Glimpses of LalitOpakhyana through Lalitha sahasranama

Hail the lineage of Guru’s from the Primordial creator,

the architects of the path of knowledge leading us from the forest of darkness

LalithOpakhyana forms the last part of Brahmanda purana, has thirty-two chapters and is

recorded as a conversation between Lord Hayagriva (Horse faced avatar of Vishnu) and

sage Agastya. The introduction chapter (PurvabhagA) of Rahasya nama sahasra known

also as Lalitha sahasranama says that it was sung by the vak devatas on Sri Lalita Devi’s

command at a great gathering in her court. Though we find the colophon describing this

as a part of the chapters of praise (stotra khanada) of LalitOpakyAna, it is not found in

the present editions. This sahasranama has much distinctness, which are:

a. exactly a thousand names

b. no rhythm filling letter like ‘ca’, ‘tu’ etc.

c. no repetition of the names

d. Complete description of the Devi Lalita

e. The story of her valour in battle is described

f. Complete manual of the sadhana

g. Six charkas in the body are described

h. Various paths to reach the universal experience are extolled

i. Identity with all devatas is established.

We will try to expand her description and valour in the battle from the references found

in Lalita sahasranama and as narrated in LalitOpakhyana.

“Cidagnikunda sambhUta” to “svAdhIna vallabhA”: Siva reduced manmatha(Lord of

love) to ashes in his attempt to unite Parvati with Siva. An attendant of Siva, citrasena

fashioned a form from the ashes and breathed life into it. This was Bhandasura, who

obtained boons on penance from Lord Siva and harassed the devas. (devakarya

samudyuda)

The Devas performed a huge sacrifice called Maha yaga and finally in an act of total

surrender jumped into fire. A halo of light emerged from the fire pit (cidagnikunda

sambhuta) with a chariot in the middle. On the chariot a four armed Devi was seen

(catur bahusamanvita), holding the goad, noose, sugarcane bow and the five flowery

arrows ( rAga svarUpa….sAyakA), follows the description of the Devi from head to toe.

(nijAruna….sarvAbharanabhUshitA) Usually female deities are described from toe to

head; the reverse here is due the view of Devi as emerging from the fire pit. She

resurrects the devas, marriage with Lord Kamesvara, seat and the grandeur are described.

(sivaakamesvaramkasthA……svadhInavallabhA).

We find an address in the following names. (sumerumadhya…. kAmAkshi). Consider

the aspirant being led by the vak devatas to meet Devi Lalita. Initially on leaving the

mundane world we approach her abode in the golden mountain (sumeru). We are directed

to seek her in the middle peak (sumerumadhysrngasthA). This is like “State” in an

address. On reaching this middle peak we find many cities, our attention is directed to the

auspicious city (Sri mannagaranayikA). This is like “City” in an address. Inside the city

are many houses, we are directed to seek her in the ‘wish fulfilling gem studded’ house

(cintAmanigrhAntasthA). This is like “House Number” in an address. On entering the

house we encounter many deities. We are directed to identify the main lady of the house

as seated on the five Brahman seat. (panca brahmAsanasthithA). While approaching her

we find a deity who is described as residing in a big lotus trench

(MahApadmAtavIsamsthA). Padmatavi –the lotus trench is the Agna cakra as well as

jambukesvara kshetra whose presiding deity is Devi AkhilAndesvari or Sri MahAvArahi.

Enroute we meet another deity portrayed as residing in middle of kadamba forest

(Kadamba vana vAsini). Kadamba vana is the heart centre as well as Madura whose

presiding deity is Devi MInakshi or Raja matangi. These indicates the upasana of

Matangi and Varahi prior to the Sri Lalita upasana are essential, since Lord Parasurama

has said in his Kaplasutras“ Pleasing courtiers before meeting the King / Queen “. Now

we find the addressee. “SudhA sAgaramadhyasthA kAmAkshi”. .Her attributes are being

in middle of the ocean of nectar, i.e. immersed in bliss, and bestower of boons with a

glance.

Now the battle is described from “Deva rshigana…to ...kamasanjIvanaushadhih”.

Sri Lalita Devi creates sampatkari – chief of the elephant army from her goad, asvaruda –

the chief of the horse army from her noose, syamala- the prime minister from her

sugarcane bow, Varahi- the commander-in-chief from her five flowery arrows, an army

of sakthis from her breath and bestows vehicles for them. When the army moves forward

Varahi, Matangi and Lalita are praised by the gods, saints by 12, 16 and 25 names

respectively. They are found in the ritual manual (puja paddadhi). “Devarshigana

sanghada stUyamAnAtmavaibhavA”.

Now we can see from “bhandaasura vadOtyukta…sakthi vikramaharshitaa”

Sakthi Vehicle Asura slain

sampatkarI Elephant called raNakolAhala durmada(Chaos in the battlefield) purusheNa

asvArUdA Horse called aprAjitA kurunda(Undefeated) ulUkajit

nakulI Eagle visheNasarpiNIFive commanders- Karanga- KAkavasita- Vajrradanta- Vajramukha- Vajraloma

tiraskariNI chariot called tamoliptA kuntisheNa(Painted with darkness) seven commanders

-valAhaka-sUchimukha-phAlamukha-vikarNa-vikatAnana-karAlAksha-karataka

Unmattabhairavi Lion malada(Laghu vArAhi)

Sakthi Vehicle Asura slain

Laghu syamala chariot krUca

Svapnesi Horse Mangala

VakvAdinI swan trukaNa

CandakAli vetAla kollata

Sri BalAmbikA Chariot called kirNi thirty sons of Drawn by swans BhandAsurA

Sri Raja syamala Chariot called geya vishanga(**)(Song)Charioteer: hasanti syamala

Sri MahAvArAhi(*) Chariot called kiri ( power) visukra(**)Charioteer: StambhiniLion called simhaghoshABuffaloAntelope

Sri Lalitha Chariot called Sricakra Bhanda & otherCharioteers: Iradevi, tripura asuras created byBhairavi,samharabhairava himRaktayoginivallbha,sarasaand camunda (six)

(*) Devi Varahi being the commander-in-chief had many vehicles (**) The Lalithopakhyana describes the opposite; visukra is slain by Syamala Devi and

vishanga by vArAhi. This may in tune with the idea in battle in the days of yore, when

equals fight. The narration in Lalithopakhyana is by Lord Hayagriva, who took part in the

battle. He was placed in the forefront; behind him was sthambini with the rest of the

army. Recitation of Lalitha sahasranama is by vasini vag devis who were on the seventh

tier of the SriCakra raja chariot, flanked with the chariots of syamala and mantrini. Hence

the difference in the narration in lalithopakhyana and sahasranama is evident from the

placement of the narrators as above, we may accept the vasini vag Devi’s view as clear

rather than Lord Hayagriva who might have over looked or narrated within accepted

principles.

“nityaaparaakrama…sukhaa”:

Nitya Devi Asura slain

Kamesvari damanaBhagamalini dIrghajihvaNityaklinna humbekaBherundaa hulumullaVahnivaasini kalkasaMahaavajresvari kalkivaahanaSivaduuti pulkasaTvaritaa pundraketuKulasundari candabhAhuNityaa kukkuranIlapatAkA jambukAkshavijayA jambhasarvamangala tIkshNasrngajvAlAmAlini trikaNdakacitra candragupta

“bhandAsurendra nirmukta….varshinI”

Astra by BhandAsura Sri Lalitha’s pratyastra

AndhatAmisra(complete darkness) MahAtariNi astra

pAshANdAstra(atheism) gAyatriyastra

andhAstra (Blindness) cakshushmatYastra

sakthinAshAstra (Impotency) gandharvarAja visvAvasuastra

andhakAstra ( death) mrtyunjayAstra

sarvasmrtinAsAstra (forgetfulness) srututAraNAstra

bhayAstra abhuankara AindrAsatra

mahArOgAstra (diseases) nAmatrayAstra

Astra by BhandAsura Sri Lalitha’s pratyastra

AyurnAsAstra (shortening of life) kAlasamkarshinyastra

mahAsurAstra MahAdurgAstra(Many demons like madhu, kaitabha (the eighteen armed mahishAsura,sumbha, nishumbha, MahAlakshmi emergedraktabeeja emerged) and destroyed the demons)

mUkAstra ( causing dumbness) vagvAdinyastra

“karAnguli nakhOtpanna….kruti:”

BhandAsura created ausras by Sri Lalitha vanquished them by creating

Vedataskara sOmakAstra MastyAvatAra murti from her(Theft of Vedas) Right thumb nail

arNavAstra (deluge) KUrmAvatAra murti from herright index finger nail

hiranyAkshAstra VarahavatAra murti from herright middle finger nail

hiranyakasipuvastra NrshimhAvatAra murti from herright ring finger nail

mahAbalIndrAstra VAmanAvatAra murti from herright small finger nail

haihayAstra ParasurAmavatAra murti from herleft thumb nail

BhandAsura knit his eyebrows and SriRAmAvatAra murti with roared a syllable “hum”, out Sri Lakshmana from her left indexof which rAvana, kumbhakarna, finger nail indrajit and other demonsemerged

BhandAsura created ausras by Sri Lalitha vanquished them by creating

dvividAstra ( a host of monkeys emerged) BalarAmAvatAra murti from herleft middle finger nail

rAjAsurAstra ( a group of evil kings krshNAvatAra murti from herlike KamsA emerged) left ring finger nail

kalyAstra SrikalkyavatAra murti from herleft small finger nail

Having done these heroic deeds the ten avatramurtis were commanded by Sri Lalitha to reside in SriVaikunta and re-enact them every Yuga.

‘MahApAsupatAstra…sUnyakA’:

Then Bhandasura sent a mahAmOhakAstra (causing delusion) which was countered by Sri Lalitha’s shAMbhavAstra.

Sri Lalitha sent the NArAyaNAstrA and destroyed the armies and with the PAsupatAstra the forty commanders. BhaNdAsura, who was alone, was now consumed by the MahAkAmesvarAstra sent by Sri Lalitha; the fire from this astrA also reduced to ashes the city of Bhanda, SUnyakA.

All the subtle forms of the above astra mantras are found in the rasmi mala chanted by the Sri VidyOpAsakAs in the bedside early morning ritual.

‘HaranetrAgni..naushadhi:”

Sri Lalitha with kAmesvara glanced at the ashes with compassion. By the grace and power of this compassionate glance Manmatha was resurrected with an infinitely lustrous body.

Thus we find the whole Lalithopakhyana with the battle episode and the description of the Sri Nagara condensed in the sahasranama.

Sakthi created Sri Lalitha’s body part Philosophical /weapon Understanding

Sampatkari Goad Yoga

AsvArUdhA Noose subjugation of External senses

RajasyAmalA Sugarcane bow/ Manana Mind (reflection of

Thoughts)

MahAvArAhi Five flowery arrows NidhidhyAsanA Supreme Ego (uninterrupted

Awareness)

MahAgaNapaty smile Happiness

BalA playfulness Starting of spiritualEnquiry

nakulI upper palate Sravana (learn byhearing/enquiry)

parA Heart Compassion Supreme identity withSri Lalitha

RasmimAlA devatas Six cakras from the recipient of theMuladhara inputs from senses

Causing good/badFeelings

Let us offer these thoughts toThe guru Lord Hayagriva and pupil Sage Agastya

Like flowers from our heart