Vak Devis description of Lalithambikai - Part 1



After describing yogini-s, Vāc Devi-s continue with their description of Lalitāmbikā.




स्वाहा (535)

Svāhā

Lalitāmbikā is in the form of oblations offered to gods and goddesses. The mantra-s for such oblations end with svāhā.  

स्वधा (536)

Svadhā

She is in the form of oblations offered to the departed souls of ancestors (pitṛ) and such mantra-s end with svadhā.

It is also said that Svāhā and Svadhā are the two wives of Lord Agni.

अमतिः (537)

Amatiḥ 

She is in the form of avidyā or ignorance. The creation in the beginning was devoid of consciousness, known as avyakta form . The intellect in such un-manifested stage is known as amati.  

मेधा (538)

Medhā

She in the form of amati, transforms into medha or intelligence, along with evolution. This is also to confirm Her existence from the beginning of creation. 

श्रुतिः (539)

Śrutiḥ

Śruti means Veda-s.  She is in the form of all the four Veda-s. 

स्मृतिः (540)

Smṛtiḥ

Smṛti-s, derived from Veda-s deliver the message of the Brahman in understandable terms. She is in the form of such Smṛti-s. Smṛti also refers to the power of recollection and memory. Upaniṣads are classified under Smṛti-s.  

अनुत्तमा (541)

Anuttamā

No one is superior to Her, an exclusive of the qualitiy of the Brahman.  Anuttamā also means intellect not derived from others.  She is the embodiment of intellect. 





पुण्यकीर्तिः (542)

Puṇyakīrtiḥ

She is known for virtues.  She gives fame to Her devotees.  The very thought of Her, sanctifies a person. 

पुण्यलभ्या (543)

Puṇyalabhyā

She is attainable through virtues.  Puṇya means virtues.  It is said that ‘She is attained by those who are virtuous and have knowledge of Veda-s. 

पुण्य-श्रवण-कीर्तना (544)

Puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanā

Recitation of verses in praise of Her (like this Lalitā Sahasranāma), or listening to such praises are virtuous acts.





पुलोमजार्चिता (545)

Pulomajārcitā

Puloman is a demon. His daughter is Indrani,  wife of Indra.  She's celebrated for her purity and chastity. She's an ardent devotee of Lalithai. This nama says that Lalithai is worshipped by the daughter of Puloman. 

बन्ध-मोचनी (546)

Bandha-mocanī 

She liberates from bondage.

बर्बरालका (547)

Barbarālakā

In some texts, this nāma is mentioned as bandhūrālakā. She has curly hair that appears like waves and flowing into Her forehead.





विमर्श-रूपिणी (548)

Vimarśa-rūpiṇī

The reflection of Śiva is known as vimarśa, which is known as Śaktī.  Without the presence of vimarśa or Śaktī, Śiva cannot act.  Śiva is the creator and Śaktī is the doer.  This nama emphasizes Her creative aspect.

विद्या (549)

Vidyā

Vidyā means ‘to deliberate’. She is the giver of knowledge that is capable of providing final liberation. This is an extension of the previous nāma. 

वियदादि-जगत्-प्रसूः (550)

Viyadādi-jagat-prasūḥ

She is the Creator of the five principles of Universe starting with ākāś (ether) air, etc.





सर्व-व्याधि-प्रशमनी (551)

Sarva-vyādhi-praśamanī

She cures all diseases.

सर्व-मृत्यु-निवारिणी (552)

Sarva-mṛtyu-nivāriṇī

Mṛtyu means death.  There are different types of deaths such as premature death arising out of accidents, disease or untimely deaths.  The death here indicates the final liberation of the soul to merge with the Brahman.  The nāma means that She is liberator of such souls.





अग्र-गण्या (553)

Agra-gaṇyā 

She is the First, first among the entire creation.  

अचिन्त्य-रूपा (554)

Acintya-rūpā

She is in inconceivable form, a quality of the Brahman.  

कलि-कल्मष-नाशिनी (555)

Kali-kalmaṣa-nāśinī

She destroys the sins committed during kali yug.  Kali, began at midnight between the 17th and 18th of Feb. 3102 B. C.

Currently we are going through 5111th year of kali yug ((2010-11) out of 360,000 human years.  360 human years is equal to one divine year.  12,000 divine years (4,320,000 human years) consists the four ages called Kṛita yug (4000 divine years), Tretā yug (3000 divine years), Dvāpara yug (2000 divine years) and Kali yug (1000 divine years). The balance of 2000 divine years has been calculated for twilight period of each yug.”   Out of the four, kali yug is supposed to have more sinners and She in the form of Goddess Kali destroys sins.





कात्यायनी (556)

Kātyāyanī

She is the sum total of the effulgence (tejas) of all gods and goddesses. 

She who is the daughter of the sage named Kata.

कालहन्त्री (557)

Kālahantrī

Kāla means death. She is the destroyer of death. 

कमलाक्ष-निषेविता (558)

Kamalākṣa-niṣevitā

She is worshiped by Viṣṇu, the lotus eyed.





ताम्बूल-पूरित-मुखी (559)

Tāmbhūla-pūrita-mukhī

She is fond of chewing betel leaves with karpūra vīṭikā (nāma 26).  The betel leaves turn Her lips into red colour.  

दाडिमी-कुसुम-प्रभा (560)

Dāḍimī-kusuma-prabhā

She radiates like a pomegranate flower.  They are dark red in colour.  The flowers of pomegranate are considered as the most auspicious amongst the flowers for worshipping Her.  Next is hibiscus flower, which too has deep red petals and is widely used for worshipping Her.





मृगाक्षी (561)

Mṛgākṣī

Her eyes appear like that of a deer.

मोहिनी (562)

Mohinī

She bewitches. Unable to find proper words to describe Her beauty, Vāc Devi-s used this word. Bewitchment is not possible without being splendiferous.  She is the beauty incarnate, because Her beauty is made up of knowledge, efficiency and compassion. 

मुख्या (563)

Mukhyā

She is the first in the universe.  Mukhya also means important.  She is authoritative amongst all gods and goddesses. 

मृडानी (564)

Mṛḍānī

Mṛḍa means Śiva.  Consort of Mṛḍa is Mṛḍānī. 

मित्र-रूपिणी (565)

Mitra-rūpiṇī

Mitra means a friend.  Sun is considered as a friend of the universe, as it sustains existence.





नित्य-तृप्ता (566)

Nitya-tṛptā

She remains eternally contended, because She has no requirements.

भक्त-निधिः (567)

Bhakta-nidhiḥ

She is the treasure house for Her devotees.  

नियन्त्री (568)

Niyantrī

She is the guide to the universe.  Since She administers the universe, She is addressed in this nāma as its guide. 

निखिलेश्वरी (569)

Nikhileśvarī

She assumes the position of Supreme Ruler.   Nikhila means complete or total.





मैत्र्यादि-वासना-लभ्या (570)

Maitryadi-vāsanā-labhyā

She can be attained through qualities like kindness, etc.

महा-प्रलय-सक्षिणी (571)

Mahā-pralaya-sakṣiṇī

Mahā-pralaya is the total dissolution. 

When annihilation unfolds, the entire universe gets dissolved into Śiva.  This happens exactly in the reverse process of creation.  At the time of creation ākāś was born out of the Brahman, air was born out of ākāś, etc.  At the time of annihilation, air gets dissolved into ākāś and ākāś gets dissolved into Śiva.  This process is known as involution as opposed to evolution, a process that happens during creation. 

This nāma says that She is the only witness to the great dissolution.





पराशक्तिः (572)

Parāśaktiḥ

She is Parāśaktī. Consort of Paramaśiva is Parāśaktī. 

परा-निष्ठा (573)

Parā-niṣṭhā 

Niṣṭha means steadfast position. The mind of a self realized person becomes steadfast, perpetually united with the Brahman. For reaching this stage, the highest level of knowledge is required.  She is in the form of parā-niṣṭhā. Without Her help, reaching this stage is not possible. She is the embodiment of power (parā-śaktī) and knowledge (parā-niṣṭhā).

प्रज्ञान-घन-रूपिणी (574)

Prajñāna-ghana-rūpiṇī

Prajāna-ghana-rūpiṇī means concentration of superior knowledge. Superior concentrated knowledge means the knowledge that remains unpolluted by ignorance.





माध्वीपानालसा (575)

Mādhvīpānālasā

She is in a state of samādhi and enjoying the ultimate bliss. She always meditates on Her creator Śiva. 

मत्ता (576)

Mattā

She always meditates on Her creator Śiva. During the higher levels of kuṇḍalinī meditation, a honey like fluid, generally called ambrosia drips into throat.  Because of its taste and viscosity it resembles honey. It is known as spiritual intoxicant and said to possess intoxicating qualities. Because of consuming the drink, She is in the stage of intoxication.

मातृका-वर्ण-रूपिणी (577)

Matṛkā-varṇa-rūpinī

She is in the form of 51 alphabets of Sanskrit called matṛkā.





महा-कैलास-निलया (578)

Mahā-kailāsa-nilayā

Mahā-kailāsa is the abode of Śiva. This is far away from the existing Kailāsa mountains. In fact, mahā-kailāsa is beyond human comprehension. 

मृणाल-मृदु-दोर्लता (579)

Mṛuṇāla-mṛdu-dorlatā

Her arms are tender like lotus stalks.





महनीया (580)

Mahānīyā

She is adorable. 

दयामूर्ति: (581)

Dayāmūrtīh

She is the embodiment of compassion.

महा-साम्राज्य-शालिनी (582)

Mahā-sāmrājya-śālinī

She magnificently controls all the planets forming part of this universe.

Sahasrara





सहस्रदल-पद्मस्था (528)

Sahasradala-padmasthā

The next seven nāma-s discuss about yogini Yākinī, the last among the yogini-s.  Sahasrāra or the crown cakra is presided by yogini Yākinī. Sahasrāra is in the form of a thousand petal lotus. This is not categorized under cakra-s and sahasrāra is difficult to explain.  The commune (the divine energy) between the soul and the cosmos happens through an extremely small aperture at the top of the head known as brahmarandhra (ब्रह्मरन्ध्र).  This pericarp of the sahasrāra is said to be more lustrous than a full moon.  The rays of this moon is multi coloured, predominantly VIBGYOR, the seven colours of the rain bow. The colour of these cakra-s begin with red at mūlādhāra, orange at svādhiṣṭhāna, yellow at maṇipūra, green at anāhata, blue at viśuddhi, indigo at ājñā and violet at sahasrāra.  Though violet is said to be the overriding colour of sahasrāra, multi colour is visible during its activation.  Śaktī-s union with Śiva takes place here. 

सर्व-वर्णोप-शोभिता (529)

Sarva-varṇopa-śobhitā

Yākinī shines in all colours.  varṇa also indicates letters that are inscribed in the one thousand petals.  There is also an interpretation that letters are placed first from a (अ) to kṣa (क्ष) and then kṣa (क्ष) to a (अ) and again from अ to क्ष and so on. 





सर्वायुध-धरा (530)

Sarvāyudha-dharā

Yākinī has all types of weaponries.  In sahasrāra, everything is infinite because sahasrāra is beyond any human explanation.  Further, the experience at sahasrāra will differ from person to person. 

शुक्ल-संस्थिता (531)

Śukla-saṁsthitā 

Yākinī is in the form of subtlest product of the human body – semen or ova. Yākinī represents the creation of human body and destruction of the human mind.

सर्वतोमुखी (532)

Sarvatomukhī

Yākinī has infinite faces.





सर्वौदन-प्रीत-चित्ता (533)

Sarvaudana-prīta-cittā

Yākinī likes all types of food.

The important point to be noted with sahasrāra is the nature infinitude. The yogini presiding over sahasrāra is beyond everything. 

याकिन्यम्बा-स्वरूपिणी (534)

Yākinyambā-svarūpiṇī

Yogini presiding over sahasrāra is known as mother Yākinī, who has been described from nāma 528 till 534 (7 nāma-s).


With this, the description of yogini-s is concluded.

Mooladhara Chakra and ajna Chakra

 




मूलाधाराम्बुजा-रूढा (514)

Mūlādhārambujā-rūḍhāa

Yogini who presides over this chakra is Sākinī, who is described in the next seven nāma-s till nāma 520.  This cakra is situated at the perineum area and has four lotus petals that are red in colour.  Each petal is inscribed with four consonants with bindu-s.  The pericarp of this cakra is square in shape with eight spears protruding outwardly.  Inside this pericarp, the bīja of this cakra laṁ (लं) is placed.  There is a red inverted triangle within the pericarp that flashes like lightning.  Inside this triangle, the powerful klīṁ bīja (क्लीं), also known as kāma bīja, is placed.  The bīja for earth is laṁ and this is appropriate because mūlādhāra cakra is the lowest cakra which is also known as the base cakra. Inside this triangle, there is a Liṅga (one of the prominent forms of Śiva).  Kuṇḍalinī energy in the form of a snake coiled around this Liṅga three and half times.  There is a hole which is called dvāra in Sanskrit in this cakra, through which Kuṇḍalinī ascends and descends.  Under normal circumstances, the mouth of this hole is blocked by the head of this snake.  This is the most important cakra as it holds the life energy in the form of Kuṇḍalinī here. Lalitāmbikā dwells in this cakra in the form of Kuṇḍalinī, Her subtlest form.

पञ्च-वक्त्रा (515)

Pañca-vaktrā 

Sākinī is five faced, hence described in this Sahasranāma as the fifth cakra.  Each of these faces represents five elements like ākāś, air, etc.  

अस्थि-संस्थिता (516)

Asthi-saṁsthitā 

Sākinī presides over bones, the fifth layer from the skin. This is also one of the reasons for taking up this cakra as the fifth in this Sahasranāma.





अङकुशादि-प्रहरणा (517)

Aṅkuśādi-praharaṇā

Sākinī has weapons like elephant-hook.  She is said to have four arms and apart from elephant-hook, she also carries lotus, book and cin mudra (mudra of knowledge or jñāna mudra).  

वरदादि-निषेविता (518)

Varadādi-niṣevitā

Sākinī is surrounded by her assistants like Varadā ,Śrī (possibly indicating prosperity as Śrī means Lakṣmī), Śandā and Sarasvatī (goddess of knowledge).






मुद्गौदनासक्त-चित्ता (519)

Mudgaudanāsakta-cittā

Sākinī is fond of food of made of green gram. The combination of mudgaudannā is rice mixed with green gram, jaggary, coconut, jīraka, ghee and milk. 

साकिन्यम्बा-स्वरुपिणी (520)

Sākinyambā-svarupiṇī

The presiding deity of the mūlādhāra cakra is in the form of Sākinī who has been described in these seven nāma-s.





आज्ञा-चक्राब्ज निलया (521)

Ājñā-cakrābja nilayā

The next seven nāma-s discuss about the presiding deity of ājñā cakra, Hākinī.  Ājñā cakra is considered as the most important cakra and is located between the two eye brows.  This cakra has two lotus petals and bīja-s haṁ (हं) and kṣaṁ (क्षं) are inscribed in those white petals.

शुक्ल-वर्णा (522)

Śukla-varṇā

Hākinī has fair complexion.  This could be due to the purity of ājñā cakra.

षडानना (523)

ṣaḍānanā

Hākinī has six faces and hence described as the sixth cakra in this Sahasranāma.





मज्जा-संस्था (524)

Majjā-saṁsthā

Hākinī presides over bone marrow, the sixth layer from the skin hence ājñā cakra is discussed as the sixth cakra in this Sahasranāma. 

हम्सवती-मुख्य शक्ति-समन्विता (525)

Hamsavatī-mukhya śakti-samanvitā 

Hākinī is attended by two of her assistants.  They are Haṁsavati and Kṣamāvati, representing the two bīja-s haṁ (हं) and kṣaṁ (क्षं).   In all these cakra-s, the names of the assistants to the yogini-s begin with the respective alphabets inscribed in the lotus petals of the concerned cakra-s.  Alphabets, complexion of the yogini-s, faces and hands of the yogini-s, the shape of the pericarp of the cakra-s have great relevance to the attributes assigned to these cakra-s.





हरिद्रान्नैक-रसिका (526)

Haridrānnaika-rasikā

Hākinī is fond of rice cooked with saffron.

हाकिनी रूप-धारिणी (527)

Hākinī rūpa-dhāriṇī 

The yogini who has been described in the preceding six nāma-s is known as Hākinī.

Manipooraka chakra and svadishtaana chakra

 




मणिपूराब्ज-निलया (495)

Maṇipūrābja-nilayā

Maṇipūraka cakra is the navel cakra and the yogini who presides over this cakra is Lākinī.  From this nāma till nāma 503 (nine nāma-s) describe this yogini.  This cakra has ten lotus .

वदनत्रय-संयुता (496)

Vadanatraya-saṁyutā

Lākinī has three faces; hence, this cakra is discussed as the third cakra in this Sahasranāma.






वज्रादिकायुधोपेता (497)

Vajrādikāyudhoepetā

Lākinī has thunderbolt and other weapons.  She has four arms, two of them holding a thunderbolt and a śakti weapon. The other two hands have vara mudra (a mudra that grants boon.  Almost all the gods and goddesses have this mudra) and abhaya mudra (a mudra that protects by dispelling fear).

डामर्यादिभि-रावृता (498)

ḍāmaryādibhi-rāvṛtā

Lākinī is surrounded by ten of her assistants like Damarī.





रक्तवर्णा (499)

Raktavarnā

Her complexion is blood red in colour.

मांस-निष्ठा(500)

Māṁsa-niṣṭā 

Lākinī presides over flesh.  Flesh is found beneath skin and blood. 

गुडान्नप्रीत-मानसा (501)

Guḍānnaprīta-mānasā

Guḍānna refers to rice cooked with jaggery (jaggery is unprocessed sugar made out of sugarcane). Lākinī has a liking for this preparation.





समस्त-भक्त-सुखदा (502)

Samasta-bhakta-sukhadā

Lākinī confers happiness to all the devotees of Lalitāmbikā. 

लाकिन्यम्बा-स्वरूपिणी (503)

Lākinyambā-svarūpiṇī

She (the yogini) is in the form of Lākinī .





स्वाधिष्ठानाम्बुज-गता (504)

Svādhiṣṭānāmbuja -gatā

Yogini of svādhiṣṭāna cakra is known as Kākinī.  From this nāma till nāma 513 (ten nāma-s) describes this yogini.  This cakra is in coccyx area just above mūlādharā cakra and has six lotus petals.  

चतुर्वक्त्र-मनोहरा (505)

Caturvaktra-manoharā

Kākinī has four beautiful faces, hence described by Vāc Devi-s as the fourth cakra.





शूलाद्यायुध-संपन्ना (506)

Śulādyāyudha-saṁpannā

Kākinī has four hands that hold trident, noose, skull and elephant hook (aṅkuśa) as her weaponries. 

पीतवर्णा (507)

Pītavarṇā 

Kākinī has golden complexion. 

अति-गर्विता (508)

Ati-garvitā 

Kākinī is extremely proud.  She is proud of her beauty.





मेदो-निष्ठा (509)

Medo-niṣṭā

Kākinī presides over fat.  Fat is fourth layer beneath our skin hence this cakra is mentioned as the fourth cakra by Vāc Devi-s. 

मधु-प्रीता (510)

Madhu-prītā 

Madhu means honey.  Kākinī is fond of honey.  

बन्धिन्यादि-समन्विता (511)

Bandhinyādi-samanvitā

Kākinī is surrounded by six assistants like Bandhinī.  Each of her assistants presides over each of the petals.  Apart from Bandhinī, other important deities are Badhrakālī and Mahāmāyā.





दध्यन्नासक्त-हृदया (512)

Dadhyannāsakta-hṛdayā

Kākinī is fond of curd rice. 

काकिनी-रूप-धरिणी (513)

Kākinī-rūpa-dhariṇī

The presiding devi of svādhiṣṭhāna cakra is Kākinī who has been described in these ten nāma-s.