(photo courtesy : Internet. No plagiarism intended)
I was just pondering over the Soundarya Lahari which seems to have captured my mind for the past few days. I studied the image of The Mother trying to recapture the feelings that went through the muni who captured Her in his lyrics. Of Adi Sankarar who later completed it. I went through Her beautiful form, Her face, neck, body, legs, feet and ended up feeling that if I was a dust in the ashes of the dust that cling to her toe, I would consider myself the most blessed.
As I was studying Her image as humans seem to portray, I pictured Her as Durga, the Mother. She has always prevailed on me as The Mother Goddess. As Gayathri, as Parvathi, as Durga. As the Mother personified in the Soundarya Lahari. I saw her raise Her weapon, look with pity at the asura standing in ignorance in front of Her, Strike into his thoughts Her consciousness. As she dances on him, the ultimate realization brought home.
At that moment I wanted to be him. To have the pleasure of being brought to divinity, immortalized by Her. By Her.
It was then it struck me that Jaya and Vijaya, the divine doorkeepers at Shri Vaikuntam had also wanted the same blessing. When asked whether they would be born as devotees for 10000 births or be born as villains to be cast down by the Lord for three janmas, they sought the latter. As the quickest way back home and also to enjoy the pleasure that the Lord's Hand would itself touch them.
The train of thought continued to Mahabali, the great-grandson of the asura Hiranyakashippu slayed by Swami Nrisimhar. I suddenly realized that Bali's head was pressed to the soil by the Lord's feet in the Vamana Avatar.
Then the third instance is that of Lord Nataraja. He dances the cosmic dance on Apasmara, the little demon of ignorance, ego and sin : in short man personified.
The similarity between the three struck me. The Mother, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva. The personifications are different but the ideologies are just the same.
The dance of good over evil. The dance of realization. The destruction of ego, ignorance and injustice. The restoration of balance. The path.
I drew the inference that whatever the Lord may be. In whatever form He is personified, it is just the realization that the world is a virtual reality. It exists solely for realizing that it does not exist at all.
The attributes that we attach so much importance that we notice it prominently in others but conveniently turn our backs on ourselves, like ego, jealousy, anger, sorrow why, even the physical states of hunger, lust and enervation are only in the mind.
When we realize, there is no other feeling or sense left. Only the mind or the soul, and the universe which is now empty and full at the same time.
I am Apasmara. None but he!!!
As I was studying Her image as humans seem to portray, I pictured Her as Durga, the Mother. She has always prevailed on me as The Mother Goddess. As Gayathri, as Parvathi, as Durga. As the Mother personified in the Soundarya Lahari. I saw her raise Her weapon, look with pity at the asura standing in ignorance in front of Her, Strike into his thoughts Her consciousness. As she dances on him, the ultimate realization brought home.
At that moment I wanted to be him. To have the pleasure of being brought to divinity, immortalized by Her. By Her.
It was then it struck me that Jaya and Vijaya, the divine doorkeepers at Shri Vaikuntam had also wanted the same blessing. When asked whether they would be born as devotees for 10000 births or be born as villains to be cast down by the Lord for three janmas, they sought the latter. As the quickest way back home and also to enjoy the pleasure that the Lord's Hand would itself touch them.
The train of thought continued to Mahabali, the great-grandson of the asura Hiranyakashippu slayed by Swami Nrisimhar. I suddenly realized that Bali's head was pressed to the soil by the Lord's feet in the Vamana Avatar.
Then the third instance is that of Lord Nataraja. He dances the cosmic dance on Apasmara, the little demon of ignorance, ego and sin : in short man personified.
The similarity between the three struck me. The Mother, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva. The personifications are different but the ideologies are just the same.
The dance of good over evil. The dance of realization. The destruction of ego, ignorance and injustice. The restoration of balance. The path.
I drew the inference that whatever the Lord may be. In whatever form He is personified, it is just the realization that the world is a virtual reality. It exists solely for realizing that it does not exist at all.
The attributes that we attach so much importance that we notice it prominently in others but conveniently turn our backs on ourselves, like ego, jealousy, anger, sorrow why, even the physical states of hunger, lust and enervation are only in the mind.
When we realize, there is no other feeling or sense left. Only the mind or the soul, and the universe which is now empty and full at the same time.
I am Apasmara. None but he!!!
