Pandit S. Subrahmanya Sastri

There are many interpretations and commentaries of the Saundaryalahari (Saundarya Lahari) but the best of these are those that provide word-to-word translations and also the yantras, the devotion to be performed and the results of the devotion. This excellent translation and commentary by S. Subrahmanya Sastri and T.R. Srinivasa Ayyangar provides all these.

The Saundaryalahari meaning "Waves Of Beauty" or "Ocean of Beauty" is a famous literary work in Sanskrit written by Adi Shankara. Its one hundred and three shlokas (verses) eulogize the beauty, grace and munificence of Goddess Parvati / Dakshayani, the consort of Shiva.

The Saundaryalahari is not only a poem, it is a tantra textbook, giving instructions on puja and offerings and many yantras - almost one to each shloka. Saundaryalahari describes tantric ways of performing devotion connected to each specific shloka and details the results ensuing therefrom.

The Saundaryalahari is often viewed as being composed of two parts:

Verses 1 - 41 describe the mystical experience of the union of Shiva and Shakti 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.

This part of the text is often referred to, quite appropriately, as the Ananda Lahari, the wave of bliss.

Verses 42 to 100 are more straightforward---they describe the physical beauty of the Goddess and are sometimes referred to as the Saundaryalahari itself. Many scholars, however, refer to the entire text with one name, namely, Saundaryalahari .

The first 41 verses cover the detailed account of internal worship of the Mother. It consists of systematic exposition of the concept of kundalini, Sri Chakra, mantras (verses 32, 33). This depicts the Supreme Reality as non-dual but with a distinction between Shiva and Shakti, the power holder and Power, Being and Will. The Power, that is, the Mother or Maha Tripura Sundari, becomes the dominant factor and the power holder or Shiva becomes a substratum. The first verse itself clearly describes this idea. “United with Shakti, Siva is endowed with power to create; or otherwise, he is incapable even of movement.” The same idea is brought out in verse 24, “Brahma creates the universe, Vishnu sustains, Rudra destroys, and Maheswara absorbs every thing and assimilates into Sadashiva. On receiving mandate from thy creeper like brows, Sadasiva restores everything into activity as in the previous cycle.” Such dominance of the Mother can be cited in verses 34 and 35 also.

It is said that once Adi Shankara visited Kailash to worship Shiva and Parvathi. There, the Lord gave him a manuscript containing 100 verses which described the many facets of the Goddess, as a gift to him. While Shankara 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 Shankara. Shankara, 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. 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 'Saundaryalahari ' (Saundarya Lahari).… (más)