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 Shakta concept of the Yoga-nadis
Nadis, in Tantrasastra, does not mean the nerves known to physiology, which are considered to be 3 lakhs. 144 The Yoganadis are said to be 72000 in number and with 143 the help of power flowing through these nerves, Jiva, exists. These Nadis have their origin from 10 Nadis, mainly viz., Ida, Pingala, Susumna, Gandhari, Hastijihva, Pusa, Alahbusa, n Yasasvini, Sankhini and Kuhu. 145 These Nadis have their centres 143. "Sakhopasakhatam praptah sirah laksatrayan param ardhalaksam iti prahuh sarirarthavisaradah P.Shabdataravali, I GOOD 56. 144. "etasu dasanadisu nananadiprasutika dvisaptatishasrani sarire nadikah smetah". Jnana-sankalini-tantra, 77. 145. "Tatra ya prathama nadi sa susumna vamedeti sa jneya pingala smrta daksina anya dhamanyo ya proktah gandhari hastijihvika 9 sa pusa lambusa caiva yasasvinyapi samkhini kuhuriti ca vidvadbhih pradhana vyapika Ibid.
: 159 in six plexuses in human body named Cakras, viz., Muladhara Svadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vi suddhi and Ajna. These cannot be seen by the naked eye, but can be only felt by the Yogic mind during the practice of Yoga. Sri Sankara accepts the practice of Yoga as a way for the attainment of the supreme reality, destroying ignorance and its effects. Ajna cakra. It is located in between two eyebrows. This is the centre of Manastattva. Here two Yoga-nadis meet. Two letters are present here representing two nerves; ha and ksa. These are heard to yogic mind as han and ksan. The deity that presides here, is lord Paramasiva and His power Hakini, in golden hue during contemplation, having six faces and bearing Vidya, Mudra, Kapala, Damaru and 146 Japavati. (book, holding abhayavarada Mudras, human skull, small drum, and rosary). She is very fond of boiled 147 rice with turmeric colour. 146. "Ajna namambujam taddhimakarasadrsan dhyanadhamaprakasam. Haksabhyam vai kalabhyan tanmadhye hakini sa vaktrasatkan dadhana vidyan mudram kapalan damarujapavatih bibhrati etadpadmantarale nivasati manah 147. "Haridrannaikarasika hakini" Lalita-sahasranama, 521. Satcakra-nirupana, 6 - 32.
160 dhi Visuddhi cakra.. It is located at the base of the throat. This is the centre of Akasatattva. Sixteen Yoganadis meet here. The sixteen letters representing the sixteen nerves here are: a a i i u 15 n 1 1 e ei 0 ou am and ah, which are heard to the yogic mind as am am im, in, etc. The deity that presides here is Sadasiva and His power is Sakini, who is pure white wearing yellow garment, 9 bearing Sara, Capa, Pasa and Srni (arrows, bow, noose and goad) and very fond of gheer. Anahatacakra of Vayutattva. is located in the heart, and is the centre Here 12 Yoga-nadis meet, and 12 letters are present here representing the twelve Nadis, ka kha, ga, gha, na, ca cha, ja, jha, na, ta and tha. The Bijas are heard to yogic mind with m suffixed, e.g. kan, khan, etc. The presiding deity is Lord Siva and His power is kakini, who is like the fresh flash of lightning, bearing Pasa (noose) Kapala (skull) Abhaya and Varada Mudras and who is fond of boiled rice and ghee. Siva abides here in the form of Banalinga.148 148. "Tasyordhve hrdi pankajam sulalitam namnanahatasamjnakam kadyairdvadasavarnakairudi tam atraste khalu kakini navatatitpita hastaih pasakapalasobhanavaran sabibhrati ca bhayam bapakhyah sivalingakopi kanakakarangaragojjvalo gay ormandalamatra Satcakra-nirupana, IV 24-26; and Snigdhaudanapriya" Lalita-sahasranama, 494
161 : Manipura is located in the navel and is the centre of Vahnitattva. There are ten Yoganadis here which are represented by ten letters aha, Da, dha, na, ta, tha, da, na, pa, pha, heard to yogic mind as dam, dham, nam, etc., The presiding deity is Rudra and His power is Lakini holding Varadabhayamudras and Sakti (lance) and Vajra (thunderbolt). Svadhisthana She is fond of boiled rice with molassess. ra, and la yam, ram and is found at the root of genitals and is the centre of Apastattva. Here six Yoganadis are present which are represented by six letters ba, bha, ma, ya, heard to the yogic mind as ban, bham, man, lam. The presiding deity here, is Lord Hari Rakini bearing Sula (trident) Kamala (lotus), and His Goddess Damaru (drum) 149 stace 149. "Tasyordhve nabhimule dasadalalalite dadiphantaih sacandraih atraste lakini sa sakalasubhakari vajram saktim dadhanam abhayavar akaram daksavame kramena tatkrode rudramurtirnivasati tatra vahneh svabijam and "Gudannapritamanasa..." 11 Satcakra-nirupana, III.19%; Lalita-sahasranama, 503.
162 : 150 and Tanka (battle axe) Muladhara is located at the tip of genitals, and is the there are four letters centre of Prithivitattva. Here, representing the four nerves i.e., va, sa, sa and sa. The Yogin hears it as vam, sam, sam and sam. The presiding deity here, is Svayambhu in His linga form and His power is Dakini. In this place, the primal power in man named 151 Kundalini sakti sleeps in 3 coils in serpent form. 150. "Sausumnamadhyaghatitan dhvajamulades e ..... angacchadaih parivrtam vadyaih sabindulasitaisca purandarantaih atraiva bhati satatan khalu rakini sa sulabjahastam damarukarayutan tikanatankam vahanti tasyankadesakalito harireva payat ambhojamandalamatho varunasya tasya". Satcakra-nirupana, 2-14 151. "Athadharap adman susumnasyalagnam dhvajadho gudordhvam catuh sonapatram vakaradisantaih yutan vedavarnaih vasedatra devica dakinyabhikhya tanmadhye lingarupi druta-kanakakalakomalah pascimasyo jnana dhyanaprakasahprathamakisalayakararupah svayam-bhuh ..sankhavartanibha navina capala malavilasaspada supta sarpasama sivopari lasad sardhatrivrttakrtih tadante samaste dharayah svabi jam" Satcakra-nirupana, I-4-9 svabijam"
: 163 163 : Sahasradala (Thousand-petalled lotus) as a plexus. This is not considered It is here that all Yoganadis merge. Here is the abode of Paramasiva, the Atman of all beings. The six Adharacakras are situated in Susumna-nadi, which is having an opening at its mouth, named as Brahmadvara. The kundalini lying coiled in Muladhara will get awakened and piercing through the cakras, it breaks open the Brahmadvara and reaches Sahasradala above the Ajnacakra. It is here that supreme 152 bliss is attained by the devotee. Kundalini sakti is like a serpent, that travels like a flash To the ordinary man it is 153 of lightning having 3 coils described as reddish or golden hued, somewhat like a testtube with round bottom, the top of which remains opened like 152. "Mulonnidrabhujangarajamahisin yantin susumnantaram T bhitva dharasamuhamasu vilasat ... saudamini sannibham gacchantin madhyamargena divyam parasivavadhi" P.Shabdataravali, p.189, 548 and Nitva tan kulakundalin layavasad utthapya brahmadvarasya madhye viracayati sa tam suddhabuddhisvabhavo bhitva tallingarupan sakalasarasijan prapya dedipyate .... moksadhamani suddhapadmasadane swamini" Satcakra-nirupana, I.51-52 Com: 153. "Nilatoyadamadhyasthad Vidullekheva bhasvara 11 nivarasukavattanvi pita bhasvatyanupama Narayanopanisad, 13 th Khanda.
164 a wide petalled flower, on the top of which a golden yellow 154 coloured seeming sun remains suspended. This supreme force which is present in all creatures, when specialised and enclosed within the spinal cord of man, moves in the serpentine path and hence the name 'serpent power'. Kundalini reaches Sahasrara, after traversing through the path of the six plexuses. When it traverses from one Cakra (plexus) to the other Cakra (plexus) the traversed Cakra loses its control over its plane and when it reaches Sahasrara, supreme bliss is enjoyed by Sadhaka. This is called the ascending of Kundalini. This is possible, only when Kundalini is awakened by the Yoganusthanas like pranayama etc. Through self-control by Pranayama, the rays that are supposed to be present in 3 planes (Solar, lunar and fiery planes situated in Anahata, Visuddhi and Manipura respectively) become active. The fiery rays from Manipura travel upwards. to fall on Anahata. There the solar rays travel upwards to fall on Visuddhi and the lunar rays, melt the ambrosia which 155 flows down and Kundalini saktis trance is disturbed. 154. Geofry Hodson Kingdom of Gods, Plate 27. 155. "Balarkaruna-tejasa bhagavata nirbhartsayantin tamah phale purnanisapatipratibhatanniharahara tvisa sincantimamrtena devamami tenanandayantim tanun cakre cakre gali tasudhaya siktagatra prakaman pathi pathi kamalanam caruhasam vidhaya 9 ni jabhavana vilasaduccaranti vilasaih sivasadanasudhabhirdhapayedatmatejah" Sharadatilaka, pp.549.
165 : Kundalini sakti wakes up like a flash and reaches Sahasradala where union with Parasambhu occurs. After attaining the supreme bliss, the Kundalini from the dizzy heights, descends to Ajnacakra and from there to Muladhara and then attaining the form of 3 coils falls into 156 trance in the Kulakunda burrow. At the time of attaining supreme bliss, the Sadhaka can hear humming of bees, musical note of flute, or ringing of bells etc. 157 By attaining this state the Sadhaka becomes liberated and nescience is destroyed 158 at the vision of God resplendent with millions of lightning flashes. Swayam jyotir-bhavatis. Sruti says that atra ayam purusah