that guarantees perfection in whatever they do. Shakti provides the material wealth who needs it and becomes a support for those who are sinking in the samsara Sagara or worldly matters. The dust of Devi’s feet, not only helps in creation. The dust of Devi’s feet helps the devotees to come out of the never-ending cycle of pain and pressure to the eternal happiness of liberation. Just as the sunlight removes the darkness. Devi Upasana What is Upasana? Upa means nearby and Asana means sitting. So one who is close to Devi is Upasana. The worship removes the Tamasa Guna of avidya from the mind. Avidya is the one that is not – that not block the free flow of energy. In all walks of life whether it is spiritual or materialistic. The following verse 3 explains about the avidya which is as follows. The avidya is one, there is a block within and obstructs one’s progress. Both bhukti and mukti and the desire are born out of ignorance or aggyana that leads to aviveka. Aviveka is lacking discrimination in all walks of life. Aviveka leads to egoistic behavior. This in turn leads to raga and dvesha. It is a continuous series that leads to fear and anxiety. In this way, the aggyana is the root of all the misery. To eliminate and to bring light in the darkness of avidya. One must release the knot of ignorance, the knot that blocks. Ignorance is the knot that blocks the heart through the Upasana shakti. So, the easiest way of worshipping the Devi or parashakti is through sound( the mantra).

Every aspect of Shakti has a particular round form which Beeja mantra or see sound invokes or what awaken’s it. These mantras are not just letters or sounds. They are not just letters or sounds. They are not simple letters. The mantras for worshipping Devi cannot be taken very lightly as sounds. They are a highly concentrated form of energy. These sounds of Beeja mantras are not energies. This energy remains dormant. Until it is awakened. The Beeja mantras become powerful through continuous repetition.

The mantra is repeated, it raises the frequency of awareness. This cannot be simply said. One has to experience by reciting them regularly. One can experience how the mantra opens up to different degrees which depends on the depth of recitation or the aspect of Shakti. When the Beeja mantras raise the frequency of awareness that the dark mind is illumined, the mooda (dull mind becomes activated). The destitute mind acquires wealth and material assets and is uplifted and sailed through life. There is a wide range of benefits the shakti offers because she is a mother. As a mother, she always gives her child the best of things in the world. Hence Shakti gives us the same thing. She is the cosmic mother who bestows precious gifts upon her devotees. We are our children through Shakti Upasana. One can attain all her Aishwarya, the wealth, status, beauty, name and fame. In this mantra, Shankara establishes that worshipping Shakti will help every type, every grade of Sadhaka an aspirant seeker to succeed in life. Devi is the mother of all and children have different needs. If one speaks knowledge, the mother will fulfill the desire. If someone is in difficulties, she rescues her child.

From the second mantra, we learned that her dhuli can create the universe. One of the commentaries indicates that karma(desires) gets fulfilled. It is the superiority of the mantra in attaining all desires. Upasakas or worshippers of Srividya contemplate and meditate on this mantra. This is the gist from verses 2 & 3.

Similarly, the Beings in your own creation are rescued from the depths of ‘Agynana’ or Ignorance and gradually get pulled up from the Kalachakra the Eternal Cycle of Births and Deaths of this Great Ocean of Samsara!

These mantras have the ability to ward off our difficulties. Depending on the problem each mantra in Soundarya Lahari has to offer some benefit to the Sadhaka or even a common man. The benefit is as follows:

Chanting procedure and Nivedyam( offerings to the Lord) : If one chants this verse 2000 times every day for 45 days and offers Vada (made out of Urad Dhal ) as prasadam, one is said to attain knowledge and wisdom.

Sri Gurubhyo Namah

Sri Matre Namah