IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP OF PRIMORDIAL ENERGY--PART IV

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IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP OF PRIMORDIAL ENERGY AND MATERIAL  PROSPERITY

PART IV

Soundarya Lahari

Soundarya Lahari is a master piece among all holy hymns (sloka)   and also instruction book for Tantric worship written in Sanskrit.  Sankara is believed to be the pioneer in Tantra form of worship about which I have talked before in my discourses on Kundalinee Power and Lalita Sahasranama. Soundrya Lahari means Waves of Beauty. It is said to be written by sage Pushapadanta and nAdi sankaraIts 103 Slokas eulogize   Parvati also known as Dakshayani, consort of Siva. It is said that once Adi Shankara visited Kailasa to worship Shiva and Parvati.  There the Lord gave him a manuscript containing 100 verses which described the many facets of the Goddess, as a gift to him. While Sankara was returning after visiting Kailash, Nandi stopped him on the way. He snatched the manuscript from him, tore it into two, took one part and gave the other to Sankara. Sankara, desolate, ran to Shiva and narrated the incident to him. Shiva, smiling, commanded him to retain the 41 verses with him as the initial part of the 100 verses and then, write an extra 59 verses in praise of the Goddess himself. Thus, verses 1 - 41 are the original work of Lord Shiva, shedding great light on the ancient rituals of Tantra, Yantra and various powerful Mantras. Verses 1 - 41 describe the mystical experience of the union of Siva and Sakti and related phenomena. In fact, it opens with the assertion that only when Shiva is united with Shakti does he have the power to create. The remaining verses, i.e. 42-100 are composed by Adi Shankara himself, which mainly focuses on the appearance of the Goddess. All the 100 verses are collectively known as 'Soundarya Lahari'. The Soundarya Lahari is not only a poem. It is a tantra textbook, giving instructions on Puja and offerings, many yantras, almost one to each sloka; describes tantric ways of performing devotion connected to each specific sloka; and details the results ensuing therefrom.  Verses 42 to 100 are more straightforward; they describe the physical beauty of the Goddess and are sometimes referred to as the Soundarya Lahari .

FirstPart--Ananda Lahari
Sivah Saktyaa yukto yadi bhavati saktah prabhavitum  
Na chedevam  devo na khalu kusalah spanditumapi |
Atastvaa-maaraadhyaam hari-hara-virnachadibhi-rapi
pranantu stotum vaa katha--makritapunyah prabhavati || 1 ||
Taneeyamsam paamsu tava charana pankeruhabhavam

Virinchih sañcinvan viracayati lokā-navikalam |

vahatyenaṃ śauriḥ kathamapi sahasreṇa śirasāṃ
haraḥ saṅkṣud-yainaṃ bhajati bhasitoddhūḷa navidhim|| 2 ||

avidyānā-manta-stimira-mihira dvīpanagarī
jaḍānāṃ caitanya-stabaka makaranda śrutijharī |
daridrāṇāṃ cintāmaṇi guṇanikā janmajaladhau
nimagnānāṃ daṃṣṭrā muraripu varāhasya bhavati|| 3 ||

tvadanyaḥ pāṇibhayā-mabhayavarado daivatagaṇaḥ
tvamekā naivāsi prakaṭita-varabhītyabhinayā |
bhayāt trātuṃ dātuṃ phalamapi ca vāṃchāsamadhikaṃ
śaraṇye lokānāṃ tava hi caraṇāveva nipuṇau || 4 ||

haristvāmāradhya praṇata-jana-saubhāgya-jananīṃ
purā nārī bhūtvā puraripumapi kṣobha manayat |
smaro‌உpi tvāṃ natvā ratinayana-lehyena vapuṣā
munīnāmapyantaḥ prabhavati hi mohāya mahatām || 5 ||

dhanuḥ pauṣpaṃ maurvī madhukaramayī pañca viśikhāḥ
vasantaḥ sāmanto malayamaru-dāyodhana-rathaḥ |
tathāpyekaḥ sarvaṃ himagirisute kāmapi kṛpāṃ
apāṅgātte labdhvā jagadida-manaṅgo vijayate || 6 ||

kvaṇatkāñcī-dāmā kari kalabha kumbha-stananatā
parikṣīṇā madhye pariṇata śaraccandra-vadanā |
dhanurbāṇān pāśaṃ sṛṇimapi dadhānā karatalaiḥ
purastā dāstāṃ naḥ puramathitu rāho-puruṣikā || 7 ||

sudhāsindhormadhye suraviṭa-pivāṭī-parivṛte
maṇidvīpe nīpo-pavanavati cintāmaṇi gṛhe |
śivakāre mañce paramaśiva-paryaṅka nilayām
bhajanti tvāṃ dhanyāḥ katicana cidānanda-laharīm || 8 ||

mahīṃ mūlādhāre kamapi maṇipūre hutavahaṃ
sthitaṃ svadhiṣṭāne hṛdi maruta-mākāśa-mupari |
mano‌உpi bhrūmadhye sakalamapi bhitvā kulapathaṃ
sahasrāre padme sa harahasi patyā viharase || 9 ||

sudhādhārāsārai-ścaraṇayugalānta-rvigalitaiḥ
prapañcaṃ sinñntī punarapi rasāmnāya-mahasaḥ|
avāpya svāṃ bhūmiṃ bhujaganibha-madhyuṣṭa-valayaṃ
svamātmānaṃ kṛtvā svapiṣi kulakuṇḍe kuhariṇi || 10 ||

caturbhiḥ śrīkaṇṭhaiḥ śivayuvatibhiḥ pañcabhipi
prabhinnābhiḥ śambhornavabhirapi mūlaprakṛtibhiḥ |
catuścatvāriṃśad-vasudala-kalāśc-trivalaya-
trirekhabhiḥ sārdhaṃ tava śaraṇakoṇāḥ pariṇatāḥ || 11 ||

tvadīyaṃ saundaryaṃ tuhinagirikanye tulayituṃ
kavīndrāḥ kalpante kathamapi viriñci-prabhṛtayaḥ |
yadālokautsukyā-damaralalanā yānti manasā
tapobhirduṣprāpāmapi giriśa-sāyujya-padavīm || 12 ||

naraṃ varṣīyāṃsaṃ nayanavirasaṃ narmasu jaḍaṃ
tavāpāṅgāloke patita-manudhāvanti śataśaḥ |
galadveṇībandhāḥ kucakalaśa-vistrista-sicayā
haṭāt truṭyatkāñyo vigalita-dukūlā yuvatayaḥ || 13 ||

kṣitau ṣaṭpañcāśad-dvisamadhika-pañcāśa-dudake
hutaśe dvāṣaṣṭi-ścaturadhika-pañcāśa-danile |
divi dviḥ ṣaṭ triṃśan manasi ca catuḥṣaṣṭiriti ye
mayūkhā-steṣā-mapyupari tava pādāmbuja-yugam || 14 ||

śarajjyotsnā śuddhāṃ śaśiyuta-jaṭājūṭa-makuṭāṃ
vara-trāsa-trāṇa-sphaṭikaghuṭikā-pustaka-karām |
sakṛnna tvā natvā kathamiva satāṃ sannidadhate
madhu-kṣīra-drākṣā-madhurima-dhurīṇāḥ phaṇitayaḥ || 15 ||

kavīndrāṇāṃ cetaḥ kamalavana-bālātapa-ruciṃ
bhajante ye santaḥ katicidaruṇāmeva bhavatīm |
viriñci-preyasyā-staruṇatara-śrṛṅgara laharī-
gabhīrābhi-rvāgbhiḥ rvidadhati satāṃ rañjanamamī || 16 ||

savitrībhi-rvācāṃ caśi-maṇi śilā-bhaṅga rucibhi-
rvaśinyadyābhi-stvāṃ saha janani sañcintayati yaḥ |
sa kartā kāvyānāṃ bhavati mahatāṃ bhaṅgirucibhi-
rvacobhi-rvāgdevī-vadana-kamalāmoda madhuraiḥ || 17 ||

tanucchāyābhiste taruṇa-taraṇi-śrīsaraṇibhi-
rdivaṃ sarvā-murvī-maruṇimani magnāṃ smarati yaḥ |
bhavantyasya trasya-dvanahariṇa-śālīna-nayanāḥ
sahorvaśyā vaśyāḥ kati kati na gīrvāṇa-gaṇikāḥ || 18 ||

mukhaṃ binduṃ kṛtvā kucayugamadha-stasya tadadho
harārdhaṃ dhyāyedyo haramahiṣi te manmathakalām |
sa sadyaḥ saṅkṣobhaṃ nayati vanitā ityatilaghu
trilokīmapyāśu bhramayati ravīndu-stanayugām || 19 ||

kirantī-maṅgebhyaḥ kiraṇa-nikurumbamṛtarasaṃ
hṛdi tvā mādhatte himakaraśilā-mūrtimiva yaḥ |
sa sarpāṇāṃ darpaṃ śamayati śakuntadhipa iva
jvarapluṣṭān dṛṣṭyā sukhayati sudhādhārasirayā || 20 ||

taṭillekhā-tanvīṃ tapana śaśi vaiśvānara mayīṃ
niṣṇṇāṃ ṣaṇṇāmapyupari kamalānāṃ tava kalām |
mahāpadmātavyāṃ mṛdita-malamāyena manasā
mahāntaḥ paśyanto dadhati paramāhlāda-laharīm || 21 ||

bhavāni tvaṃ dāse mayi vitara dṛṣṭiṃ sakaruṇāṃ
iti stotuṃ vāñchan kathayati bhavāni tvamiti yaḥ |
tadaiva tvaṃ tasmai diśasi nijasāyujya-padavīṃ
mukunda-bramhendra sphuṭa makuṭa nīrājitapadām || 22 ||

tvayā hṛtvā vāmaṃ vapu-raparitṛptena manasā
śarīrārdhaṃ śambho-raparamapi śaṅke hṛtamabhūt |
yadetat tvadrūpaṃ sakalamaruṇābhaṃ trinayanaṃ
kucābhyāmānamraṃ kuṭila-śaśicūḍāla-makuṭam || 23 ||

jagatsūte dhātā hariravati rudraḥ kṣapayate
tiraskurva-nnetat svamapi vapu-rīśa-stirayati |
sadā pūrvaḥ sarvaṃ tadida manugṛhṇāti ca śiva-
stavāṅñā malambya kṣaṇacalitayo rbhrūlatikayoḥ || 24 ||

trayāṇāṃ devānāṃ triguṇa-janitānāṃ tava śive
bhavet pūjā pūjā tava caraṇayo-ryā viracitā |
tathā hi tvatpādodvahana-maṇipīṭhasya nikaṭe
sthitā hyete-śaśvanmukulita karottaṃsa-makuṭāḥ || 25 ||

viriñciḥ pañcatvaṃ vrajati harirāpnoti viratiṃ
vināśaṃ kīnāśo bhajati dhanado yāti nidhanam |
vitandrī māhendrī-vitatirapi saṃmīlita-dṛśā
mahāsaṃhāre‌உsmin viharati sati tvatpati rasau || 26 ||

japo jalpaḥ śilpaṃ sakalamapi mudrāviracanā
gatiḥ prādakṣiṇya-kramaṇa-maśanādyā huti-vidhiḥ |
praṇāmaḥ saṃveśaḥ sukhamakhila-mātmārpaṇa-dṛśā
saparyā paryāya-stava bhavatu yanme vilasitam || 27 ||

sudhāmapyāsvādya prati-bhaya-jaramṛtyu-hariṇīṃ
vipadyante viśve vidhi-śatamakhādyā diviṣadaḥ |
karālaṃ yat kṣvelaṃ kabalitavataḥ kālakalanā
na śambhostanmūlaṃ tava janani tāṭaṅka mahimā || 28 ||

kirīṭaṃ vairiñcaṃ parihara puraḥ kaiṭabhabhidaḥ
kaṭhore koṭhīre skalasi jahi jambhāri-makuṭam |
praṇamreṣveteṣu prasabha-mupayātasya bhavanaṃ
bhavasyabhyutthāne tava parijanokti-rvijayate || 29 ||

svadehodbhūtābhi-rghṛṇibhi-raṇimādyābhi-rabhito
niṣevye nitye tvā mahamiti sadā bhāvayati yaḥ |
kimāścaryaṃ tasya trinayana-samṛddhiṃ tṛṇayato
mahāsaṃvartāgni-rviracayati nīrājanavidhim || 30 ||

catuḥ-ṣaṣṭayā tantraiḥ sakala matisandhāya bhuvanaṃ
sthitastattta-siddhi prasava paratantraiḥ paśupatiḥ |
punastva-nnirbandhā dakhila-puruṣārthaika ghaṭanā-
svatantraṃ te tantraṃ kṣititala mavātītara-didam || 31 ||

śivaḥ śaktiḥ kāmaḥ kṣiti-ratha raviḥ śītakiraṇaḥ
smaro haṃsaḥ śakra-stadanu ca parā-māra-harayaḥ |
amī hṛllekhābhi-stisṛbhi-ravasāneṣu ghaṭitā
bhajante varṇāste tava janani nāmāvayavatām || 32 ||

smaraṃ yoniṃ lakṣmīṃ tritaya-mida-mādau tava mano
rnidhāyaike nitye niravadhi-mahābhoga-rasikāḥ |
bhajanti tvāṃ cintāmaṇi-guṇanibaddhākṣa-valayāḥ
śivāgnau juhvantaḥ surabhighṛta-dhārāhuti-śatai || 33 ||

śarīraṃ tvaṃ śambhoḥ śaśi-mihira-vakṣoruha-yugaṃ
tavātmānaṃ manye bhagavati navātmāna-managham |
ataḥ śeṣaḥ śeṣītyaya-mubhaya-sādhāraṇatayā
sthitaḥ sambandho vāṃ samarasa-parānanda-parayoḥ || 34 ||

manastvaṃ vyoma tvaṃ marudasi marutsārathi-rasi
tvamāpa-stvaṃ bhūmi-stvayi pariṇatāyāṃ na hi param |
tvameva svātmānaṃ pariṇmayituṃ viśva vapuṣā
cidānandākāraṃ śivayuvati bhāvena bibhṛṣe || 35 ||

tavāṅñacakrasthaṃ tapana-śaśi koṭi-dyutidharaṃ
paraṃ śambhu vande parimilita-pārśvaṃ paracitā |
yamārādhyan bhaktyā ravi śaśi śucīnā-maviṣaye
nirāloke ‌உloke nivasati hi bhāloka-bhuvane || 36 ||

viśuddhau te śuddhasphatika viśadaṃ vyoma-janakaṃ
śivaṃ seve devīmapi śivasamāna-vyavasitām |
yayoḥ kāntyā yāntyāḥ śaśikiraṇ-sārūpyasaraṇe
vidhūtānta-rdhvāntā vilasati cakorīva jagatī || 37 ||

samunmīlat saṃvitkamala-makarandaika-rasikaṃ
bhaje haṃsadvandvaṃ kimapi mahatāṃ mānasacaram |
yadālāpā-daṣṭādaśa-guṇita-vidyāpariṇatiḥ
yadādatte doṣād guṇa-makhila-madbhyaḥ paya iva || 38 ||

tava svādhiṣṭhāne hutavaha-madhiṣṭhāya nirataṃ
tamīḍe saṃvartaṃ janani mahatīṃ tāṃ ca samayām |
yadāloke lokān dahati mahasi krodha-kalite
dayārdrā yā dṛṣṭiḥ śiśira-mupacāraṃ racayati || 39 ||

taṭitvantaṃ śaktyā timira-paripanthi-sphuraṇayā
sphura-nnā naratnābharaṇa-pariṇaddhendra-dhanuṣam |
tava śyāmaṃ meghaṃ kamapi maṇipūraika-śaraṇaṃ
niṣeve varṣantaṃ-haramihira-taptaṃ tribhuvanam || 40 ||

tavādhāre mūle saha samayayā lāsyaparayā
navātmāna manye navarasa-mahātāṇḍava-naṭam |
ubhābhyā metābhyā-mudaya-vidhi muddiśya dayayā
sanāthābhyāṃ jaṅñe janaka jananīmat jagadidam || 41 ||

Dvitīya bhāgaḥ – saundarya laharī--Second part

gatai-rmāṇikyatvaṃ gaganamaṇibhiḥ sāndraghaṭitaṃ
kirīṭaṃ te haimaṃ himagirisute kītayati yaḥ ||
sa nīḍeyacchāyā-cchuraṇa-śakalaṃ candra-śakalaṃ
dhanuḥ śaunāsīraṃ kimiti na nibadhnāti dhiṣaṇām || 42 ||

dhunotu dhvāntaṃ na-stulita-dalitendīvara-vanaṃ
ghanasnigdha-ślakṣṇaṃ cikura nikurumbaṃ tava śive |
yadīyaṃ saurabhyaṃ sahaja-mupalabdhuṃ sumanaso
vasantyasmin manye balamathana vāṭī-viṭapinām || 43 ||

tanotu kṣemaṃ na-stava vadanasaundaryalaharī
parīvāhasrotaḥ-saraṇiriva sīmantasaraṇiḥ|
vahantī- sindūraṃ prabalakabarī-bhāra-timira
dviṣāṃ bṛndai-rvandīkṛtameva navīnārka keraṇam || 44 ||

arālai svābhāvyā-dalikalabha-saśrībhi ralakaiḥ
parītaṃ te vaktraṃ parihasati paṅkeruharucim |
darasmere yasmin daśanaruci kiñjalka-rucire
sugandhau mādyanti smaradahana cakṣu-rmadhulihaḥ || 45 ||

lalāṭaṃ lāvaṇya dyuti vimala-mābhāti tava yat
dvitīyaṃ tanmanye makuṭaghaṭitaṃ candraśakalam |
viparyāsa-nyāsā dubhayamapi sambhūya ca mithaḥ
sudhālepasyūtiḥ pariṇamati rākā-himakaraḥ || 46 ||

bhruvau bhugne kiñcidbhuvana-bhaya-bhaṅgavyasanini
tvadīye netrābhyāṃ madhukara-rucibhyāṃ dhṛtaguṇam |
dhanu rmanye savyetarakara gṛhītaṃ ratipateḥ
prakoṣṭe muṣṭau ca sthagayate nigūḍhāntara-mume || 47 ||

ahaḥ sūte savya tava nayana-markātmakatayā
triyāmāṃ vāmaṃ te sṛjati rajanīnāyakatayā |
tṛtīyā te dṛṣṭi-rdaradalita-hemāmbuja-ruciḥ
samādhatte sandhyāṃ divasar-niśayo-rantaracarīm || 48 ||

viśālā kalyāṇī sphutaruci-rayodhyā kuvalayaiḥ
kṛpādhārādhārā kimapi madhurā‌உ‌உbhogavatikā |
avantī dṛṣṭiste bahunagara-vistāra-vijayā
dhruvaṃ tattannāma-vyavaharaṇa-yogyāvijayate || 49 ||

kavīnāṃ sandarbha-stabaka-makarandaika-rasikaṃ
kaṭākṣa-vyākṣepa-bhramarakalabhau karṇayugalam |
amuñcntau dṛṣṭvā tava navarasāsvāda-taralau
asūyā-saṃsargā-dalikanayanaṃ kiñcidaruṇam || 50 ||

śive śaṅgārārdrā taditarajane kutsanaparā
saroṣā gaṅgāyāṃ giriśacarite vismayavatī |
harāhibhyo bhītā sarasiruha saubhāgya-jananī
sakhīṣu smerā te mayi janani dṛṣṭiḥ sakaruṇā || 51 ||

gate karṇābhyarṇaṃ garuta iva pakṣmāṇi dadhatī
purāṃ bhettu-ścittapraśama-rasa-vidrāvaṇa phale |
ime netre gotrādharapati-kulottaṃsa-kalike
tavākarṇākṛṣṭa smaraśara-vilāsaṃ kalayataḥ|| 52 ||

vibhakta-traivarṇyaṃ vyatikarita-līlāñjanatayā
vibhāti tvannetra tritaya mida-mīśānadayite |
punaḥ sraṣṭuṃ devān druhiṇa hari-rudrānuparatān
rajaḥ satvaṃ vebhrat tama iti guṇānāṃ trayamiva || 53 ||

pavitrīkartuṃ naḥ paśupati-parādhīna-hṛdaye
dayāmitrai rnetrai-raruṇa-dhavala-śyāma rucibhiḥ |
nadaḥ śoṇo gaṅgā tapanatanayeti dhruvamum
trayāṇāṃ tīrthānā-mupanayasi sambheda-managham || 54 ||

nimeṣonmeṣābhyāṃ pralayamudayaṃ yāti jagati
tavetyāhuḥ santo dharaṇidhara-rājanyatanaye |
tvadunmeṣājjātaṃ jagadida-maśeṣaṃ pralayataḥ
paretrātuṃ śaṃṅke parihṛta-nimeṣā-stava dṛśaḥ || 55 ||

tavāparṇe karṇe japanayana paiśunya cakitā
nilīyante toye niyata manimeṣāḥ śapharikāḥ |
iyaṃ ca śrī-rbaddhacchadapuṭakavāṭaṃ kuvalayaṃ
jahāti pratyūṣe niśi ca vighatayya praviśati|| 56 ||

dṛśā drāghīyasyā daradalita nīlotpala rucā
davīyāṃsaṃ dīnaṃ snapā kṛpayā māmapi śive |
anenāyaṃ dhanyo bhavati na ca te hāniriyatā
vane vā harmye vā samakara nipāto himakaraḥ || 57 ||

arālaṃ te pālīyugala-magarājanyatanaye
na keṣā-mādhatte kusumaśara kodaṇḍa-kutukam |
tiraścīno yatra śravaṇapatha-mullṅyya vilasan
apāṅga vyāsaṅgo diśati śarasandhāna dhiṣaṇām || 58 ||

sphuradgaṇḍābhoga-pratiphalita tāṭṅka yugalaṃ
catuścakraṃ manye tava mukhamidaṃ manmatharatham |
yamāruhya druhya tyavaniratha markenducaraṇaṃ
mahāvīro māraḥ pramathapataye sajjitavate || 59 ||

sarasvatyāḥ sūktī-ramṛtalaharī kauśalaharīḥ
pibnatyāḥ śarvāṇi śravaṇa-culukābhyā-maviralam |
camatkāraḥ-ślāghācalita-śirasaḥ kuṇḍalagaṇo
jhaṇatkaraistāraiḥ prativacana-mācaṣṭa iva te || 60 ||

asau nāsāvaṃśa-stuhinagirivaṇśa-dhvajapaṭi
tvadīyo nedīyaḥ phalatu phala-masmākamucitam |
vahatyantarmuktāḥ śiśirakara-niśvāsa-galitaṃ
samṛddhyā yattāsāṃ bahirapi ca muktāmaṇidharaḥ || 61 ||

prakṛtyā‌உ‌உraktāyā-stava sudati dandacchadaruceḥ
pravakṣye sadṛśyaṃ janayatu phalaṃ vidrumalatā |
na bimbaṃ tadbimba-pratiphalana-rāgā-daruṇitaṃ
tulāmadhrāroḍhuṃ kathamiva vilajjeta kalayā || 62 ||

smitajyotsnājālaṃ tava vadanacandrasya pibatāṃ
cakorāṇā-māsī-datirasatayā cañcu-jaḍimā |
ataste śītāṃśo-ramṛtalaharī māmlarucayaḥ
pibantī svacchandaṃ niśi niśi bhṛśaṃ kāñji kadhiyā || 63 ||

aviśrāntaṃ patyurguṇagaṇa kathāmreḍanajapā
japāpuṣpacchāyā tava janani jihvā jayati sā |
yadagrāsīnāyāḥ sphaṭikadṛṣa-dacchacchavimayi
sarasvatyā mūrtiḥ pariṇamati māṇikyavapuṣā || 64 ||

raṇe jitvā daityā napahṛta-śirastraiḥ kavacibhiḥ
nivṛttai-ścaṇḍāṃśa-tripurahara-nirmālya-vimukhaiḥ |
viśākhendropendraiḥ śaśiviśada-karpūraśakalā
vilīyante mātastava vadanatāmbūla-kabalāḥ || 65 ||

vipañcyā gāyantī vividha-mapadānaṃ paśupate-
stvayārabdhe vaktuṃ calitaśirasā sādhuvacane |
tadīyai-rmādhuryai-rapalapita-tantrīkalaravāṃ
nijāṃ vīṇāṃ vāṇīṃ niculayati colena nibhṛtam || 66 ||

karagreṇa spṛṣṭaṃ tuhinagiriṇā vatsalatayā
giriśeno-dastaṃ muhuradharapānākulatayā |
karagrāhyaṃ śambhormukhamukuravṛntaṃ girisute
kathaṅkaraṃ brūma-stava cubukamopamyarahitam || 67 ||

bhujāśleṣānnityaṃ puradamayituḥ kanṭakavatī
tava grīvā dhatte mukhakamalanāla-śriyamiyam |
svataḥ śvetā kālā garu bahula-jambālamalinā
mṛṇālīlālityaṃ vahati yadadho hāralatikā || 68 ||

gale rekhāstisro gati gamaka gītaika nipuṇe
vivāha-vyānaddha-praguṇaguṇa-saṅkhyā pratibhuvaḥ |
virājante nānāvidha-madhura-rāgākara-bhuvāṃ
trayāṇāṃ grāmāṇāṃ sthiti-niyama-sīmāna iva te || 69 ||

mṛṇālī-mṛdvīnāṃ tava bhujalatānāṃ catasṛṇāṃ
caturbhiḥ saundrayaṃ sarasijabhavaḥ stauti vadanaiḥ |
nakhebhyaḥ santrasyan prathama-mathanā dantakaripoḥ
caturṇāṃ śīrṣāṇāṃ sama-mabhayahastārpaṇa-dhiyā || 70 ||

nakhānā-mudyotai-rnavanalinarāgaṃ vihasatāṃ
karāṇāṃ te kāntiṃ kathaya kathayāmaḥ kathamume |
kayācidvā sāmyaṃ bhajatu kalayā hanta kamalaṃ
yadi krīḍallakṣmī-caraṇatala-lākṣārasa-caṇam || 71 ||

samaṃ devi skanda dvipivadana pītaṃ stanayugaṃ
tavedaṃ naḥ khedaṃ haratu satataṃ prasnuta-mukham |
yadālokyāśaṅkākulita hṛdayo hāsajanakaḥ
svakumbhau herambaḥ parimṛśati hastena jhaḍiti || 72 ||

amū te vakṣojā-vamṛtarasa-māṇikya kutupau
na sandehaspando nagapati patāke manasi naḥ |
pibantau tau yasmā davidita vadhūsaṅga rasikau
kumārāvadyāpi dviradavadana-krauñcdalanau || 73 ||

vahatyamba stmberama-danuja-kumbhaprakṛtibhiḥ
samārabdhāṃ muktāmaṇibhiramalāṃ hāralatikām |
kucābhogo bimbādhara-rucibhi-rantaḥ śabalitāṃ
pratāpa-vyāmiśrāṃ puradamayituḥ kīrtimiva te || 74 ||

tava stanyaṃ manye dharaṇidharakanye hṛdayataḥ
payaḥ pārāvāraḥ parivahati sārasvatamiva |
dayāvatyā dattaṃ draviḍaśiśu-rāsvādya tava yat
kavīnāṃ prauḍhānā majani kamanīyaḥ kavayitā || 75 ||

harakrodha-jvālāvalibhi-ravalīḍhena vapuṣā
gabhīre te nābhīsarasi kṛtasaṅo manasijaḥ |
samuttasthau tasmā-dacalatanaye dhūmalatikā
janastāṃ jānīte tava janani romāvaliriti || 76 ||

yadetatkālindī-tanutara-taraṅgākṛti śive
kṛśe madhye kiñcijjanani tava yadbhāti sudhiyām |
vimardā-danyonyaṃ kucakalaśayo-rantaragataṃ
tanūbhūtaṃ vyoma praviśadiva nābhiṃ kuhariṇīm || 77 ||

sthiro gaṅgā vartaḥ stanamukula-romāvali-latā
kalāvālaṃ kuṇḍaṃ kusumaśara tejo-hutabhujaḥ |
rate-rlīlāgāraṃ kimapi tava nābhirgirisute
beladvāraṃ siddhe-rgiriśanayanānāṃ vijayate || 78 ||

nisarga-kṣīṇasya stanataṭa-bhareṇa klamajuṣo
namanmūrte rnārītilaka śanakai-struṭyata iva |
ciraṃ te madhyasya truṭita taṭinī-tīra-taruṇā
samāvasthā-sthemno bhavatu kuśalaṃ śailatanaye || 79 ||

kucau sadyaḥ svidya-ttaṭaghaṭita-kūrpāsabhidurau
kaṣantau-daurmūle kanakakalaśābhau kalayatā |
tava trātuṃ bhaṅgādalamiti valagnaṃ tanubhuvā
tridhā naddhm devī trivali lavalīvallibhiriva || 80 ||

gurutvaṃ vistāraṃ kṣitidharapatiḥ pārvati nijāt
nitambā-dācchidya tvayi haraṇa rūpeṇa nidadhe |
ataste vistīrṇo gururayamaśeṣāṃ vasumatīṃ
nitamba-prāgbhāraḥ sthagayati saghutvaṃ nayati ca || 81 ||

karīndrāṇāṃ śuṇḍān-kanakakadalī-kāṇḍapaṭalīṃ
ubhābhyāmūrubhyā-mubhayamapi nirjitya bhavati |
suvṛttābhyāṃ patyuḥ praṇatikaṭhinābhyāṃ girisute
vidhiṅñe jānubhyāṃ vibudha karikumbha dvayamasi || 82 ||

parājetuṃ rudraṃ dviguṇaśaragarbhau girisute
niṣaṅgau jaṅghe te viṣamaviśikho bāḍha-makṛta |
yadagre dṛsyante daśaśaraphalāḥ pādayugalī
nakhāgracchanmānaḥ sura mukuṭa-śāṇaika-niśitāḥ || 83 ||

śrutīnāṃ mūrdhāno dadhati tava yau śekharatayā
mamāpyetau mātaḥ śerasi dayayā dehi caraṇau |
yaya–oḥ pādyaṃ pāthaḥ paśupati jaṭājūṭa taṭinī
yayo-rlākṣā-lakṣmī-raruṇa haricūḍāmaṇi ruciḥ || 84 ||

namo vākaṃ brūmo nayana-ramaṇīyāya padayoḥ
tavāsmai dvandvāya sphuṭa-ruci rasālaktakavate |
asūyatyatyantaṃ yadabhihananāya spṛhayate
paśūnā-mīśānaḥ pramadavana-kaṅkelitarave || 85 ||

mṛṣā kṛtvā gotraskhalana-matha vailakṣyanamitaṃ
lalāṭe bhartāraṃ caraṇakamale tāḍayati te |
cirādantaḥ śalyaṃ dahanakṛta munmūlitavatā
tulākoṭikvāṇaiḥ kilikilita mīśāna ripuṇā || 86 ||

himānī hantavyaṃ himagirinivāsaika-caturau
niśāyāṃ nidrāṇaṃ niśi-caramabhāge ca viśadau |
varaṃ lakṣmīpātraṃ śriya-matisṛhanto samayināṃ
sarojaṃ tvatpādau janani jayata-ścitramiha kim || 87 ||

padaṃ te kīrtīnāṃ prapadamapadaṃ devi vipadāṃ
kathaṃ nītaṃ sadbhiḥ kaṭhina-kamaṭhī-karpara-tulām |
kathaṃ vā bāhubhyā-mupayamanakāle purabhidā
yadādāya nyastaṃ dṛṣadi dayamānena manasā || 88 ||

nakhai-rnākastrīṇāṃ karakamala-saṅkoca-śaśibhiḥ
tarūṇāṃ divyānāṃ hasata iva te caṇḍi caraṇau |
phalāni svaḥsthebhyaḥ kisalaya-karāgreṇa dadatāṃ
daridrebhyo bhadrāṃ śriyamaniśa-mahnāya dadatau || 89 ||

dadāne dīnebhyaḥ śriyamaniśa-māśānusadṛśīṃ
amandaṃ saundaryaṃ prakara-makarandaṃ vikirati |
tavāsmin mandāra-stabaka-subhage yātu caraṇe
nimajjan majjīvaḥ karaṇacaraṇaḥ ṣṭcaraṇatām || 90 ||

padanyāsa-krīḍā paricaya-mivārabdhu-manasaḥ
skhalantaste khelaṃ bhavanakalahaṃsā na jahati |
atasteṣāṃ śikṣāṃ subhagamaṇi-mañjīra-raṇita-
cchalādācakṣāṇaṃ caraṇakamalaṃ cārucarite || 91 ||

gatāste mañcatvaṃ druhiṇa hari rudreśvara bhṛtaḥ
śivaḥ svaccha-cchāyā-ghaṭita-kapaṭa-pracchadapaṭaḥ |
tvadīyānāṃ bhāsāṃ pratiphalana rāgāruṇatayā
śarīrī śṛṅgāro rasa iva dṛśāṃ dogdhi kutukam || 92 ||

arālā keśeṣu prakṛti saralā mandahasite
śirīṣābhā citte dṛṣadupalaśobhā kucataṭe |
bhṛśaṃ tanvī madhye pṛthu-rurasijāroha viṣaye
jagattratuṃ śambho-rjayati karuṇā kācidaruṇā || 93 ||

kalaṅkaḥ kastūrī rajanikara bimbaṃ jalamayaṃ
kalābhiḥ karpūrai-rmarakatakaraṇḍaṃ nibiḍitam |
atastvadbhogena pratidinamidaṃ riktakuharaṃ
vidhi-rbhūyo bhūyo nibiḍayati nūnaṃ tava kṛte || 94 ||

purārante-rantaḥ puramasi tata-stvacaraṇayoḥ
saparyā-maryādā taralakaraṇānā-masulabhā |
tathā hyete nītāḥ śatamakhamukhāḥ siddhimatulāṃ
tava dvāropāntaḥ sthitibhi-raṇimādyābhi-ramarāḥ || 95 ||

kalatraṃ vaidhātraṃ katikati bhajante na kavayaḥ
śriyo devyāḥ ko vā na bhavati patiḥ kairapi dhanaiḥ |
mahādevaṃ hitvā tava sati satīnā-macarame
kucabhyā-māsaṅgaḥ kuravaka-taro-rapyasulabhaḥ || 96 ||

girāmāhu-rdevīṃ druhiṇagṛhiṇī-māgamavido
hareḥ patnīṃ padmāṃ harasahacarī-madritanayām |
turīyā kāpi tvaṃ duradhigama-nissīma-mahimā
mahāmāyā viśvaṃ bhramayasi parabrahmamahiṣi || 97 ||

kadā kāle mātaḥ kathaya kalitālaktakarasaṃ
pibeyaṃ vidyārthī tava caraṇa-nirṇejanajalam |
prakṛtyā mūkānāmapi ca kavitā0kāraṇatayā
kadā dhatte vāṇīmukhakamala-tāmbūla-rasatām || 98 ||

sarasvatyā lakṣmyā vidhi hari sapatno viharate
rateḥ pativratyaṃ śithilapati ramyeṇa vapuṣā |
ciraṃ jīvanneva kṣapita-paśupāśa-vyatikaraḥ
parānandābhikhyaṃ rasayati rasaṃ tvadbhajanavān || 99 ||

pradīpa jvālābhi-rdivasakara-nīrājanavidhiḥ
sudhāsūte-ścandropala-jalalavai-raghyaracanā |
svakīyairambhobhiḥ salila-nidhi-sauhityakaraṇaṃ
tvadīyābhi-rvāgbhi-stava janani vācāṃ stutiriyam || 100 ||

saundayalahari mukhyastotraṃ saṃvārtadāyakam |
bhagavadpāda sankluptaṃ paṭhen muktau bhavennaraḥ ||

|| saundaryalahari stotraṃ sampūrṇaṃ ||

 

Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stuti – Sri Varaha Puranam

The following is a rare hymn on Goddess Mahisharamardini by Devas immediately after the slaying of Mahishasura by Devi and taken from Varaha Puranam, and Chapter 95. TheDevas pray to and seek a boon from Devi that one who recites this Stotra with devotion should escape from ferocious animals like the tiger, from robbers, and displeasure of kings, get release from fetters, get all the desires fulfilled and live happily. Goddess Mahishasuramardini grants the boon as desired.

devā ūcuḥ -

namo devī mahābhāge gaṁbhīre bhīmadarśane |

jayasthe sthiti-siddhānte trinetre viśvatomukhī || 1 ||

vidyāvidyai jape jāpye mahiṣāsura-mardinī |

sarvage sarva-deveśī viśvarūpiṇī vaiṣṇavī || 2 ||

vītaśoke dhruve devī padma-patra-śubhekṣaṇe |

śuddha-sattva-vratsthe ca caṇḍarūpe vibhāvarī || 3 ||

ṛddhi-siddhi-prade devī vidye 'vidye 'mṛte śive |

śāṅkarī vaiṣṇavī brāhmī sarva-deva-namaskṛte || 4 ||

ghaṇṭā-haste triśūlāstre mahāmahiṣa-mardinī |

ugrarūpe virūpākṣī mahāmāye 'mṛtasrave || 5 ||

sarva-sattva-hite devī sarva-sattva-maye dhruve |

vidyā-purāṇa-śilpānāṁ-jananī bhūta-dhāriṇī || 6 ||

sarva-veda-rahasyānāṁ sarva-sattva-matāṁ śubhe |

tvameva śaraṇaṁ devī vidye'vidye śriye 'mbike || 7 ||

virūpākṣī tathā kṣāntiḥ kṣobhitāntarjale 'male |

namo'stu te mahādevī namaste parameśvarī || 8 ||

śaraṇaṁ tvāṁ prapadyante ye devī parameśvarī |

na teṣāṁ jāyate kiñcid aśubhaṁ raṇa-śaṅkaṭe || 9 ||

|| phalaśrutiḥ ||

yaśca vyāgra-bhaye ghore cora-rāja-bhaye tathā |

stavamena sadā devī paṭhiṣyati yatātmavān || 10 ||

nigaḍastho'pi yo devī tvāṁ smariṣyati mānavaḥ |

so'pi bandhair vimuktastu sumukhaṁ vasate sukhī || 11 ||

devī stotraṁ idaṁ ye hi paṭhiṣyanti tavā 'naghe |

sarva-kāma-śamāpannān kuru devī parāparā || 12 ||

|| iti śrīvārāha-mahāpurāṇe triśakti-māhātmye mahiṣāsura-vadho-nāmādhyāye śrīmahiṣāsuramardinīstutiḥ sampurnam ||

  || śrīdevī stutiḥ - śrīkūrma purāṇam ||

Sri Devi Stuti: - Himavan – Sri Kurma Puranam

The following is a rare hymn on on Goddess Shakti (Devi) by Himavan taken from

Kurma Puranam and Chapter 11 and appears as an extension of Devi Sahasranama. The

essence of this hymn is that Goddess Shakti is the root cause of this Universe and appears in

various deity forms.

himavānuvāca -

adya me saphalaṁ janma adya me saphalaṁ tapaḥ |

yanme sākṣāt tvaṁ avyaktā prasannā dṛṣṭi-gocarā || 1 ||

tvayā sṛṣṭaṁ jagat sarvaṁ pradhānādyaṁ tvayi sthitam |

tvayyeva līyate devī tvameva ca parā gatiḥ || 2 ||

vadanti kecit tvāmeva prakṛtiṁ prakṛteḥ parām |

apare paramārthajñāḥ śiveti śiva saṁśraye || 3 ||

tvayi pradhānaṁ puruṣo mahān brahmā tatheśvaraḥ |

avidyā niyatir māyā kalādyāḥ śataśo 'bhavan || 4 ||

tvaṁ hi sā paramā śaktir anantā parameṣṭhinī |

sarva-bheda-vinirmuktā sarva-bhedāśrayā nijā || 5 ||

tvāṁ adhiṣṭhāya yogeśī mahādevo maheśvaraḥ |

pradhānādyaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ karoti vikaroti ca || 6 ||

tvayaiva saṅgato devaḥ svamānadaṁ samaśnute |

tvameva paramānandas tvamevānanda-dāyinī || 7 ||

tvaṁ akṣaraṁ paraṁ vyoma mahājyotir nirañjanam |

śivaṁ sarvagataṁ sūkṣmaṁ paraṁ brahma sanātanam || 8 ||

tvaṁ śakraḥ sarva-devānāṁ brahmā brahmavidāmasi |

vāyur-balavatāṁ devī yogīnāṁ-tvaṁ-kumārakaḥ || 9 ||

ṛṣīṇāṁ-ca-vasiṣṭhastvaṁ vyāso-vedavidāmasi |

sāṅkhyānāṁ-kapilo-devo rudrāṇāmasi-śaṅkaraḥ || 10 ||

ādityānāṁ-upendrastvaṁ vasūnāṁ-caiva-pāvakaḥ |

vedānāṁ-sāmavedastvaṁ gāyatrī-chandasāmasi || 11 ||

adhyātmavidyā-vidyānāṁ gatīnāṁ-paramā-gatiḥ |

māyā-tvaṁ-sarva-śaktīnāṁ kālaḥ-kalayatāmasi || 12 ||

oṁkāraḥ-sarva-guhyānāṁ varṇānāṁ-ca-dvijottamaḥ |

āśramāṇāṁ-ca-gārhasthyaṁ īśvarāṇāṁ-maheśvaraḥ || 13 ||

puṁsāṁ-tvamekaḥ-puruṣaḥ sarva-bhūta-hṛdi-sthitaḥ |

sarvopaniṣadāṁ devī guhyopaṇiṣad ucyase || 14 ||

īśānaścāsi-kalpānāṁ yugānāṁ-kṛtameva ca |

ādityaḥ-sarva-mārgāṇāṁ vācāṁ-devī-sarasvatī || 15 ||

tvaṁ-lakṣmīścārurūpāṇāṁ viṣṇur-māyāvināmasi |

arundhatī-satīnāṁ-tvaṁ suparṇaḥ-patatāmasi || 16 ||

sūktānāṁ-pauruṣaṁ-sūktaṁ jyeṣṭhasāma-ca-sāmasu |

sāvitrī-cāsi-japyānāṁ yajuṣāṁ-śatarudriyam || 17 ||

parvatānāṁ-mahāmerur ananto-bhogināmasi |

sarveṣāṁ-tvaṁ-paraṁ-brahma tvanmayaṁ-sarvameva-hi || 18 ||

rūpaṁ tavāśeṣa kalā-vihīnaṁ agocaraṁ nirmalaṁ ekarūpam |

anādi-madhyāntaṁ anantaṁ ādyaṁ namāmi satyaṁ tamasaḥ parastāt || 19 ||

yadeva paśyanti jagat-prasūtiṁ vedānta vijñāna viniścitārthāḥ |

ānandamātraṁ praṇavābhidhānaṁ tadeva rūpaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye || 20 ||

aśeṣa bhūtāntara sanniviṣṭaṁ pradhāna puṁyoga viyoga hetum |

tejomayaṁ janma-vināśa-hīnaṁ prāṇābhidhānaṁ praṇato'smi rūpam || 21 ||

ādyanta-hīnaṁ jagadātma-bhūtaṁ vibhinna-saṁsthaṁ prakṛteḥ parastāt |

kūṭhasthaṁ avyakta vapus tathaiva namāmi rūpaṁ puruṣābhidhānam || 22 ||

sarvāśrayaṁ sarvajagad vidhānaṁ sarvatragaṁ janma-vināśa-hīnam |

sūkṣmaṁ vicitraṁ triguṇaṁ pradhānaṁ nato'smi te rūpaṁ aluptabhedam ||23 ||

ādyaṁ mahat te puruṣātmarūpaṁ prakṛtyavasthaṁ triguṇātma-bījam |

aiśvarya-vijñāna-virāga-dharmaiḥ samanvitaṁ devī nato'smi rūpam || 24 ||

dvisapta-lokātmakaṁ ambuja-saṁsthaṁ vicitra-bhedaṁ puruṣaikanātham |

ananta-bhūtair adhivāsitaṁ te nato'smi rūpaṁ jagadaṇḍa-saṁjñām || 25 ||

aśeṣa-vedātmakaṁ ekamādyaṁ svatejasā-pūritāloka-bhedam |

trikāla-hetuṁ parameṣṭhi-saṁjñaṁ namāmi rūpaṁ ravi-maṇḍalastham || 26 ||

sahasra-mūrdhānaṁ ananta-śaktiṁ sahasrabāhuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇam |

śayānaṁ antaḥ salile tathaiva nārāyaṇākhyaṁ praṇato'smi rūpam || 27 ||

daṁṣṭrā-karālaṁ tridaśābhivandyaṁ yugānta-kālānala kalpa rūpam |

aśeṣa-bhūtāṇḍa-vināśa-hetuṁ namāmi rūpaṁ tava kāla-saṁjñam || 28 ||

phaṇā-sahasreṇa-virājamānaṁ bhogīndra-mukhyair-abhipūjyamānam |

janārdanārūḍha-tanuṁ prasuptaṁ nato'smi rūpaṁ tava śeṣa-saṁjñam || 29 ||

avyāhataiśvaryaṁ ayugma-netraṁ brahmāmṛtānanda-rasajñamekam |

yugāntaśeṣaṁ divi nṛtyamānaṁ nato'smi rūpaṁ tava-rudra-saṁjñam || 30 ||

prahīṇa-śokaṁ vimalaṁ pavitraṁ surāsurair-arcita-pāda-padmam |

sukomalaṁ devī viśāla śubhraṁ namāmi te rūpaṁ idaṁ namāmi || 31 ||

om namaste mahādevī namaste parameśvarī |

namo bhagavatīśānī śivāyai te namo namaḥ || 32 ||

tvanmayo'haṁ tvadādhāras tvameva ca gatir mama |

tvāmeva śaraṇaṁ yāsye prasīda parameśvarī || 33 ||

mayā nāsti samo loke devo vā dānavo'pi vā |

jaganmātaiva mat putrī saṁbhūtā tapasā yataḥ || 34 ||

eṣā tavāmbikā devī kilābhūt pitṛ-kanyakā |

menā'śeṣa jaganmātur aho puṇyasya gauravam || 35 ||

pāhi māṁ amareśānī menayā saha sarvadā |

namāmi tava pādābjaṁ vrajāmi śaraṇaṁ śivām || 36 ||

|| iti śrīkūrma purāṇe pūrva vibhāge ekādaśo'dhyāye

śrīdevī stutiḥ sampūrṇam ||  

K. Muralidharan (kmurali_sg@yahoo.com)  

[The essence of this hymn is that Goddess Shakti is the Mula Prakriti and the origin of universe and She Herself appears as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other deity forms to perform various cosmic functions. The hymn mentions that She portrays Herself in various Rupa's. The hymn is very similar to what Lord Krishna describes His various cosmic forms in Bhagavad Gita and to Lord Narayana's Gayatri Stotram "Adishakte jaganmAtar bhaktAnugraha kAriNI".

We have also seen Lord Narayana's declaration in Padma Purana that He and Shakti are nothing but masculine and feminine forms for the benefit of mankind and upasana to either form leads to the same result. So, the clamour for differentiation among deity forms is the pastime of cantankerous egoists.]