Soundarya Lahari Series (Article 27) : Verse 25 – ” Getting higher Post and Power”

WORD FOR WORD

Trayanam devanam – of the three gods

Triguna janitanam – originated from the three nature modalities

Tava sive – of Yours, o consort of Shiva

Bhavat puja puja – their worship of You would alone be worship

Tava caranayor ya viracita – as offered to Your twin feet

Tatha hi – in spite of it being so

Tvad padodvahana mani pithasya nikate – standing beside Your gem-bedecked footstool

Sthita hi – standing indeed

Ete sasvat – eternally these

Mukulita karottamsa makutah – joining bud-like their palms well above their crowns

How to worship Devi? O Auspicious One! Worship done at your feet becomes the worship of all three deities Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara. Their origin is in your three gunas that are Rajas, satva Thama. She is Trigunatmike and Nirgunatmike. When we try to understand Devi, several doors open up. What is with Trigunatmika is that and what is Nirgunamitka is also that. O Devi! you are these three and you are not these three. First mention of Devi comes in Vag Bruni sukta in Rig Veda. I am Gyana, and I am also Agyana. Offering worship at your feet is also offering worship to Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara. They are standing next to you while you are holding them. Worship or Pragna and Shakti, that worship is the worship of the entire creation. The entire manifestation of beings whether they are animate or inanimate, are your forms. From a minute atom to the human being is all your form. The benefit of worshiping totality then is only through Parashakti. If we are worshiping Satvika Guna in Vishnu then we are not worshiping the totality, it is part of it. We should be able to know what kind of worship we are doing and on whom is important. By doing so we are worshiping the totality. Worshiping the totality of Shakti is the ultimate reality due to its femininity or the mother. Worshiping something keeps us close to that. It is easier when talking to a mother than to a father, who makes our worship much easier, and to connect to the totality needs to be understood as Parashakti, Rajarajeshwari, Lalitha Tripurasundari because it is easier to approach the mother. The benefit of worshiping totality or benefit of worshiping part of it, our experience. When we worship Parashakti, our experience should also be felt. Shankara Baghavadpada refers to the Shodashi form of Shakti which is superior to all the forms, he is not describing the amsha avataras (part). The shakti in her total splendor, her feet are rested in a diamond-studded stool, and Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesahwara stand with their folded hands waiting for her next order. This mantra is a very strong, deep, reaffirmation of the entire Shakta Darshana in its purest form. It is said that she creates three energies who are called Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara which can help each of them o perform three different activities ( creation, sustenance, and dissolution, Rajasic to Bramhan, Sattva guna to Vishnu, and Thamo guna to Maheshwara). In Vivekachudamani we have many aspects as well as Advaita Siddhanta. Rajasa Guna which he further explains in verses 111 and 112 of Vivekachudamani.

Chanting procedure and Nivedyam( offerings to the Lord) : If one chants this verse 1000 times each day for 45 days, offering honey as prasadam, it is said that one would be able to hold positions of power.

Note: The articles written are the extracts from daily online Jnana Yajna conducted by ‘Atmanandanatha’ on Soundarya Lahari

Link to Article 1: Introduction to Soundarya Lahari

Link to Article 2: Synopsis of first 41 verse of Soundarya Lahari

Link to Article 3: Verse1 of Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 4: Verse 2 Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 5: Verse 3 Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 6: Verse 4 Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 7: Verse 5 Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 8: Verse 6 Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 9: Verse 7 Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 10: Verse 8 Soundarya Lahari explanation

Link to Article 11: Verse 9 Soundarya Lahari explanation